Eachine Novice II is a toothpick RTF FPV freestyle racing quadcopter. Since it is Ready To Fly (RTF), it is meant for users new to this hobby: the package includes everything you need. It is just a matter of charging the batteries and we are ready to lift off.
The drone is available in two version:
- Standard
- Fly more
The only difference is that the second one includes ten batteries while the standard has only two of them.
Package Contents
Here is the list of what is included in the package:
- Eachine Novice II
- 8 x HQPROP T65 bi-blade propellers (4 CW, 4 CCW)
- 2 x 3.8v 460mAh Battery
- 6 in 1 LIPO/LIHV Charger
- Flysky FS-i6 Radio Transmitter Mode 2
- Eachine VR009 5.8G 40CH Goggles
- Propeller disassemble tool
- Screwdriver
- USB and video cables
- Drone bag
The bag is a very nice addition and it is very useful to carry the drone during the travel to the flying spot.
Specifications
The specs for the Eachine Novice II are reported down below:
- Motor: EX1103, 8500KV
- Propellers: HQPROP T65 bi-blade
- Flight Controller, receiver, ESC: Nano-X F4
- VTX: Whoop 25-200mw switchable
- FPV Camera: Caddx EOS2 v2
- Battery: LiPo 1S 460mAh
- Transmitter: FlySky FS-i6
- FPV Goggles: VR009
- Weight: 50g
Frame
Eachine Novice II Frame is a classic carbon X-frame: each arm has a length of 120mm with a thickness of 2.5mm. Arm’s end on which motors are mounted has a good extra part for protecting motors in case of crash. The top plate is 2mm thick.
FPV Camera
The FPV camera equipped is the Caddx EOS2 v2 which is a decent camera with a 1/3” CMOS Sensor, 1200 TVL and a 2.1mm lens. The aspect ratio is 4:3.
Motors and Propellers
Eachine Novice II has brushless motors, specifically the EX1103 8500KV and they are paired with some good bi-blade HQ props, which have a diameter of 65mm and a pitch of 1.5”: it is always a good idea to buy some spare HQ T65 propellers.
Each motor is held by three screws on the bottom of the frame.
FC, ESC, Receiver stack
The Flight Controller is the Nano-X F4 which has a built-in Flysky AFHDS-2A receiver and a 4in1 ESC 5A loaded with BLHeli (6A continuous peak for 5 seconds). The FC is flashed with Betaflight 4.0.4 firmware.
A nice feature is the presence of a full size buzzer, so you can find the drone pretty easily even if it crashes in tall grass.
VTX
Eachine Novice II is equipped with a Whoop VTX which features switchable power output from 25 to 200mW. The antenna is the classic dipole used in micro quads.
FPV Goggles
FPV goggles included are the well known VR009, which are budget box style goggles: nothing special, they do their job and the good thing is that they are pretty light weight. They are pretty similar to the VR006, so take a look at this review if you want to change antennas to improve the reception or apply some mods.
Transmitter
Since it is RTF, the transmitter is included: this is the famous FS-i6 which is a solid TX, so if this is your first drone you can reuse it for next BNF/PNP aircrafts.
Battery
Batteries included with the Eachine Novice II are 3.8V 480mAh 1S LiPo and they are stated having a continuous discharge rate of 50C and instantaneous discharge rate of 100C. They weight 13g and have a PH2.0 connector.
The charger is very nice because it is portable and can be powered with other LiPos, like a 3S, so it is possible to charge batteries also on the field. It has a XT60, an AC and a USB port with a simple display showing charging volts values. If the led is solid green then the battery is completely charged.
However, this remains a low quality product and balancing could not be so precise so, if you want to upgrade to a better battery charger which has many other functions and that can also be used to charge LiPo batteries up to 6 cells (and many other battery types like NiMh), take a look at the HOTA D6 Pro battery charger article: it is not so expensive, but it is at another level.
Conclusions
Eachine Novice II is a good choice for beginners since the package includes everything you need to fly at an affordable price. The frame is pretty strong, so it can handle well crashes. Another good thing is also the availability of all spare parts, like frame, motors and so on.
Eachine Novice II is available here.