INTRODUCTION
Here is a new ARTF racer in 160mm format (small is better ? 
), the DYS X160.
The bundle comes with an integrated CC3D board, 4x 10A ESC (ONESHOT supported), 1104 motors, 3020 props, 200mW 32CH 5.8G VTX , a 700TVL 1/3″ CMOS FPV cam and a cloverleaf antenna.
Please find first elements of this review. Elements will be added on the fly
BOX CONTENT
+ 1 x DYS X160
+ 8 x Spare props (4 CW, 4 CCW)
+ 1 x 5.8G cloverleaf antenna
+ 1 x Receiver cable
+ 1 x Battery strap
+ 1 x Instruction manual (English)
OVERVIEW
-Front view
-Side view
On the left side, you can see the receiver port and the microUSB Plug of the CC3D (clone) board
while on the right, you have 3 free ports
-Rear view
-Upper view
-Bottom view
A long and proportionally heavy cable + XT60 connector is directly soldered on the top CF plate.
Maybe a latteral XT60 connector directly soldered on the upper plate would have been a better choice
-Weight
Arms are CF 2mm large
while upper and bottom plates are only 1.25mm large
32CH 5.8G VTX
Announced to be a 200mW VTX
A 5 DIP switch selector. The 3 first select among one of 8 frequencied while the last two one select one of the 4 bands. The antenna is plugged via a SMA connector
Unfortunatly, the antenna is not a real CL antenna but an hybrid model to emit in 2.4G or in 5.8G
Please prefer a real CL antenna to extend range, even if the range out of box is not bad at all.
Here is the freq/band table
Good news, in practice, the emitted power seems closer to 400mW than 200mW
Motors
Some DYS 1104 announced to be 4000KV and supporting max 3S voltage. Shaft diameter is 1.5mm.
Props
Some 3020 props are provided
ESC
Directly implemented on each arms, ESC are rated up to 10A (no peak mentioned) and supporting 2-3S voltage.
The upper side
As you can see, there are 4 small contact pads. Maybe they can be used to reflash a ESC’s firmware.
The bottom side
Each Arms are locked with two hexscrews and 4 soldering points. The two points on top are respectively the signal (connected to FC) and ground lines while the bottom ones are the main lead connexion to power the ESC.
The main and real important question is how robust and durable to a latteral shocks are these ESC (with a lot CMS elements). I am afraid, some small cracks can appear relatively fast and in the worst case a shortcut can be provoked and leading to a fire.
Camera module
The camera is a 700TVL module inclinded positively of 10-15 degrees approximatively
The orientation is not ajustable
The light sensitivity seems good. Here is a snapshot video recorded with my GS922 goggles
Notice the fisheye effect, so I probably received the 160 deg FOV version (a 120 deg is also referenced in the instruction)
On top, you have a port, maybe a way to connect an OSD or to retrieve power, audio and video signals.
Cleanfight Connexion
To connect the X160 to Cleanfight, you will need first to install the STM32 VCP driver at: http://www.st.com/web/en/catalog/tools/PF257938
Be aware, when you run the exe file, in practice the drivers are not fully installed. You will need to manually install it from your device manager (see video below )
PPM receiver connexion
The DYX X160 accept PWM and also PPM connexion via the “CH6” servo plug. Here are the explanations for the FrSky D4R-II in PPM mode
For the D4R-II part, jumper installed between signal pins of CH3 & CH4 to activate PPM output and CH6 connected in this way if you don’t want to kill your RX (CH6 visible from top)
I used two zipties to install the D4R-II antennas in quadrature.
Actually, I am looking/adapting a light 3S LiPo (probably around 500mAh) to optimize the power thrust capacity. I tried with a 1500mAh but it’s definitively too heavy (the X160 can take off with this model)
I also tried with one of the smallest 3S LiPo with a XT60 connector, a Tugnigy 850mAh (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__32722__Turnigy_nano_tech_850mAh_3S_45_90C_Lipo_Pack_EU_Warehouse_.html)
The situation was improved, but I still feel a lot of inertia. Clearly, default PIDs settings can be largely improved
FIRST USAGE
I really like the FPV part, clear image… great range too. With a 1500mAh LiPo, the X160 have a lot of inertia and your flight must be very precize. Clearly a 1500mAh is too much for this small machine
With a 850 LiPo situation is improved but it’s still “heavy” in term of controls …. You need to large banking to avoid crashes at least with default PIDs settings. After few minor crash, now my X160 suffers of the right drift bug. Maybe an ESC calibration and better PIDs value can solve this problem.
CONCLUSIONS
On the paper, this X160 offers very good features: a lightweight 160mm frame with builtin CC3D board, nice FPV part and Oneshoot compatible ESC. In practice, the FPV part is pretty good: the FPV cam offers a wide Field of view ideal for FPV, the light sensitivity very good and the 32CH 5.8G VTX delivers around 400mW. Main concerns comes more from some specific choices taken for the X160: No protection for the FPV cam, builtin ESC on each arms offering at least 4 weak points associated with each soldering point. IMHO, durability is largely impacted by this design. A moderate lateral crash (a branch hitting one arm for example) can in the best case provoke ESC failure, in the worst case a potential dangerous shortcut. I advice to not install a LiPo greater than 800-850mAh to keep punchy attitudes. Default settings can introduces some woobles/vibration at low RPM and the more serious symtoms is the “right drift” effect occuring after few flight. For sure, some optimizations must be done out of the box. This X160 is not recommanded for beginners
UNBOXING
PROS
+ Good FPV cam
+ 400mW VTX in practice
+ Compact 160m frame
+ Naze32 FC with CF pre-installed
CONS
-“Right Drift” pheonomena
– FPV camera not protected to frontal shocks
– No real CL antenna but a 2.4G-5.8G combo model
– XT60 connector (a XT30 would have been a better choice)
– Default PIDs value can present some woobles
EDIT: Added default CleanFight parameters file cleanflight_backup_DYX_X160_11.20.2015.7.16
RCgroups thread: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2549252
This quadcopter have been courtesy provided by Banggood in order to make a fair and not biased review. I would like to thanks them for this attitude.
You can find it actually for 170USD at http://www.banggood.com/DYS-X160-Micro-FPV-Racer-with-5_8G-32CH-200mW-Transmitter-13-CMOS-Wide-Lens-ARF-p-1002021.html
Use “8rchobby” to get 8% off.
Cet article TEST: DYS X160 FPV racer est apparu en premier sur Drone-Maniac !!!!!!!.