INTRODUCTION

After to popular success Bugs3, a great RTF entry model brushless quadcopter, MJX are now introducing several new machines. Among them we can find the MJX Bugs 6. It’s also a 2S 250mm brushless quadcopter but with the possibility to welcome a FPV cam combo able to record videos at 720p resolution. Clearly the Bugs 6 can be seen as the Bugs 3 FPV revision. In complement of the FPV DVR cam module, a 4.3″ 32CH 5.8G FPV monitor module can be added as well as a FPV goggle mask. In the full configuration, you a complete FPV RTF package targetting intermediate pilots who want to acquire first FPV feedbacks. This machine represents a direct competitor of the Cheerson CX-91 and the Hisky HMX280R. Let’s discover this product

BOX CONTENT

+ 1 x MJX Bugs 6
+ 1 x Battery 1300mAh 2S LiPo with XT30 connector
+ 1 x Transmitter (using 4xAA batteries not included)
+ 1 x FPV-camera module
+ 1 x 4.3″ 32CH 5.8G FPV monitor
+ 1 x FPV goggles mask
+ 1 x Sunhood
+ 1 x Charger
+ 1 x Monitor bracket
+ 4 x Spare props (2 CW, 2 CCW)
+ 2 x Screwdriver
+ 1 x Instruction manual (English)

The number of accesories is impressive for the full version. Only missing 4xAA batteries for the transmitter but except that, you have everrything to fly FPV.

OVERVIEW

The Bugs 6 is a 250mm machine full nylon plastic based. No trace of any carbon element. The general structure is very close to the Cheerson CX-91 one. At least arm’s strucure seems pretty strong and shoud resist pretty well to most type of crash. We have a lower unibody, it means that if an arms break, all the electronic must be removed first to change all the lower broken structure. At least arms are 7mm large.

-FRONT VIEW

Two large front white LEDs are installed, ideal for night flight of course and to keep your orientation for LOS flights even in strong day lights, they are very visible.

By default, the FPV-cam DVR combo is not installed but it takes 2-3min to install it. The Lens is more or less protected by this thin front shock absorber. At least you can uptilt the lens without occlusion in the FPV signal.

-SIDE VIEW

No specific ports can be found …. so no possibility for example to set some PIDs for the flight controller. It’s clearly a none-open system. The ground clearance is about 5cm. The left side welcomes the 2.4G antenna installed horizontally. The right side can welcomee the 5.8G antenna in the same way… As you already know it’s not the best positioning to optimize long range horizontal propagation. Antenna’s mod is strongly advised.

Each Motor’s wires are installed into heatskrink tubes

-REAR VIEW

Two strong red lights jailing the XT 30 connector, the same as for the Bugs 3. I regret the absence of a powerswitch but the choce of the XT 30 is a really good.

-UPPER VIEW

A top canopy structure is simply clipsed on four plastic pads. No really need to remove the fours screws (as I uncorectly mentooned in the main video) to access the main electronic and the FPV-camera bay. You will need to open it each time you will want to change the Vfreq of the video module.

with antenna mod. On front side the 5.8G antenna

and installed rear the 2.4G one

-BOTTOM VIEW

The battery tray is large 40mm width and 22mm for height. It’s not hard to find a compatible 2S LiPo with XT30 connector who can fit the tray.

-WEIGHT

370g in total weight so relatively light for a Full 250mm FPV machine. A good point for crash resistance.

Motors and props

1806 brushless motor without any mark. Probably some Emax model. Announced to spin at 1800Kv.

5mm of shaf section

A plastic spacer is required with to install correstly the nut on top

Nuts with a small circle are for CW motors, without for CCW.

Props are non standard in term of thread but any 5mm section should work as soon as also you will install some classic prop caps.

LiPo

Finally a 2S 1300mAh with a discharge of 25C. Ending with the excellent XT30 connector.

Camera FPV module

The MJX FPV camera module integrates a 120 degrees FOV lens. The uptilt angle can be set up to +75 degrees and the downtil down to -90 degrees. The light sensitivity IMHO is a little be weak and even in strong daylights, all videos will be a little bit dark.

Installed on top of the module a 3-way DIP switch to select one of the eight frequency of the Boscam band. No other band are supported. The VTX outpower is announced to be around 500mW !!! it’s a lot so don’t stay too much on the ground with the battery connected to avoid overheating of the VTX.

Be aware, only a class 10 microSD must be used.

Unfortunatly in practice, some frame are lost during recordings …. 🙁

At least the sound is recorded.

FPV monitor and FPV goggles

A relatively good 32CH 5.8G FPV monitor is provided. No indication about the supported reolution but it’s for sure at least a VGA monitor and probably more a 800×480 model. Contrast and brightness can be set. Even with the sunshade, it’s a little bit hard to see the screen in strong daylight. The “CH” button cycle among the 32 supported channel. If you long press on it, you will run the 5.8G Vfreq scan.

