Walkera QR X-350 Unboxing

Wohooo - UPS just dropped me a box from Walkera with the new X350.    Its not like we did not see that coming from a long distance away, just did not know who would have the first in-your-face phantom clone.   Click through for the UNBOX video and pictures.

First impressions..   This thing is pretty nicely made,  so far, fit and finish looks and feels OK.    At first glance its hard to avoid noticing that the arms have vent holes and even the stribes around the arms exactly like the Phantom,  even the LED lights under the arms is just like the phantom.. hmm.  But on closer inspection there is some differences, some of which suggest that this in some regards may be a second generation product and have improved on some of the Phantoms "issues".

UPDATE - Was informed that the QR X350 is IN STOCK at WalkeraHelicopterSupply.com
BNF $324   RTF with radio and battery $450   Pretty good deal realy. 

UPDATE 2 -  PDF MANUAL ONLINE 

UPDATE 3 - sep 10th  
Walkera have added course orientation lock to the GPS system.. YEAH.
Seems new 350's are now shipping with a JST power plug under the belly.
and Walkera is releasing a video cable to connect GoPro 3 to the Video TX in the FPV kit.  NICE.  with that you can see what the GoPro records directly on the F7 screen.

UPDATE4 - Oct 30th
Dave now have dedicated GoPro hero3 cables for the TX5803 that come with the FPV version of the x350 - if you are anything like me you prefer a serious camera like the GoPro.   CLICK for product page.

 

 

This is maybe where it gets interesting,  because the RTF version with the DEVO-7 radio is said to cost roughly$450 (USD)  this is with a complete kit, GPS, battery, charger, and the standard no-video radio control DEVO-7.  essentially matching the DJI phantom kit for $450.  Thats about $225 less than the cost of a bare bones Phantom.  You could add a TeamRebel Design brushless gimbal for rock solid aerial video and still save $50 over a standard Phantom.    While I do not expect the Walkera to be a feature by feature match to the Phantom, Im sure the money aspect will apeal to lots of users and video shooters.

First things first.  YES it is RTF = Ready To Fly out of the box exactly like the DJI Phantom,  you are required to mount the legs, put some props on the thing and charge the battery and stuff batteris in the F7 transmitter.  Oh and calibrate the compass before going flying.. exactly like a Phantom, not more and not less.

Second things... second. ?    The thing is naturally born to carry a GoPro, and Im told it will ship with a suspended camera mount, however my prepro box did not include one.    More important for me,  the legs are MUCH more camera friendly than the notorisly unstable Phantom legs.  the x350 legs are mounted at about 45 deg angle and deliver a very stable platform for landing a heavy camera gimbal with a GoPro upright.  somebody at Walkera must have been measuring a bit also, seems the legs are about 15mm taller so there is about XXXX more space for the gimbal underneath.. YEAH.  This is good news.  
*I am also told that James at TeamRebelDesigns.com is almost done preparing a X350 specific mount for the BeholderLite brushless gimbal I started reviewing last week.   

40mm mounting hole pitch.. meaning.. you can stick ANYTHING gimbal made for Phantom here.
NOTICE the 8mm extra battery space in the rear. there is extra space to the side and also in the lenght so it is a lot easier to stuff the battery and cable in there.. (as a matter of fact, i might stick some foam to keep the battery from floating around) 

Proof of concept - the Beholder Lite gimbal mounted with 1/4 inch foam tape. need a long screw for safety. but its on there and have enough clearance to the ground.   BTW.. I measured the clearance of the X350 to be 95mm.

 
NOTE NOTE - The leg is vissible in the GoPro video because I mounted the GoPro upside down in the gimbal specifically to see the leg in the video, I wanted to see directly in the GoPro video the movement of the x350.
Not perfect,  but we all know "the proofs in the pudding. and here is the pudding flying with a GoPro, a Beholder Lite Gimbal and a KeyCam 808 over 250grams of payload.    there is a little vertical jello, thats because I need to tune the gimbal a little, but it have not bearing on the quality of the gimbal or the x350's ability to carry it.    and Sorry about the sync, the GP shooting 24fps and the keycam 30fps... sorry.. Pudding served. enjoy.

