I liked the Holybro Atlatl HV VTX because you could install it in the FC stack and made a clean build. It had all the features you’d need in a mini quad including SmartAudio and a microphone. And they have just released an improved version – the Atlatl HV V2 VTX.
Further Reading: How to choose VTX for Mini Quad?
Where to Buy?
You can get the Altatl V2 VTX alone, or with Kakute F4 or F7 flight controllers as a combo:
- Banggood: http://bit.ly/2LBnPOw
- GetFPV: http://bit.ly/atlatl-v2
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QDm4QE
What’s new in the Atlatl V2 VTX?
- Onboard microphone
- Maximum transmitting power increased up to 800mW
- Improved LED indicators for channel, band and power, much easier to read than V1
- Weight has been dropped in the V2 (9.3g) from the first version (10.8g)
- Improved physical push button – you can now change all the settings with it without VTX control
- Holybro made sure PIT mode output power is low enough to minimize interference to other pilots in the air
Specifications
- Output Power: 25mW, 200mW, 500mW, 800mW
- Pitmode (0.5mW)
- Built-in Microphone
- Antenna Connector: MMCX
- Input Voltage: 7V to 28 volts (allows for 2-6S LiPo direct power)
- Dimensions: 35x25x7mm
- Mounting Holes: Standard 30.5mm pattern
- Weight: 9.3g
Close Look
Build quality looks great. Heatsink from the V1 has been removed in the V2, despite the maximum power has been increased to 800mW. There is a cut-out in near the connector, you can route the wires through to make your cabling cleaner.
The new push button is a lot easier to use than the previous version. You can now change all the settings using the button – channel, band and power. The V1 was really designed around VTX control (Smart Audio), and the VTX would be pretty useless without it. It’s great to see this improvement.
The Atlatl VTX comes with a durable MMCX connector with a pigtail cable. You have 25mW for racing, all the way up to 800mW for long range freestyle. The Atlatl V2 has offers Pit Mode so that you can power up your VTX to change settings without knocking other pilots out of the air.
SmartAudio allows you to control your VTX via your flight controller and so change channel, transmitting power and much more with this easy function. See this guide on how to setup VTX control.
Supports 40 channels, including Fatshark/ImmersionRC and Raceband.
The manual can be found on their website.
Power Testing
I always power off the VTX for it to cool down between each measurement to ensure the accuracy of the results.
It’s interesting that the power seems to decrease as frequency moves up. If you are in a race and required to use 25mW, channels with higher frequency are better as they are closer to 25mW :) For those who want to get higher power for long range, try to use channels with lower frequency so that you get the maximum power :)
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | |
| 25mW | 40 | 38 | 36 | 32 | 32 | 35 | 31 | 25 |
| 200mW | 210 | 215 | 211 | 217 | 191 | 182 | 156 | 124 |
| 800mW | 640 | 635 | 620 | 601 | 495 | 480 | 419 | 350 |
Pitmode
The advertised pitmode power is under 0.5mW, but from my testing i got around 0.7-0.8mW. A little bit higher but should be low enough to not cause problems.
There are two ways to enable Pitmode, either using VTX control (Betaflight OSD or LUA script), or simply hold down the button on the VTX while powering up.
16 comments
Hi Oscar, maybe I am confused, but can I use this vtx for DJI FPV ?
Excellent VTX! The quality of the image is better than the others.
Hello,
how i save the settings on the atlatl? After every restart i have to set the Channel and power output with the button.
Hello Oscar,
Many thanks for your work, I wonder if you can advise me.
I’m running this VTX connected to a Matek 405 wing (smartaudio, Inav 2.0) and I can change the power level in the osd using my TX.
The problem is that I only see level powers up to 600mw (i don’t see 800mw) and if I select 600mw I can’t arm, the board is telling me that the power level is not supported?
Have you ever had this problem? Please advise.
I think it might be a problem with the firmware itself. I can use 800mW in Betaflight.
Maybe you have to set it to 800mW manual using the button?
Hi Oscar, I readed your review and finally I bought this VTX. I’m having an issue and I would like to know if maybe you could know what is happening. The fact is that in my unit the SmartAudio is not working. I own a DYS F4 Pro v2 and I got it set in betaflight in the UART6 to TBS SmartAudio (the DYS fc sets this UART to be used for this). BUT when I connect the lipo and enter in the OSD section for the SmartAudio (Features -> SA) is not appearing anything (I tested with a TBS Unify Pro Race and with that unit was working perfectly). So, maybe defective unit? Or maybe something to do that I’m not aware of?
Have you tried a different UART?
Make sure the FC is using latest stable firmware?
Make sure SmartAudio is connected to the TX pin and not RX?
Im getting about 25 ft of range on 800mw with my atlatl hooked up on the 5v pad… this is with an x-air on my goggles and foxeer on the quad… any help here?
Input voltage to low. Should be 7-42 volts. Surprised it’s working at 5v.
minimum input voltage is 7V mate.
Hey oscar, what would be the range of tx at 7v ?
Great review thanks!
Oscar, would you advise your purchase ?, since I’m looking for a new vtx, and I do not want nor do I like the tramp and tbs unify
Yes, it’s a good VTX!
Oscar! can you please please test spectrum bleeding and post the results?? I’ testing several VTXs, TBS, Tramp, AKK and found out that all of them bleed R1 and R3 into higher channels like R6 and R8, can you help the community to find out what is going on?
I’m also curious to see how the output power compares to the Unify Pro HV… :)