Rush a relatively new player in FPV specialized in making VTX’s, in less than a year they have become one of the most popular VTX brands. In this review I will test their whole VTX lineup: the Tank, Tank Plus, Tank Race, Tank Racing and Tiny Tank, test output power consistency and determine what builds you should use them for.
Table of Contents
The Pro’s and Con’s
If you are new to FPV video transmitters, make sure to see my VTX buyer’s guide to learn the basics first.
All of the Rush VTX’s have features that you would want from a modern VTX: SmartAudio support, Pit Mode, wide voltage input, and high output power. The channel and power level are displayed by LED panel, and you can change settings either through the push button or SmartAudio.
However, to use SmartAudio in the latest Betaflight you have to manually set up VTX Tables first.
Some people prefer soldering wires between VTX and FC, some prefer using JST connector and cables. VTX’s from Rush offer both options! They also all have built-in 5V 1A BEC for powering the FPV camera – this help reduce power noise in your camera.
Each of the VTX in the lineup has some unique features that make them better suited for certain application.
During testing, I was extremely impressed by how stable the output power was. Other VTX’s I’ve tested before tend to drop quickly after powering as the heat builds up, but VTX’s from Rush stay relatively consistent for much longer.
I used the ImmersionRC Powermeter V2 for testing VTX output power.
However, there is some inconsistency in the default VTX configuration. From the units i tested, they mostly come pre-configured to 25mW and set to Raceband CH1, but a few are set to Fatshark CH1. There was one that was even set to 800mW! So make sure you check yours when powering on for the first time, you don’t want it to transmit at maximum power on the bench for too long to avoid overheat.
Another interesting thing I noticed was the gradually rising output power. It takes a few seconds for the power to rise and reach maximum, this gives you a chance to unplug if your VTX is interfering others when powering on.
Rush Tank VTX
Product Page:
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBY1sb3
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Mi65Hc
- GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-cr98
Rush Tank VTX close up shot:
Specs:
- Price: $36
- Weight: 6.8g
- Size: 36x36x4.5mm
- Mounting: 30.5×30.5mm (M3)
- Power: 25, 200, 500, 800mW
- Antenna Connector: MMCX
- Audio: No Mic / No Audio Input
- 5V power for Camera: 5V 1A
The most power VTX in the line up is probably the Rush Tank, with a maximum output power of 800mW.
It has a 36x36mm form factor, and has 30.5×30.5mm mounting holes allowing you to stack it on top of your flight controller. This is perhaps not designed for compact frames, especially if you are already running a 4in1 ESC which takes quite a bit of room already.
Output power testing result:
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | |
| 5658 | 5695 | 5732 | 5769 | 5806 | 5843 | 5880 | 5917 | |
| 25mW | 20.1 | 18.8 | 20.4 | 21.4 | 19.6 | 20.6 | 19.7 | 17.2 |
| 200mW | 160 | – | 174 | – | 164 | – | 178 | – |
| 500mW | 376 | – | – | – | – | – | 441 | – |
| 800mW | 426 | – | – | – | – | – | 445 | – |
VTX Table to enter in CLI (FCC)
vtxtable bands 5 vtxtable channels 8 vtxtable band 1 BOSCAM_A A FACTORY 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725 vtxtable band 2 BOSCAM_B B FACTORY 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866 vtxtable band 3 BOSCAM_E E FACTORY 5705 5685 5665 0 5885 5905 5925 0 vtxtable band 4 FATSHARK F FACTORY 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880 vtxtable band 5 RACEBAND R FACTORY 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917 vtxtable powerlevels 4 vtxtable powervalues 14 23 27 29 vtxtable powerlabels 25 200 500 800 save
Rush Tank Ultimate Plus VTX
Product Page:
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/36Vq3PG
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBY1sb3
- GetFPV: http://bit.ly/2PH1dgL
Rush Tank Ultimate Plus VTX Close up shot:
Specs:
- Price: $38
- Weight: 6.7g
- Size: 33.6×22.8×4.1mm
- Power: 25, 200, 500, 800mW
- Antenna Connector: MMCX
- Audio: Built-in Microphone
- 5V power for camera: 5V 1A
It has the same capability and features as the Tank VTX, but in a smaller form factor. This is great if your build doesn’t have the space for an extra board in the stack. It also comes with a 30.5×30.5mm adapter, so you can still install it on top of your FC if you want.
