Hey everyone, I’m looking to get into FPV drones, mainly for racing. I’m a total beginner, so I could use some advice on a few things:
Would really appreciate any help. Thanks in advance!
Wrote this for some friends who saw my videos and will share it with you.
First off yes yay let’s fuckin go it would be awesome if you got into this too! It’s been described as skateboarding but in the air and I would say that’s true lol.
had GPT reword my message because it’s a lot of info
Step 1: Get a Radio + Sim
Start with a radio first, then get a simulator to see if you like it before dropping more cash.
Radios:
Radiomaster Boxer (~$150 new, $90-100 used on eBay) – Solid mid-tier radio, great ergonomics, works with everything.
Radiomaster Pocket (~$70 new) – Smaller, more budget-friendly, still great.
Simulators:
Liftoff – Easier to get into, second-best physics.
Velocidrone – Best physics, racing-focused.
Make sure whatever radio you get is ELRS (ExpressLRS). It’s open-source, long-range, and just better than the other options, which I don’t even bother with.
Step 2: Analog vs. Digital
Digital (looks super clean, more $$)
DJI – Best image quality, my choice.
HDZero – Great balance of latency and clarity, plan to get one later.
Walksnail – Another digital system, some people like it.
Analog (cheaper, lighter, faster video feed)
Been around forever, lots of compatible gear.
Tiny bit of latency advantage, but most won’t notice unless flying really fast.
Step 3: Goggles
Analog Goggles:
EV800D / Fat Shark Recon Echo (~$100) – Good budget options.
Fat Shark Scout (~$200) – Better features, dual antennas, comfy fit.
Edit: if you are fine spending more just get the HDzero Box pro, it has analog and HDZero for 300 bucks. It came out 3/14/25
Digital Goggles:
DJI Goggles N3 (~$230) – Cheaper than Goggles 3, but still fantastic.
HDZero Box Pro (~$300, coming soon) – Will support both HDZero and analog (I’m grabbing these when they drop).
Walksnail Goggles L – If going Walksnail, these are solid.
Step 4: Drone
DO NOT buy drones from Amazon—they mark up $100 quads to $300+. Buy from: 
TinyWhoop.com GetFPV BetaFPV Store on AliExpress (cheaper, but longer shipping).
Analog Starter Drone:
Meteor 75 Pro – Indoor & outdoor, durable, beginner-friendly.
Air 65/75 – Lighter, but more fragile than the Pro.
Digital Starter Drone (for DJI N3 goggles):
Pavo Femto – What I fly. Great image, tiny size, well-protected camera.
Total Cost Estimate:
Sim: ~$15-35 Radio: ~$70-150 Goggles: ~$100-300 Drone: ~$100-250 
Flying FPV: Priceless 
https://www.fpvknowitall.com/ Bardwell is the man.
I got my first drone from GetFPV—a QAV-S 5" kit from Joshua Bardwell. He has a full YouTube playlist on how to build it, so you learn as you go and can fix it yourself if you crash. The frame is surprisingly tough for beginners.
Best way to start? Learn to fly in Acro mode on a sim before touching a real drone.
Check out some FPV ready-to-fly kits. I got one, and it’s been awesome. I’ve crashed it a ton, and the frame holds up great. It’ll make you want to upgrade later, but it’s a solid way to start. Watch some YouTube reviews—you’ll get a good idea of what fits your style.
FPV is pretty tough for a beginner. If you’re set on it, consider the DJI Neo or Avata 2—both have FPV capability but aren’t super fast, so they’re a bit easier to handle.
DJI Neo or Avata 2.
River said:
DJI Neo or Avata 2.
For racing? Nope.