Review: DJI Digital FPV System – Awesome Product, But Is It For You?

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The DJI Digital FPV System consists of: Air Unit, FPV Goggles and the optional DJI radio controller. I will skip all the specs and basic stuff which you can look up on the manual, and get straight into the user experience side of things.

Where to Buy DJI Digital FPV System?

DJI FPV Goggles V2

• GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-awxy
• AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dd1JR4N
• RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-fnzl
• NBD: https://oscarliang.com/product-75fb

Goggles + 2x Air Unit Bundle

• RaceDayQuad: http://bit.ly/2M4L7fd
• GetFPV: https://bit.ly/3hMhm0f

Goggles + Remote + Air Unit Bundle

• RaceDayQuad: https://bit.ly/2YgPJVD
• NewBeeDrone: https://bit.ly/30Zj0WE
• GetFPV: https://bit.ly/315nrzj

Full Size Air Unit

• NewBeeDrone: https://bit.ly/3eiJdmR
• GetFPV: https://bit.ly/3hHWA1X
• RaceDayQuad: https://bit.ly/2AVAd8y
• AliExperss: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdBPWPJ

Vista Air Unit (An alternative VTX)

Nebula Pro Camera (An alternative camera)

If you decide to get it, here is my tutorial on how to set it up for the first time :)

Air Unit

The Air Unit consists of a camera and a video transmitter. This mounts in your racing drone just like an analogue FPV camera and VTX. The entire casing of the Air Unit is made of aluminium, which doubles as protection, and a heatsink for cooling. The Air Unit including camera and antennas weighs around 53g.

The DJI camera, like most micro FPV cameras, has M2 mounting holes on both sides, but with 20x20mm form factor, is a bit bigger than the typical 19x19mm (micro FPV cam). It has a 150° field of view (FOV), similar to an analogue FPV camera with 2.1mm – 2.3mm lens.

The VTX is considerably bulkier than its analogue counterpart, making it a challenge to find a racing drone frame with enough space. (update Jan 2020: The good news is that there are already many frames available that are designed for the DJI Air Unit, so space is not an issue anymore). The cable between the VTX and camera is about 100mm, which should be long enough for most 5″ builds, even when you are mounting the video transmitter in the back.

The Air Unit has two antennas with MMCX connectors: a JST connector for power, UART connection to flight controller, and radio control signal (if you use their radio controller). A nice touch are the cable grommets offering stress relief to the connection between the camera and air unit.

Like the Runcam Split, there is an SD card slot on the side of the Air Unit, for recording HD video up to 1080p 60fps, but obviously DJI have added HD FPV to the recipe. You don’t get 2.7K or 4K resolutions with the recorded footage like the GoPro, but it’s good enough for most people.

There are 3 modes for different situations:

• Standard Mode offers the best daytime image quality, probably what you would use for freestyle flying
• Racing Mode increases image contrast to distinguish brightly coloured obstacles better
• LED Mode increases visibility on LED light, best for night flying

The power consumption of the Air Unit is about 4W to 8W according to DJI, at 12V, the current is 333mA to 666mA. If you power it with a 4S LiPo (14.8V), that would be 270-540mA.

Here are flight controllers designed specifically for the DJI Air Unit, making it a solder-free, plug and play combo.

FPV Goggles

The DJI FPV goggles come with four left-hand circular polarized (LHCP), omni-directional, ‘stubby’ antennas, mounted using RP-SMA connectors. These can be removed for transportation, as well as replaced and upgraded.

From my understanding, the top two antennas are responsible for transmitting and receiving signals. Unlike an analogue FPV system, the DJI goggles have a transmitter inside which means that they can be damaged if they are powered on, without the antennas attached. The top 2 antennas send data, as well as receiving in conjunction with the bottom 2 antennas, for a “quad-versity” receiver system.

