DJI Phantom

The DJI Phantom was released January 2013 and is a fully pre-tuned ready-to-fly (RTF) quadrotor. It has protective aerodynamic molded body with all required equipment integrated. Designed for aerial filming with a GoPro camera.

Specifications

• Released: December 2012
• Type: Symmetric 350 size small vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) quadrotor
• Airframe: Molded plastic
• Dimensions: W292xH185xL292 mm (excl. propellers)
  • Absolute size: W457xH185xL292 mm (incl. propellers) [1]
• Weight: 800 grams (incl. battery)
  • Weight frame only: 630 grams
• All up weight: 1000-1500 grams (incl. camera)
• Flight controller: DJI NAZA-M with GPS and compass module
  • Default gains: basic 125/125/100/100 and attitude 125/125 [2]
  • Optimal gains: basic 130/120/100/100 and attitude 122/122 - pitch will be greater than roll since the mass/momentum (battery, camera) is bigger on the pitch axis
• Transmitter: DJI 7-channel 2.4GHz 40mW/16dBm transmitter [3]
  • Mode: mode 1 or 2, changeable by moving stick assembly and two wires
  • Range: 300m (advertised), 1000-1800m (tested) [4]
  • Channels: 7th channel located on the back of the transmitter, upper hole, useful for gimbal, X1 in NAZA Assistant [5]
• Receiver: DJI 2.4GHz PPM -93dBm bare-board receiver
• Battery: 3S 2200 20C+ single LiPo pack with XT60 connector
  • Battery weight: 170-220 grams recommended
  • Battery cage: W36.5xH28xL109 mm
  • Charger: DJI Balancing XH-JST 3A Lipo charger [6]
• Motor: DJI 2212 920KV 8 mm shaft white brushless motor
  • Suitable motor: 22x12 mm (Ø28x26-28mm) or 22x16 mm (Ø28x30-34mm), 700-900KV, 150-250W, 25-50grams
  • Motor mount arms: 16x19 mm pattern
• Propellers: 8x5-inch, 2xCW 2xCCW
• ESC: 4x Integrated 18A 400Hz speed controllers
• Forward speed: ~30-40 km/h
• Flight time: 8-10 minutes
• Product pages:
  • DJI Phantom - official product page with software upgrades and manuals
  • DJI NAZA-M - further details about the flight controller
• Similar models:
  • DJI F330 Flame Wheel - same size but more versatile

Upgrades

Below is a list of potential upgrades:

• Add quality propellers for less vibrations and better reliability
  • The stock propellers are soft and could break in extreme maneuvers
• Spare Lipo battery packs with XT60 connectors
  • Easily swap the battery to get back in the air
• Install a camera gimbal with pan and tilt
  • The stock NAZA flight controller can be configured to stabilize the camera gimbal
• Replace the remote control transmitter and receiver to enable 6-channels and longer range
  • Enables manual adjustment of pan and tilt from the remote control transmitter
  • Adding a UHF system extends range to several kilometers
• Add a simple FPV system using a GoPro video-out cable and velcro to attach a video transmitter to the underside
  • Auxiliary power from the battery is supplied by two leads through one of the arms

Manuals

• Official DJI Phantom How To video - complete introduction to the Phantom from unboxing to flight
• DJI Phantom quick start manual - get started guide
• DJI Phantom advanced user manual - detailed setup manual
• DJI NAZA-M flight controller quick start manual - overview of the flight controller
• DJI NAZA-M flight controller user manual - configure the flight controller
• DJI NAZA-M Phantom configuration - pre-tuned flight controller config file
• DJI Phantom Downloads - all manuals, software and drivers
• WKM Detailed Descriptions on Autopilot parameter setting - guide for setting up NAZA autopilot
• OpenPilot Stabilization Configuration - useful fundamentals of PID control loops

Gear

Propellers

• GemFan 9x5-inch carbon fiber props - fits directly on DJI motors, 8mm bore [7]
• Graupner E-Prop 8x5-inch - quality, balanced, 5mm bore, requires reaming to 8mm
• FoxTech Carbon Fiber 8045 propeller - direct fit on stock motors, DJI bore notch, 8mm bore [8]
• RCTimer 8x4.5 carbon fiber propeller - cheap, great for practice
• Zinger 9x4 Wooden Props - less vibrations, bit larger than stock [9]

Motors

• Tiger Motor MN2214 920kV brushless motor - direct replacement motor, white, bit more powerful and efficient
• Tiger Motor MT2212-13 980KV brushless motor - quality, powerful
• Emax MT2213-935KV brushless motor - same as the original DJI motors
• Suppo A2212/13 1000KV brushless motor - quality
• Turnigy Aerodrive SK3 2822-1275KV brushless motor - cheap, powerful
• Cobra C-2208/34 1180KV rushless motor - great motor, efficient, pricey [10]

