Looking for a video transmitter for your tiny whoop or toothpick micro quad builds? Check out the Eachine Nano VTX – not only it’s the smallest VTX I’ve tested, but also capable of up to 400mW!
New to FPV? Check out my VTX buyer’s guide.
Update (Aug 2020): Eachine has released a Nano VTX V2 (Review).
Where to Buy?
Buy the Eachine Nano VTX from: http://bit.ly/nano-vtx
In the package there are the Nano VTX, dipole antenna and the instruction manual.
Features and Specs
Specifications:
- Selectable Power: 25mW, 100mW, 200mW and 400mW
- Input Voltage: 5V Only
- 6 Bands, 48 Channels (ABEFRL)
- Dimension: 14x15x4mm
- Weight: 1.5g (without wires and antenna)
The Eachine Nano VTX’s got a good list of features:
- Push button for settings
- Supports VTX control (IRC Tramp)
- Solder pads – no stupid connector
- U.FL (IPEX) Antenna Connector
- Supports Pitmode
Closer Look at the Eachine Nano VTX
Due to the limited space, there is no microphone.
And there are only three LED’s there for showing you what channel, band and power setting the VTX is on. As you can probably imagine, it can be very confusing! Staring at the flashing LED’s, then reading the manual, it’s like learning Morse code!
Seriously, if you are getting this VTX, you must setup VTX control so you can change VTX settings via Betaflight OSD. Otherwise you’d be in so much trouble. It’s quite easy to do, simply connect the RX pin on the VTX to a TX pin on your FC, then select “Tramp” under Peripheral for that UART. Here is a detail tutorial on how to setup and use VTX control if you are not sure. (Here is the VTXTable for it)
The Eachine Nano VTX only takes 5V, which means you can only power it from your FC, or a dedicated 5V BEC. You cannot power it from 1S or 2S LiPo directly.
It’s a lot smaller when holding it in your hands than in the photos.
The Nano VTX and the Runcam Racer Nano should make a great combo for ultra-light micro quads like the toothpicks or tiny whoops :)
Here is the instruction manual:
Power Testing
VTX tested with the ImmersionRC power meter V2. Results are taken roughly 10 seconds after powered on. VTX is cooled down between each measurement.
| Raceband | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 |
| 25mW | 25 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 |
| 100mW | 130 | – | – | – | 150 | – | – | – |
| 200mW | 205 | – | – | – | 245 | – | – | – |
| 400mW | 300 | – | – | – | 330 | – | – | – |
I am very impressed with the output power performance given the tiny size. It has very accurate output power on 25mW across all Raceband channels.
However do note that the output power can continue to drop if you leave it powered on without proper cooling, which is to be expected for a tiny VTX. This is because it has a such small surface area to let the heat go, and there is no heatsink. But don’t worry, when you are flying, the airflow should cool the VTX down considerably.
When testing 400mW on the bench, the output power dropped quickly as the VTX getting hotter. I personally would not use 400mW unless there is extremely good cooling – like adding a heatsink or have the VTX fully exposed to airflow. If you are using anything higher than 100mW, make sure you don’t bury the VTX in your canopy or stack to avoid overheat.
32 comments
Which antenna model is used in this transmitter?
I followed the directions but cannot get power or channel to change. Only frequency will change. I have two of these. One is stuck at 200mw and overheats and looses signal. The other is stuck in pit mode which is useless as well.
yes i have same problem no fixes yet tho
For everyone having problems on bf 4.2 –> lower the baud rate, it solved the issue for me… somehow…
I only used this VTX on softserial, because I needed a hardware UART for GPS. No issues with softserial and Tramp Protocol with the correct VTX table. Board is a Flywoo Goku 413S (F411). But I have seen better VTXs in terms of picture quality. But the were at least twice that big to be fair.
Come on Oscar, why don’t you mention the flawed tramp protocol on the first line of your review? Same for the rush vtx. I got fucked over on that one too.
This was reviewed before VTX table was a thing, which was working fine until vtxtable i guess.
