Review: BetaFPV ELRS Micro TX Module 1W Edition + Lite Receivers

This is an overview of the new BetaFPV ExpressLRS Micro TX module 1W edition. We previous reviewed the 500mW version, and the 1W version is almost the same, except it has doubled the output power.

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If you don’t need 1W output power and happy with 500mW, you can check out this review, it’s cheaper too.

Not sure what’s ExpressLRS? Check out this article why you should care.

Where to Buy?

You can get the BetaFPV ELRS Micro 1W TX Module from here:

• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DcjduIl
• BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-bup8
• GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-2zp8

At the moment, the 1W version is only available for the 2.4GHz frequency.

In the box, you get the following accessories:

• 1 * BETAFPV ELRS Micro TX module
• 1 * BETAFPV Moxon antenna
• 1 * Micro TX module user manual
• 1 * Spare USB data cable (Type-A to Type-C)

Features and Specs

• Input voltage: 5V~12V
• XT30 port: 5V~12V, recommend 2S(8.4V) battery, DO NOT support 3S(12.6V) or above
• USB-C port for firmware update

Closer Look

The 1W version of the BetaFPV ELRS Micro TX module looks almost identical on the outside to the 500mW version we recently checked out, the only different is color. The 1W module is black while the 500mW module is white.

Inside the 1W module, they added a heatsink on the PCB to help cooling.

And they also added some dip switches on the back of the module for different modes. They weren’t there in the 500mW version I previously reviewed, but they will add the same dip switches to the 500mW version in the future.

Here’s what the dip switches do:

Antenna connector is SMA.

There is an XT30 connector for connecting an external battery to power the module when you use 500mW or higher output power, because the radio won’t be able to provide enough current. Any 2S Lipo or Li-on packs would do. Do not use 3S or above or you could damage the module.

It has RGB LED built-in, which is currently not supported in the official ExpressLRS firmware (but hopefully it will in the future), so for now we have to use BetaFPV’s own compiled version of the ELRS firmware. You can find the link to download it on the product page, including instructions on how to flash the firmware. Out of the box it’s already flashed with firmware V2.0.

Things like firmware flashing and binding are exactly the same across all ExpressLRS hardware. You can learn more in my detail ExpressLRS tutorial here.

Output Power Testing

After powering at 1W for 20 mins, the output stabilized at around 870mW-880mW, pretty decent performance.

BetaFPV ELRS Lite Receivers with Flat Antenna

BetaFPV released a new ELRS Lite receiver with new antenna design – the Flat Antenna.

Where to Buy?

• BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-v0mw
• RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-79f6
• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEvaCsj

These ELRS Lite receivers come with wires and transparent heatshrink.

Both ELRS Lite receivers are almost identical, except the antenna. Here’s a specs comparison:

Specs are almost identical on paper, but as you can see the flat antenna has slightly higher efficiency which means slightly better signal quality. Also it has a slightly lower profile so it might be slightly easier to fit in small quads too.

These receivers can be updated (firmware) via WiFi or Betaflight Passthrough.

They come with ExpressLRS 1.0 firmware, so if you are using newer firmware on your TX module you might have to update the firmware on the receiver too before binding.

I have a whole tutorial on how to connect and setup these receivers here. The steps are almost identical across receivers of different brands.

I’d recommend the tower antenna over the red flat antenna although the flat antenna is lower profile, the tower antenna just performs slightly better in terms of range.

Noisy Cooling Fan Replacement

My cooling fan inside the module was making a lot of noise so I took apart the module and found that the fan propeller actually broke and it was making a lot of vibration that turns into noise.

It’s just a 25x25x10mm 5V cooling fan for computer you can easily find on Amazon or Ebay, for around $5-$8 a piece. The mounting holes are 3mm diameter.

You can probably get away without a fan if you run only 250mW, anything higher yo should definitely use a fan.