One more gimbal for the Wakera x350   the STELLA from xAircraft
 

UPDATE - Walkera confirmed that the dial AUX2 on the radio is not used and can be used for camera pitch angle control.  and I got a quick-start guide,  I will try to upload it in the morning and link it here for those interested. 

Prelimiary conclusions.
The Walkera X350 is at the moment the lowest priced RTF package for a GPS supported quad, but while the price is attractive, let us also realize that it do not match a Phantom feature by feature, the quad offer RTH, and GPS position lock style flying.   This is great comfort when flying, what is missing compared to the more expensive phantom is the smart orientation style flying like "home lock" and "compass lock"     The GPS system is simply not as "full featured" as the DJI NASA system, but then again, you can buy a BNF X350 for the cost of a NAZA control alone.

The budget RTF kit at $450 is a pretty darn good deal for a GPS quad. 
The Walkera vs the DJI do about the same job for less money, hauls the same payload and are enough alike to confuse the casual bystander.   

For the cost of a Phantom, at $679 Walkera include a video-reciever and screen in the radio. 
* However I have concerns about the FPV kit, I have tried the included DV04 camera before at lat time I tried it, it was simply not up-to-snuf, video was buffering and would pause, the camera is NOT suited for actual FPV flying. and I would recommend getting a FatShark starter FPV kit instead.  HOWEVER. the F7 radio with video screen is cool for doing video work at short range while flying LOS. and it is compattible with FatShark transmitters. so you could use a FatShark or Immersion RC radio to down-link video from a flightcam or your GoPro to the screen for framing shots.

I doubt Walkera will appriate my opinion about the DV04, and I am always open to change my opinion, simply show me.. Walkera, send me a FPV kit that works like a rock-star, and I will both install it on the quad,  fly it, review it and post the proof that it works right here. (if it in fact works)


Dressing this thing up with the BeholderLite gets you a Aerial Video platform for only $450+175= $625  That is about $200-300 less than the Phantom with same setup. Not entirely true as you can get a bunch of very cheap components but it generally applies to both of the quads at the moment.)

I did a quick flight with the ReplayXD mounted directly to the bottom of the X350, not much jello.

 

First flight with GPS position hold engaged,   the x350 flight-behavior is growing on me.  
Soo, what am I learning?   Well after calibrating the x350 a few times, it s really flying quite nice and is turning to out to be a pretty predictable and easy to fly quad.. but it is still mushy compared to a phantom, but that is turning out to be maybe a good thing, look at the video below, a Phantom would be constantly twitching to stay in exactly the placed it was parked, the x350 makes fewer and smaller corrections, resulting in two things.  first of all it drifts a little more around the spot.. but secondly it do not change its angle as dramatically and constantly as the Phantom.. resulting in quite smooth video. Basically the x350 is starting to look like a quite good video platform.

JELLO warning - the little camera is mounted on the bottom of the motor.. sorry its full of jello. ignor the jello, the interesting part is the gentle movements of the GPS stab.  ;-)

  

Talke a look at the interior of the X350 here.   GEKTOR from Germany cracked it open and did a bunch of pictures.. check here for the pictures. 

Awesome set of settings - GekTOR strikes again with improved radio settings for Devo-8 and Devo-8s
These settings improve control and have a extreme option if you want to flip or 3D the quad. 

Thank you to Dave from Walkera Helicopter Supply for getting the X350 to me.
I know he have 6 of these arriving to ship next week click here for daves x350 page. 

Some related links:

RCgroups - very clean FPV setup with Moebius camera

RCgroups - Walkera QR X350 GPS Phantom GoPro RC Drone

RCgroups - Walkera QR-X350 - Is this Walkera's answer to the Blade 350QX?

RCgroups - http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1963592

YouTube in German - Walkera QR X350 intro

OnlyFlying Maschines $125  GoPro3 Video downlink. 

 

Walkera videos

GYRO, IMU and Compass calibration
Arming and disarming motors.

 Setting up and using Failsafe and Return to home

COOL video from Germany, you can see Gektor having fun with the GPS position hold.
  

Related articles

Beholder Lite - $175 Brushless Gimbal Build - Part 2

GoPro Hero3 on the Walkera Hoten - Yes it flies but is it right.?

