Hello Friends,

First of all, sorry if I posted this in the wrong place.I am new to Radio Controlled Flights and FPV, and also to this forum. After going through several websites regarding the various aspects of this very interesting area, I have decided to have my own RC-FPV glider. I have narrowed down to a suitable glider and its various components. I have summarised them below. I am planning to buy the glider from rcbazaar and the rest from hobbyking (Hong Kong). Please have a look into the list and put in your suggestions. Also please tell me what other accessories (like wires, connectors, cutters etc) I'll need to fit all these components. The list goes below:

From rcbazaar:

1. LS 8-18 (2 mtrs) PNF Electric Glider -                                                  7000/-
2. 2.4GHz transmitter-receiver for rc control of glider (TH9X - 9 channel) -    5000/-

From Hobby King: (read as serial no - Name - Price - Weight)

3. RC305  5.8G 8 Channel AV Receiver                                             $22.99       115g
4. RG58 Patch Cable SMA Female to SMA Male (5 Meter)                     $12.80      472g
5. Antenna for 2.4Ghz 11dBi Omnidirectional                                      $6.79        149g
6. TX51W 5.8GHz 1Watt 8 Channel Audio/Video Transmitter FPV           $79.99      120g
7. ZIPPY Flightmax 4000mAh 3S1P 40C                                             $26.05      411g
8. OrangeRX RX3S 3-Axis Flight Stabilizer V2 (V-tail/Delta/AUX)            $17.99         21g
9. Turnigy 2S 3S Balance Charger. Direct 11..                                    $11.44      199g
10. Arkbird Autopilot System w/OSD (GPS/Altitude Hold/Auto-Level)      $157.99     125g
11. Gyro / Flight Controller Mounting Pad (10pcs/bag)                         $1.95          14g   
12. 1/3-inch Sony CCD Video Camera 700TV Lines F1.2 (PAL)               $34.45      125g   
13. Hobbyking 8 Point snap knife (5pcs/set)                                      $0.79        155g   
14. FPV Fiberglass Pan-Tilt Camera Mount L-Size                                $4.99         19g
15. 5.8GHz Circular Polarized spiroNet Antenna                                   $34.89        36g

                                                                               TOTAL:   $413.11   1961g

Shipping Cost: EMS Express (INDIA) 1000g - 1999g            $52.41

                     Grand Total:   $465.52 (@55/- = 25600 approx)

Total cost of my Model till now = 25600 + 7000 + 5000 = 37600/-

In addition to the above, I plan to make a Right Hand Circularly Polarised Helical Antenna for the 5.8GHz Video Receiver.

Now, please let me know what other accessories I'll need to fit everything together. Also please suggest if I should break up the products from HobbyKing into several packages so that they are below 10000 INR (read notes below).

Also, can anyone tell me how much weight can the glider that I have selected can carry?

Important NOTES: (everything quoted from Indian Laws, I have pdf files)

#1 Importing rc transmitter-receiver to India is restricted. I saw many people writing that it is BANNED. Well, actually its not banned. You just require an Import License. It is issued by Wireless Planning Commission (WPC) and I guess its free of cost if it is 2.4 or 5.8 GHz & is imported for personal use. But Basic Customs Duty @ 10% (plus some other taxes like 3% Educational Cess, some other duty @ 4-6% etc) is applicable as far as I could understand.

#2 I have written to WPC regarding Import License procedures and yet to get a reply. If someone does know the procedure or has some relative/friend working at Department of Telecommunications, they are requested to share their knowledge and/or pursue this matter.

#3 Bonafide gifts up to a value limit of Rs.10,000/-, imported by post, are exempt from Basic and Additional Customs duties vide Notification No.171/93-Cus., dated 16-9-1993. Further, only those items can be imported as gifts, which are not prohibited for importation under Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

#4 For calculating the value limit of Rs.10,000/- in case of imports of gifts, postal charges or the airfreight is not taken into consideration. The value of Rs.10,000/- is taken as the value of the goods in the country from where these were dispatched.

