Overview
I guess you probably want to know how I like these goggles. Well, they’re quite interesting. Let me tell you about it. So, a few months back, drone mask emailed me and asked if I wanted to try out their DroneMask 2 goggles, and so of course I said yes, they sent them to me. I got them all in boxed. Got them set up with the Drone, took them out for the first test flight and they well actually before I go there, let me explain a bit about how these goggles work.
Design and Setup
The DroneMask 2 goggles are actually quite ingeniously designed. You just take your phone off the Drone remote, put it in these drone mask goggles, and then connect it to the controller with a longer USB cable. The main difference from your standard VR goggles is that most VR goggles have a separate lens for each eye, which makes it so that your phone has to split the screen and show a downscaled version of the image on each half of the screen. Whereas DroneMask 2 has some kind of fancy lenses that let you see the whole phone screen with both eyes at the same time.
Resolution and Compatibility
Because you’re using the whole phone screen instead of splitting it in half, it gives you over twice the resolution. You don’t have to use a special VR app to make it work with these goggles. This feature allows for a clearer and more immersive experience while flying your drone with FPV goggles. The DroneMask 2 goggles also have some other cool features, like the little flaps that let you stick your finger in here and interact with your phone.
Unboxing and Setup
While the headset is on your head – and it also has a little patch that you can take off so that you can put your phone in here and have the phone’s camera see outside of it for kind of augmented reality, things not super useful for flying. A drone but kind of a cool feature.
Real-world Testing
Now, that is all great and well, but the real question is: how well does it actually work in the real world flying a drone? After carefully unboxing these goggles, I pop my phone into them and connected them to the controller of my air 2s and took it out for a spin and they actually worked quite well.
Impressions and Experience
I’ve tried using regular phone VR goggles to fly my drone before and it’s just never really been a good enough experience to make me want to do it again, but with the DroneMask, I actually really enjoyed the experience. I could see the video feed on my phone in a lot higher quality than the other phone-based VR goggles, and these goggles also let you do it directly from the Native DJI fly App instead of having to use something like litey or some other app to make it work.
It’s just a lot faster and easier to get going, and switching the gimbal mode to FPV and ripping around in sport mode makes it an even more immersive and fun experience. I actually really enjoyed it.
Initial Setbacks
It wasn’t without its hiccups, at least. Initially, I couldn’t get the long USBC cable that was included to work, but I’ve got lots of USBC cables so that wasn’t really a big deal.
Another issue that I ran into was that on the first flight, the goggles were really digging into my nose to the point where I tried all kinds of things, from attempting to tuck the edge of my hoodie between my nose and the goggles to cutting up little bits of socks. The tape over the nose rest tried all kinds of things, and then I finally realized that I hadn’t tightened the headband here, and so all the weight was resting on my nose. Instead of being pressed against my face and having my face support it. Once I tightened up the headband, it was a lot more comfortable but nonetheless wearing a kind of big heavy, unwieldy thing on your head does get kind of tiring after a while.
Performance and Immersion
All in all, though, I’ve got to say that they really work quite well, probably better than any other phone-based VR goggles out there. Obviously, they aren’t going to be Apple Vision Pro quality or in the same league as DJI goggles, but they definitely can give you that immersive FPV experience. At least as much as can be experienced with a non-FPV drone.
Limitations
In spite of my good experiences, I just wasn’t quite happy. I only have DJI RC remotes with built-in screens for my newer drones, so I was limited in what drones I could use with these goggles. The only drone that I could disconnect my phone from the remote and put it in these goggles was my older Air 2S.
What I really wanted to be able to do was to fly my newer drones with these goggles, especially the Air3, because it has a lot more power and a much better developed FPV gimbal mode. But that seemed to be impossible without getting a different controller.
Trying Out a New Idea
That is until I ran across someone on a drone form claiming that the DJI rc2 could output HDMI through USBC port, with an adapter and so hot. On the trail of this new idea, I ordered a USBC to HDMI adapter from Amazon, so I could test out the concept of connecting my DJI rc2 to a 6in HDMI monitor that would go inside of these goggles instead of the phone. After waiting a couple days for Amazon to deliver, I finally had all the required parts connected everything together and it worked.
Improved Experience
In fact, it worked even better than using the goggles with my phone. The 5 and 12 in 16×9 screen displays the image from the drone larger than my phone would and really filled my field of view, giving you a lot more immersive experience than just using a phone. Because you’re connected to a remote that also has a built-in screen, you can always flip the goggles up and adjust the settings directly on the rc2 or switch to flying the drone on the screen. You could even fly the drone through the goggles and let another person watch you on the remote or fly through the remote and let another person experience the flight through these goggles.
Exciting Flight Experience
With the air3 and connected HDMI monitor, it’s really fun to fly with these DroneMask 2 goggles. Flying up and down our gravel road fairly fast just gives you an adrenaline rush that flying from a screen alone can’t give you. Now for anyone who’s wondering exactly how I have this set up.
Setting Up the DroneMask 2
Setting up the DroneMask 2 FPV Goggles seems to require a bit of creativity, as the user describes using a cheap USB CD HDMI adapter along with a short HDMI cable to connect to a Fieldworld F6 Plus monitor powered by a small Sony NPF battery. This setup, although slightly hacked, surprisingly works well with the DJI rc2, but not with the original DJI RC.
Value for Money
The user mentions that the cost of the setup, including the monitor, is nearly the same as some dedicated VR goggles with HDMI inputs. They question whether it would be worth investing in the monitor solely for this purpose, especially when there are other options available at similar prices.
Overall Impression
At $179, the DroneMask 2 FPV Goggles are not the cheapest accessory available. The user notes that while they are fun to use for recreational flying, they may not necessarily improve the quality of aerial shots. However, one notable advantage of these goggles is their suitability for flying in bright sunlight, which can be challenging with other types of FPV goggles.
DroneMask 2 FPV Goggles: An Overview
The DroneMask 2 FPV Goggles offer a unique experience for drone enthusiasts looking to enhance their flying experience. One of the key features of these goggles is the ability to connect your phone or a monitor directly to them, allowing for a more immersive viewing experience.
Pros and Cons
One major advantage of the DroneMask 2 FPV Goggles is the improved visibility and clarity when compared to using a phone screen alone. This can make it easier to frame shots, adjust settings, and see in brighter conditions. However, some users may find the price point to be a deterrent, especially when more expensive options like the DJI Integra goggles are available.
Compatibility and Performance
The DroneMask 2 FPV Goggles are compatible with a range of popular drone models, including the DJI Mini 3 Pro, Mini 4 Pro, Air 3, and Mavic 3 lineup. For drones like the Air 2S or Mini 2, these goggles provide a high-quality FPV experience. The lenses allow for viewing the entire screen with both eyes, and the adjustable flaps make it easy to change settings while wearing the goggles.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the DroneMask 2 FPV Goggles can offer a fun and immersive experience for drone pilots, particularly those looking for a more budget-friendly option than high-end goggles like the DJI Integra. The unique features of these goggles, such as the dual-eye viewing and adjustable settings, set them apart from basic phone-based VR goggles. Overall, the DroneMask 2 FPV Goggles are a solid choice for drone enthusiasts seeking an enhanced flying experience.
