Caddx Walksnail Avatar GT VTX Kit - Technical Deep Dive Review

[@Mr.Laidukas]

I design PCB boards and I use micro SD card slots like here 4:00 . As a designer you use them to gain some PCB area to mount components and keep overall board smaller. This type memory card slot has smallest footprint. Ofcourse everyone need to consider how this will impact ergonomics of the product and how it will be implemented in the product housing.

[@paulnguyen6120]

Yuck, you should be ashamed of yourself lol

[@NukeFPV]

That low power mode is a fantastic advantage for units with rear mounted GPS !! …. You’ll be able to super quickly lock onto satellites and still have access to your video feed and OSD. Also not burn out the VTX whilst mucking around. Terrific idea 💡💪🏽

[@mikeselectricstuff]

40:55 if they're not using coax they may be using a balanced RF signal over the MIPI connector

[@xXnv16Xx]

That noise on power up looks like PIM likely caused by the crud in the UFL connector or the MIPI connection mentioned in the video. Would be very interesting to have seen the spec an output after the UFL was cleaned, dirty and corroded connectors is a common source of PIM on mobile phone tower feeder cable runs. I don't know enough to comment on the mipi, I'm a telecom tower tech, not an RF engineer, but I know dirty/bad connections/connectors can be a significant source of PIM and return loss/VSWR faults.

[@RubyS.1]

I always wait for your opinion.

[@BrandonBeans]

@16:55 when your friend powers this on, everyone stops flying 😲

[@jaysonrees738]

I was floored when I saw that. Are they crazy?

[@IanF-FPV]

Appreciate you Mads. Great deep dive.

[@hoagietime1]

I've been eyeing this vtx for fixed wing but they don't yet sell separately. Definitely want to mount it upside down with the bottom in airflow and open to the fuse for the fan. As another commenter said, the low power is a huge benefit for gps.

[@Michelsen3K]

my suggestion "vifly gps mate" not sure if useful for fixed wing. I use them in all of my gps quads

[@visioneerone]

GT VTX is now listed on Caddx's site as a separate item. $139.

[@mxracingunlimitedltd7784]

My M100 Mini is mounted right behind my O3 Air unit which is known to be noisy, as well as another M100 on a 5" with a Vista and they both get Satellites by the time I walk back over to grab my controller, put on my Goggles and get ready to fly and its already at the minimum i have set of 7 Sats for the Home Point, and i hear my beeper and i know it ready. I feel like if i use my drone on a somewhat normal basis the newer M10 GPS's with the Battery, will pick up the Satellites almost right away, like my phone almost.

[@mxracingunlimitedltd7784]

Another solution is to get the GPS power on a 5v Pad thats powered when plugged into USB, and then use a USB power bank to power the FC and let the connect the GPS connect, as well as connect your TX. Then when you're ready connect the Battery and remove the USB Cable and its the same thing as if you were on the bench at home testing the drone with your USB cable which has 5v power on it..

[@Simofly]

Do you think that a lateral fan could work the same or better for cooling ? I mean if I install the GT vtx remove the fan from the original place and put laterally . That could solve a lot of issue on fitting in a smaller quad , even on modern 7” 24mm are too much

[@CourtneyHomePro]

Great video. I just received the Avatar kit you have in the video. Where do i put the gray/white wire that come from the gimble to VTX? I see no other ports. antenna port, camera port and SD card slot. Thanks

[@DigitalCruzer]

Mine just shipped 5 days ago, can't wait to get it on my new itsfpv era to finish the build!

[@fpvkevlar8101]

It will fit huh looks so big in the video. I also just ordered the ERA can't wait to build it out. I'm doing a 8s with it.

[@MountaineerFPV]

Please let us know if you sd card falls out

[@DigitalCruzer]

@@fpvkevlar8101 its basically the same size as everything else, other then the added fan on top... Which i will put some grooves in the top edge of the fan housing to help with air flow through fan cuz it will be close, may also drill the rear plate holes a little so the vtx drops down a little lower, I will probably have to reroute the battery lead cuz there isn't enough room to go over it, i did print a rear xt60 mount and may not be able to use that, but i will make something work, possibly put nuts under top plate in worse case scenario... I also have a couple fans in my parts bins i bought for my analog vtxs that mount 20mm, they were like $2 fans, I might just take this one off and put a cheaper one on the bottom blowing up through, I really don't plan on running a GoPro though, cuz i keep breaking them 1080p is good enough of me, there is enough room to put the fan on the top plate behind the battery using the rear 2 screws too, not really sure what I'll do until I get it probably sometime next week, but when there's a will there's a way... 😂

[@DigitalCruzer]

@@MountaineerFPVI really doubt that will happen for me... Ever since I had a happy model diamond VTX / DVR what's for known for having bad SD card trays, they would just randomly shoot the SD card out the side, after losing that $20 sd card i had in it, i always use a rubber band from bicycle inner tubes up and over the VTX or flight controller that has a micro SD to prevent losing them...

