SwiftStreamZ9DroneUnBoxing2016

 

Introduction/Definition/etc Body Motivation Unboxing Small and light Battery Removable Motors small Detachable Camera worked App Different WiFi to SmartPhone/Tablet(s) worked Transmitter Batteries, NiMH Not Working Yet To Fly Photos/Video Links Background Bird SwiftStream on FAA about the Z9? Pink Floyd's Learning to Fly Conclusion Discussion License Page History Page Statistics Page Views:  since creating on 20160617

 

Introduction/Definition/etc

 

Follow on to DronesChart2015

FAADOTDroneRegistrationSiteUp2015

and other stuff up here, as an exercise left for the reader...

 

Body

 

Motivation

 

After hearing about the Florida shootings/ attacks, that was more dead than TheShortOfIt

as shooters seem to be trying to lead the scoreboard on killings instead of Love thy neighbor, DoNoHarm, etc...

 

I used some technology to improve my mood a bit, unboxing something that had been sitting around for about 6 months, unused, though it was going to be given as a holiday gift, but intended recipients were not allowed to have, according to their parental units...

So keeping for myself, writing it up, and eventually learn to fly/ play, as FPV seems to be more like what the bird would see, and other perspective, rotating, and 3D processing L/R possible issues...

Mostly, just don't have a good place to practice/ fly, given flight restriction in the Washington DC area...

 

I wonder if kids and others would do less harm to other people and themselves, if they had things they enjoyed doing, like flying, drones, technology, etc...  And, perhaps, lived in less restrictive environments...

 

And I'm still in search of my happy childhood, even at 52, on Father's Day weekend...

 

 

Unboxing

 

Just opening and trying some stuff, without flying, check back later, to see if it actually flies,

and I get a round to writing it up...

 

 

Small and light

 

Not sure if it under the no need to register weight, as I don't have a scale...

See

FAADOTDroneRegistrationSiteUp2015

for specifics.

and then more restrictive rules came out too...

 

http://www.swiftstreamrc.com/faa-registration/

would imply that the Z9 does Not, but check to be sure...

Besides you get to learn to weigh things... /Smile

 

 

Battery Removable

 

Documentation says it is built in, and the documentation says copyright, and other restrictions on it's use...

So a photo of the packaging, and likely a violation, to prove it, but if you have one, or see one in a store/ online, you can check specifics, maybe, for what specs are available...

I do understand it is an improvement, but how to know that?

You can buy other batteries charge many and increase fly time but don't forget to add cool down time, on the batteries, ESCs and motors, lest you burn it out, overheat, etc...

 

Motors small

 

No KV listed

longer than most motors

gear, not direct

might be noisier, less responsive not sure yet...

 

Detachable Camera worked

 

Nice that it can be removed, as some places you could not have a camera, but as a FPV on wifi it would be necessary, at least for that...

An external power connection on the underbelly body, which is Not used to charge the internal battery, plugs don't match...

 

App Different

 

Syma app instead of SwiftStream, but there was a card in the box, with a link, and QRCodes (not tried, and most QRCode apps report your location for marketing) for Android and iPhone...

 

 

WiFi to SmartPhone/Tablet(s) worked

 

I was able to get to the WiFi connection, no settings found to lock it up, likely not protected, but will see, later on...

 

Transmitter Batteries, NiMH Not Working

 

Seems as if the lower voltage is prohibitive, and you have to have full 1.5 V each of the 4x AA, and I don't currently have the mula for those, so will have to wit to fly and try other features...

Wasteful for the environment, and commerce dependent, the stores that sell the drone probably make money on the batteries too, unless of course the transmitter is bad, the screen quickly goes dark, but I do see an LCD display for a bit...

If I were to spend money on a remote, not the replacement one, as the warranty (sp?) wore out, now months ago, and just unboxed, will see, might need some props and other accessories (landing gear, and protectors also removable, but with small screws (screwdriver provided), so might wear out the body with multiple removals for packing and unpacking like back in the same thin box...)

 

Yet To Fly

 

For the reason above, no batteries working in the remote, and no real place to fly yet, just unboxed, powered on, and tested what is mentioned above,

hopefully I will get to try the other stuff...

and maybe put it up here..

 

Photos/Video

 

A couple of stills and video might be able to put up here, given time, privacy, and other constraints

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B89er_NhJaz_OHQ1cEIyOS1FWXM

 

 

Links

 

Background

 

WPHSFunFly2016

 

DroningOnAboutMultiRotors2015

 

DronesChart2015

 

Bird

 

 

http://www.kmart.com/swift-stream-rc-z-9-indoor-outdoor-camera/p-018W002319363001P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

currently $89.99 + tax, shipping, etc...

 

http://www.swiftstreamrc.com/product/z-9-camera-drone/

 

SwiftStream on FAA about the Z9?

 

http://www.swiftstreamrc.com/faa-registration/

 

 

Pink Floyd's Learning to Fly

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_to_Fly_(Pink_Floyd_song)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCB_INs2E24

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=pfc%3AnVhNCTH8pDs&feature=s2lp&src_vid=eCB_INs2E24&v=nVhNCTH8pDs

 

 

Conclusion

 

Summary of experience or similar

 

Low cost, entry bird, with WiFi lower resolution camera but no local storage, bigger than the micro/picodrones, maybe easier to see further away (says limited range but VFR (Visual Flight Rules realistically with FAA, common sense, EMI, etc) but has some cheap stuff on it, battery smaller, removable, not built in, the transmitter/remote not working with rechargeable batteries (or not at all, will see), so we will see how / if it actually flies...

 

Documentation errors are misleading, or unspecified, but as mentioned elsewhere, Maybe part of the fun, finding the English errors, assuming that is what it is, instead of intentionally misleading (and errors/lies of omission) marketing...

 

 

Discussion

 

A place for feedback on the page presented

 

How do you know what to buy?

Do you blindly believe what the packaging/ sales literature says?

What about peers?  Others say it's great, you go out and buy, and then they laugh?

Or like America's Test Kitchen, you try and evaluate yourself?

 

How often does stuff not live up to your expectations?

 

Are your expectations too high, especially for the price range? (currently $89 with a likely Father's Day / Graduation like sale)

 

Does seeing from the drone/bird's perspective make it easier to learn to fly?

Cue Pink Floyd's Learn to Fly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCB_INs2E24

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=pfc%3AnVhNCTH8pDs&feature=s2lp&src_vid=eCB_INs2E24&v=nVhNCTH8pDs

 

Autistic and others note:  Mythical, Most can't fly without equipment, like hang gliding, drone(s), planes, helicopters, etc

 

What if you were a bird?

How would that feel?

 

Ever read Jonathan Livingston Seagull by _ ?

 

License

 

Creative Commons Share and Share Alike, Non Commercial, Non Derivative, for the whole site's contents unless otherwise explicitly stated

 

Page History

 

20160617 Jerry

• Jerry created this page to log some experiences/ opinions, just before dad's day, in case anyone is shopping for those, and previously didn't even open it, until recently...
• Links and stuff on  DronesChart2015 need updating, some don't work (some odds and ends, server errors GameOfDrones.com, 404 errors, etc), others stuff changed (prices, availability (stores not offering, maybe holiday season only, don't carry drones anymore, etc),

 

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