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Anyone into Quads, Hex's, Drones?

A couple friends of mine are big into quads with FPV gear and GPS etc. They are trying to get me into it as I just picked up a DX6i radio, and a basic plane (Bixler) can be picked up dirt cheap. This plane is popular for UAV/FPV flight and is capable of 7 kilometer + range, 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) would be my goal. Something about the long range stuff I find fascinating, and with a UHF antenna (although a couple hundred bucks) has a range of about 20-30 kilometers. Video equip for this range would be expensive but even just being able to plot waypoints on Google maps for a 36 mile loop and just letting it go would be cool.

We figure a 2.6 meter powered glider would be capable of this and aiming for at least 12,000mah+

Anyone have experience in long range stuff?

A good friend of mine flys quads, and I helped him with the long range conversion on his DX5e. It looked like it would be complex due to needing an attenuator to knock the power output down going into the broadband amp, but it turns out they have a mode for use in Italy that halves the output. We turned on Italy Mode, purchased a cheap conversion cable, and it was mostly plug-and-play. The range is greater than his Far Shark so that's the next upgrade!

Here's a cool video of the Willamette Falls in Oregon that he took. The gopro was in 720 mode or it would have been better
[youtube]IFuhfxTVoQE[/youtube]

I suppose that's with goggles?

We want to try long range flights up and down the coast till we get it "right"

Is it allowed as a private person to use cameras on quads in USA?

So far it is

that video was cool I really liked the indusial area and falls it would be cool to canoe their

I just picked up a small quad, Blade Nano QX. I got a deal on a DX6I that I use for my heli's and the lone plane I own. Bound it to the quad and flew it right away.

I find the quad a very simple thing to fly and it is great fun. I will eventually get a bigger one, the Nano is great to start with.

Give one a try, buy the BNF version with your DX6I. Set some rates and have some fun.