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Holy Stone HS120D drone review

REVIEW – The brand name that most people who are interested in drones think of starts with a D and comes with a wallet stinging price tag. Finding a drone that has an impressive set of features but a price tag of less than $200 can be a big challenge. Holy Stone was up to that challenge when they created their HS120D drone. Let’s take a look AND take it for a spin.

What is it?

The HS120D is a quad-copter/drone from Holy Stone that has a set of features that you would normally expect from higher-end drones. Features like a 1080p camera, GPS hold, follow me object tracking, and one button lift and land.

Specification

Drone MODEL No. : HS120D
FAA registration : Not required
Weight : 221 g / 7.8 oz
Flight time : 18 minutes
Control range : 300M
Dimensions: 270*270*120 mm
Camera: 1920*1080p 120° FOV
Drone Battery Capacity：1200 mAh
micro SD storage: up to 32GB
Voltage：7.4V Charging Power: 5~10 W
Max Charging Time：120 Mins (Depend on Charging Power)
USB Cable Voltage：5V

What’s in the box?

1 x HS120D Drone
1 x Remote Controller
1 x 1200 mAh Battery
1 x USB Charging Cable
4 x Extra Propellers
4 x Propeller Guards
2 x Landing Gears
1 x Screwdriver
1 x Manual

Design and features

The HS120D is made of lightweight black plastic with an X-shaped quadcopter design. Although this drone is small, the wings do not fold, and it does not come with a carrying case, so it’s not as convenient to transport as some pricier and fancier folding drones can be.

Each of the rotors has a status LED built into the tip which helps you see the status while calibrating the drone and while it’s in flight.

Below the center of the drone is the camera assembly. You’ll also notice the two landing gears that are attached to the bottom of the drone. Holy Stone was nice enough to include 2 extras in the box just in case you lose or break them during your flying adventures.

Also included are propeller guards which snap into the ends of the rotors to protect the propellers from tree limbs and other obstacles. Extras are great because you’ll go through them pretty quickly as you’ll find that they just disappear. But, once you get comfortable flying the HS120D, you shouldn’t really need them.

Unlike the drone itself, the remote controller does fold up for easy carry. The controller has two joysticks on top as well as buttons for power, GPS toggle, auto lift off and land, and a returned to a home button.

On the back edge/shoulders of the controller, you’ll find buttons to toggle video and image capture and dials that control the angle of the camera and flight speed. Two antennas are also located on the back of the device.

The antennas, two handles under the controller, and a phone holder fold out when it’s time to fly. Under the phone holder is a panel of indicator LEDs for that let you see the status of return to home, speed, video capture, and headless mode.

The controller has a built-in rechargeable battery that you can charge with the included micro USB cable.

Getting ready for flight

The steps you’ll need to do before your first flight includes charging the drone’s battery using the included charger. The drone only comes with one battery which can take up to 2hrs to recharge. That will feel like a very long time considering that the flight time per charge is only about 15 minutes.

The next step you need to do is charge the controller which will take about an hour. Luckily, the controller has a much longer battery life and should last several days per charge.

You’ll also want to install the Holy Drone app for your iOS or Android phone. The app is not required, but it does allow you to have an FPV (first person view) from the camera when the drone is paired.

Using the app

Having a first-person view helps you navigate and position the camera while capturing video. The app also has onscreen buttons that match the physical buttons on the controller.

You can also use the app to take the drone out of beginner mode and adjust settings so you can fly the drone higher and farther.

The app keeps a log of your flights so you can see info on distance flown, speed, and altitude.

There’s also a mapping feature that will let you see where you’re flying on a map.


If you have VR goggles you can toggle them on using the app and you can toggle the follow me features which will cause the drone to follow you either by flying as you move or just moving the camera to follow you while the drone stays stationary.

Up, up, and away!