Batteries

• APLUS Extreme 2200mAh-65C 3S1P 11.1v Lipo pack - quality pack
• Hyperion G3 CX 11.1V 3S 2500mah 25C Lipo pack - extra capacity
• Zippy Compact 2200mAh 3S 25C Lipo pack - lightweight, inexpensive
• Turnigy nano-tech 2200mah 3S 35C Lipo pack - inexpensive, must be handled properly
• Thunder Power G8 Pro Force 2250mAh 3S 70C Lipo pack - quality, fast charging

Gimbals

• RC-Drones X2 PhantoMount - pan, tilt, supports GoPro
• RC-Drones X2-Wide PhantoMount - pan, tilt, supports GoPro case, space for video-out cable
• QuadFrame GoPro 2-axis gimbal - pan, tilt, lightweight, uses DS11-SCB or ES08MD digital servos or similar
• DJI Phantom GoPro Gimbal - prototype [11] [12]

Cases

• Go Professional Cases DJI Phantom - space for transmitter, batteries, charger and lots of accessories
• ToughCase DJI Phantom - carries transmitter, battiers, charger
• Pelican 1620 case - large case, customizable foam fittings
• BuzzFlyer DJI Phantom Case - customizable foam inserts [13]

Transmitter

• Futaba 8FG 12-channel transmitter - quality, feature proof
• Turnigy 9X 9-channel transmitter - extreme value, customizable

Modules:

• FrSky DJT-II-V2 2.4GHz 60mW transmitter module - plugs directly into JR and Turnigy tx
• EzUHF 433Mhz transmitter module - quality, long range, sma connector

Receiver

• FrSky D8R-II Plus 8-channel receiver - great sensitivity, diversity antennas, two-way communication
• EzUHF Lite 8-channel receiver - quality, slim, long range, sma connector

Charger

• SkyRC e6680 80W 220V/12V charger - well-rounded charger, powerful, easy to use, great value
• SkyRC e4 Balance Charger - Direct replacement for the DJI charger

Accessories

• Dubro Tru-Spin Propeller Balancer - reduces vibrations and "jello"-effect dramatically
• UBEC 6V Power Regulator for gimbal - power gimbal servos directly, instead of via NAZA [14]
• DJI Phantom Graphic Skins - apply different desgns to the body [15]
• Infinity Hobby Damping Mount Kit - absorb vibrations before they propagating to camera

Tips and tricks

• For multiple flights, get a few extra batteries and a faster charger, preferably one which works in a car
• To enable manual/rate mode, connect the NAZA flight controller to the assistant software and in the autopilot section change 'Atti' to 'Manual' in the drop-down menu
• A gimbal with pan and tilt can be connected to F1 and F2 on the NAZA-M, the gimbal will be stay level as the quadrotor moves, no remote gimbal control possible
• Consider balancing the propellers to get vibration free GoPro video, alternatively get Graupner or Gemfan propellers
• To minimize the jello-effect, use 1080p60 or 720p60 and disable ATTI GPS to avoid miniature adjustment performed by the flight controller
• Keep the LED sequence reference handy, print out page 15 and 16 of the manual [16]
• For better range or gimbal remote control, replace the stock DJI RC receiver with a regular module (and transmitter) capable of S-Bus output [17]
• Try a new maneuver, or anything risky, at a fairly high altitude so that you will have time to make a saving correction [18]
• Wobble on fast descent is caused because self-turbulence and stall (props are rotating slower) and is not the fault of the flight controller [19]
• To make the quadrotor more nimble, adjust the attitude gain in the NAZA Assistant from stock 125/125 to 120/120

Community

• fpvlab.com - specially geared toward fpv but lots of general discussions
• phantomguide.com - news blog with gear upgrade and maintenance tips
• phantompilots.com - phantom specific discussions
• rcgroups.com - massive community for all sorts of RC talk

Shops

• flying-hobby.com - Quadrotor gear, fast shipping, HK
• hobbyking.com - General RC gear selection, EzUHF gear, good prices, HK
• rc-drones.com - Phantom upgrades, FPV gear, US
• foxtechfpv.com - FPV gear, cheap Tiger and SunnySky motors, HK
• bevrc.com - FPV gear, antennas, goggles, vtx, general RC gear, HK
• armbgc.com - Gimbal controllers and motors, AM
• flyduino.net - GemFan propellers, DE
• rc711.com - Phantom spare parts, HK

Videos

Below is a video showing a FPV equipped Phantom.

References

• DJI Innovations Phantom RTF Review - Lots of good photos
• 200 beginner tips for Quadcopters and the DJI Phantom - Great list of tips