Maximum flight time
Maximum flight time of a quadcopter on one full battery charge. This indicator is quite approximate, since it is most often indicated for ideal conditions - in real use, the flight time may be less than stated. However, by this indicator it is quite possible to evaluate the general capabilities of the copter and compare it with other models - a longer declared flight time in practice usually means higher autonomy.
Note that for modern copters, a flight time
of 20 minutes or more is considered a good indicator, and in the most “long-lasting” models it can exceed 40 minutes.
Range
The range of the drone is the maximum distance from the control device at which a stable connection is maintained and the device remains controlled. For models that allow operation both from the remote control and from a smartphone (see "Control"), this item indicates the maximum value — usually achieved when using the remote control.
When choosing according to this indicator, note that the range is indicated for perfect conditions — within line of sight, without obstacles in the signal path and interference on the air. In reality, the control range may be somewhat lower; and when using a smartphone, it will also depend on the characteristics of a particular gadget. As for specific figures, they can vary from several tens of metres in low-cost models to
5 km or more in high-end equipment. At the same time, it should be said that the greater the range of communication, the higher its reliability in general, the better the control works with an abundance of interference and obstacles. Therefore, a powerful transmitter can be useful not only for long distances, but also for difficult conditions.
Video transmission frequency
The frequency of the radio channel used to transmit the video stream from the camera on board the drone to the receiving device: smartphone or tablet, control panel or pilot’s video glasses. The most common frequencies are 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz; video data transmission at a frequency of 1.2 GHz is less common. This parameter directly affects the quality and stability of the video signal, depending on environmental conditions, as well as accompanying interference from other devices. Thus, for receiving video from FPV drones, the most preferable frequency is 5.8 GHz, which is due to a wide selection of channels and high data transfer rates.
Battery capacity
The capacity of the battery supplied with the quadcopter.
Theoretically, a larger battery can provide a longer charge time. However, keep in mind that this time also depends on the power consumption of the copter — and it is determined by the power of the engines, dimensions and weight, as well as a number of other features. In addition, the actual battery capacity is determined not only by ampere-hours, but also by its nominal voltage. Therefore, only quadcopters with the same battery voltage and similar operating characteristics can be compared by amp-hours; and it is best to evaluate battery life by directly claimed flight time (see below).
Dimensions
General dimensions of the device. A fairly obvious parameter; we only note that for models with a folding structure (see above), in this paragraph, the dimensions in the working (unfolded) position are given, and the dimensions in the folded form are specified separately.