[@MountaineerFPV]

@@DigitalCruzer good idea! 👍👍. I’ll be watching how this vtx unfolds for you all. Trying to move away from DJI even though I’ve had Walksnail since day 1. Gotta admit Walksnail pushes hardware to market and the software upgrades tend to perturb me. Walksnail needs to expand their R&D dept before releasing half assed things. Hoping this one works out because I wanna build another MOZ7 but not with DJI this time. Crushing them mountain tops and ridges around these parts👍👍🇺🇸

[@Mr.Laidukas]

12:40 They might need different RF channel directly connected to internal antenna for a pit/low power mode because the chipset is limited with built in attenuators and they can not attenuate 2W PA input enough to limit the power at the output to meet pit mode levels. I know that because I design RF electronics and have faced that situation where my RF chipset + PA lowest power setting is too big for what we needed in low range binding mode.

[@Mupshot]

Im assuming this also handles 700mw which is what I typically fly. but the large SD is attractive since I hate using the cable and a battery to unload. That and the pro camera kind of make this more attractive than the moonlight.

[@Quadwrex]

Does it get any hotter than an O3? More to the point, is the fan really needed in flight? Why not just take the fan off and easily throw it in a freestyle frame?

[@powersv2]

That SD slot meets the definition of unacceptable.

[@danmartinrc]

The “push to eject” slots tend to eject after a crash or hard landing. I think there is a better solution to lock it in place, but it does work.

[@mattheww9656]

It works and is mildly annoying = unacceptable. I don’t think this hobby is for you pal.

[@tienduy12345]

@@danmartinrc i crash my Avata and DJI 03 quads with sd card inside countless of times, breaks several Gopros as well, the micro SD card on those never eject it self even once.

[@MountaineerFPV]

Yeah, im out on that crap design. And no 4k recording. Hard pass. 👎

[@DigitalCruzer]

@@powersv2 actually I think it's a much smarter way to go! I bet they were probably having problems with the spring trigger mechanism and people were complaining about them ejecting... The spring-loaded ones are known to occasionally eject when the latching mechanism fails or when you hit something it's enough to trigger it and out goes the SD never to be seen again, that's why most action cameras have a door... I always run a rubber band made from bike inner tub around anything with an SD card to prevent that, the happy model diamond DVR vtx was notoriously bad for the latching mechanism to fail all together, I have 4 of them in my junk parts box 3 of them the SD card holder failed immediately just by clicking the SD card in and out more than three or four times and the SD card will not stay in it at all, RDQ finally went through them and found one that actually worked, and said that that was the last one they could replace to me, that worked for a few days before the radio in it failed for no reason, LOL, I haven't bought any happy model garbage since... All you got to do is put a rubber band around it to keep it from falling out and you're better off then if the latching mechanism work to fail, then your card wouldn't stay in it at all... Honestly I'd prefer if they went back to making them internal but options up to 128gb and put a freaking usb-c on it for crying out loud... Those little tiny plugs suck ass the wires break off of them constantly...

[@dcvshambhu]

Where is new walksnail system as they promised to show in August

[@OzgurJohn]

just tested, it has exactly same range as dji o3

[@tubamanandy2]

Spectrum analyser sort of confirms this

[@ChrisHarmon1]

I've seen others reference the 03s penetration as being similar now. I have always wished Walksnails penetration would catch up with DJI, just didn't expect it to be so heavy. With how well the goggles 3, and Integra fit me compared with Walksnail, I would be 100% satisfied if DJI supported the vista or newer variant and implemented a 1s - 3s power system similar to Walksnail/HDZero's 1s VTX offerings.

[@Michelsen3K]

Which distance could you reach?

[@Michelsen3K]

@@wattage2007 wow that's insane! Good antennas those x-rays, i was thinking to get the same. I assume it's fixed wing?

[@lamtungang8749]

actually range is more dependent on the receiver than the output power, you gain 2 times the range when up 4 times the power, but when you add 6db of anten you gain double the range

[@Crunklefloop]

I notice that although the VTX voltage is showing 14.4volts in standby when you arm it at around the 16:55 minute mark, the voltage drops into the red. The spec for the GT lists that it only gives full output above 11v (and presumably with sufficient amps). Seeing it drop into the red on your test makes me wonder if the available amps on the supply was too low for it.

[@MadRC]

All of the testing was confirmed on a fixed supply of 17v as well. While some of the footage shows it on a short saver it’s the same off it. However let me look at this again.

