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.
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.
Table of Contents
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
2.4GHz 1W | 2.4GHz 500mW | 915/868 MHz 500mW | |
Packet refresh rate | 50Hz, 150Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz | 50Hz, 150Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz | 25Hz, 50Hz, 100Hz, 200Hz |
RF output power | 25mW, 50mW, 250mW, 500mW, 1W | 25mW, 50mW, 250mW, 500mW | 100mW, 250mW, 500mW |
Frequency bands | 2.4GHz ISM | 2.4GHz ISM | 915MHz FCC 868MHz EU |
Heat sink | Included | Not included | Not included |
Backpack Function | Supported | Not supportec currently | Not supported currently |
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:
1-2 DIP switches | 3-4 DIP switches | 5-6-7 DIP switches | |
Update Firmware | ON | OFF | OFF |
Operating Mode | OFF | ON | OFF |
Update Backpack | OFF | OFF | ON |
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
Power Levels | 25mW | 50mW | 100mW | 250mW | 500mW | 1000mW |
Output (Amps) | 21 (0.32A) | 44 (0.34A) | 79 (0.36A) | 214 (0.55A) | 538 (0.65A) | 1040 (0.76A) |
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:
Tower Antenna | Red Flat Antenna | |
Weight | 0.47g | 0.53g |
Size | 10mm*10mm*6mm | 11mm*10mm*3mm |
Gain | 3.3dBi | 3.2dBi |
Radio Efficiency | >70% | >80% |
Return Loss | <-7 | <-7 |
Range (TX 100mW 150Hz) | About 600m | About 600m |
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.
9 comments
Hi, I have a radiomaster one, but i cant find any matching elrs preset for this (i.e. 100Hz) what setup should I use?
There’s no 100Hz packet rate, but you do get 50hz, 150hz, 250hz, 500hz and 1000hz.
Hi Oscar, are the current draw measurements taken for the module only, or the whole transmitter? I’m trying to compare to the ranger micro and it seems like the micro only needs 60-75% of the current that the betafpv does at similar output levels.
whole transmitter.
Hi, I´ve a question about the preoduct, I´v just oredered the TBS mambo, and I am seeing that the voltage is 1s, this elrs module supports the 3.7v-4.2v or is too low for it? Should I buy an external 2s LiPo battery for the module?
If yes, which C rate do you recomend?
I don’t have the TBS Mambo so i am unable to test it. Also it’s not mentioned anywhere in the specs how powerful the module bay is, so you’d probably have to ask TBS customer service. Using an external battery would be a safe solution in case the Mambo can’t handle it, you can literally get any 2S lipo or liion pack for it, the module doesn’t draw much current (under 0.8A at 7.4V).
Hello ! Thank you very much for all of your blog, you and Joshua Bardwell have been extremely helpful during my journey through the fpv hobby ! I am using the betafpv elrs microtx 1W, I managed to flash it to the latest firmware (as per September 2022), plugged it to my Taranis QX7 (which I updated to the latest OpenTX version (2.3.15). I can turn on crossfire as external RF on my taranis and the betafpv micro tx led does change which means it is recognized and connected. But I can’t run at all the elrsV2.lua script, I get ?????/??? instead. Would you have any suggestion ? I could not find any solution on the net….I forgot to mention that I do power the micro tx with a 2s battery to provide extra power backup as the taranis AA batteries are not strong enough. I am also using the lua script provided by ExpressLRS Configurator after flashing the microtx. Thank you very much for anyone who might have a solution to suggest !
OK I figured it out! I had to reduce the baud rate to 112kBps in the taranis software!
I had the same issue, the solution was that, reduce the baud rate, the lua started working correctly