I recently got a Pro version of the Hubsan H501S, which is a fantastic quadcopter at a very affordable price.
This is my second quadcopter, the previous one being the Hubsan H107L. The H501S is a big step up in terms of size and features.
With this more expensive drone, I took some time to learn more about this hobby and the technicalities surrounding it.
Most of my reading ended up being focused on batteries and battery care. The Hubsan H501S comes with one battery for the drone itself, and no batteries for the transmitter. Since one battery gets you around 20 minutes of flying time, I immediately ordered three more LiPo batteries; they’re exactly the same as the one that comes with the drone. You can use 4 AA batteries for the transmitter, but I found out that getting a dedicated LiPo battery is much more convenient. It lasts more and is more convenient to charge.
That brings us to the topic of charging. The charger that comes with the H501S is a cheap one that really is not very reliable nor does it take the best care of your batteries. If you want your batteries to be correctly charged each and every time you need to get a high-quality balance charger. I opted for the SkyRC S60, which is a very popular option. It’s economical and very easy to transport around due to its compact size.
So what is balance charging anyway? A balance charger will check the voltages of each individual cell in your battery and ensure they all have the same voltage. This is a critical factor to monitor as if one of the cells voltage increases or drops below the required voltage range the battery could get damaged, or worse, catch fire. You don’t want your new hobby to end up burning down your house, so do yourself a favor and get the balance charger. One additional function of the SkyRC S60 is that you can discharge batteries to the optimal capacity for storage. It’s not the best thing for batteries to be stored at full capacity.
One additional function of the SkyRC S60 is that you can discharge batteries to the optimal capacity for storage. It’s not the best thing for batteries to be stored at full capacity.
To connect the transmitter LiPo battery as well as the drone’s batteries to the SkyRC S60 charger, you will need a couple of cables:
- RC Connector Multifunction Balance Charging Cable TRX T Plug JST JR FUTABA
- EC2 To Banana Plug Charge Lead Adapter For Hubsan H501S X4 RC Quadcopter
Next thing I got is a Realacc LiPo battery bag. It’s a fireproof bag that you can use to safely store and transport your batteries. It’s also a great idea to put the batteries in the bag while charging. Charging time is when most fire accidents happen, so it’s a critical time to have the batteries in the bag. If a battery catches fire, the fire will be contained in the bag. Also, never charge these batteries unattended. Make sure you’re around to jump in and take action in case of fire or smoke. Always better to keep things safe.
The next accessory to get if you want to get better photos and videos is the gymbal for GoPro cameras. This is especially worth buying if you already have a GoPro (or similar) camera and you want to use it on your drone as well. Although it is referred to as a gymbal on the product page, this is more of a cage for your camera than a real gymbal. You’ll get much better photo and video quality, but it’s not to be compared to what you’d get with a real (and much more expensive) motorized gymbal.
Finally, as I discovered shortly after receiving the H501S drone, you will need a good solution to carry the drone and all the accessories around, unless you want to use the box it comes (very unpractical and doesn’t look cool). The best solution is the hard shell backpack case bag. The protective foam inside is made to fit the standard transmitter but can be easily modified with a sharp knife to fit the advanced transmitter as well. A cheaper alternative is the Realacc suitcase box.
Enjoy your H501S! If you have any questions regarding the accessories, leave a question below.
h501S and Hubsan newcomer here. Is there any way to charge the standard battery via USB? I see lots of after market usb cables but Hubsan does not seem to sell them. Drone is mostly used while camping and we are on a 12 volt system which makes charging using the provided charger difficult.
Thanks.
Hello, Jean… I appreciate your site. My x4 H501s came with the upgrade antennas. From what I have read, the upgrade should have increased my range with video and control. However, I have found no difference in range from the stock antenna. Have I omitted something that should have been done? Is an upgrade in firmware required? What is the latest firmware version being run…? Thank you for your time…
Hi. Can Anybody tell me what is the best lipo to fit in the h501s advanced transmitter please. Having trouble finding one.
There’s a guy on ebay selling them, about $20US each, 11.4v 2600mAh
Many thanks.
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Trying to get a replacement back door for my transmitter remote control on the Hudson 501s the transmitter is standard if somebody could please tell me where I can find a replacement battery compartment door
The H501S camera is not adjustable for pitch/angle. Have you seen any kind of mod, after-market, or method to make the camera adjustable for pitch angle?
Thanks!
Not really, it’s a very basic camera, I just attach a GoPro and get much better quality.
Just unboxed new H501S X4 FPV, controller must be new design as it only takes 4 AA batteries.
Charged lipo and installed 4 new AA batts. Powering up screen showed full charge on both. Started calibrations and before I’d finished the controller power had drained so much green led was flashing red. Either controller faulty or bought duff batteries . Tempted to remove back and look for pinched wires
No you bought the standard version….
I want to use a LiPo battery instead of 8 AA batteries for my remote H 501s advanced..any suggestions..thanks
Yes this Hubsan Advanced Controller battery is the one I got.
I have the regular transmitter but i modded my battery setup not with a lipo but with 2 li-ion 3.7v batteries, had them for about a year now and get an average of 8-10 flights before they need recharge. Much safer too as they have some protection features that lipos do not have..
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-5000mAh1-Rechargeable-Discharge-Flashlights/dp/B01143OTXA/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504506871&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Ultrafire+18650+Battery+Pack+Li-ion+5000+mAh
Hi on the hubsan advance transmitter there is an video output for the goggles what type of connector would this be. I would like to install an 7 inch LCD display and or goggles
Thanks
Not sure about that sorry, please post back if you find a suitable accessory for that purpose.
There is a connector on the bottom of transmitter.
I recommend this http://www.banggood.com/Hubsan-X4-H501S-RC-Quadcopter-Spare-Parts-EC2-Plug-Battery-Parallel-Cable-p-1076625.html?p=OC23097515901201611E to anyone wanting to push your Hubsan a little farther with a good 30 minutes worth of flying. Just grabbing some velcro straps off of ebay for $2 to keep it secure, easy cheap mod that is well worth it. Slight mods to the hatch may be needed to keep most cords in.
Thanks for the recommendation Garrett.