Micro Quadcopters like the Hubsan X4 has limited lifting capability, so the FPV gear must be as light weight as possible and also capable of running off 1S LiPo. There are currently a few Transmitters / FPV combo (camera + VTX) that I found suitable for this task. If you find any other options and alternatives please let me know.
TX5823 200mW 5.8Ghz video transmitter
Price: $11
Includes: VTX
Weight: 2.1g
I used this transmitter in various build, it performs pretty well. Only problem is can get over-heat easily due to the power it has in such a small dimension. But it’s definitely one of the lightest, cheapest VTX for your DIY FPV system. I recently made a 5.8Ghz FPV system with this VTX.
It uses Band E, and is not compatible with ImmersionRC but Boscam.
Micro FPV SPMVA1100 Spectrum
Price: $100
Includes: VTX + Camera + Antenna
Weight: 4.5g
This is probably the most expensive FPV combo on the market currently. It’s compatible with Fatshark and ImmersionRC. Good thing is it works straight out of the box, and there is no DIY work.
Pico FPV Combo
Price: $75
Includes: Camera + VTX + Antenna
Weight: 7g
I have not tried this one yet. It uses 900 MHz & 1.3 GHz frequency which will give you the best wall penetration performance. But most people will find these frequency inconvenient because most people probably have a 5.8Ghz video receiver already, there might be extra cost in investing in a 1.3Ghz video receiver just for this FPV combo.
AltitudeRC 5.8GHz 25mW
Price: $50
Includes: VTX
Weight: 3.5g
I bought this VTX and will be testing it on my micro quad. It weights a little more than it says in the specification. But the quality seems very nice, and there is minimum amount of soldering. It’s compatible with Fatshark and ImmersionRC.
I built a micro FPV setup with this video transmitter and a 2g mini FPV camera.
3 comments
Hi. First of all thanks for your work. You have inspire me to try to make my first quadcopter.
I just buy another nano fpv combo from bangood : (Just 3.6 g!!!)
FPV AIO 600TVL 170 Degree mini Camera 5.8G 8CH Transmitter All in One Only 3g
banggood.com/FPV-AIO-600TVL-170-Degree-mini-Camera-5_8G-8CH-Transmitter-All-in-One-Only-3g-p-1015137.html
Description:
Item Name: FPV Camera with TX
Camera: CMOS,600TVL,170 degree
Transmitting Frequency: 5705-5925MHz,5.8G 8CH
FPV Power: 200mW
Distance: ≤300m
Power Supply: 3.7V-5V(1S battery recommanded, will last 15min)
Connector: 1.25mm JST connector
White Cable: +
Black Cable: –
Size: 18*14*21mm
Weight: 3.6g
Not recived yet. I will comment my impresions.
PD: I have also buy a micro frsky ppm receiver with 0.6g weight!!!
banggood.com/FLYSKY-Ultra-Miniature-PPM-Signal-Output-8CH-Receiver-For-Multicopter-p-988175.html
This one i have try with my eachine racer 250 and flysky fs-i6 tx
About the TX5823…
It doesn’t have a power filter. The sellers seems to indicate that a separate 1S battery is needed (engrish, so unsure) but that rhymes with your own experiences, no? Without it, you don’t get video.
So given that another 1S Lipo really isn’t a good option due to the weight, what would you say that the TX5823’s usefulness in micro-quads is?
And then if you can’t use teh TX5823, then why buy the Altitude RC vTx since for the price of that build, you can the SPMVA which only weighs 4.5 grams!
Are there no other less expensive options for a vTx for a microquad? None?
-Sebastian
TX5823 can still be used on micro quad, you can always save weight somewhere else… or use bigger motors setup.
4.5g is huge to the micro quad i built, total weight is only 45g (inc battery), so that’s 10%!