MJX Bugs 6/8 Review
MJX Bugs 6 Review - Since the launch of the MJX Bugs 3, Mei Jia Xin Toys (MJX) has seemed to be setting a new direction in the drone business with a focus on the entry-level segment and low budget for newcomers or those with tight budgets.
This strategy has been tested quite successfully after the Bugs 3 has become one of the most popular newcomer level consumer drones in the market today. Instead of competing with big-budget brands like DJI and Yuneec, MJX has been sorting it out to understand specific targets in a market that other brands have not tried very much.
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| MJX Bugs 6 |
The latest models of the Bugs series drones are the subject of this discussion. My initial impression of the MJX's latest drone when I received a discussion illustration was that it was going to be a good design like the Bugs 3. Read on and you will see why.
The Bugs 6 is a ready-to-fly (RTF) 250-dimensional FPV racer aimed at the newcomer tier segment of the FPV racer market. Despite being a uniform in terms of dimensions to Walkera's famous Runner 250, it does not compete directly with Runner, as it has much lower prices and features and makes it less sophisticated than the majority of true FPV racers. Obviously, the Bugs 3 is designed for newcomers to the FPV racing world - newcomers who are still learning how to fly and aren't willing to spend several hundred dollars on premium gear.
Bugs 3 comes in 4 different kits. There is a basic kit that comes with the drone as well as a transmitter (radio controller) as well as an FPV kit which has the drone, transmitter and FPV headset. There are also 2 other kits which are alterations from the original 2. Featured in this discussion is the FPV kit. So that this discussion is not too long, the FPV headset and monitor will be covered in a separate discussion which will be published quickly.
Getting the Bugs 6 to fly is a very simple matter. Install the propeller, insert the battery and go through the early connection process to connect the drone to the transmitter (only tried once) and you are all set. Simplicity was the main goal of the Bugs 6 design. Moreover, the motor could be detached from the ESC 8A 4- in-1 without requiring any soldering.
Build Quality and Design
The Bug 6 drive is a 7.4V 2S battery housed in a support at the base of the fuselage. The 2S battery may not want to provide the same lightning flight performance as the 3S or 4S battery but, as mentioned earlier, the Bugs 6 is a drone for newcomers and tame acceleration and speed is just what newcomers need. The Bugs 6 may not be as tight as a dragset but it has a propulsion that gives it decent speed and stability in windy conditions.
The Bugs 6 has a body made entirely of plastic as well as a sort of larger Bugs 3, which has a fuselage cover that can be removed quickly without the need for equipment. In Bugs 3 this is a nice feature but in Bugs 6, it can be a problem. This is because the lids tend to open on their own in the event of a hard landing or impact, exposing the sensitive electronic components inside. One quick revision that can be tried to get rid of this problem is to secure the sides of the cover with tape so that it doesn't come off when there is an impact.
Despite these minor issues, the Bugs 6 is actually quite well built and designed. MJK has gone to great lengths to make Bugs 6 as easy to care for and to use. Moreover, the propeller does not require any equipment to be installed or removed. Components mean such as FPV cameras, ESC 4- in-1 and flight controllers are all easy to access so changing or trying to fix these components is an easy matter.
Transmitter
The Bugs 6 arrives with a 4- channel 2-way transmitter which has a controlling range of 300m. It has a cover like other MJX models such as the Bugs 3. One useful telemetry feature of the transmitter is low voltage and low signal alerts. When the battery energy of the drone is low or if the control signal starts to weaken, the transmitter will start beeping.
The transmitter works fine even though it feels very basic and plastic. This obviously reduces the cost of creation as well as protects the bargain price of the Bugs 6. One thing I'm worried about for the transmitter is that it is powered by 4 AA batteries and not a Li Po battery. Since the advertised optimal control range is only 300m, the real issue is not with the range but the battery stops which can start to oxidize with time.
Oxidation at these stops can cause an increase in current resistance and this can generate energy for shrinking or being cut off while flying, which is something you don't want to be tied up when flying lightning or big. One solution to this problem is to occasionally sterilize the bus stops with alcohol or some sort of cleaning agent.
Dialogging over control range, the actual tests I ran on the Bugs 6 showed that the true optimal control range was between 160 and 200m with clear line of sight. Near 70, the transmitter starts beeping to warn of low signal strength although radio control can still be maintained to fly the drone properly. Exceeding 200m, radio control is cut off and the motor automatically stops turning.
FPV Camera MJX C5830 5. 8G
The Bugs 6 arrives with the FPV C5830 camera which has its own built-in FPV 5. 8G transmitter with 500mW of energy and 8 channels (Band C). The camera's omnidirectional antenna is attached to the side of the fuselage. The camera has 3 tilt levels so you can adjust it to your flying style. It also has 3 channel buttons on its body.
The C5830 has a fairly good FPV range although it is not on par with FPV cameras which have a greater transmitter energy output and an antenna in the form of a clover. In conclusion, the Bugs 8 is designed for newcomers who are better off flying at close range. What's more, the transmitter control range of the Bugs 3 doesn't exceed 300m so the C5830's FPV range and energy are sufficient.
Also read: Knowing Drone MJX Bugs 5W Review & User Manual | Drone Zone Manual
Flying Performance
Flying performance is the biggest advantage of the Bugs 6. Although not as early as a pure FPV racer, the Bugs 6 has enough power to protect it so it is normal enough to fly roughly especially in windy conditions.
So a newcomer FPV racer means that the flight features on the Bugs 6 are pretty basic when it comes to FPV racers. Altitude hold is missing although this is not a big problem because flying without this feature feels more accurate and just right. There are 2 flight speeds - large and low - and the Bugs 6 is also capable of performing uniform automatic 3D flip with smaller toy drones.
Obviously, the flight features on the Bugs 8 are not meant for advanced pilots. Features like acro fashion are absent and the flight controller doesn't have a USB port or anything for the user to tweak the FC settings to get used to different flying styles. But even so, the PID values as well as the default settings on the Bugs 6 deservedly satisfy the majority of pilots just getting started on FPV flights.
