RUNNER 250 GPS - compelling starter GPS quad -

Walkera is hitting hard on the FPV racing quads.    They just knocked it out of the park with their awesome RUNNER 250...   Now they are following up with a unique combination of a 250 size mini-quad with GPS.   honestly nobody have really been making GPS supported mini-quads.. But I think Walkera may be having a winner on their hands.  this is a racing quad thats easy to fly and can RTH.  sure to become a hit with new users.   CLICK THROUGH for more pictures....

These pictures are the PROTOTYPE of the GPS RUNNER..  

STOP••••••   The Runner 250 is a 2015 design, it is NOT a good flyer by 2018 standards. do NOT purchase the 250 in 2018,  instead take a close look at the Runner 215 or runner 210 which are faster and takes more abuse.

EDIT- sorry forgot the Mobius Lens saver link - click here for the MOBIUS LensSaver

EDIT2 - working on the video preview  click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel

EDIT 4 - Walkera finally released prices for the GPS RUNNER.
                 GPS RTF3 "DEVO 7/GPS/800TVL Camera/backpack; without OSD" $369.00
                 GPS RTF5 DEVO 7/GPS/800TVL Camera/OSD $389.00
                 GPS RTF1 "DEVO 7/GPS/1080P Camera; without OSD" $439.00
The RTF5 option -   GPS RUNNER with regular flight camera and OSD is most interesting to me.
Personally I think Walkera should stop offering versions without OSD and that is a expected feature on advanced quads these days. 

EDIT 5  Walkera finally got the RUNNER up on the website for sale.. click for the GPS RUNNER page

EDIT 6  GPS RUNNER MANUAL - click to download the GPS RUNNER manual - 

 

Before we dive into the pictures.. the new RUNNER is a completely different beast.
GPS hold - RTH and general in-flight GPS support.
GPS - distance - direction information in the OSD
1080p flight camera with recording to micro-SD card.  *optional - not on the preview model I have here
The red LED lights on the arms work as blinkers on cars and light up when you yaw or stop.

Walkera may be walking into a very successful product here, they are essentially adding the functionality of bigger more expensive quads like the Phantom and 350pro to a smaller, fully FPV ready mini-quad.  I think a lot of people are going to like that this thing is friendly to fly,  small enough that it don't scare parents in the park, and goggle-ready.    You already know that I think the biggest multi rotors are getting hard to fit into cities.   lets see how making full-features mini FPV systems play with the customers.

Notice the new red blinkers in the arm.. very col and light up on and off during flight.   the arms are the same size and the original arms, but have cutouts for the new lights.

The new bush-guard protects the front lights and the camera.    it supports against the front stands and should absorb most direct impacts, its quite thin material which is good as it should break easily, and will save your setup.   notice the red blinker lights plug into the new revised power-distribution board.

 

 

Here is another view, you can see the new power-distribution board and the cutout for the blinkers.

 

Seen from below, you can see the power light on the OSD which is sitting inside behind the camera.

 

The RUNNER GPS have a cool "look" but definitely with a touch of Walkera funkyness.  I think we can come to like that look 

 

New antenna mounts, the antennas now fold back for transport.  great setup, Im guessing lots of other brand quad owners might buy the antenna mounts for their quads. this is simple and works great. 

2500 KV motors.   remember you need two spares in stock, because they are threaded right and left hand thread, so you can't use a right hand motor on a left-hand corner.  

 

Aside from the new RUNNER PRO getting actual GPS support,  the seconds biggest new feature have got to be the implemented OSD (finally)  notice we now get actual GPS position,  altitude, speed, climb speed.  DISTANCE to home. and a arrow pointing the way to get back home in case you get lost.
You also have the system voltage and to the left the battery voltage which should get you a good idea when its time to land.

video of early GPS RUNNER OSD.. (preproduction sample, hard to fly as its not yet tuned right)
 

This practically speaking makes the RUNNER GPS a full-fledges FPV quad and you can go flying at a bit of distance.   I think the idea of a "mini" FPV quad with GPS support is going to hit hugely with a big audience of newer users getting into the sport. and personally I love having a GPS quad I can fly that is not as scary (big) as my TBS discover..   somebody get me a compact top mounted Mobius gimbal please.

 

BELOW are the original teaser pictures from Walkera.  

The new "face guard"  looks a bit like a boxers sparing hat,  on the one hand Im not sure I like it, but then on the other hand, I printed something like that for my RUNNER to protect the camera sooo.  this is probably going to work well.   a few vertical bars and it will look like a Jeep :-)

EDIT - got a tracking number for a prototype for a test video.. video should post monday or tuesday next week.. Click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

 Here you can see how the face guard support on the vertical posts for the camera.  I also like the snap on red lights on the arms. 

 

OK   its hard to get around.. the RUNNER is kinda crazy looking,  Im thinking thats part of its charm.

I like the battery stopper, but would like to see them run it up and make it create additional stiffness in the design.  however this will work well, they are hooking the stop to the pattern in the battery tray.

 

Check out how the new LED bar is embedded in the arm,  looks like we can use original arms just loosing the light bar.   with a little luck original users can pop these arms on their quads if they want the light bar.

Walkera,  we want interchangable color covers for the light-bars  :-)  hint hint...

The side shot shows clearly whats going on,  the rear mounted GPS, now we will get GPS support.

 

 

 

 

Check out the new demo video from Walkera.   

More lights..  Walkera are catching onto whats cool about mini-quads.. lots of lights.  I love the red trim.