The DJI goggles have the following features:

• built-in anti-fog / cooling fan
• built-in DVR – 720p 120FPS
• IPD adjustable
• Firmware update via USB-C port
• Supports Audio play back on videos from Air Unit, but doesn’t support audio with live video feed or recorded video in the goggles
• When changing channels on the FPV goggles, it automatically changes it on the Air Unit too

The goggles are powered by an external battery via a cable which has an XT60 connector, so you can power it with a 2S LiPo battery like a Fatshark.

It’s heavier than most other compact design FPV goggles, even without a built-in battery. The ample weight is distributed effectively by the well designed strap, while face-plate foam of the highest quality ensures a comfortable fit. Faceplate foam has better quality than any FPV goggles I have tested.

The field of view (FOV) is larger than most slimline goggles, but racers often prefer a smaller FOV to allow for tighter focus on the course. DJI have addressed this in a novel way, providing the ability to zoom in on the image, but the OSD info will remain at the corners of the screen.

The goggles are quite power hungry, and don’t last long using a typical Fatshark battery. A 2S 3000mah only lasts for about an hour. You can use a larger battery, but you’ll need a long cable to keep the battery in your pocket or on the ground.

Update (Feb 2021): DJI just released the V2 goggles. V1 and V2 are basically the same with added features and changes to support the new DJI FPV Drone.

Radio Controller

DJI offers their own radio controller, with the benefit that you won’t need a separate radio receiver in your drone, because the Air Unit has one integrated. But you don’t have to get DJI’s radio if you plan to use your own.

The Radio might not look like anything popular on the FPV market, but the ergonomics are actually pretty good. The gimbals are on par with the Hall sensor gimbals from Frsky, if not better.

For a full review, check out this article.

Why You should Get DJI FPV System?

Glorious FPV Feed

This is the biggest selling point.

The first reaction from everyone who tries this system is “WOW! Amazing!”. There is no breakup or static like analogue system. It’s almost like flying FPV with GoPro quality video. Perhaps an exaggeration, it’s more like the Runcam Split quality when looking through the goggles, but still it’s exceptional.

Here is the best image I can get in my FPV goggles (with all the settings set to high quality).

The video feed in ideal conditions sends 720p 120fps to the goggles, so what you see is extremely smooth and high detail video. In comparison, analogue video is around 360p at 25fps (maybe even worse with some cheaper cameras).

The DJI camera also has excellent dynamic range and low light performance, nearly as good as some of the expensive analogue cameras, like the Runcam Micro Eagle.

Unlike other HD FPV systems, which suddenly stutter and freeze when the signal weakens, the DJI system combats this by gradually reducing the resolution of the image. It will eventually begin to stutter when signal gets very weak, but the experience isn’t so intrusive and distracting.

The OSD (on screen display) is great, it shows all the important telemetry data and settings. For example it tells you the camera settings like White Balance, Exposure, Saturation, VTX Channel, Drone Battery Voltage, Signal strength, and DVR recording status.

Low Latency

The first concern of HD FPV systems is latency. Details from the manufacturer say latency from radio to the drone is about 7ms while the drone to the FPV goggles is 23ms, which is similar to that of the analogue FPV system. Without interference there is no discernible latency, so I would say it’s just as good as analogue in that regard.

There are two modes that affect quality and latency: High quality mode that sends higher resolution footage in 60FPS, and low latency mode that sends lower resolution footage in 120FPS.

There is also a great feature called Focus Mode, which reduces latency by reducing the bit rate around the edges of the image, while keeping the centre as clear as possible to minimize distraction to the pilot.

HD Video Recording

The recorded video in the goggles is 720p 120FPS, while on the Air Unit, it’s 1080p 60FPS. It certainly can’t compete with the GoPro, but it looks way better than analogue DVR for sure, and even better than some low cost HD cameras.

The audio quality is mediocre, maybe between Runcam Split and GoPro quality.

The DJI Digital FPV system probably won’t replace the GoPro for some people, because it doesn’t do 4K or even 2.7K yet, and it doesn’t have “superview” and flat color option.