One additional feature is the built-in microphone, allowing you to hear the buzzer and motors from your FPV goggles.
Output power testing result:
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | |
| 5658 | 5695 | 5732 | 5769 | 5806 | 5843 | 5880 | 5917 | |
| 25mW | 28.9 | 29.4 | 31.3 | 32.9 | 33.1 | 36.2 | 37.3 | 35.7 |
| 200mW | 208 | – | 235 | – | 253 | – | 250 | – |
| 500mW | 396 | – | – | – | – | – | 524 | – |
| 800mW | 580 | – | – | – | – | – | 610 | – |
VTX Table to enter in CLI (FCC)
vtxtable bands 5 vtxtable channels 8 vtxtable band 1 BOSCAM_A A FACTORY 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725 vtxtable band 2 BOSCAM_B B FACTORY 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866 vtxtable band 3 BOSCAM_E E FACTORY 5705 5685 5665 0 5885 5905 5925 0 vtxtable band 4 FATSHARK F FACTORY 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880 vtxtable band 5 RACEBAND R FACTORY 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917 vtxtable powerlevels 4 vtxtable powervalues 14 23 27 29 vtxtable powerlabels 25 200 500 800 save
Rush Tank Racing VTX
Product Page:
- GetFPV: http://bit.ly/2Mg8LVx
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Mi7M7w
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBY1sb3
Specs:
- Price: $25
- Weight: 5.7g
- Size:28×21.5x4mm
- Power: 25, 50, 200, 500mW
- Antenna Connector: MMCX
- Audio: No Mic, No Audio input
- 5V power for camera: 5V 1A
As the name suggests, this VTX is designed with racing in mind. 25mW, 50mW and 200mW are the low output power levels that often used when flying in group. However you still get the 500mW option so it’s still possible for some mid range flying.
500mW with some decent antennas (2dB + 8dB) can give you roughly 3km or even more. Here is the FPV range calculator. This article explains how to calculate FPV range.
Not only being smaller than the Tank Plus, it’s also $10 cheaper, so this is a much more cost effective solution in my opinion (although it doesn’t have audio).
Output power testing result:
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | |
| 5658 | 5695 | 5732 | 5769 | 5806 | 5843 | 5880 | 5917 | |
| 25mW | 26.9 | 27.9 | 28.5 | 30.9 | 27.1 | 28.4 | 30.1 | 25.9 |
| 50mW | 47.1 | – | 53.2 | – | 55.7 | – | 58.9 | – |
| 200mW | 182 | – | – | – | – | – | 230 | – |
| 500mW | 334 | – | – | – | – | – | 398 | – |
VTX Table to enter in CLI (FCC)
vtxtable bands 5 vtxtable channels 8 vtxtable band 1 BOSCAM_A A FACTORY 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725 vtxtable band 2 BOSCAM_B B FACTORY 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866 vtxtable band 3 BOSCAM_E E FACTORY 5705 5685 5665 0 5885 5905 5925 0 vtxtable band 4 FATSHARK F FACTORY 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880 vtxtable band 5 RACEBAND R FACTORY 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917 vtxtable powerlevels 4 vtxtable powervalues 14 17 23 27 vtxtable powerlabels 25 50 200 500 save
Rush Tank Mini VTX
Product Page:
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBY1sb3
- GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-1sz2
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Z6uR28
Specs:
- Price: $38
- Weight: 4.46g
- Size:28x28x3.3mm
- Mounting: 20x20mm
- Power: 25, 200, 500, 800mW
- Antenna Connector: MMCX
- Audio: Audio Input (No built-in Mic)
- 5V power for camera: 5V 1A
The Rush Tank Mini is the compact option in this lineup, and yet it’s capable of putting out 800mW! It’s perfect for builds that use 20x20mm stacks.
It comes with a plastic cover, however that’s not a heatshrink, it’s purely for protection and aesthetics. And there is a water-proof coating on this VTX.
The Tank Mini doesn’t have a built-in mic, but it has audio input for hooking up an external microphone.
