Whoop Requirements

• 65mm Frame size 
• Fully ducted frame ie: Cockroach / Meteor65 Frame
• 31mm Propeller Size Only
• Brushed or Brushless motors of any size 
• 1s Lipo Battery Only
• 25mW VTX Power Output Only (If your whoop does not have a 25mW option it may not be flown. Example includes: BBBLV3. Too many issues with video when this one specific fc was in heats last year)
• CP antennas are now REQUIRED (you may choose between RHCP and LHCP
  
  There is a few very important details we want to share with all the pilots attending Whooptopia 2023 – 5th Year Anniversary so there is no surprises what so ever when you are at the actual event itself. Please note, these decisions were made to ensure the playing field is as fair as possible and not to upset any pilots. It’s impossible to please everyone but we will always try our best to do so.
  

   

  1.) 25mW ONLY. In the past there were times where a pilots whoop was barely transmitting on 25mW setting therefore we would allow them to bump up their mW to be able to transmit higher. This is NOT acceptable this year. You are to arrive with proper working gear at Whooptopia. If your whoop is only transmitting 9mW on a 25mW setting you will NOT be allowed to bump up your mW, period. This comes down to ensuring your gear is working properly. If you are transmitting lower then 25mW we will let you know at tech inspection. You may still fly your whoop if it transmits too low but do know, very good odds you will have extremely poor video. If your whoop does not have a 25mW setting at all, it will not be allowed to be flown. No questions asked. If a pilot is caught bumping up their mW because they are transmitting low that pilot will receive a verbal warning. If it happens a 2nd time a pilot may be subject to DQ. Please do not be that guy or gal!

  2.) There is a few fc’s on the market that are known to have “floating” VTX’s. This is when you have your whoop programmed to a specific channel but it’s transmitting slightly off the channel you told it to be on. Example: if you’re assigned R8 and have a “floating” VTX your video will be transmitting perfectly on E7. This will be determined at tech inspection this year. If your VTX is “floating” we will not mark that whoop as passing tech inspection. Again, this is nothing against the pilot in specific but to ensure that all others in your heat are not penalized by your faulty gear causing poor video to all others. If your whoop does not pass tech inspection it may NOT be flown, period. In the past we allowed pilots to fly with “floating” vtx’s but this year, and on going, we will not allow it. We strongly suggest you arrive to Whooptopia with 2 brand new whoops at a minimum. The more the merrier. The best way to test this at home is with an RF Explorer if you have one. You can see if your gear is transmitting on the correct channel you are telling it to be on, and you can always verify what kind of mW it’s pushing out. This is what we will be using at tech inspection.

  3.) Let’s discuss a bit about the different receiver protocols out there that will be used at Whooptopia.
  – Redpine: Redpine is known to be a low latency link. As it is SPI there is nothing you need to change or set up to run Redpine. As it sits is perfectly acceptable.
  – ELRS: For those of you using ELRS you are not to exceed 500hz for your packet rate and you are not to exceed 100mW for your power. For best performances we would suggest running 500hz and 100mW. (Note: if you are flying with ELRS you will be required to prove you are on the above mentioned settings within your external module, so please ensure you have your lua set up to be able to enter the menu to prove such at tech inspection). If you are unable to prove your ELRS settings at tech inspection we cannot mark it as passing tech. So please, if you come on ELRS, make sure you can prove your settings at tech inspection! Very very important.
  – Tracer / Ghost / Crossfire: if you are using tracer, ghost, or crossfire, you are not to exceed 100mW on your power. You will be required to prove your power level is not exceeding 100mW at tech inspection therefore please ensure you have the proper lua within your transmitter to prove it. If you are unable to prove your Tracer, Ghost, or crossfire mW power we cannot mark it as passing tech. So please, make sure you can prove your settings at tech inspection!
  – FrSky / FlySky / Spektrum: No changes required. As they come is acceptable.

  As we know this may come off as harsh to some, we assure you the reasoning is to ensure all pilots have the best possible video and radio link throughout the entirety of the event itself. If any pilot is caught adjusting the above mentioned settings above and beyond what is acceptable, the pilot will receive one verbal warning. If the pilot is caught a 2nd time they may be subject to a DQ. If we experience issues within a heat do not be surprised if each pilot within that heat are required to prove their settings are appropriate on the spot. Please please please, play fair and there will be no issues!

  Moral of the story, test your gear, make sure you have the abilities to prove your settings, and come prepared with multiple BRAND NEW whoops in case one or more of your whoops do not pass tech inspection.

  That’s it! Meet these requirements? Then you’re all set! If not, get to building to the above specs so your whoop is ready for the madness to come