Clearly Walkera have fixed the problem of destroyed head-lights.   Dear Walkera,  I would like to see two angles forward from the light-guard, to also protect the camera better.  

Its a little hard to see, but after looking close at the imprint on the motors, looks like they are 2500kv motors.

WAHOO.. the new runner kit come with a sweet carry case.. 

 

How is that for nice interior,    I would like more battery spaces  :-)

There you have it... brand new pictures of the RUNNER 250 GPS....  what do you think.. post below.  and subscribe to my YouTube channel for the review.  

Comments

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Hans,
I don't actually have the runner you are talking about, that sounds like the GPS edition, the runner is a short-range quad and generally I don't recommend GPS / RTH operations with it. but I do understand that some users want these features. the best way to setup the radio, is to create a new model, then follow carefully the included setup guide for the Devo 7. the guide is quite good, but you need to do each step. ;-)

[Hans]

Hi Bo Lorentzen,

Would you please make a video about tutorial how to setup devo7 on walkera runner 250 advance ?
This is my first time playing quadcopter. How to setup each menu on devo7, how to setup "hold", how to setup "return to home", how to setup activate the camera, to take picture or to record some video ?

Thank you so much Bo Lorentzen.

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Dan, nothing, it just don't record, actually i think it show you a red missing card on the OSD

[Dan]

What happens if I turn it on and forget to put a sd card in.the walkera 250 gps advanced.

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Seth, People DONT fly proximity FPV with GPS quads, the GPS are too restricting to fly comfortable between branches in the top of a tree.
the RUNNER GPS is simply a putter around GPS supported mini-quad, making transition easy for new users, but if they want to race, they have to learn to fly without GPS.

[seth]

do people really use full gps when raceing through the trees and things.seems alot could brake when i hit something..or is this a more nimbal version of a photo shooting drone?

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Kris, sorry for the slow reply, Ive been at CES all week (check my YouTUbe for videos)

OK YES good question, as far as I'm aware, you should be able to swap the CC3D controller kit directly into the original, its using the same connectors and everything. probably just a swap is all you need.

[Kris]

Hi Bo, I'm a big fan and follow all your videos. As you have both the old and the new I wanted to ask you a question as if anyone will know I'm sure you will! With he new Advance coming out and especially the one with CC3D flight controller, do you know if you can fit this to the original Runner 250? I would love to have the GPS and it IS enabled on the old one but with no barometer can't get it working. Read some posts from people saying you may be able to try taking the flight controller off the advance and fitting to the original. If you can let me know your thoughts that would be great

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Romer, Walkera have not made a GPS update kit, personally I would suggest leaving the original runner alone, only update I would do, would be the better CC3D flight-controller. and the GPS version sucks in that it flies slower and the barometer interfere with your flying.

[Romer]

Hi, Any update on the upgrade kit for runner 250 with gps module?

[Ayman]

Hey Bo, thanks for this review. I now have this beast, I love it. one problem I have (as HobbyKing said) because the camera is 1080p and the monitor (Quanum Goggle V2) they said the screen size is not rescaling correctly, the top telemtry data cane bearly be seen. They sent me a repalcement goggle and i changed the Vrx, the problem is the same. Any idea?

[Frank Engel]

Hello my Name is Frank and iam living in Spain i have seen your idears and i can sy onyl wow an exelent !!!!!!!

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Davis, the GPS permit you to let the quad hang in GPS lock, so its easier to fly than the non-GPS version, however its not as fast because the GPS system is constantly between you and the quad.

[DR]

Is runner 250 GPS for beginner without any flying experience? Do I get a lot of crashes?

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Paul, AWESOME.. glad its working out for you. once these things are flying right, we tend to have a ton of fun with them. :-)

[Paul]

Well, after my first flight that destroyed my runner($80 damage) I set up the remote and learned to fly! Boy oh boy this thing is great! I reinforced the battery tray with 3m one sided rubber tape and 1 pc of foam and 2 straps and I put the original rubber mat on top of the battery overlapping both batt and foam...my son cartwheeled the runner across a gravel parking lot at about 5 mph and the battery did not move and only folded one prop, no other damage

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Paul, YES the battery "tray" thing fits on both.

LOL do it. stock up on some parts and sell them to desperate FPV addicts.. :-)

[Paul]

I think I should become a parts dealer as I can't find any local parts here in ontario canada

[Paul]

Will the new battery tray fit on the old runner, my battery slipped forward on my last crash and bust the av connector right off the main board. Going to attempt soldering cable dongle to board to save $20

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Paul, I have asked Walkera for a upgrade kit, and will be making a step-by-step post once I get my hands on one, lets see how it goes together before calling it.

[Paul]

Thx for all your help, I think it's worth the $150 to upgrade since I can't afford 2 drones right now..can't wait!

[Bo Lorentzen]

Paul, any "real" charger will do, I use a couple of the TALI chargers with a XT60 pigtail and can charge a RUNNER battery in about 15 minutes. I did a adapter so I can plug my cigarette power plug from the car directly to the TALI charger and feed it 12v, that slow down the charge a little and takes about 20 minutes.. but I get fresh batteries while away from home.

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Paul, its my impression that she is partially correct, you would need to replace PDB, FC and naturally the GPS. by the time you got maybe $150 into the system, why not get a $350 basic GPS runner?

[Paul]

Bella from walkera sent me an email stating that the original runner 250 cannot be upgraded to gps. Please tell me she misunderstood me.

[Paul]

What kind of battery charger can I get that charge multiple batteries and charge them fast