Output power testing result:
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | |
| 5658 | 5695 | 5732 | 5769 | 5806 | 5843 | 5880 | 5917 | |
| 25mW | 18.2 | 18.6 | 19 | 20.3 | 20.9 | 21.8 | 23.3 | 23.8 |
| 200mW | 153 | – | 161 | – | 174 | – | 194 | – |
| 500mW | 266 | – | – | – | – | – | 352 | – |
| 800mW | 420 | – | – | – | – | – | 450 | – |
VTX Table to enter in CLI (FCC)
vtxtable bands 5 vtxtable channels 8 vtxtable band 1 BOSCAM_A A FACTORY 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725 vtxtable band 2 BOSCAM_B B FACTORY 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866 vtxtable band 3 BOSCAM_E E FACTORY 5705 5685 5665 0 5885 5905 5925 0 vtxtable band 4 FATSHARK F FACTORY 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880 vtxtable band 5 RACEBAND R FACTORY 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917 vtxtable powerlevels 4 vtxtable powervalues 14 23 27 29 vtxtable powerlabels 25 200 500 800 save
Rush Tiny Tank VTX
Product Page: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBY1sb3
Specs:
- Price: $21
- Weight: 1.4g
- Size: 17×12.5mm
- Input Voltage: 5V
- Power: 25, 100, 200mW
- Antenna Connector: U.FL (IPEX)
- Audio: No Mic, No Audio Input
I haven’t tested the Tiny Tank yet because it just came out a few days ago (Dec 2019). This is by far the smallest and lightest VTX Rush has ever produced. This should be great for micro quads like the recently popular “toothpick” builds. It has an easy connection (solder pads) for the FPV camera. Hopefully I will test the output power of this VTX soon.
VTX Table to enter in CLI (FCC)
vtxtable bands 5 vtxtable channels 8 vtxtable band 1 BOSCAM_A A FACTORY 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725 vtxtable band 2 BOSCAM_B B FACTORY 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866 vtxtable band 3 BOSCAM_E E FACTORY 5705 5685 5665 0 5885 5905 5925 0 vtxtable band 4 FATSHARK F FACTORY 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880 vtxtable band 5 RACEBAND R FACTORY 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917 vtxtable powerlevels 4 vtxtable powervalues 14 20 23 25 vtxtable powerlabels 25 100 200 350 save
35 comments
I have the Rush Tank II on my new quad. It seems stuck in pit mode. I have gone in my goggles and set the option to free instead of race but even though I save and save/exit, it keeps reverting back to race. Even the long press on the power button won’t take it out of pit mode. Could an error in the vtx table cause this? Any other ideas?
Thank you!
Not sure I haven’t tested the V2 yet. Maybe you need to unlock it first like a lot of other VTX? Check the manual maybe?
What protocol does the rush Mini use ?
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Oscar, I see that none of that series made it to your recommended VTX. Where is it inferior to the other products in the market?
Hi,
i have rush tiny tank . I recently put the updated vtx table , but now when i set the channel to FATSHARK 7 in betaflight , i am getting footage on F6 . is there any problem somewhere i dont understand ?
I have a rush tank ultimate mini that was in a quad flying working great and on a 4S 4-minute flight all of a sudden the video settings went to really really bright while flying from normal to extremely bright where light blows out the video to where you can’t barely see I thought something was wrong with the VTX so I took it out and put in another rush tank that had never been used which was the ultimate two but it does the same exact thing I changed out my cameras still the same thing so I’m thinking it’s something to do with my flight controller or some kind of setting is there somewhere that I can go to change settings of the brightness?
-RUSH TINY TANK says it can do 350mw, however on your VTX table you only have commands for 25mw, 100mw, and 200mw… what is the value for 350mw?
Yes, they silently added 350mW after I published the article. I have updated the VTX table now.
Big fan of your site. I found out the VTX Table for the Ultimate Plus ist wrong or not working with lates Beta Flight.
This one is working for me:
vtxtable bands 6
vtxtable channels 8
vtxtable band 1 BOSCAM_A A FACTORY 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725
vtxtable band 2 BOSCAM_B B FACTORY 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866
vtxtable band 3 BOSCAM_E E FACTORY 5705 5685 5665 5645 5885 5905 5925 5945
vtxtable band 4 FATSHARK I FACTORY 5740 5760 5780 5800 5820 5840 5860 5880
vtxtable band 5 RACEBAND R FACTORY 5658 5695 5732 5769 5806 5843 5880 5917
vtxtable band 6 LOWBAND L CUSTOM 5362 5399 5436 5473 5510 5547 5584 5621
vtxtable powerlevels 4
vtxtable powervalues 0 1 2 3
vtxtable powerlabels 25 200 500 800
BR and thx for your work!
