31-Oct-2022, 07:35 PM (This post was last modified: 10-Nov-2022, 05:53 PM by SnowLeopardFPV. Edit Reason: Added images. )
Walksnail have now published details of their new Avatar HD VRX which is available for pre-order and due to start shipping on 10th December. The pricing is below:
Walksnail VRX only 83g and comes with 114*55*22mm size, easy to carry.
Walksnail VRX adopts a 4pcs antenna design, with 2pcs directional antennas with a maximum transmission distance of more than 4km.
1080P/60FPS: Walksnail VRX adopts industry-leading H.265 encoding technology which can provide a minimum delay of 22ms and a maximum resolution of 1080p. The HD picture quality takes you to experience the fun of flying a drone.
HDMI output ensure you to enjoy uncompressed audio and video signals from the Walksnail HD system.
Canvas Mode: Supports betaflight full OSD display, supports betaflight, inav, kiss full OSD display you can easily adjust the parameters you want by remote control.
Specifications:
VRX Antenna
Model: Red Bird
Polarization: LHCP
Bandwidth: 5.6GHz-6.0GHZ
Average Gain: 1.9dBi
Radiation Efficiency: ≥97%
VSWR: ≤1.3
Cross-Polar Rejection: -15to-30dB
Connector: RP-SMA
Dimension: H24.8mm*R15.3mm
Weight: 4.2g
Avatar HD VRX
Model: Avatar HD VRX
Communication Frequency: 5.725-5.850GHz
Transmitter Power (EIRP): FCC:<30dBm; CE:<14dBm;SRRC:<20dBm;MIC:<25dBm
I/O Interface: HDMI, microSD card slot, DC 5.5*2.1mm
HDMI Output: 1080p60fps, 720p100fps, 720p60fps
Power Input: 7-21V(2S-5S)
SD Card Support: 256G
System: Avatar HD System
Packing List:
Avatar VRX ×1
Red Bird Antenna ×2
HDMI Cable ×1
2in1 DC Power Cable ×1
Q&As:
Quote:Q: Is VRX compatible with goggles from other products? A: Compatible With Analog Goggles,HDMI Out(Our VRX module supports hdmi out, if your glasses support hdmi in it should work)
Q: Do i need a set of goggles with a 1080p resolution or an 720p is enough? A: VRX supports 720P\1080P
Q: Avatar HD Micro kit come with a 140mm cable between the VTX and camera? A: Yes
Q: Does the Pre-sale unit fit 20x20 mount? A: Our vtx is 25*25
Q: The difference between all 3 of the walksnail kits? What is the Avatar 1s vs avatar hd micro vs avatar HD nano? A: mini 1s kit 350mw, Power Input: 3.1V-5V, VTX Weight 6.8g
avatar HD micro/nano kit standard version 1200mw, Power Input: 6V-25.2V, VTX Weight: 16g
Q: Micro/Nano Camera difference? A: Weight:3.5g/6g Dimensions:14*14*17mm/19*19*22mm Coaxial Cable:90mm/140mm
Avatar HD Micro Kit (micro camera):
Avatar HD Nano Kit (nano camera):
Avatar HD 1S Kit (nano camera):
Additional Information:
EDIT: Here are some real photos of the VRX rather than just renders...
Just keep in mind that the latency is going to be higher when sending the video signal via an HDMI connection compared to using the Walksnail / FatShark goggles. Your goggle screen refresh rate will also play an important part as well because if it's too slow or incompatible you will get even more latency. I must admit though that this does seem like a very good deal if you already have some suitable goggles with HDMI in capabilities.
Yes, it's undoubtedly going to end up with a rats nest of wires hanging off the goggles and module unfortunately. There is no mention of what cables are included but if there is no HDMI cable in the box then it could be a challenge finding one that's compatible because people have had all sorts of issues finding something that will work (and reliably) with the Sharkbyte / HDZero module. Plus it seems to be difficult trying to source HDMI cables with a right angle mini HDMI plug on so you don't end up with massive plugs sticking straight down out the bottom of your goggles and the module.
You are also going to need to bin the included omni antennas and replace them with some of your own because those Walksnail branded ones are complete garbage. I just hope they made a decent job of the design of the patch antennas on the front because those look to be built in and not replaceable.
01-Nov-2022, 11:34 AM (This post was last modified: 01-Nov-2022, 12:13 PM by Rob Axel.)
.. if I’ve got a set of goggles on my face, with multiple antennas sticking out of it while I’m holding a “game controller”, the least of my concerns is wiring hanging from it.. I gotta laugh. The FIRST thing that popped into my head was the scene from Sixteen Candles when John Cusac and “his brother” open the window for “Farmer Ted” and he says “would you get those ridiculous things off your head”… little thing did I realize THATS now me!!
Got mine on preorder. Planning on using it with my groundstation monitor/hdo 2 goggles. Be fun to try with long range wings and even indoor whoops. Maybe attach it on the big screen tv and bring the family on a ride around the house lol
(01-Nov-2022, 01:41 AM)kafie1980 Wrote: Im wondering if they actually include the power and hdmi cables.
"Packing List
Avatar VRX ×1 Red Bird Antenna ×2 HDMI Cable ×1 2in1 DC Power Cable ×1"
do you doubt, or is that not what you meant?
With various goggles having the power and HDMI in differing places, the cables will have to be a suitable length for all, and that pretty much means a stupid ugly unloomed overlength mess, doesn't it?
Decent size though, a better stab at it than others (cough, HDZero).
