ArtLynk is a brand new HD digital FPV system. It’s low-cost, the picture high quality seems promising, and for some folks it might change into a possible various to DJI and Walksnail Avatar. The BetaFPV Meteor75 Professional is the second BNF quad outfitted with the ArtLynk P1 Air Unit, and on this evaluate I’ll try the way it flies. I’ll additionally take a look at the newest ArtLynk V2.0.6 firmware and whether or not it brings any noticeable enhancements.
Be taught extra concerning the ArtLynk FPV system in my unique evaluate: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-artlynk/
The place to Purchase
Product Web page:
It comes with these equipment:
- 4 × GF 45mm 3-blade propellers
- 1 × USB adapter
- 4 × M1.4×4 Phillips flat-head screws
- 3 × ornamental components
- 1 × person guide for the P1 Air Unit
Specs
- Wheelbase: 80.8mm
- Motors: 1102 22000KV
- Body: Meteor75 Professional
- Propellers: Gemfan 45mm 3-blade propellers
- Digital camera/VTX: P1 Air Unit
- Cover: Micro Cover for HD Digital camera
- FC: Matrix 1S 3-in-1 HD FC
- Receiver: Onboard serial ELRS 2.4GHz
- Really helpful battery: LAVA II 1S 580mAh / 680mAh battery
- Weight:
- With out battery: 37g
- With 1S 580mAh LiHV: 51.2g
Design
Nothing has actually modified with this new Meteor75 Professional Tiny Whoop. It’s mainly equivalent to the Meteor75 Professional O4 version I reviewed over a yr in the past. The one actual distinction is that this model comes with the ArtLynk P1 Air Unit as an alternative of the DJI O4.
The ArtLynk FPV system is mainly a funds HD digital FPV system. It prices about the identical as analog, however provides considerably higher picture high quality. The principle draw back proper now’s the marginally larger latency. I already reviewed the ArtLynk system, so verify that out in the event you haven’t already: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-artlynk/
The Meteor75 Professional P1 got here with an previous model of the Artlynk firmware (V1), and I up to date it to V2 when testing it. I documented the method of flashing firmware right here: https://oscarliang.com/update-betafpv-artlynk-firmware/
If you wish to be taught extra concerning the elements, such because the FC and motors, try my unique evaluate of the Meteor75 Professional right here:
https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-meteor75-pro-o4-whoop/
Flight Efficiency, Vary, and Latency
Really helpful batteries: LAVA II 1S 580mAh / 680mAh LiHV battery. I examined these batteries prior to now they usually had been a few of the finest in the marketplace: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-lava-ii-1s-battery/#580mAh
I examined each on the Meteor75 Professional:
- 580mAh: 4–5 minutes flight time
- 680mAh: 5–6 minutes flight time
The quad hovers at round 33% throttle.
The way in which it handles, feels precisely just like the older Meteor75 Professional with the O4. Right here’s a video displaying its efficiency.
Because the second BNF quad outfitted with the P1 Air Unit, the Meteor75 flies so significantly better than the Aquila20, though it’s only a 1S quad. The decrease weight makes an enormous distinction in flight characterstics. It feels far more nimble, responsive, and quieter. I feel BetaFPV ought to have used the Meteor75 of their bundle as an alternative.
Vary is nice at 500m+. The bitrate solely drops from 21Mbps to 16Mbps, so it might probably most likely go lots farther. Nonetheless, bitrate is usually a bit delicate at occasions, and jumps round greater than DJI and Walksnail, and when bitrate will get too low you get drop frames and stuttering video. It simply doesn’t really feel as stable or dependable as DJI, so I’d probably not use it for long-range flying proper now. Additionally the VTX is just 200mW max output energy in spite of everything.
