In the realm of FPV, choosing the right flight controller stack for your FPV drone can be pivotal. Enter the GEPRC Taker F405 50A FC/ESC stack, a budget-friendly option for low cost builds. This review dives into its specifications and features to see how it stacks up against the Speedybee F405 V4.
Learn more about FPV drone flight controllers in our buyer’s guide: https://oscarliang.com/flight-controller-explained/
Where to Buy?
Get the GEPRC Taker F405 stack from these vendors:
Unboxing the GEPRC Taker F405, I found a comprehensive set of accessories:
- 1x 35V 1000uF capacitor
- 1x DJI Air Unit Adapter Cable
- 1x Flight Controller Adapter Cable
- 1x XT60 Power cable (14AWG)
- 4x M3x30 Screws
- 4x M3x24 Screws
- 8x Nylon nuts
- 8x Silicone grommets
- 2x sh1.0 4pinsilicone cable
- 1x Camera connection cable
Specifications
GEP-F405-HD V2 Flight Controller
- MCU: STM32F405
- IMU: ICM42688-P (SPI)
- Air Unit Connection: Direct plugging into DJI Air Unit
- Black Box: 16M onboard
- USB Connector: Type-C
- OSD: BetaFlight OSD w/ AT7456E chip
- BEC: 5V,9V dual BEC
- Firmware Target: GEPRCF405
- Size: 36.8×36.8mm, hole 30.5×30.5mm，φ4mm hole becomes φ3mm after using a silicone shock-absorbing circle.
- Input Voltage: 3-6S LiPo
- UART: 6
- Power Filter: Integrated LC filter
- Weight: 7.7g
GEP-BLS50A-4IN1 ESC
- Input Voltage: 3-6S Lipo
- Galvanometer: Support
- Continuous Current: 50A
- Burst Current: 55A（5s）
- Support Protocol: Oneshot125/Oneshot42/Mulishot modes/Dshot 150/300/600
- Size: 42.9×39.7mm, hole30.5×30.5mm，φ4mm hole becomes φ3mm after using the silicone shock-absorbing circle.
- Weight:13.7g
- Target: G_H_30
Pinout Diagram
Standout Features
At $64, the GEPRC Taker F405 is $2 cheaper than the Speedybee F405 V4 – another popular budget option, yet doesn’t skimp on functionality. Its versatile design, featuring both solder pads and connectors similar to the RushFPV F722 V2, caters to various preferences, whether you’re looking for a quick swap capability or direct soldering.
The availability of connectors for HD VTX’s (compatible with DJI Air Unit and Walksnail VTX), GPS, Receiver and FPV camera, makes it suitable for different drone builds including freestyle and long range.
The GEPRC Taker F405 supports Betaflight as well as iNav – the iNav 7.0 target name is GEPRCF405.
Limitations and Considerations
It would have been more user-friendly if they put the connectors on the bottom, and the solder pads on top. The solder pads are pretty small, which makes soldering a bit tricky especially for those less experienced.
While the Taker F405 matches many of the Speedybee F405 V4’s specs – same processor, gyro and number of UART’s, its lack of a barometer may disappoint those keen on using GPS Rescue Mode.
The ESC does not have a heatsink for cooling and physical protection like the Speedybee F405 V4 stack.
Interestingly, the Taker F405 stack was released back in summer 2023 (over 6 months now), but not a single review out there. The lack of discussion about this product raises questions about its long-term reliability, so only time will tell.
The 9V BEC on this FC has a slightly lower rating at 2.5A than the Speedybee V4’s 3A. Not a massive difference but something to consider.
There’s no Bluetooth on the Taker either – not an issue if you only configure your flight controller via USB port. But for those prefer changing settings wirelessly from the Speedybee App on their phone, this might be a deal breaker.