Once the drone and controller’s batteries are charged, the app is installed, and the drone is paired with the controller and the phone. You’re almost ready to take your first flight. The only step left to do go through the calibration sequence which you should do each time the drone is powered up.

The sequence involves rotating the drone horizontally and vertically while paying attention to the status LEDs on each rotor. The sequence only takes a minute and then you’re ready for take off.

Pressing the dedicated take off button will raise the drone a few feet off the ground and will use the GPS to record the spot so that you can press the return to home button so that it will automatically land in that same spot or pretty close to it.

I found that flying the Holy Stone HS120D drone to be very easy and fun. The built-in GPS makes a big difference as it prevents the drone from drifting off in various directions when it’s supposed to be hovering in one spot. The HS120D is almost rock solid when it comes to hovering.

I like the one key take off and land button as well as the return to home button. Return to home (RTH) – Brings the drone back to the last recorded take-off point after you’ve used the one key takeoff/land button.

But after flying the drone for a couple of days, it decided to take a nose dive – literally.

I had it hovering overhead about 60 – 80 feet in the air and was looking down at the controller. I wasn’t pressing any buttons on the physical controller or tapping the screen. I was just looking at live camera view when I heard some buzzing and looked up to see the drone falling out of the sky. I do not know what caused it to crash like that because the battery was not low on juice and even if it was, it has a built-in feature to return to home and land when the battery is low. It was almost like the emergency land feature was triggered. To do that, you have to hold and press the one key liftoff/land button. I’m 99% positive that I did not do that.

Lucky for me that the drone crashed into the ground – instead of my head but it did suffer some damage.

I first noticed that the camera had popped off which was an easy fix. And I also noticed a small crack in one of the quad arms. But the biggest issue came the next day when I tried to fly it again and noticed that my phone couldn’t see the drone’s WiFi SSID. That meant I couldn’t use the app and the live view. I was still able to fly it just fine. I was also able to control the camera’s tilt. And I thought I was able to record video as the controller beeped continously just like it did while previously recording video. But when I went to look for the new video clips they were not on the microSD card.

I uninstalled the app and reinstalled it but no joy. I thought the crash had damaged the internal WiFi radio and the camera. I was bummed because I had planned to capture some more video clips to string together for this review. I was about to give up and then I went to Holy Stone’s website and used their live chat to tell the support person about the problem. They said that the WiFi was in the camera and to check to make sure the cables were still connected.

And what do you know, that was the problem. I plugged the disconnected cable back into the base of the drone and presto, everything started working again. WHEW!

Capturing pics and video

Here is an image that I captured with the drone. For taking static snapshots, it’s not that impressive. The images are blurry and bland.

As for capturing video, the HS120D does a good job but it’s not without issues. Check out the video below and see if you can spot the problem.

Did you notice anything? Go back and watch again and pay attention at the following times :54, 1:32, 2:22, and 3:15. See it now? The video is dropping frames. At first, I thought this problem was due to the damage that the drone had sustained in the 2 crashes. So Holy Stone sent me a 2nd brand new drone. Unfortunately, it had the same issue so it’s some type of glitch in their software or hardware.

You’ll also notice that footage can look a little jerky when you start to fly or stop. The drone has a lot of power and when you press the joystick to go forward, it does just that and it can dip the whole drone forward. Then when you stop it tips the drone up sort of like what happens when you slam on the brakes of your car.

What I like

  • Easy to fly
  • GPS feature allows great hovering in place
  • One touch fly/land buttons and return to home buttons

What needs to be improved

  • Would be nice to include 2 batteries
  • Fix video frame drop problem

Final thoughts

I’ve reviewed or tested several drones now and the Holy Stone HS120D is my favorite inexpensive drone. It’s easy to fly and has a great altitude hold feature. As long as it doesn’t decide to plummet from the sky for no reason like mine did, it’s fun as heck to fly. It doesn’t have a 4K camera and it has a strange frame drop issue, but at only $170, you can’t it to be as good as that other brand. As is, the Holy Drone HS120D is at the top of my list for an affordable drone that’s easy and fun to fly.

