Looking to get into drone racing? My name is Tyler, and I am an editor over at Propwashed.com. We are a drone racing enthusiast site that shares reviews, guides, and resources to a fast-growing community!
Drone racing is starting to get more popular, but there is still a lot of confusion on how to get started. Most people looking to get into racing are unaware that the key components to getting your racing drone airborne (the drone, the FPV goggles, and radio transmitter) are sold separately most of the time.
In this article, we are going to cover the basics on these key components and give you some links to start your research. From there, we will also discuss some extra tools you can get to improve your flying experience and keep you in the air longer. Let’s get started!
The racing drone
If you want to get into drone racing, you are going to need a racing drone! Your first major decision is going to be deciding whether to build one from parts, build from a kit, or purchase a pre-built drone.
Building from parts or building from a kit is somewhat like building a PC. You get all the necessary quadcopter components together and assemble them. The result is a racing drone with exactly the components that you want. You also learn a ton building your own quadcopter, and it will make diagnosing repairs easier in the future. You can get top of the line parts and stylish frames: like the Total Rotor KATAK Stretch SE! If you want the best of the best, purchasing from parts is the way to go. The downside is, buying parts piecemeal can get expensive and the overall building process can take quite a bit of time.
On the other hand, Pre-built, or Ready To Fly (RTF), quadcopters are the easiest way to get into the hobby. You buy a drone that only needs one or two additional parts and a battery charge before flying. Surprisingly, you can often get some hefty savings on RTF drones. Over the past year, prices have dropped substantially as clones and more competition has entered the market. The downside being, you are limited to the choices the manufacturer made when putting together the racing drone.
However, you can always upgrade your components down the line as needed. We usually recommend an RTF drone for beginners, and then upgrading the components as you see fit. As you get more experience and a few crashes under your belt, you can spend money on higher end parts. Crashing happens often as you learn, so expect to rebuild and repair frequently!
Article for research: Drone racer buying options – build from kit, parts, or RTF
FPV goggles or monitor
FPV, or “First Person View” goggles put you in the cockpit of your racing drone. The video transmitter paired with the FPV camera on the front of your drone will broadcast video to your goggles. In order to pull off crazy stunts, hit low gates, and get the true feeling of flight, you are going to need some sort of FPV goggle or monitor system!
Like your first racing drone, you have a few buying choices here. There are multiple form factors, designs, and options. Most importantly though are to make sure of two things: that the setup works with your drone and is comfortable to you.
To make sure that your FPV monitor / goggles work with your drone, you are going to want to make sure the VTX and FPV setup are compatible. The VTX broadcasts over a wireless band, and can vary between 5.8GHz, 2.4GHz, and 1.3GHz. You want to make sure whatever FPV setup you buy can ‘tune in’ to the band your VTX supports.
Moreover, your FPV system can take on a few different form factors. Goggles are extremely popular for their immersive viewpoint, ease of portability, and compatibility across a wide variety of setups. However, they can be extremely expensive and uncomfortable for people who wear glasses. Other form factors include box style goggles, ground monitors, and more. You want to look for a setup that fits comfortably and provides the experience you are looking for. Want immersive flight? It’s going to be hard to beat a pair of goggles. Want to show other people your flying footage live? A portable video monitor makes that easy.
Article for research: FPV antenna theory guide
Radio transmitter
Now that you have your racing drone and FPV setup, you need a way to control the drone in the air! This is where the radio transmitter comes in. This is the ‘controller’ you use to pilot your drone. The radio transmitter broadcasts your control movements to your drone’s radio receiver so that you can fly your quadcopter accurately.
The most important consideration when purchasing your first radio system is to understand that most transmitters will only work with receivers made by the same manufacturer. Therefore, if you buy an FrSky Taranis radio transmitter, you will be stuck using FrSky radio receivers. Similarly, you cannot use Spektrum receivers with Futaba transmitters. There are a few exceptions to this, but you will need to do some research to be 100% sure.
Additionally, the prices and options vary widely across radio transmitters. A top of the line radio will work with every RC system you can throw at it, but it might be overkill for your use. On the other hand, a budget setup may not have all the features and bindings that you want. It’s usually worth investing in a higher end transmitter, as it is a tool that you can last you for years.
Article for research: Radio transmitter buyers guide
Other components
While the drone, FPV goggles, and radio transmitter will get you in the air, you are going to want some additional tools to stay there! Like any hobby, you will need parts and tools for upkeep and repair. Here are a few of our suggestions for beginners:
Battery charger and batteries
You won’t fly far without power! Our racing drones are powered by lithium polymer (usually abbreviated LiPo) batteries that can put out a ton of power! We recommend that all pilots start out with 4S (14.8V, four cell) batteries and a basic LiPo battery charger. These will last you a long time, and will work with most quadcopters on the market.
You can expect to get around 4-6 minutes of flight time with each battery, so purchase accordingly. If you have charging capabilities at your flying spot, then you can purchase fewer batteries. On the other hand, if you need to hike to a remote spot to fly, and have no access to power, you may want to consider purchasing additional batteries.
Propwashed LiPo battery buyers guide
Tools and equipment
While you might have a healthy supply of wrenches, scissors, and wire cutters in your tool box, you may be missing some more specialized tools. If you have never worked with electronics before, you may not have tools like a soldering iron or multimeter on hand. These are necessary to repair wires and quickly diagnose electrical shorts. Additionally, tools like hex drivers, hobby knives, and a nut driver can make accessing parts of your quadcopter significantly easier.
Propwashed tools list for building a quadcopter
Components for repairs
There are a lot of small parts, wires, and odds and ends on your new quadcopter. Small consumables like tape, extra wire, and Velcro can go a long way for simplifying repairs. Crashes will happen, and having extra parts on hand for quick repairs will help minimize downtime.
Propwashed spare drone parts recommendations
Have drone racing questions?
Have additional questions or need more instruction? Check out our Drone Racing Guide. This page is a comprehensive list of everything you need to know about drone racing. From curated buyers guides to how to setup a drone race track, we cover all the details you need to improve your skills.
Additionally, you can see our latest news, reviews, and articles over at Propwashed.com, or hit us up via email at community@propwashed.com! Special thanks to our friends at Total Rotor for inviting us to write this article!