Video Range

Advertised range is 4Km, around 2.5 miles. That’s pretty good compared to analogue systems, but in Europe the output power is restricted to 25mW (CE mode), resulting in lower range of around 700m. It’s possible to “unlock” the VTX and use the full power of 700mW, but you would be breaking the law doing so…

Based on my experience, comparing to analogue system on similar output power, the DJI FPV system definitely edges out in terms of range. The DJI FPV system performs much better too in environment with multipathing interference.

Betaflight Integration

Although DJI is not known to integrate with 3rd party systems, they have worked with BetaFlight to incorporate the full BetaFlight OSD into their HD video feed. This OSD compatibility is currently exclusive to BetaFlight, and we have no idea if it will ever support other flight controller firmware in the future.

Cost – Not That Bad Actually

The DJI FPV system might sound expensive, but if you think about it, it really isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s actually slightly cheaper than the most expensive analogue system you can buy:

• HDO2 – $500
• Rapidfire Receiver Module – $150
• Decent antennas – $50
• Runcam Eagle FPV Camera – $45
• TBS Unify Pro VTX – $50

That’s $800 – the same price as the full DJI system including the transmitter! Don’t forget you can use the DJI system as your HD camera as well, so add that to the equation, and you might find the DJI system a really good deal.

If you are new and buying everything today, the DJI digital FPV system can be a more cost effective solution (assuming it meets all your needs). For sure, if you already own an analogue system then it is pricey to re-buy, but if you are thinking of upgrading to a top of the line pair of goggles, this might make your decision a little more difficult.

The Goggle Is Actually Good!

The DJI Goggles optics are actually very good, especially the super wide FOV that they offer. It might appear to be similar to the size of box goggles, but it’s smaller in real life.

Although I still prefer the image quality from the OLED goggles, like the HDO2 and SKY03O (the color is just more vibrant with higher contrast), in terms of non-OLED goggles, I’d say the DJI goggles are probably one of the best.

The Negatives of DJI FPV System

Concerns with Interference and Lost Signal

Like all other HD systems, the common downside is how they handle weak signal. Many people still prefer analogue for FPV, because when the signal gets weak, the feed might become snowy, but you can still roughly see where you are going.

it’s true that the DJI system handles weak signal better than many other HD systems, but it can still stutter and freeze from extended range or outside interference. Additionally, If you use their radio, you can also lose control, because the radio uses the same 5.8GHz link. Not only it’s hard to fly out of that, it can even be dangerous, so I’d be more cautious when flying with a group.

If you want to fly long range, or in environment with many obstacles, maybe the DJI FPV system is not the best option at its current form. However this is a great system if you mostly fly over open field and don’t need much object penetration.

Air Unit Limitations – Size & Voltage

The air unit is quite bulky, as big as another 30x30mm FC + ESC stack, so it doesn’t fit every frame. You may have to get a frame specifically for the DJI Air Unit, but there is an FC stack designed for it, to avoid a complicated setup. For that you are looking at potential additional costs.

Voltage Limitation

The air unit only supports 4S, so you might need a voltage regulator if you run 6S. According to my contact, when they started developing this product, everyone was still only flying 4S. 6S wasn’t even a thing back then, too late for them to change the hardware now.

Variable Latency

Although latency is generally not an issue, it does change with signal quality. That means with range, obstacles and interference, the latency will go up as signal strength decreases. This will impact your ability to control the aircraft precisely – particularly at high speeds. That’s why I don’t recommend flying the DJI system for long range or at places with heavy interference.

The temperature of the Air Unit can also have an effect on latency, video quality, and range, it also gets hot from use. You need to be flying, and ensure adequate airflow around the VTX to keep it cool for it to perform optimally.

Also, because the system is bidirectional, the goggles can tell the air unit when they miss a frame (say you fly behind a tree) – and the air unit can resend the missing frame. This should happen seamlessly because of the high refresh rate of 120fps, when it happens, you will get a little bit of extra latency as a result. This is why the system has variable latency even when signal is good.