Basic OSD information are displayed. The current Vfreq and Vband and a RSSI value for 5.8G part. Very usefull

The top right shows the level of battery; No problem to use the monitor during more than 1h.

To charge the builtin battery, use the microUSB port. A powerswitch is here on the right side.

The 4.3″ monitor must be inserted into the goggles.

The builtin Fresnel lens offers a manifying factor important (> x3) and even if no distance lens ajustement is possible, I found the focus pretty good. Better than some last Eachine models for example.

The opening dimensions are 115mmx50mm… so a little bit tricky to used glasses with. The facial sponge is soft and the noze section relatively well adapted for large nozes.

Transmitter

The classic large chassis transmitter for MJX with a huge power green LED. Only four shoulder buttons are available. No LCD display.

From left to right, we have the speed button with only two speed modes beginner/expert(default), the arming button: short press to arm, long press to desarm (I would prefer the opposite for safety), the 360 degrees flip button: press and hold this button while indicating with the right stick the direction of your flip and the last button triggers photo shooting if shortly pressed on recording if pressed more than 2S. We can deeply regret that there is no extra button to select an acro flight mode for example ….

At least rechargeabke NI-MH batteries are working with.

The bracket to attach the monitor on the radio is also provided

We can find the A7105 RF chip on the top of the radio. The same as for the Bugs 3 but unfortunatly the Bugd 3 radio is not compatible with. They probably changed a minor detail in the binding stage.

There are a lot of chances that one day this protocol will be deviated.

UNBOXING, ANALYSIS AND DEMO FLIGHT

Firt thing you will have to do with the Bugs 6 (as for the Bugs 3) is to bind the radio with the receiver. For than power first the quadcopter than press and hold the red top left button of the radio. As soon it’s bound, the green light should turn off. By default you are in expert mode (two beeps). So for the first time press the “H/L” once to return in beginner mode.

The machine start to hover at least from 45%-50%… immediatly you can feel that it’s not as powerfull than the Bugs 3 can be. First punch out confirm this feeling … The 2S battery despite being 25C can’t give huge boost. Now probably as for the Bugs 3, a 3S battery can be replaced but PIDs are not optimized for 3S LiPo so a lot of wobbles/instabilities can be found in 3S. The beginner mode is slow especially for the ruddler command. The machine flies smoothly, not big problem can be felt that’s good. It’s a silent machine too. That’s great. With the expert mode, the machine flies much faster of course …. but is-it a reocket ? Absoluptly not …. It’s fast but not impressive. Slower than the Bugs 3 for example. Due to the only presence of an “angle” 6-axis stabilized flight mode, FPV and recorded videos are super sensitive to the Wind conditions. A lot of bounce back can be reported. With the antenna’s mods, both the FPV and control range are great (> 250m without problem). I am positively surprized by the sensibility of the builtin receiver and flying with this FPV mask is very easy!!! It’s absoluptly not a gadget. Flight time are maybe far from the promized 12min. I was closer to 9min…. a negative point versus the Bugs 3. I really appreciate the telemetry feedback of the Bugs 6. You radio will start to buzz as soon as your LiPo reach around 7.3V. You will be able to fly above 1.5 extra minute. The radio buzzes also when the 2.4G control range is weak. In case of lost control link, the failsafe works perfectly. The machine will fall from the sky within the first two seconds.

CONCLUSIONS

This machine targets intermediate beginners who want a first full complete FPV RTF solution and are afraid to fly acro only. The Bugs 6 is more a FPV cruizer to have fun FPV feelings in large open spaces surrounding high trees. It’s not a super rocket machine, lack a bit of power but it’s stable and ly smooth. Relatively crash resistant despinte being fully nylon based due to its relatively lightweight. Both the FPV and control range are good, largely enough to main type of field. The machine is probably less nervous than the Cheerson CX-91 can be. The main advantage I woud say of the MJX over the Cheerson is the telemetry feedback of the MJX product and its price, about 150$ for a complete FPV system it’s not bad at all.

PROS

+ Full complete RTF packaging
+ Brushless cruzer
+ Telemetry buzzing feedback
+ Good control range (> 300m)
+ Good FPV range
+ Good 4.3″ 32CH FPV monitor
+ Confortable mask
+ Strong front white ligths

CONS

– No acro mode
– Not powerfull and fast as the Bugs3
– Poor light sensitivity of the camera
– Frame lost in the 720p recording
– Radio protocol incompatible with the Bugs 3
– Boscam band only supported by the VTX

This quadcopter have been courtesy provided by Banggood in order to make a fair and not biased review. I would like to thank them for this attitude.
You can find it actually for 150USD at https://www.banggood.com/MJX-Bugs-6-Brushless-3D-Roll-Racing-Quadcopter-RTF-p-1148467.html?