Written by Matt Ruddick A slightly larger and faster indoor alternative Product review As seen in the Summer 2017 issue of Park Pilot.
Bonus video
Specifications:
Type: RTF quadcopter Skill level: Beginner to intermediate Width: 6.5 inches Weight: 2.4 ounces (with battery) Needed to complete: FPV-Ready requires a RISE J2000 or Tactic SLT transmitter, or Tactic AnyLink2 and FPV gear; RTF requires nothing Price: FPV-Ready $79.99; RTF $179.99 Info: towerhobbies.comFeatures:
>> 600 TVL FPV video camera >> 25-milliwatt 5.8 GHz RaceBand video transmitter >> Three flight modesProduct review
If you ask anybody in the hobby what the latest big thing is, you’ll undoubtedly hear a one-word response: small! The newest example of the new tiny craze is the Vusion House Racer FPV from Hobbico. The 120mm-size quadcopter is designed to be an indoor FPV solution for pilots who are ready to scream through the hallways of their homes. It weighs only 68 grams and features propeller guards, as well as wall guards that will keep the quadcopter in the air if it makes contact while maneuvering sharp turns. Of course, to maneuver turns you will need an SLT-compatible transmitter. The RTF package comes complete with a RISE J2000 six-channel transmitter, but any SLT-compatible radio will suffice. The House Racer’s onboard FPV system was definitely well thought out. It features a preinstalled 600 TVL (TV Lines) camera that is ready to go right out of the box. It should be noted that you cannot alter the camera angle because it is prepositioned in the molded canopy.
The camera angle is fixed in the molded canopy and cannot be adjusted.
The 25 milliwatt video transmitter features 40 channels across five bands, so you should have no trouble finding a clean channel to fly on while racing with your friends. The transmitter’s antenna is internal, so there is no concern about damaging it during a crash. With a name like House Racer, you might expect this quadcopter to be fairly tame and leave a bit to be desired on the powertrain. Well, let me ease that concern for you. The House Racer is fast! It has three preprogrammed flight modes and even in Mode 1, it felt like there was plenty of speed to tackle any indoor course I might come up with. Mode 2 adds more tilt angle for extra speed and increased roll rate. Both modes have an auto-leveling function that you might expect from similar-size aircraft. I found this quadcopter very responsive to my inputs and it allowed me to clear any gate or obstacle in my path—both perfect characteristics of a good racing aircraft. For advanced pilots, Mode 3 is a full-rate mode that offers no auto-leveling and gives a pilot full control over the aircraft.
The RISE Vusion House Racer 125 FPV Race Quad offers three flight modes for pilots of all skill levels.
One thing that truly sets the House Racer apart from other quads in this class is its flight time. The manual states that you should get between 5 and 7 minutes of flight time from the included 1S 650 mAh LiPo battery on a single charge. I was somewhat skeptical, so I performed a fairly unscientific test to check those claims. Sure enough, the low-voltage alarm began sounding approximately 6 minutes, 30 seconds after takeoff. Unlike some other aircraft, the House Racer gives you ample warning about its battery life. I was able to fly for another full minute after the low-voltage alarm began sounding, until the aircraft finally dropped to the ground. I should note that repeatedly running your battery down like this could potentially damage the battery pack. As soon as you begin hearing the low-voltage alarm, you should land. The Vusion House Racer is definitely in a class of its own. A small aircraft with so much speed is something that I haven’t seen in many products. Some pilots might find it too powerful for smaller indoor locations—at least at first. With some practice and some finesse, however, the House Racer can be flown in most indoor areas.
Propeller guards and wall guards allow your aircraft to bounce off of obstacles and stay in the air longer.
Where it really shines is in larger indoor venues where you can let those motors scream and jockey for position against your friends. The Vusion House Racer is available now in both RTF- and FPV-Ready versions. -Matt Ruddick [email protected]
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