You can see latency increase when you jump behind obstructions, but the picture can remain clear – it’s resending the data you missed. To you, the image is never interrupted, the picture stays smooth and fluid at 120fps but the system is working behind the scenes to keep it that way. The cost is an extra 5-10ms of latency as a result. I guess there is no free lunch.

Analog Bug

When using the DJI FPV Goggles in Analog, if you lose signal completely the screen will go back to the DJI logo instead of showing snow. This is currently a known bug and there’s no work around. Let’s hope DJI fix it soon in future firmware updates. Updates (July 2021): it’s been over 2 years now and there’s still no fix for this, the last firmware update was over a year ago, so I wouldn’t’ hold my breath on a fix from DJI. If you are still flying analog primarily, perhaps get a dedicated pair of analog goggles just for that.

Proprietary System

It’s a proprietary system, so it is sadly not cross compatible – How I wish we could use our own goggles! The ability to display the FPV image on the popular Fatshark HDO2, Skyzone SKY03O or the Orqa FPV.One, would make this DJI offering far more tempting for many who have already invested in HD goggles. Frankly these companies have more experience, and they make goggles that fit better.

FPV Goggle Great but Not Perfect

The goggles overall are very well made, very comfortable to wear, and they are big enough so you can just put them on, no need to fuss around to get the screen aligned with your eyes.

Still, DJI need to do a bit more work here and there to make it perfect, i.e. the fit is not optimized, there are light leaks, and the nose presses down uncomfortably for some people. It would definitely help if there were different faceplate and foam pad options.

The power barrel connector doesn’t seem to fully engage and is likely to come loose if you tug it accidentally. You could use a zip tie to attach the cable to the head strap and eliminate the problem, but it would have been nice if the design had considered this.

DJI are still relatively new to FPV goggles and will, no doubt, improve future releases. With that said, this really is a very good first attempt.

It Won’t Replace Analogue, Yet

The variable latency just means it’s not quite ready for racing yet, I’d imagine most racers would still prefer the good old analogue for the more consistent and predictable performance. The HD feed would be useful in big live events, but people won’t be able to watch, unless they are also using DJI goggles.

I don’t think it will completely replace analogue, at least not for a while. So you can breathe a sigh of relief, your analogue setup isn’t completely outdated… yet! The Air Unit is also too heavy for micro quads, anything smaller than a 3″ will have trouble carrying it.

There is a workaround to use the AV input connected to a ground station to receive analog signal, but it would have been great if the DJI goggles had an integrated analogue receiver, or supported VRX modules.

FAQ (Common Questions Answered)

How to set it up?

Here is a beginners guide walking you through how to setup and use it for the first time.

What are the other HD FPV systems?

Connex Prosight (review), BlueFPV, R2TECK DVL1, Fatshark Byte Frost (HDZero – Review).

What frequency does DJI FPV system transmit on?

Both radio and video signals transmit on 5.8GHz.

Does DJI FPV system interfere with 5.8GHz analogue FPV system?

Yes, when analogue signal powers on near the DJI frequency, the DJI latency goes up and in the worst scenario the frame just freezes. If you move the channels further away, the situation gets better but you can still tell the latency is more than when the analogue signal isn’t present.

The DJI system can also affect analogue, but it doesn’t seem to be as badly affected as it is the other way round. You can tell there is noise and interference in the analogue feed but it’s still flyable.

Therefore, I wouldn’t do anything sketchy when you are flying with people on analogue system, and keep the frequency separation as wide as possible.

DJI system channels are roughly on the Raceband frequencies. See this chart for more detail: https://intofpv.com/t-fpv-frequency-chart-now-with-dji-fpv-and-wifi

How to unlock 25mW (CE mode) to enable 700mW (FCC mode)?

Enable FCC mode on DJI FPV System (700mW 8 Channels)

How to mount Air Unit antennas?

V shape.

Can I use Diopter lenses in the Goggles?

Yes, you can find it in this article.