#5 The sender of the gift may not necessarily be residing in the country from where the goods have been dispatched and any person abroad can send the gifts to relatives, business associates, friends, companies and acquaintances. The gifts have to be for bonafide personal use. The purpose of this stipulation is that the person receives the gift genuinely free and the payment is not made for it through some other means. The quantity and frequency of the gifts should not give rise to the belief that it is used as a route to transfer money. The gifts can be received by individuals, societies, institutions, like schools and colleges and even corporate bodies.

#6 If the value of the gifts received is more than Rs.10,000/-, the receiver has to pay Customs duty on the whole consignment, even if the goods were received free, unsolicited. In addition, at the discretion of the Assistant/ Deputy Commissioner, if the goods are restricted for import, the receiver has a liability for penalty for such import, even if the goods have been sent unsolicited. The restricted goods are also liable to confiscation and receiver has to pay redemption fine in lieu of confiscation in addition to duty and penalty. Certain prohibited goods like narcotic drugs, arms, ammunition, obscene films/printed material etc. are liable to absolute confiscation and the receiver is liable to penal action, even if the goods have been sent unsolicited.

#7 Customs duty is chargeable on gifts assessed over Rs.10,000/- by the Customs. In case of post parcel, the customs department assesses the duty payable and the postal department collects the assessed duty from the receiver of the gift and subsequently deposits it with the customs.

#8 Parcel Bills in sheet form (in triplicate) and the senders' declarations (if available) and any other relevant documents that may be required for the examination, assessment etc. by the Customs Department.

#9 Whenever necessary, the values from the declarations are entered into the Parcel Bill and after conversion into Indian Currency at the ruling rates of exchange, the amount of duty is calculated and entered. The relevant copies of Parcel Bills with the declarations so completed are then returned to the Postmaster.

#10 Except the Tx-Rx, & Antenna, the rest can be shown as components of electronic toys (I think).

#11 Taking #4 into consideration, it implies that you should not be the billed person and any person living abroad can be the sender. Rest I guess, you can understand.

#12 Will put more updates as and when I get any. Clarifications/ Corrections/ Suggestions are very much welcome.

Come on frnz. So many views but no reply   

For a first timer, you're really taking a huge jump into the hobby.  FPV is usually after years of "regular" flying and learning about the hobby getting ready for the bigger investment.  I recommend finding a friend in your local area and starting off with a trainer.  If you like aerial video, you can always start off off on a smaller scale like a $50 HD camera such as ones I use for my videos.



As for your questions about Customs, it's hit or miss, depending on the Customs people working on which day of the week and what they had for lunch and what kind of mood they are in. 

dont use ems... use air mail only... tis cheaper...

I wont be fitting the camera equipment at first but I thought it would be better to buy everything at once. And the camera I selected is of ~$35 

Secondly, isn't EMS faster in delivery than airmail? Is there any benefit in using airmail other than cheaper price?

EMS always gets into customs...you need to pay customs always....

Better go thru Air mail - it may or may not get into customs....

Thnx Santosh. Do you know what is the delivery time for airmail items from (HobbyKing) Hong Kong? Is it also delivered through Post Office?

It depends upon your place and the postage thru which they send it...

For me - HK to Coimbatore,TN takes the following no. of days,

Sing post - min 14 days
Hong Kong post - Within 12 days
Swiss post - within 15 days

Sing post is the worst....this time too they had send it thru sing post....expecting arrival in 12 days.

This excludes the Time taken by customs - so far I have not been charged customs....

Arun once told me that it took 15 days only in customs for him...

ALL EMS and air mail ,air parcel are delivered by local Post office..

Don't order a huge valued parcel....it will get into the customs eyes quickly and if they come to know the original value of the parcel and they will not follow any govt. rules and demand bribes.....
Better order in multiple orders of $150 or less..

Getting into FPV right off the bat is not advised. It will not be cheaper if you get all the parts at the same time. Plus, as you learn and grow in this hobby and get more acquainted with all the aspects of flying a plane, you might find that the parts that you get now are of no use to you. First get a small and LIGHT plane like the bixler 2 or the axn floater jet. Learn to fly on it. Don't load it up with fpv gear now. You will crash a lot during the first few tries. Believe me that is inevitable
And your first FPV platform should be simple! IBCrazy has some really good tutorials on fpv.