Thanks! This works for me on BF 4.3
Are you able to do a review of the new Rush Tank Solo? It should be able to output more than 1.6W and looks really clean. Maybe a real competitor for TBS unify?
No a huge fan of high power VTX (anything higher than 800mW), but I can check it out when I have the opportunity. Still got a bit of backlog or review products from last year :)
VTX table values for rush racing are wrong, should be: 0 1 2 3
Hi Oscar,
I installed rush tank ultimate plus but after I plugged in my quad into betaflight, it didn’t show video transmitter tab on the left side.
hi oscar
i have a rush tank ultimate and it was working flawlessly . when i updated to betalfight 4.2.3 and added the proper vtx tables. my vtx is stuck in pit /race mode . i have tried every possible way . when i exit race mode from the osd or by prssing the power button i loose video . the video comes in pit mode . i also tried to connect it direclty to the tbs reciver i have the same result . i disconnected it from the smart audio also i got thr same result . is my vtx dead or what ? although i have barely used it
I am about to purchase the tiny tank and use it with a runcam or foxeer camera. is it possible to power the tiny with 3.7v 1200mAh 1 cell battery?
No, 5V only.
In betaflight modes tab you need to assign user1 to a switch to enable video. The tiny tank ships in pit mode.
Having a hard time unlocking this tinintank vtx. 8 have looked all over online, followed all the instructions and it still resets to free everything I plug back in. Help!
The output power testing result, is it correct that you only get half of announced output power??
like in the Rush tank ultimate: 800mw output only gives 426mw??
these high power VTX tends to overheat quickly and the output power drops, very common in high power VTX without good cooling.
Hi Oscar, thank you for… ALL!!
You have an error in the JSON for the RUSH TINY TANK. According to a post on Rush’s Facebook site (March 7, 2020), the PowerValues should be 1,2,3,4 and not 14, 20, 23.
They posted a link to the JSON files for all their VTX.
drive.google.com/drive/folders/19Ss1n_jZUx4P_jOhjjvpmSD82RioBTnh
Questions:
1. Why are some values indexes continual and other are not?
2. How can I set the “OP MODE” to FREESTYLE in Betaflight? Can I?
Hi Oscar:)
Great tutorial, but I can’t set my Rush Tank Ultimate Plus powervalues :(
Tried 0, 1, 2, 3 and vtxtable powervalues 14 23 27 29 and can’t control power via smartaudio while channels and bands work perfectly :(
Help pls!
Oscar,
I bought a rushtank race edition and when i connect it a solid red light appear on the side but i doesnt sent any signal and all the others leds are off.
Hi Oscar,
I recently purchased the Rush Tank Mini VTX.
Would you know if it’s possible to assign pit mode on a switch on my transmitter (T16 pro)
I’ll be connecting SmartAudio from Vtx to> output 4 (Setup as SmartAudio output) on my TBS crossfire Nano RX.
I’m connecting SA this way because of limited UARTs on my FC and therefore control Rx and Vtx through the Lua script. Would be better to have PIT mode on a switch.
Thanks
You would have to use a flight controller with “True Pit Mode” feature, like the CLRacing F7.
What’s up with the data and switch ports on the tiny tank?
The Data port is SmartAudio. Not sure aobut SW (switch) Port yet, I am guessing it’s for PWM/Pitmode control from betaflight.
I hate hot VTX units, especially when the become hot even set at 25mW. The eachine nano 400 is such hot unit, same for hglrc tx20. Both video becomes crappy/distorded after more than 1 minute no cooling.
Still the good old VTX03, I can run at 200mw, even when put inside heatshrink and no issues.
HOT VTX, I wish this was tackled. I hate it.
so in your testing of the 800mw vtx’s they only put out HALF the advertised power?? what gives?? i would like to put the rush tank mini in a long range 20×20 build but this has me double guessing if i should just go with a unify…..
I’m looking for an 8 to 10 inch frame for freestyle/long range that can take a full size 28mm camera. Any recommendations? All the ones I’ve been able to find only take Mini or smaller.
Cheers Oscar
They look good. Any suggestions for 2s powered micro vtx for something like Emax Freestyle as it can’t supply enough on the 5V line for more than 25mW without blowing!!!!
For something like that your best bet would be using an external 5V regulator, these are not very heavy.
Alternatively, use the TBS Unify Pro32 nano, they can take 2S input from LiPo directly: https://oscarliang.com/top-5-best-vtx-mini-quad/