AP200i or Helicommand ?

[Hovering]

Hi all, I have been thinking about getting a flight stabilization system to save on crash cost and have been looking at all the posts. But still can't make up my mind which on to buy.
What are the differences between the two stated above ? From what I can see the AP200i uses two pieces of equipment the main unit and the IR sensor and may be harder to mount properly because of room. Where the Helicommand appears to be all in one but about 200 dollars more. Is the helicommand worth the 200 dollars more that the AP200i or do they work just as good as each other ?
I found a demo video on the Helicommand site and it showed the heli going into a bad turn with the pilot in for ground. He let go of the TX and the heli leveled off into a very stable hover. I have not been able to find a similar demo for the AP2000i just one that shows it hovering with out any input from pilot. Could it also recover from a bad turn like the helicommand ?

[Wbird]

The way I understand Helicommand has and Optical eye, API2000 uses an infared eye. Optical is less sensitive to hot spots or snow cover. Only needs some contrast. Also if you get the Rigid model it has a gyro sensor that enables it to do flybarless as well as control the tail without another tail gyro. Yes it is more money but has other built in features. Depends on what you are looking for. There is lots of people on these forums who have experience with API2000 and are very happy with it. Can't say I have seen much here for helicommand although there has been a couple people with good results after the frustrations of setting it up.

I have no experience with either myself but plan to get the Helicommand Rigid in the near future mostly because I want to go flybarless.

MHO

[SeaHawk]

Helicommand only uses the optical sensor for 3 meters or below. Many disable the optical sensor as they don't have a need for it and instead they rely on the gyro stabilization for higher altitude stabilization. I recently set mine up...no problems after reading the manual and the usual friendly advice from forum members that have used it. In my opinion, for AP, the Helicommand is more desirable than the AP2000i, if for no other reason, you don't have to recalibrate for changes in heli heading. There is appears to be a great deal of lack of understanding regarding the HC vs the AP unit. I think that is primarily due to lack of users who don't have the unit ...I would predict that HC3, even at greater cost, will eventually outsell the AP2000i, if it isn't upgraded to use 'inertial' sensor.

[sugarlandflyer]

I have both the Halicommand and the AP2000i. They both have there good and bad points. In a nutshell, the AP is rock solid at keeping the heli flat as a board in almost any wind condition. A down point is it is affected by the time of day (like when the sun is very low in the sky), cloudy days, and tall objects blocking a clear view of the horizon. In any of these conditions the AP can have bad reactions. The weather conditions that it can't fly in are not good for photography anyways so it is not that big of a deal.

The HC is not very aggressive at keeping the heli flat. It really just makes the heli wan to stay level but still drifts easily and rocks in wind. It does not on the other hand have any of the environmental limits of the AP as it uses internal gyros. Basically, with the HC you are still doing most of the flying it is more like a safety blanket. After have flown the AP and then switching to the HC I am going back to the AP for my T-Rex 600 camera ship as it is so much more stable. Hope this helps.

[j_kookboy]

I have to disagree with the HC not being as 'rock solid' in a flat level hover as the ap2000i.

I used to think so as well as I have both units and experiment with both in different conditions.

Once the HC is setup properly, it is identical to the 'planted' feeling you get with the ap2000i.

You'll still drift with either of them.

At this point, really the difference comes down to two things.

Price (HC more costly)

Weather conditions and physical obstacles. (HC doesn't care about those whereas the AP2000i does).

Other than those two things, once setup properly, they do the same thing in the sky.

There is another advantage to the HC. For flying/filming video, you can set the gain/percentage so that it feels like you have a buddy box on and the movements are very fluid. It helps a lot for smooth control.

I still have one of the AP2000i units I originally got from Mark and won't sell it.
It's my backup in case the HC goes in the ground or something happens to it. So far so good (knock on wood).

Jesse

[Tonystott]

I think another difference is that the AP2000i has top rate support, whereas the support for the Helicommand is relatively invisible.

[j_kookboy]

I think another difference is that the AP2000i has top rate support, whereas the support for the Helicommand is relatively invisible.

Agreed.

It's a shame because the HC has a lot of support in the european forums.

I believe they have plans to get that support overseas here.

Jesse

[Akoni]

I have read somewhere...maybe this forum, that the AP2000i is scheduled to get some very interesting upgrades, in particular a GPS module. I don't know if such a thing is planned for the HC or if there will be a different solution not related to either. But GPS position hold would be a great asset.

[j_kookboy]

I have read somewhere...maybe this forum, that the AP2000i is scheduled to get some very interesting upgrades, in particular a GPS module. I don't know if such a thing is planned for the HC or if there will be a different solution not related to either. But GPS position hold would be a great asset.

HC has GPS telemetry on the way according to their site. Not sure when though.

Jesse