u/Ewookie23

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice on where to go next with my setup. I’ve been feeling the pinch of the DJI ecosystem lately and feel like I'm stuck in a weird bottleneck.

Look, I know this hobby is an absolute money pit.I accepted that when I started. But I want my money going into things that make sense, not just paying a premium for locked-down hardware.

My Journey So Far:

The Start:

Started just before the Avata 2 dropped. Bought a radio (jumper t-pro v2) first and put serious hours into the simulator.

The First Setup: Eventually bought a used Avata (with Goggles V2 and the DJI Remote) second-hand. Flew it for a year or two, but even in full manual/acro, it always felt like it had "training wheels" built-in.

The Upgrade:

Wanted a real quad, so I hunted and scored a used Babyhawk 2 with an O3 Air Unit for £180. The flight characteristics are way better, but on just my second flight, I managed to chip the lens. Luckily it’s outside the FOV, but it was a harsh reminder of how expensive DJI parts are to replace.

The Dilemma:

I’m planning to build my very first custom drones from scratch specifically looking at a 5-inch and down the line, a 7-inch for long-range. But I'm having massive second thoughts about the ecosystem.

The VTX vs. GoPro Argument:

Because I want to build larger 5" and 7" quads, I can easily just whack a GoPro on top for high-quality HD footage. It makes spending a massive premium on an expensive digital VTX feel redundant and extra risky if I smash it.

Availability & Cost:

It took me awhile to find a decent used O3 build at a decent price, and buying brand new O3 units for a custom build is incredibly expensive. Especially because it seems kinda redundant because of the O4.

Obsolescence Anxiety:

I’m constantly worried about when DJI will drop support for the O3 or make my Goggles V2 completely obsolete. I really hate their lack of backwards compatibility and the feeling of being forced into expensive upgrades.

The Alternative Trap:

I don’t want to shell out a ton of money for a completely new digital ecosystem (like Walksnail or HDZero) and a new headset, but I also don't want to buy a cheap budget headset just to end up wanting an upgrade a few months later.

I’m in a weird spot where I don’t want to keep paying the DJI tax, I don't want to abandon the expensive hardware I already own. But also know it's probably going to come down to that which I can come to terms with.

For those who have been in this position did you bite the bullet and stick with DJI for your custom builds, or did you jump ship to something else? If you wanted standard HD flight footage but used a GoPro for the actual HD recording, what video system did you settle on for the build?

Appreciate any insight!