Beholder Lite - $175 Brushless Gimbal Build

V120D02s Micro FPV

Comments

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Frank, sorry for the slow reply, you probably want to check out my 350pro build video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9x4tyjvzfw
actual product trouble shooting is a bit out of the scope of the blog, however I would start by contacting Walkera's support and then check out the QR350 support group on Facebook.

[Sam Carlylye]

Hello,

I recently purchased a QRX 350 Pro and Devo 7. I am totally new to this and thought this would be a simple set-up but know flying is a whole complicated story and need to keep safety first in mind. I have not installed the propellers for safety, but have charged the batteries to test. I can get the gimble and camera working but not the quad. I have tried everything on the install manual and videos with no luck. Can you please provide a "see spot run" guide to get the copter working? The copter motors do flutter for a second when I power up so I think it has something to do with the F7 programming. Appreciate the help. Thanks. Sam

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Mike, I don't have a lot of insight on the original 350, I would get a lipo-alarm (check ebay) for the battery, that will start screaming when the battery get low.

You have a newer version of the 350, so should not have issues with the landing, they did do a couple of firmware fixes have the 350 should work as advertised at this time. do check out my first-flight video for the 350 pro and follow those suggestions.. :-)

[mike m.]

hi again bo,

just have one last question for now.

as said earlier, i have x350 not pro ver., is there a low battery alarm that warns you either thru the tx or blinking lights on the uav itself? if it does, how much time do you have to bring it in when it happens? i read a post in rcgroups.com that said his went "off" and it dropped out of the sky just a couple of secs. after. i was led to believe that if the tx lost signal to uav or battery got too low, it would come back by itself regardless if it was in manual mode,gps hold or return to home. can you give me some insight to this? like to find out before i try this out.

thank you bo!

[mike m.]

thank you! i`ll leave you know how it goes.

[Bo Lorentzen]

With the TX5803, you should just need to plug the DV04 cable into the TX, the TX provide the power for the camera, and then simply plug the TX5803 into the quad per Walkeras instructions, IF they have no instructions, the way I normally power stuff, and did do it on the qx350 was by cracking the shell open and soldering a JST pigtail to two of the cables for a ESC, red to red and black to black, done. pull it out of the shell and you can plug the TX5803 into it. I do think the TX have a special plug, so you need to cut the power lead and connect a female JST plug. most gimbals use JST plugs for power, so that way you can move it to other systems etc. and the JST plug fit in the Walkera TALI and SCOUT power-plugs

[mike]

yeah, I`m using the 5803 as supposed to in the so-called manual. going to try it as an fpv thru the f7 tx. I know there will be some or a lot of latency, but it will give me a " feel " for the thing though. recording will be done mostly.

appreciate the help!

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Mike, no worries, we will get you sorted out. :-)
I don't recall the connection on the DV04, Im guessing you are using it as a recording camera more than a flight cam. or are you hooking it up to the TX5803?

I would normally recommend getting a keycam 808 #16D because that is something you can charge and stick on there and it works great, you can also hook up a keycam to a TX5803 or a ImmersionRC video transmitter.

[mike m.]

thanks for getting back to me. i`m alone out here where i live in PA. ( as far as AMA groups & other rc`ers ) i taught myself how to build & fly airplanes & heli`s. getting my feet wet so to speak in uav`s. i been flying a traxxas alias for a year now and its getting boring, hence the purchase of the qr x350. basically, i just need some instructions on wiring up the dv04 cam to the quad. the manual is awful and it just has a diagram pic for wiring it up. you said the dv04 cam is not very good for fpv, thats ok, i`ll work up to a better cam for fpv but i just need a little instruction on how to wire it up to the quad so i don`t short something out. this type of quad is all new to me and i have no one to show me how. the quad itself is easy to get ready, just the camera i don`t understand.

any help here would be so much appreciated.

thanks for your bo!

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Mike, Unfortunately I have not made any videos dealing with the DV04, I did check it out, but it pause the video in flight, so its not useful for FPV flight. its fine for recording while flying though.

[mike m.]