In my testing, latency has not modified a lot with the newest V2.0.6 firmware. It’s nonetheless round 50–60ms, mainly the identical because it has been since launch. It’s fairly excessive for an FPV system. It may really feel a bit bizarre when doing time-critical maneuvers, particularly noticeable in the event you fly ArtLynk and different mainstream techniques again to again (e.g. DJI). With that stated, it’s completely flyable for cruising and primary freestyle, however I’d not belief it for bando flying or racing.
How you can Setup
The FC goal is BETAFPVG473, and it got here loaded with Betaflight 4.5.3. The unique CLI diff will be discovered right here.
The onboard ELRS receiver firmware goal is BETAFPV 2.4GHZ AIO RX, Firmware model is 3.5.6.
ESC: A-X-5 – Bluejay, 0.19, 96kHz
- Bind ELRS Receiver: For some motive, the ELRS receiver gained’t go into WiFi mode after ready a few minutes, so I needed to bind the receiver utilizing one other technique. I merely clicked the “bind receiver” possibility within the receiver tab in Betaflight. Then, on my radio, I went into the ExpressLRS Lua script and chosen the Bind possibility. And binding was finished.
- Pair P1 Air Unit to the VR04 HD Goggles:
- Merely energy them on, and press the bind buttons on each gadgets
- If they don’t seem to be binding, likelihood is they’re on totally different firmware model (V1 gained’t work with V2), you have to both downgrade or improve the firmware in order that they match: https://oscarliang.com/update-betafpv-artlynk-firmware/
- Presets tab in Betaflight Configurator:
- make a backup of your settings utilizing the Backup button
- load ExpressLRS preset based mostly in your packet charges, the right way to: https://oscarliang.com/rc-link-preset-betaflight/
- Modes tab: Configure the switches for arming, angle mode, and turtle mode.
- Energy tab: Set the minimal cell voltage to three.2V and the warning to three.4V (land earlier than 3.2V).
- Receiver tab: Allow Telemetry.
- PID Tuning tab: In Charges, disable Throttle expo by setting it to 0; If you wish to set Throttle Expo correctly, it is best to tune it following this information: https://oscarliang.com/throttle-mid-expo/
- OSD tab: choose HD Video Format, and cargo my CLI settings: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-osd/#HD-without-GPS.
Enhancements You Can Make
Strive HQ triblade props (1.8×1.2×3). They’re smoother than the inventory props and will assist cut back jello.
Use Throttle Mid/Expo in the event you wrestle with flying indoor: https://oscarliang.com/throttle-mid-expo/
If you’re a hardcore, skilled pilot, you may think about direct-soldering the motors to the FC as an alternative of utilizing motor connectors. I’d not suggest this for newbies, as a result of the solder pads are tiny and it’s not a straightforward modification. But it surely does provide a number of advantages:
- Much less resistance, higher efficiency (extra energy and extra environment friendly)
- Prevents failure resulting from dangerous metallic contact
PID/Filter Tune – The quad comes with a customized tune, however I’m not positive it’s optimized. Personally, I really feel I’d have tuned it otherwise utilizing Blackbox. I’ll attempt to retune it and share my settings on my Patreon.
Conclusion
If you’re closely invested within the Artlynk FPV system, The BetaFPV Meteor75 Professional P1 is a superb tiny whoop to contemplate. It’s not the very best flying whoop on the market as a result of it’s nonetheless fairly heavy, however there’s merely not that many selections in the marketplace in the meanwhile. Even so, in comparison with the Aquila20, this quad makes a significantly better showcase for what the ArtLynk system is definitely able to.
The principle limitation continues to be the latency. Whereas the newest V2.0.6 firmware doesn’t appear to enhance it, the system continues to be flyable for cruising and informal freestyle. It simply doesn’t really feel as linked or confidence-inspiring as DJI or Walksnail if you find yourself pushing more durable or flying in additional demanding environments.
If you’re interested in ArtLynk and wish an reasonably priced solution to get into this new digital FPV ecosystem, the Meteor75 Professional P1 is at present the most effective choices accessible. It’s comparatively secure and enjoyable to fly. Not excellent, however undoubtedly promising.
