Mario 5 drone Q&A
Mario5 Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
1. What size screws should I use to mount the motors on the Mario5?
Mario5 uses 6mm thick arms (approx. 6.2mm with tolerance).
Choose screw length based on motor base thickness (typically 2–3mm):
For 3mm base: M3 × (6mm + 3mm)
With motor protector: M3 × (6mm + 3mm + 2mm)
⚠️ Overly long screws may damage the motor. Please check motor base height before installation.
2. Do I need to replace the coaxial cable when installing VTX (DJI O3, Avatar, HDZero, etc.)?
DJI O3’s stock coaxial cable is long enough.
For other VTX systems, use O3’s cable length as a reference.
3. What is an XH frame? How is it different from a true-X frame?
XH is a near-true-X layout, slightly wider left-to-right than front-to-back.
4. What camera sizes are supported? (22mm, 20mm, 19mm, 14mm)
Mario5 natively supports 19mm and 20mm cameras.
3D printed adapters for 22mm and 14mm are available.
https://docs.speedybee.cn/fpv/fpv-drones/mario5-fpv-drone/mario-5-3d-printed-file-download.html
5. Is there a dual-antenna mount? Is SMA supported?
Yes, dual-antenna mounts with SMA support are included in open-source files.
6. Can GPS be installed? Is there a GPS mount available? What size is supported?
Yes, GPS is supported. Open-source mounts available. Supported size: 18×18×7.5 mm.
https://docs.speedybee.cn/fpv/fpv-drones/mario5-fpv-drone/mario-5-3d-printed-file-download.html
7. Recommended length for rear XT60 power cable?
Use 14–13AWG silicone wire, length about 73mm.
8. Why is HQ J40 the default propeller choice?
Mario5 was designed with DJI O3 image stability in mind.
HQ J40 is a lightweight high-speed soft propeller that ensures smooth footage and reduces prop wash.
Cons: higher noise and slightly lower thrust.
GEMFAN 51466 V2 has better thrust, noise level, and durability but is slightly worse at high-throttle stability.
Recommendation:
For clean O3 footage without GoPro: use HQ J40
For aggressive freestyle or with GoPro: use GEMFAN 51466 V2
9. Why is the power cable front-mounted by default?
Due to the different CG of DC and XH versions:
DC version: better with rear cable
XH version: better with front cable
Front output also frees up space for VTX at the rear, hence it's the factory default.
10. Is the Snail VTX compatible?
Yes. Mounting holes: 20×20 and 25.5×25.5.
Recommended VTX length: under 35mm.
Usable as long as the O3 heatsink is not installed.
11. Does the LED strip have preset effects? Can it be programmed or controlled via TX?
Yes. 8 RGB LEDs are installed on both sides of the flight stack plate.
Custom effects and colors are programmable via Betaflight LED tab.
12. Is the PID tuning still valid if I use different propellers?
Default PID (OSD shows “J40”) is tuned for HQ J40.
Second PID profile is tuned for GEMFAN 51466 V2.
You can switch between profiles as needed.
All factory tuning is done with 6S 1400mAh and no HD camera.
13. Can ELRS or TBS receivers be pre-installed when ordering?
No. Only PNP versions are sold.
Due to return policy (7-day guarantee), we don’t support pre-installation.
We provide video and text installation guides for DIY installation.
14. How effective is the GPS signal acquisition at the tail mount?
In testing, 15 Mario5 O3 units with GPS acquired 25–32 satellites.
Signal quality varies by GPS module.
Tips:
Enable DJI O3 Low Power mode during GPS lock
Set analog VTX to PIT mode
15. What analog VTX sizes are supported?
Mounting holes: 20×20 and 25.5×25.5
Recommended VTX length: <35mm
16. Are new 3D printed parts open-source?
Parts with logos are not open-source, but similar files will be released.
17. What is the wheelbase of the Mario5?
XH version: 226mm
DC version: 227mm
18. What’s the top speed of Mario5?
In testing with GEMFAN 51466 V2 props and DJI O3, GPS showed top speed: 200 km/h
19. Can the USB port be accessed with the side plate installed?
Yes. The flight stack side plate is quick-release.
Check the official video for how to remove it.
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1TVNveSEmx/?spm_id_from=333.1387.search.video_card.click
20. Why is there no printed manual in the package?
To reduce cost and increase value, only a QR code is included.
Scan it for manuals and assembly video guides.
https://docs.speedybee.cn/fpv/frame/mario5-frame/mario-5-frame-installation.html
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1TVNveSEmx/?spm_id_from=333.1387.search.video_card.click
21. Are the purple side plates available for sale?
Not for sale. They distinguish official factory builds from DIY builds.
22. Does it support DJI Air Unit V1 (Full-size)?
No, DJI Air Unit V1 is not supported.
23. If I purchase the Mario5 power combo with O3, do I need any extra accessories?
No extra accessories needed for basic install.
For better cooling and appearance, consider upgrading with “Mario5 Upgrade Kit C”.
24. Can I use factory PID values for my custom Mario5 build?
Yes, but performance may vary depending on your ESC and motor.
25. Why is there no F722 version of Mario5?
Mario5 aims for cost-performance.
F405 is sufficient and well-tested for stability and performance.
26. Is Mario5 compatible with the DJI O4?
Physically yes.
27. Why is the ESC firmware Bluejay instead of BLS?
BLS lacks support for newer BF features like bidirectional DShot.
Bluejay has better compatibility and stability after extensive testing.
28. Can I change ESC settings or startup tones?
Yes. Use https://esc-configurator.com/
⚠️ Settings are optimized from factory. Change at your own risk.
Startup tones can be customized freely.
29. What are the benefits of 2306.5 motors compared to 2207?
2306.5 offers longer flight time, lower temperature, and smoother handling.