Video transmitters (VTX) are devices that transmit video from your drone to the FPV Goggles or video receiver. Here are some of the best 5.8Ghz VTX for FPV drones for budget, compactness, long range and just overall performance.

The 5.8Ghz video transmitters recommended here are chosen based on my experience, the specs and features. Please make sure to do your research before deciding which VTX to get. Here is a guide I wrote a while back you might find helpful: How to choose Video Transmitter for FPV Mini Quad.

I compiled the specifications of many 5.8GHz VTX in this spreadsheet so you can compare them more closely

For more FPV product recommendations, check out this list: oscarliang.com/tag/top-5-best

Eachine TX805 – Decent Budget VTX

Shop: http://bit.ly/2UaVBPX

The Eachine TX805 has all the features you ever want in a modern day VTX:

• Affordable
• Flexible output power (from 25mW to 800mW)
• Supports SmartAudio for changing channel and power in Betaflight OSD
• Built-in Microphone so you can hear the motors spinning from goggles audio output and in DVR
• You can direct-solder the wires to the VTX instead of using fiddly connectors
• User-friendly interface
• Robust MMCX antenna connector
• It has 30.5×30.5mm mounting holes, you can install it on top of your FC stack for a clean build

The video transmitter is rated for up to 800mW, however in my testing the power output fell short by 50% at its 600mW and 800mW levels. That’s probably the biggest downside of this VTX. 200mW and 25mW performed well and readings were accurate. But honestly, unless you plan to fly long range, 200mW is more than enough for the most part, so that’s not a huge deal breaker. After all it’s only $19!

TBS Unify Pro32 HV – Top of the Line

Shops:

• GetFPV
• RDQ
• Amazon

The TBS Unify Pro32 HV is a compact yet powerful VTX, it’s regarded as one of the best VTX for a reason: accurate output power levels, clean signal transmission, extremely high quality and reliable.

With an output power of up to 1000mW (or more) in such a small package, it’s extremely flexible! You can use it for long range, racing, or just casual freestyle, it’s a great option for nearly everything.

Another killer feature of the Unify Pro32 is the support by the TBS Crossfire system (if you are a Crossfire user). You can hook up the VTX to the Crossfire receiver, and you can change channels and power level in Crossfire. This is great for those who don’t run a flight controller, where there is no Betaflight OSD, like a plane or fixed wing.

Either way, you would want to avoid changing VTX settings using the push button, it’s counterintuitive and hard to use, and trying to judge your settings by counting how many times an LED blinks is just a nightmare.

Other Features:

• Micro USB port for firmware update and configuration (via software TBS Agent)
• SmartAudio
• Selectable output power between 25mW, 100mW, 400mW and 1W+
• The lightest and smallest for a 1000mW video transmitter (8.7g only)
• PitMode – reduces the power of your VTX to extremely low level while powered up, allowing you to troubleshoot without interfering other racers
• MMCX antenna connector

The Race edition is quite a good deal for $29, if you don’t mind the limited power of 25-200mW.

Shops: RDQ | Amazon | GetFPV

Rush Tank Solo – Best Long Range

Shops:

• Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-rh88
• GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-5s6o
• RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-m23h
• Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AE2N8W

If all you want is to do long range, then you need the most power VTX possible with decent cooling. The RushFPV Tank Solo is capable of 1W output power. The VTX is fully enclosed in a CNC aluminium heatsink, which helps prolong maximum output power, and it doesn’t decrease as easily due to overheat.

Features:

• 7V-36V Input voltage
• Built-in 5V 1.0A BEC for powering FPV Camera
• Supports SmartAudio
• No onboard microphone, but supports external mic (audio input)
• Selectable Power level: Pitmode, 25mW, 400mW, 800mW, Max (1W)
• MMCX antenna connector

TBS Unify Pro32 Nano – Best Smallest VTX

Shops:

• Amazon
• GetFPV
• NewBeeDrone

Looking for the smallest VTX for your micro quad and Tiny Whoops? There is no better choice than the TBS Unify Pro32 Nano in terms of specs and quality. It’s the most compact video transmitter on the market right now with a dimension of 15x13x2mm and only weighs 1 gram! And yet, it’s capable of producing up to 500mW of output power which is pretty insane! Best part is, you can feed it directly from your LiPo (2S or 3S), which is super handy when you have no 5V available.

Features:

• Input Voltage: 3V – 13V (direct power from 2S and 3S LiPo!)
• Selectable output power: Pitmode, 25mW, 100mW, 500mW
• SmartAudio
• U.FL antenna connector

HGLRC Zeus Nano VTX – Cheapest Worth Having

Shops: 

• Banggood – https://oscarliang.com/product-bwdl
• GetFPV- https://oscarliang.com/product-j8ej
• RDQ – https://oscarliang.com/product-pf2h
• Amazon – https://amzn.to/3dBEgYI

Can’t afford the Unify Pro32 Nano? Check out the Eachine Nano VTX. It’s nearly as small and light weight as the Pro32 Nano, but at a fraction of the cost. It even has a microphone, which is missing on the Pro32 Nano. However the main downside is that the Zeus Nano only takes 5V as input voltage, you can’t power it with 2S or 3S LiPo directly. Here’s the review and power testing I did.

Features:

• Input Voltage: 5V
• Built-in Mic
• Output power: 25mW, 100mW, 200mW, 350mW
• SmartAudio
• U.FL antenna connector
• Flexible mounting (whoop / 20x20mm / 16/16mm)

Edit History

• Mar 2017 – List created
• Sep 2017 – List updated
• Sep 2018 – Products updated
• Sep 2019 – Products updated
• May 2021 – Products updated
• Jan 2022 – Products updated