Eachine nano vtx – irc tramp protocol not working
– wire is correct from rx on vtx to tx on fc
– ports tab to irc tramp
– vtx tables setup according to oscar liang’s file
I can set it in the menu, but vtx does not respond… .
HI just got this VTX and have not been able to get OSD to display in goggles. Using Betaflight I am able to change vtx settings but cannot access setting via OSD in goggles. Has anyone had any success with this? I have F4 Betafpv aio board.
was it working before you use this VTX?
try switch between PAL/NTSC in OSD settings.
Can I get it out of pit mode, without connecting to a flight controller?
The Eachine Nano has a flawed Tramp implementation, or at least for Betaflight 4.x
Remapping Tramp TX to an Led Strip pad with soft serial got it working – https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-soft-serial/
yes TBS is smaller
BTW now there is even smaller
NameLessRC Nano400 VTX
Everyone who has problems with the eachine nano and the tramp protocol, should try to compile betaflight with some workarounds added to the source files…
github.com/betaflight/betaflight/pull/9263/commits/6552e612fb7f665ec0a3b370fbca5d7014378919
Does anyone know the amperage of the 5v output? Can it run a Runcam Split 3 Nano?
No.
does anybody know how to workarround the inability to use this vtx with tramp protocol on a f4 fc? it doesnt work nor via uart tx or any softserial…
I had problems of Tramp protocol NOT being recognized in the very beginning as well.
Solution for me: Configure VTX table (as per BF instructions), but make sure the bands are configured as “non-factory”. Mostly they are pre-configured as ‘factory’ for Smartaudio which is the more common alternative to Tramp.
Works like a charm now!
I cannot get smartaudio working either. I’m in IRC Tramp in softserial tx1 and cannot change a thing. Should I try different baud rates?
I’m using it through a Matek f411-wse and firmware f411se RC2.3 in iNav.
Any help would be appreciated.
I cannot get smartaudio on my eachine nano vtx working through my F411-wse fc through STx pad.
Hello,
I bought this vtx to put it on a RC car. So I don’t have any FC settings available in betaflight. When I select the power (long press 6 seconds then short press to select it) I always have the same poor signal, loosing signal after walking only few meters (1, 2, 3 or 4 flashs (25mw, 100mw, 200mw, 400mw).
That makes me think I’m in pitmode in reality (there is no “zero flash” so I assume I can’t go into or exit pitmode just by pressing the button for 6 seconds then selecting the power).
Has anyone an idea on how I could exit pitmode only by pressing the button one way ? There’s nothing in the manual and the only thing I found on the net was to set it with betaflight which I can’t do.
Because I’m quite sad not being able to use this vtx on my car :/
Have a nice day everybody :)
oh boy these are really poor vtx, unless it’s my ev200d … eachine
I got this VTx recently, I connected it to a cheap camera. I dont get any video on the receiver, the red light flashes and stops for 3 seconds (25 mW). I connected the same camera to another VTx and it shows fine video. Does it need the Rx connected always or it can be left out not connected? Is there something I am missing?
no it should work without RX connected. Just make sure you are on the right channels and it’s not in Pitmode.
I now have 5 of these and 3 of them DO NOT ACCEPT Tramp commands at all. Just like the commenter above saying “I don’t detect the vtx * —- —– —– and I’m not able to change bands and channels”.
This is piss poor quality from Eachine, but I guess it’s to be expected.
For the tramp protocol to work instead of going to confirm yes or no select the channel and band then go to save exit. That is the only way I can get the tramp protocol to work.
Hello, excellent review, regarding the configuration of the smart audio, I have carefully followed the manual, TX1 of the FC to Rx1 of the VTX, and BF configured in the UART1 as IRC Tramp, once done, it works correctly to activate and deactivate pit mode, but I don’t detect the vtx * —- —– —– and I’m not able to change bands and channels, what could be the problem?
Would it be possible to add a microphone to the vtx
i don’t think so there is no audio input
Now we don’t have to pay 30 bucks for a vtx. I just got mine in yesterday.
TBS UNIFY PRO32 NANO：？？？
Looks pretty much like a new version of the VTX03 given its size and new features. What a winner.