Price: $169.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Holy Stone.

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Holy Stone HS120D drone review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 16, 2019 at 2:34 pm.

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Krossblade’s SkyProwler2 gives you a lot of drone to play with

NEWS – Quadcopters are popular these days not in small part because they are easy to fly.  If you’re looking for a step up in complexity and capability, take a look at Krossblade’s recently announced SkyProwler2.  It’s a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, which means that four arms with horizontal propellers, just like a quadcopter, come out for a vertical takeoff or landing, and then the arms then retract, allowing it fly fixed-wing like a plane.  And it can fly, reaching speeds up to 80 mph.

The SkyProwler has a range of 55 miles and a max ceiling of 16,500 ft.  It can fly for about an hour while carrying a 1.1 pound payload, and its radio controller works up to 10 miles away.  The drone can be upgraded with a nose-mounted, stabilized camera for taking 4K video at 30 fps or 16 MP stills.

If the SkyProwler is a step up in complexity, it’s also a step up in price.  When you submit an order on Krossblade’s website, it will arrive in 4 weeks and set you back three grand; yep, the retail price of this gadget is $2,999.  This price does, however, give you a lot of bang for your buck, as it includes the radio controller, two Android tablets (one with ground control software and another for the video feed), a briefcase-like carrying case, two batteries, and a charger, and various spare parts.  The camera upgrade is another $999. You can put in your order at Krossblade’s online store.

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Krossblade’s SkyProwler2 gives you a lot of drone to play with originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 11, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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Imaginations fly high with PowerUp 2.0 paper airplane motor

NEWS – Let your imagination and creativity sore to new heights with the PowerUp 2.0 paper airplane conversion kit electric motor.

In just minutes you can convert your own paper airplane into a motorized flying machine.

The PowerUp 2.0 includes:

  • 50K RPM motor
  • Carbon-fiber body
  • Reinforced nylon nose clip
  • Quick-charge port
  • Charger (3 AA batteries not included)

The kit is designed to maximize flying time, yet durable enough for those inevitable crash landings.

Each charge takes only 20 seconds, and each set of batteries is good for about 50 charges.

This gadget is ideal for those interested in paper airplanes, STEM, aerodynamics or just making things fly and crash. It could also be a fun option if you’re looking for a hands-on activity for your class, birthday party or scouting event.

When paired with a paper-airplane folding kit or construction book, along with some heavy-duty paper, the PowerUp 2.0 could make for a cool, unique gift for the children in your life (or the kids at heart!).

Available on Amazon for $16.99, currently offering a 10-percent off coupon.

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Imaginations fly high with PowerUp 2.0 paper airplane motor originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 9, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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The most popular kinds of drones we’ll see in 2019

ARTICLE – Consumers arguably became most familiar with drones by getting introduced to the ones that took photos from the sky. Those kinds are still popular, and many drone enthusiasts own them.

But, like any other segment, the drone industry evolves to meet needs. Here are five kinds of drones most likely to gain prominence in 2019.

1. Pocket-Sized/Microdrones

Although there are drones of modest builds that make them maximally accessible to hobbyists, there’s a recent push toward drones that could fit in backpacks or even smaller compartments.

AirSelfie unveiled several new pocket-sized drones at CES 2019, opening up the possibilities for people who want drones they can hold in their hands. The AIR 100 is the least expensive option, retailing for under $100. It boasts a 12-megapixel camera and a six-minute flight time.

The U.S. Army is also getting into the microdrone market with plans to equip its soldiers with personal reconnaissance drones that can survey battlefields for their operators and send back footage to them. The drones weigh only 1.16 ounces and are less than seven inches long.

People could see many more uses for microdrones in 2019, especially depending on the reception of these early efforts. It’s easy to see how these gadgets could be big hits during backyard parties.