[@WeTrudgeOn]

I have this Vtx. Does it switch to 2 watts automatically, or can you physically turn on the high power mode? The manual does not explain how to put it into high-power mode.

[@poyrikkanal]

You do it from your goggles

[@WeTrudgeOn]

@@poyrikkanal I have the new goggles L and they don't have that option, caddx customer support is non existent.

[@tubamanandy2]

Surely outputting 25mw in low power mode would have been a better solution like the old ones ? SD card issue is not great - great/detailed review Ian

[@Mr.Laidukas]

12:10 Maybe your real time spectrum analyzer has math function to calculate power in the given bandwidth? That would be accurate measure to compare for a spread spectrum RF signal. I see quite often people interpret digital system RF power output with mystical theory. In reality Digital and Analog RF output difference comes from the fact that digital systems are sending in packets. One time period VTX is sending, the other it is not. That small pause between packets gives lower average power that most RF Power meters are measuring. On the other hand if with real time spectrum analyzer you will grab and freeze single packet it will still appear lower power because all these fast video links are using spread spectrum modulations like some flavor of OFDM ant they spread declared RF power over the full bandwidth. While analog transmitters are single modulated wave RF, what you se is what you get with analog CW signal.

[@McShakyFPV]

If someone added potting material would that help with thermal diffusion?

[@HowardPhillips46]

Hey I have a question, which firmware do I use to update this? Wasn't sure if it was.sky or . moonlight Thanks

[@jeremycabrera6312]

Can you tell me why the one I have went into bind mode a single time when it first came out of the box and has since not been able to go back into bind mode no matter how many times I hit the button or hold the button? Just a simple flashing green light?

[@MisterDonkey]

"*but has issues" seems to be caddx's theme song.

[@easyefpv6609]

ummm literally every release has issues...EVERY SINGLE ONE lol. no matter the company lmao

[@neuromancer692]

@@easyefpv6609And it's gonna stay this way as long as people are fine with paying for unfinished products.

[@zoey101dogwablog]

@@easyefpv6609 When does this become unacceptable for you? When does it feel like every customer is getting taken advantage of?

[@MisterDonkey]

@@easyefpv6609 Saying other systems are shitty, doesn't excuse this one becoming shitty as they "advance" the system. I have 30+ models with walksnail and it is very obvious to me through my direct experience with the system that post pro cam firmware has seen a significant decline in performance and stability. Updates are supposed to make things better, but caddx only releases new firmware to add compatibility for the new hardware they keep shitting out, instead of fixing the problems with the hardware that they've already sold. Thanks for your input though.

[@Berlinoize]

Is it the dji FPV? i think the FPV has a 1400mW vtx

[@SFPFPV]

I got zero more range vs a regular V2 VTX

[@AndrewHollywood]

Says to me that power is not your limit. Maybe better antenna would help.

[@SFPFPV]

@@AndrewHollywood Both Rx and Tx antennas has LOS the whole time, so it's either what Ian said about the goggles being the limiting factor, or the GT is just noisy at higher levels (like the 1200mw mode used to be worse on the older firmwares of the regular VTX's). I also got the same bitrate drop and no better penetration. If you have the same antenna setup back to back, the higher power VTX should perform better, and it did not.

[@mouahrewam]

😂 are they selling à moonlight VTX with a fan wich give it a" racer" and "powerfull " looking and named it GT ? 😮

[@tmc-fpv]

​@@SFPFPVI've been 30+km with a V1 and GT with the same antenna setup (vas Cyclops) on my X. Same route, same terrain limitation. Bitrate was higher using the gt.

[@SFPFPV]

@@tmc-fpv me too, both lost signal at 29-30km, where they both dropped to 1-2mbps for the last 15 or so outward km. Close in (1km or less) the GT was also very unstable in bitrate. It seems like they just cranked the same PAs that were struggling at 1200mw, up to 2w, and crossed their fingers it worked.

[@James_Musnicki]

Is this compatible with a head tracking gimbal? if yes, which model (s). I bought this, on mistake, verses the HD Pro kit.

[@MadRC]

Yes but you have to modify it as the pads are inside. I have a video coming on this.

[@James_Musnicki]

@@MadRC Thank you!

[@ianhill20101]

Vx/rx3 hidden underneath the board, gyroflow is what sells it or me

[@trapstoner]

How can i get my GT out of CE mode and in FCC mode to unlock full power?

[@gapti_FPV]

Does anybody know what size fan this takes. My fan has stopped working but still gets the 5v feed

[@DoBandB]

Nice 👌💖

[@NorgeSquad]

Pretty cool! But i'll prob wait to get walksnail sooner

[@awesomusmaximus3766]

Are the aerials non removable

[@MadRC]

No they can be replaces.