Bo,

i just finished looking at the video you did for the qr x350 pro set-up. it was nicely done!

but, since i didn`t have the $800+ for the pro fpv version i settled on the xr350 fpv ver. it came w/ the dv04 cam.

asking a favor, do you have maybe an older guide you made for this version i could follow? i can`t seem to find anything as nicely done as yours for that older 350. thanks for your time!

[Bo Lorentzen]

You could just download the manual posted to the blogpost. see the top of the post, update nr 2. ;-)

[Nathan H]

hello, I own a qr-x350 and I messes up the remote settings. can anybody send me the Devo7 parameter file for the quad? I cannot seem to find on the walkera site, they only have the quad parameters.
my email is [email protected]

[Jeroen Schiks]

Even a 2800 fits fine. Also there is a mod now to bypass the low voltage protection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odalNPaxmAU&feature=c4-overview&list=UUhDf2TxCjDO0a21jecVT_Bw

[Paul]

It's a heap of junk.

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Stu, Can't wait to see more videos from you.

5-6 minutes seems a bit short flying a naked x350, I would guess you might be living at altitude.? I get about 5 minutes safely with the gimbal mounted.

[Stu Gledhill]

Hi again Bo,

Many thanks for previous reply, it swayed me and my X350 arrived 2 days ago :-) Had first flights yesterday before wind kicked up (again!) and was delighted. Only slight concern is short flight times, didn't time 'em but only felt like 5 or 6 minutes, and that was without any payload yet. What sort of times are you getting with gimbal and camera attached?
BTW thanks for subscribing to me on Youtube - more to follow with the new quad when time and weather permit.

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hello Pedro, wow lots of questions.
YES you can connect the / a Video transmitter to a GoPro. if you have the FPV edition of the x350, walkera make a GoPro 3 cable for the transmitter. simply plug it in.

I have the CM2000, and honestly I do not like it, mine performed so badly that I did not post the video to avoid being tooo negative about it.. but personally I would recommend either the hummer or the Beholder lite which both work very well on the x350

[Pedro]

First of all, thanks for this very nice review. Secondly, I was wondering if I can connect the fpv transmitter on a GoPro instead of the DV04 camera, so as I can monitor what I film. Secondly, do you think an Arris CM2000 would fit well, together with the FPV transmitter?

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Timia, hard to say which one really is better, wild guess for me would be the phantom as they have made the NAZA controller for quite a while now. the real question is probably what you like better and what fits your budget.

[Timia27]

Hi i am a beginner looking into buying a quadcopter. I have narrowed my search down to the dji phantom and the qr x350. I read this review and was very interested. But now that the phantom has a lower price i am even more undecided. If someone could give me a bit more info comparing the two to help my decision that would be awesome. Thanks!

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hello Phil,
in GPS-hold mode, you can fly like you normally do, except when you let go of the sticks, the quad stay in the current position.

Bo

[Philip Read]

Hi, with this quad in GPS mode can you fly it to a new location and it will lock on or do you have to select manual mode first and fly to new location and put it back into GPS mode.

Thanks and great review
Phil

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hello Stu, wow. its hard to give the right answers for sure. I really like the design on the new blade 350qx, (but I do not like the two-screw system for mounting the props). and I think the blade have the potential for being a great FPV aircraft from a stock product. most important, it have the stable mode and the RTH mode. that remove some stress flying.

I have not had any problems with the F7 which is what I used when flying the walkera x350, but do not know what the power is on the Devo7.

I think the "big deal" on the x350 is the dual antenna RX because it is easy to always have a good antenna position, the phantom have only one which I have often seen become a issue for myself when turning around and the antenna hide behind the gimbal.

[Stu Gledhill]

Hi Bo,

I too am dithering over choice of quads.... New Blade 350qx or the Walkera 350 BNF. Have already got a Devo 7 (for flying my Ladybird and Hoten X) but am concerned its only 100mw transmitter and the included Spektrum 5E is 250mw (I think..)
Intend to go FPV so looking for range and noted that you've pushed the Walkera to 600m ish, was that on standard Devo 7? Would welcome your thoughts.
BTW Thanks for the reviews on the 'Tube - very helpful and usefull.

Kitestu
North Yorks
UK