Can I output video from the goggles to an external display?

No, there is no HDMI output on the goggles.

Can people watch my flying?

Only if they have the DJI goggles as well. There is a spectator mode, and you can tune into another DJI pilot’s channel.

Will the DJI goggles work with DJI Mavic and Spark?

No, the goggles is only designed for the FPV Air Unit.

Can you use the goggles for FPV simulators?

No, there is no HDMI input.

Does it support other flight controller firmware apart from Betaflight, e.g. FlightOne, and KISS?

Yes, it doesn’t depend on the FC firmware, unless you want to do things like change PID and rates then it only works with Betaflight at the moment (through UART).

Can you replace the camera in the Air Unit?

Yes, you can remove the ribbon cable by removing the back cover on the camera.

What SD Card should I use?

Take a look at my SD card recommendations here based on the resolution you are recording at.

Using DJI Goggles for Analogue Video

As mentioned, there is an AV input on the DJI FPV goggles, so you can hook it up to an analogue video receiver. There are DIY kits you can install to the DJI goggles and make it plug and play to analogue receiver modules, but it’s a lot of work and requires tearing down the goggles which might void your warranty.

The display in the DJI goggles is not a “blue screen”, meaning when your analogue signal becomes too weak, the screen gets more snowy instead of showing a blue screen (or black screen) like the typical LCD screens. This is great for FPV.

However, there are some downsides when using the DJI goggles for analogue.

• Internal DVR doesn’t record AV input
• Some people are experiencing worse latency with AV input, if PAL/NTSC doesn’t match between OSD and camera
• You might void the warranty by doing the module bay mod

Anyway if you wish to go ahead, you can buy the DIY kit here:

• BG: http://bit.ly/2KiGr49

Conclusion

So far I am really impressed with what DJI is offering, this is such a huge step forward in the FPV industry. Hands down the best Digital HD FPV system right now, and it also performs on par, if not better than the most expensive analogue system available when it comes to range and noise-rejection.

It’s not perfect for sure, for example, price, weight and size are still the disadvantages, especially for micro drones. There were also some bugs at the beginning, but DJI quickly addressed most of these with software updates.

There are many improvements we still want to see in the future, such as full Betaflight integration (making really good progress), fixed latency etc. I don’t think it’s ready yet for the proper race track or flying with a big group. But for those who are fed up with the old and complex FPV gear, and just want to enjoy FPV, the DJI FPV system will definitely put a smile on your face. You don’t have to think about what camera/VTX to get, ignore all the technical non-sense, and just build it and fly it.

Updates

Here are the software and hardware updates on the DJI FPV system.

Nov 2019 – 1200mW “Hack”

Enable 1200mW Output On DJI FPV System

Dec 2019 – Betaflight OSD Support

DJI now fully support all the elements in Betaflight OSD. Before this the OSD only support the display of voltage, timer, but now the list has been extended such as GPS coordinates, altitude, etc.

However there is still no updates on OSD support for other flight control software, such as iNav and Ardupilot. There is a work around though, using “Mavlink to MSP bridge” between the FC and Air Unit. For that, you will need an Arduno board, enable Mavlink on one of the ports, connect DJI AirUnit via the Arduino and that’s all!

Jan 2020 – Smaller, Lighter, Cheaper Air Unit!

DJI is listening! They are working with Caddx to release a more compact air unit for smaller drones – see this review of the Caddx VISTA VTX for more detail.

July 2020 – 50Mbps Mode!

Okay, DJI just released the killer feature – 50Mbps mode! It utilizes double the usual bandwidth, giving you even clearer image and longer range! See this post fore more detail.

Mar 2021 – V2 Goggles and Remote Released

DJI released the V2 Goggles, but the V2 remote only works with the DJI FPV drone, and not the Air Units.

May 2021 – Video Out from DJI Goggles

Very exciting news, the community has cracked the DJI Video out feature, and you can now get video out on Android Phones and PC without using their expensive Smart Controller. See this post for detail.