02-Nov-2022, 11:48 AM (This post was last modified: 02-Nov-2022, 12:09 PM by SnowLeopardFPV. Edit Reason: Additional info added. )
I edited the first post and added the specifications to it yesterday after they appeared on the Caddx website. Prior to that it wasn't clear what was actually included in the bundle but at least we now know there is a power and HDMI cable of some sorts. It would be nice to see some images of those so we can see what sort of compatibility or spaghetti mess there will be. It would also be nice to know if the 2in1 DC power cable (which I assume is a Y-splitter cable for the goggles and the VRX) has an inline voltage regulator so you know you can safely power both the goggles and VRX from a 4S or 6S LiPo where the goggles only accept 2S or 3S voltage.
There is no doubt that this is a very tempting offer and I see that a lot of people who already own analog goggles with HDMI input capabilities have already jumped on board with pre-orders, but there are definitely some things to think about:
All current analog goggles with an HDMI input have screens that only support 60fps so you won't get the 100fps that the system is capable of. I guess it will be comparable to the 60fps of DJI (aka High Quality Mode) which most people avoid using. It will still be a 720p or 1080p image depending on the HDMI input and screen resolution capabilities of your goggles, but latency will be higher (maybe 10ms more) because of the 60fps limitation. Only the new (yet to be released) HDZero goggles are going to support the 100fps framerate at 1080p.
Some goggles have a 16:9 HDMI input (e.g. FatShark HDO2), some have a 4:3 HDMI input (e.g. FatShark HDO1), and some have a switchable 16:9 / 4:3 HDMI input (e.g. Skyzone SKY04X). What isn't clear is how the Walksnail Avatar HD module deals with that. The HDZero / Shark Byte module has different selectable output modes to get the best experience in the goggles with regards to stretching / cropping of the image, but we have no idea how Walksnail are managing different input formats or if you just have to live with whatever fixed format they input to the goggles which might end up looking like crap.
Walksnail have a known history of poor antenna design and performance, so with the patch antennas being built into the module there is no easy / elegant way to swap them out for something better if they perform badly. Also, the moulded antennas point straight forward with no way to angle them up unless you tilt the whole module.
All we see so far is 3D renders of the module. There are no photos of an actual physical device (not even a prototype) so we have no idea what the quality of the plastics and other parts will be like in reality.
With no reviews, people are going to have to take the gamble of buying this "blind" and hoping for the best. It could turn out to be a V1 "beta" product that ends up requiring changes and the subsequent release of a V2 version in a few months' time once they have had some customer feedback. No-one knows so it's a risk you would have to be prepared to take much like with the HDZero Micro cameras that everyone rushed to buy when they were released, and which got replaced with an improved V2 version just a month or two later.
It seems that no local vendors outside of China are in on the deal which means you can only get it direct from Caddx. GEPRC also have it listed in their web shop too for the same price. So depending on where you live you might also need to factor in currency exchange rates and import taxes / duties which could make the offer a little less rosy.
Even though the shipping date is stated as 10th December 2022 I'm quite sure that date will slip. So I wouldn't have any expectation of getting anything delivered until sometime into the new year.
There are probably other points that I've missed, but the ones above are probably the main ones to consider.
I bought the HDZero FatShark Shark Byte module on a whim last year when it went on sale. Then the newer HDZero module got released a few months later. My Shark Byte module remains unopened and is still shrink wrapped in its box
So I guess the big question is, is this worth a punt for $200-240 USD (plus any import taxes). keeping in mind all of the above?
I also have a full HDzero setup for 3 quads. Not installed.. mostly because my piloting skills are not where I want them… AND, I was waiting for the 1w vtx..with it now being available, I wanted to fit it into my new 4” set up..to big.. I’m gonna go ahead and order it .. MAYBE, install both systems .. see what I like / dislike on both.. just wish I had a better set of goggles (fs dom 3s) to get a REAL sense … IF I do get the new HDzero goggles, I have NO ISSUE with mounting this on it and having TWO digital systems.. why do u only have to have ONE? Also, think about this… you crash, ur camera/vtx gets toasted… you go on line .. to either find one of the two on sale somewhere OR ONLY find one system available.. Worst case, stuff a analog set up in and ur back in the air WITH THE SAME GOGGLES..
I've just copy/pasted all current Q&A's from the Caddx website to the first post. Caddx have also now added the ability to but the VRX module by itself for people who already have a load of Avatar HD VRX's and just want the module, but at $189 USD you only save $10 or $50 over the bundles with an included VTX so for people who already have VTX's it's probably a more sensible option economically to just shell out that extra money and have a spare VTX in your parts box in case you manage to break one.
02-Nov-2022, 04:03 PM (This post was last modified: 02-Nov-2022, 04:11 PM by BadRaven.)
(02-Nov-2022, 11:48 AM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: So I guess the big question is, is this worth a punt for $200-240 USD (plus any import taxes). keeping in mind all of the above?
IMO, No, and its not the money, I'm lucky (or stupid enough, or both ) that's not a factor per se, its whether it will work half decently before Version Z appears months if not years down the line.
I really do not like the built in patches. My normal flying site is wide but not that deep, and my analogue set up (going back quite a few years before it became "normal") has two omni pagodas and two patches, but they are angled out to cover the width extremes, and slightly up to cover my default head position. Fixed patches won't help those requirements at all, it'll just be throwing away potential signal collection.
02-Nov-2022, 04:22 PM (This post was last modified: 02-Nov-2022, 04:27 PM by BadRaven.)
Having been involved in training many (150 plus a year) boys from 11-18, it never ceases to amaze how many "need" to near screw their heads off while FPV flying. even my main adult flying buddy flies with his head back at more than 45 degrees, and more boys and even adult beginners than not bend over sitting down to avoid motion sickness, so fixed patches would point at ground right in front of them, near edge on to quad location.
Its like the face shape of many goggles not suiting the european "norm" (or having any designed in adjustment to do so) , is it lack of thought, or could not care less?