[@GunsNGloryShow]

mine doesnt have the sd card. I'm new at this and utterly confused.

[@fpvkevlar8101]

Dose it even fit in a quad. I can't see it fitting in a low pro deck like the Quadmula Siren or vannystyle pro. Most top frames are low pro.

[@DustanT]

It will not fit in your average 5". It required 30mm standoffs. Its more of a wing VTX.

[@jamesmason7124]

Hello Ian. This got me thinking, could you take apart this vtx and replace the dvr board with the moonlight dvr board

[@JD-FPV]

I was under the impression that each of the lines of a Mipi cable are coax?

[@MadRC]

They are but it’s not RF coax. It’s likely fine but it’s not how it’s usually done.

[@DanielJohnFPV]

I read the comments and thought people were exaggerating about the SD card slot. Nope - that is the dumbest shit I've ever seen. 😂 Looking forward to getting my copy to test

[@AricGardnerMontreal]

why does it need to receive?

[@anthony_horton]

That how you're able to change the settings of the VTX using the goggles. The VTX also receives commands from the goggles to manage the link between them, e.g.the goggles can request resending of dropped packets, etc.

[@zoey101dogwablog]

That SD card "solution" is definition "we havent had enough time to R&D, lets push it out anyways." Walksnail keeps disappointing me again and again. Not to mention the other extremely glaring issues of this vtx!!

[@Mr.Laidukas]

I design PCB boards and I use micro SD card slots like here 4:00 . As a designer you use them to gain some PCB area to mount components and keep overall board smaller. This type memory card slot has smallest footprint. Of course everyone need to consider how this will impact ergonomics of the product and how it will be implemented in the product housing. I se tendency that a lot of reviewers do not design complex PCB boards have no background , do not understand the reasoning of the decisions and just make unrelated assumptions misleading the general public.

[@Mr.Laidukas]

15:02 It might be that since you configured spectrum analyzer for best sensitivity when you turn off low power mode you are simply over saturating input and you are seeing distortions of your SA frontend rather then VTX. Have you tried to increase distance between antennas or increase SA input attenuation? and verified that those signal still exist?

[@MadRC]

Yes I have verified it’s there.

[@Mr.Laidukas]

@@MadRC thanks for clarifying.

[@MasterYota1]

the avatar has 1 watt of output power max the rest is radiation from the antennas. Thats how it is 2 watts. ERIP

[@Thrasher5002]

10:15 What software is being used here? I apologize if I missed it at some point.

[@MadRC]

This is a high end 6ghz spectrum analyser from Aaronia.

[@sullytrny]

I will just/have add a fan...

[@TheFruitcake1983]

This size of the fan is ridiculous, I tried this size, it does not cool the modules (put on the very first version)

[@jaysonrees738]

Almost every time they release a new Walksnail product, I watch a review and audibly ask "WHY?" when I learn all the stupid things they've done. I seriously want this system to be impressive, but then they keep doing dumb things. They're making me think I should just pay the DJI tax, even if I don't get 1S units.

[@pojiajaib]

Goks

[@RichardAFPV]

"Just weird" Summed this product up perfectly!

[@phatfar]

when the goggle L teardown :)

[@kellywasden]

Absolutely HATE how LONG Walksnail cameras are..

[@Note2Self_IRL]

What the hell is wrong with them !!! Who makes a sd card slot like that !!! In 2024!! I won’t buy it

[@fpvsmurf]

But you will...

[@Gabriel-qh5yv]

So basically they have made everything wrong 😂 in cooling in Sd card and with antennas,,, not to mentione the connections 😂😂😂

[@jordantilford9301]

Nobody should buy this

[@Crunklefloop]

I disagree. I'm using it and absolutely love it, it's outflown all my other VTX's buy a long way. I've flown it to 40km using the V1 Goggles. LQ has been extremely good and for low level proximity flying I was still able to skim the ground 10km out. Maybe it's a situation where real-world performance is not replicated on a bench test.

[@snippy515]

@@Crunklefloop I just got one for a plane build. How do you have it mounted? Do you think it's worth mounting vertically like he mentioned in the video?

[@Crunklefloop]

​@@snippy515 I have mine mounted in my Crosswind Mini's nose in a 3D printed nose cone (PETG-CF). My most recent vid shows the mounting and antenna arrangement I'm using which is working well. Vertical mounting shouldn't be a problem, you'd just need to give consideration to making the SD card accesible at the top and allowing space for the plug at the bottom.

[@charliesierra04]

@@Crunklefloop hey man how does it stack up penetration wise to the O3?

[@Crunklefloop]

@charliesierra04 I've long since ditched the O3 so I can't offer a back to back comparison, however the GT has been the best performing VTX I've had by a decent margin.