Go through these videos BEFORE you buy anything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dZfovzdSrM&list=PLQfofxd5B8YWAmCMOf03_AGQfRlJJ_iTo

My sincere thanks to theleabres, aniket210696, santhosh-r, lastRites. I think I'll first buy the Sky Surfer V2 from rcbazaar. After getting a hold of it, may be I'll buy the other things from HobbyKing. And I downloaded all the videos of IBCrazy and have gone through them.

Additionally, I plan to put the rc Tx antenna and FPV Rx antenna atop our 3 storied building, and control/monitor my rc plane from there. That is ~40ft above ground. And suppose I fly the plane at +600 ft altitute (~200 mtrs). So I gues 14-15 kms clear LoS (theoretically LoS is 70 kms) is easily achievable with this setup? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also, I heard of some signal boosters for 2.4GHz control Tx. Can you plz tell me where can I find a decent one? Moreover, can the supplied rc-Tx antenna be replaced by a higher gain one(9/11bBi)?

Of course I'll first hone my flying skills in some open field. I just want to plan ahead so that I can know my future plan is right or wrong, what might be the difficulties that I may face and so on.

Don't buy any high end equipment(read high power Tx and High gain antennae) now. Later on as you you comfortable flying line of sight, gradually get into FPV. The urban environment is a veritable minefield for the 2.4gig based control systems. You have to invest in a 433MHz based control. Like dragonlink..
It is better to have a portable GCS(Ground Control Station) than a fixed antenna. You can look towards David Windestål's GCS for inspiration.. He is a FPV guru
http://rcexplorer.se/

If you want your learning experience to be smooth, consider getting the following:
1. A good simulator
2. A good charger like the Acuucel 6 and a smps to power it
3. Backup battery
4. A light trainer
5. A huge place to fly

Thanks for all the info till noe guys. Can you suggest a decent simulator and where to buy it?

Buy a good simulator from either RCbazaar or RCDhamaka..

http://www.rcbazaar.com/products/810-avionic-12-in1-integrated-simulator.aspx

http://www.rcdhamaka.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=56&products_id=300

I am bit confused. How does a simulator work? I install it in pc, ok. After then, what?

A simulator enables you to fly a virtual plane with your transmitter. You need to obtain a simulator like Realflight, FMS etc.(software) and a compatible simulator dongle(hardware). You connect your rc tx with the pc through this dongle.

Quote from: santhosh-r on June 02, 2013, 06:51:12 AM
Buy a good simulator from either RCbazaar or RCDhamaka..

http://www.rcbazaar.com/products/810-avionic-12-in1-integrated-simulator.aspx

http://www.rcdhamaka.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=56&products_id=300

Is the transmitter "FS-TH9X 9ch 2.4GHz transmitter & receiver" available at RC Bazaar compatible with the above quoted simulators?

yes.

Prepairing for the pinjore event?
Jokes apart.. I would sugest to not dive into fpv from the start...

Hello everyone. I bought the Sky Surfer and other related accessories from RCBazaar last month. Having CG probs. Plane crashes few seconds after take off  so fixing that out.

Ordered few other products from HobbyKing worth $163+shipping (Registered Airmail) on 16 July. about 1kg. Received the parcel today. It contained a 1W 5.8 GHz AV Tx-Rx also. So was afraid if it would clear customs. But it cleared. So that's a relief! And ya, was not charged any customs duty 

HI everyone

I ordered a Turnigy 9xr and a face plate for it .
Total Cost : $53
Shipping Method : Air Mail from Malaysia

The custom duty was 2100 INR

2100 for 3200 worth parcel is too high

Why are these people doing like this

Are they simply charging so much or they have some norms


In the slip in the parcel I found that the parcel can be sent back for reassesment . Is it worth sending ??

Yes it is worth sending. You have to send original invoice and proof of payment of the amount mentioned in invoice. For this, credit card statement or bank statement (whichever is applicable) is required. They will then send the documents along with the parcel to customs office where it'll be re-assessed.