A from-scratch analog FPV starter path: RadioMaster Pocket 2 controller → PC sim practice → real analog goggles and whoop. Written up as a reusable guide for anyone starting the same way.
Analog FPV (SteadyView-class video) is the cheapest, most beginner-friendly way into the hobby — lower latency, cheaper goggles and VTX gear, and a mature parts/secondhand ecosystem, versus locking into a pricier DJI O3/O4 or HDZero digital system on day one.
| # | Section | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Controller Choice | RadioMaster Pocket 2, factory firmware limitation, EdgeTX flashing, DFU vs. mass-storage trap, USB Joystick config |
| 2 | Sim Choice, Setup & Calibration | Uncrashed and Liftoff: Micro Drones, radio-to-sim binding, in-sim keys, sim-side throttle softening, AutoHotkey switch bridge |
| 3 | Analog vs. Digital | Why analog over DJI O3/O4 and HDZero — mainly price |
| 4 | Goggle Choice | Skyzone SKY04X Pro vs. HDZero Goggle 2 (close second) vs. DJI Goggles 2 |
| 5 | Drone, Battery & Spares | BetaFPV Meteor75 Pro II, battery sizing, spare parts, weight comparison, Betaflight throttle curve |
| Component | Choice |
|---|---|
| Controller | RadioMaster Pocket 2, EdgeTX 2.12.4 "Queen Anne's Revenge" |
| Sims | Uncrashed (Steam), Liftoff: Micro Drones (Steam) |
| Video system | Analog (SteadyView-class) |
| Goggles | Skyzone SKY04X Pro |
| Drone | BetaFPV Meteor75 Pro II — analog, Quadcopter (pre-built) |
| Battery | LAVA II 1S 580mAh |
Easy to conflate, so stated once up front:
| Where | When | Undo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH3 Weight 75–80% | The radio (EdgeTX) | Sim practice only | Set back to 100% before real flight |
| Mid 0.25 / Expo 0.35 | The drone (Betaflight) | Real flight only | n/a — this is the real tune |
Details in section 2 and section 5.
Sim-trained on Uncrashed, hardware purchased and in hand or en route, adding Liftoff: Micro Drones for whoop-specific practice before first real flights.
Firmware: EdgeTX 2.12.4 "Queen Anne's Revenge" since 2026-09-26, SD card contents 2.12.3. Previously 2.10.6 (2026-09-22), the last version with Advanced USB Joystick on this radio; from 2.11 on the Pocket has Classic mode only, verified in the EdgeTX build source. Full history in Controller Choice.
Open items (details in Controller Choice):
- Switch → button mapping, the Classic-mode way: a switch mixed onto CH9+ shows up as button 1+.
- On-device check that the radio reports 2.12.4 and model
000saved. - Sticks were verified on 2.10.6 (four axes at full range, read from Windows); re-check on 2.12.4.