The Best FPV Goggles for Drone Pilots

The world has totally evolved, with the technology getting to heights never thought as practical before. In fact, activities like gaming used to be boring and unattractive to most people, before technology came in and changed everything. One such form of technology is remotely controlling devices like drones when racing out with friends, during your free time with one of these best FPV goggles.

However, even as much as piloting a racing drone seems to be a fun activity, it still lacks something to offer the exceptional experience that would make you enjoy the racing more. This is where devices like First Person View (FPV) Goggles come in to bring in the first-hand experience when engaging in drone racing.

They immerse you fully in the racing so that you can enjoy every bit of it. As such, you may need to know more about First Person View(FPV) Goggles, and how you can choose the best, to get a quality experience when flying your drone. Read on to discover the various tips you should consider when choosing your FPV Goggles:

IPD Adjustment

IPD means Interpupillary Distance, which is simply the distance between the centers of the pupils of your eyes. You need to make sure that the goggles you choose are adjustable while considering the involved distance, no matter how big or small. Besides, we all have unique faces, which also have different Interpupillary Distances. When the IPD is not adjustable, the image may look distorted because your pupils are not aligned to the image entry points on the goggles.

Goggle Resolution

There is no need to overemphasize on this point, as it seems almost basic to most people. In short, the resolution at this point is similar to that of a standard monitor, which means that the higher the resolution, the clearer you images will be. The only setback regarding resolution which you may come across when buying FPV Goggles is that the higher the image resolution, the more you will have to spend. There are four most common resolution groups that include QVGA(320×420 pixels), VGA(640×480 pixels), SVGA(800×600 pixels), and FWVGA(854×480 Pixels). The most common resolutions from the group are VGA and SVGA, as the goggles with such are also quite affordable.

Aspect Ratio

This is also another screen aspect that is somehow related to resolution, with the most common aspect ratios for FPV Goggles falling under 16:9 and 4:3. There is also the ratio 5:3, which is not as common as the other two, even though 5:3 (1.666) is closer to 16:9 (1.777). The FPV camera on your drone is either 16:9 or 4:3, which is why you need to ensure that the FPV goggles you choose match the aspect ratio of the camera, to get perfect image results. The most common cameras fall under the 4:3 ratio, though there are also the ones under the 16:9 ratio.

Field Of View (F.O.V)

The angles of view, in this case, is the angle that the center of your eyes makes with the edges of the screens of your goggles. For most of the FPV Goggles, expect a Field Of View ranging between 25 and 45, while the more expensive glasses have a higher FOV. In other words, more expensive goggles will have a better immersive experience, since they will have a higher Field Of View. However, you should learn to differentiate the camera FOV with the goggles FOV.

Video Recording

Imagine a situation whereby your drone has crashed and you need to find it, or you have seen something you may want to share with your friends. In such a case, video recording comes in handy, so that you can have a preview of your flying. The best FPV Goggles can allow you to keep some records of your flight video on something like a micro SD card. There are even others that will enable you to replay an event right on the goggle screens. As expected, such FPV goggles will be quite expensive in comparison to the regular ones.

Video Receiver Frequency

The video receiver frequency is also another important consideration you need to make when buying your FPV Goggles since this is a major determinant of whether you will be able to get past various obstacles such as walls. The main frequencies you can choose from range from 900 MHz, 1.2 GHz, all the way to 5.8 GHz. Most drone experts suggest that a lower frequency is essential if you want to penetrate obstacles or objects such as walls, trees, and others. You might, however, need to know whether the frequency you choose is legal in your country. Take, for example, 900MHz which is illegal in various countries. You should avoid choosing such frequencies to operate with, as such choices may land you in trouble. The most preferred video frequencies for most users range between 2.8 – 5.8 GHz.

Head Tracking technology

This is one of the most exciting technologies that have been employed to drone piloting. It allows the FPV camera to be controlled by the head movements of the pilot. In other words, when the pilot turns their head to the left, the camera is also tilted to the left. When the pilot’s head is turned right, up, and down, the camera will mimic the movements and turn accordingly. However, this feature is commonly available for the more expensive drones.

Piloting Range

There is usually a certain distance for which you can operate your drone without facing any challenges, even though this depends on the transmission tools position and their power. For most FPV Goggles, expect to receive a reliable video feedback for up to a 200m range without any issues. However, other high-quality FPV goggles will have a longer range for which they can receive the video from the mounted FPV camera.

Price

As you probably are aware, high-quality devices are usually more expensive in comparison to other regular equipment, which is why you need to invest more in your FPV goggles, if you want to have the best experience. All you need to do is consider what you want to use your drone for (Racing, hobby, light flying, etc.), and decide on the flexibility of your budget that way.

Color

As much as this may look quite personal, it could also be a major decision to make, considering things like the environment you have. When piloting your drone in the sun, you don’t want your dark goggles to absorb a lot of heat and make you feel uncomfortable. In such cases, you may consider getting light-colored goggles.