Assessment: BetaFPV Pavo20 Professional II (V2) Cinewhoop – What’s New? Ought to You Improve?

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When BetaFPV advised me they have been releasing the Pavo20 Professional II (V2), I used to be anticipating a brand new quad. Turned out it’s principally the V1 with a couple of tweaks. So the true query is: who is that this V2 really for, and must you improve? On this overview, I’ll stroll you thru what’s modified, what I like and don’t like, and whether or not it is sensible to maneuver from the Pavo20 Professional V1 to the V2.

New to FPV? Begin with our Cinewhoop Purchaser’s Information: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/

The place to Purchase

Buy the Pavo20 Professional II from:

The Pavo20 Professional II comes with:

• Digicam cage for DJI O4 Lite
• Digicam cage for DJI O4 Professional
• 1 set of propellers (4 complete)
• NightFire LED strip and controller board
• Mounting {hardware}

Variations Between V1 and V2

The variations between the unique Pavo20 Professional V1 and the brand new V2 are minor.

Right here is the specs comparability.

The principle adjustments are:

• The V2 contains two totally different digicam cages for the DJI O4 Lite and O4 Professional (the identical mounts discovered within the Pavo Pico II).
• The general body design and geometry stay principally unchanged, with solely slight tweaks to the carbon fiber plate and plastic body to accommodate the brand new digicam cages.
• NightFire RGB LED strip is now included as customary, whereas it was beforehand unique to the Pavo20 NightFire version. Personally, I don’t care a lot for LEDs and often take away them—they add weight with out bettering efficiency.

That’s principally it.

The motors, propellers, flight controller, ESC, and total weight are successfully equivalent, so you possibly can count on very comparable flight efficiency and flight time in comparison with the V1.

Added O4 Professional and O4 Lite Help

The one significant change within the V2 is the cover (digicam cages).

On the V1, the body was designed particularly for the DJI O4 Professional and O3. In case you needed to run the DJI O4 Lite, the reply was: purchase a unique mannequin just like the Pavo Pico II or Meteor75.

With the Pavo20 Professional V2, the carbon fiber plate has been redesigned to assist each the DJI O4 Professional and DJI O4 Lite, utilizing devoted digicam cages. These cages are primarily the identical design as these used on the Pavo Pico II and are totally interchangeable. This implies you possibly can transfer your O4 Lite or O4 Professional between these fashions.

Flight Efficiency

Actually, there’s not a lot new to say right here. The drone feels precisely like the unique Pavo20 Professional—besides now it helps each the DJI O4 Lite and O4 Professional.

For an in depth evaluation of flight efficiency, you possibly can check with my unique Pavo20 Professional overview: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-pavo20-pro-dji-o4-pro/#Flight-Efficiency

For reassurance, there aren’t any noticeable oscillations or jello out of the field, which is nice. BetaFPV supplies two separate PID profiles, one for the DJI O4 Lite and one for the O4 Professional, so ensure you choose the right profile for the air unit you’re utilizing.

By way of velocity, it’s not akin to highly effective freestyle drones, nevertheless it has sufficient punch to stay enjoyable for out of doors flying. Being a small ducted cinewhoop, it additionally works effectively indoors, though it may be a bit loud and highly effective for tight, confined areas the place very exact management is required. That mentioned, it’s nonetheless comparatively safer to fly round individuals or pets in comparison with open-prop freestyle quads.

O4 Set up

To put in the DJI O4 Lite or O4 Professional air unit within the Pavo20 Professional V2, comply with my directions from the Pavo Pico II overview—the set up course of is basically equivalent: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-pavo-pico-ii/#How-to-Set up-the-DJI-O4-Lite

The right way to Setup

Earlier than the primary flight, I did the next:

• Put in the 2 O4 antennas within the antenna mount.
• Eliminated the protecting movie from the digicam lens.
• Plug in a smoke stopper, and join a battery and check the drone and see if it powers up accurately. You must hear the ESC/motor initiation beeps.
• Personally I’d keep away from putting in the LED strip to save lots of weight.

Firmware

• The flight controller (FC) board goal is BETAFPVF405, and it comes preloaded with Betaflight firmware model 4.5.0. For inventory CLI Diff, see right here.
• ESC Firmware: Bluejay, 0.19 (C-X-70)
• ELRS Receiver Firmware Goal: Generic ESP8285 2.4GHz RX, firmware 3.3.0

Betaflight Setup

Conclusion: Who Ought to Think about the Pavo20 Professional V2?

To be frank, this doesn’t actually really feel like a real V2—extra like a V1.1. In case you already personal the unique Pavo20 Professional and don’t plan to make use of the DJI O4 Lite, there’s no cause to improve. They fly precisely the identical.

In case you’re contemplating this quad particularly to regularly swap between the O4 Lite and O4 Professional, assume twice. The digicam cages are mounted to the body utilizing small rubber grommets, and putting in them is fiddly and time-consuming.

Nonetheless, for those who’re new to FPV and desire a beginner-friendly 2-inch cinewhoop, the Pavo20 Professional V2 is a really strong selection. It flies effectively straight out of the field, has prop guards for added security, and now helps each the DJI O4 Lite and O4 Professional, making it extra versatile for newcomers.