2. Home Security Drones

Households are accustomed to intelligent security cameras that move in response to changes in the environment and even use artificial intelligence to recognize people versus animals, for example. It appears the next level of home security advancements involves drones. Many of the companies offering them suggest that drones get used as part of a more extensive home security system.

If a person noticed something on a camera that caused concern, they could direct the drone to check it out in detail. Sunflower Labs has a drone called a Bee that flies autonomously, guided by sensors called Sunflowers. Users can also make the Bee fly to designated places on their properties.

Companies use most of the security drones now, but Sunflower Labs is among numerous companies trying to make drones staples of home security systems. They could be especially advantageous for people who live on expansive properties, such as farms. The moveable nature of drones could mean an owner could send only one drone to look around the whole property, instead of installing several cameras.

3. Underwater Drones

Thanks to new technologies, people can admire drones in the air as well as underwater. Companies sell models for hobbyists and professionals, with one called the Deep Trekker DTG2 Pro outfitted with 4K camera and video capabilities at a depth of up to 150 meters. Those features make the drone excellent for scuba divers who want footage of their adventures.

And, there’s the Geneinno Titan, with its three speed levels and power from six thrusters. This model has an automatic hover mode and can take shots from both high and low angles.

In today’s society, people love collecting videos and snapshots and sharing them with others. The nice thing about these water-ready drones is that they give undersea perspectives to individuals on land.

4. Disaster Recovery/Relief Drones

Engineering experts in laboratory settings have suggested drones could be excellent for helping relief workers examine rubble after earthquakes and engage in similar tasks that are dangerous for humans to undertake. In 2019, people interested in drones can expect more real-life applications of those drones.

A recent collaborative project in Japan involved TerraDrone, KDDI, and Secom, and the companies unveiled a drone used for stadium security that detects suspicious people. Representatives believe the drone could be a good fit for disaster relief missions, too.

Also, the underwater drones mentioned above help people acquire footage of surroundings beneath the ocean. But, some could do double duty and assist after disasters, too. In one case, officials in India used a drone to find the body of a miner trapped due to flooding.

That story didn’t have an uplifting outcome, but an initiative in Alaska that relies on drones could be different. Drone experts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are working on a way to use unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver supplies during medical emergencies. The researchers assert mushers on dog sleds handled the job in earlier eras, and now the task seems suitable for drones.

Many Drones to Interest Gadget Lovers in 2019

Some of these drone projects are in the early stages, but they give previews of larger trends likely to happen in the world of drones this year.

People should keep an eye on the headlines to stay abreast with how these possibilities develop, and which other companies follow suit with other ideas that fit into these categories.

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The most popular kinds of drones we’ll see in 2019 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 8, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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A drone for the flipside of the horizon

NEWS – The Titan Underwater Drone will be displayed at this years CES conference. The drone is a product of  Geneinno, a technology company dedicated to the design of modern underwater equipment. They characterize Titan as the world’s first underwater drone with a robotic arm. I’m skeptical that this is actually a “drone” since it must operate tethered and doesn’t make a droning noise when piloted. Furthermore, remotely operated vehicles have been used in the ocean for over 60 years and ROV Jason used to explore the Titanic with its robotic arm, is at least 30 years old.

Superlatives aside, the Titan is still a neat bit of tech and last year’s model won the coveted Red Dot Design Award at CES. This years model is able to dive up to 492ft, making it the deepest diving underwater drone with a 4K camera, It comes with precise hovering, 3000 lumens of illumination, lens filter support, and is capable of high and low angle photography (-60° to 60° pitch). The Titan features self-balancing and anti-current algorithms for the best underwater performance. A port on the hull base can be used for attaching a robotic arm, hydrophone, sonar or other extension developed in the future. The Titan currently retails for $2,599 and includes the robotic arm. Visit geneinno.com for more info.

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A drone for the flipside of the horizon originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 6, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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