Walksnail Avatar HD Professional overview

Final week, Caddx’s sub-brand Walksnail formally launched their second technology digital FPV system. Our Avatar HD Professional overview covers options, specs, wiring, and low-light efficiency.

A number of years in the past, DJI launched the world’s first HD digital video transmission system meant for shopper FPV drones. Caddx was the primary model to affix the platform and supply appropriate cameras and VTXs. Final yr, this marriage broke, and from its ash, like Phoenix, the mythological fowl, Walksnail was born. This know-how appears to be additionally behind FatShark’s Digital FPV System.

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The brand new Walksnail Avatar HD VTX V2 comes with some necessary options, however nonetheless can’t compete with the DJI O3 Air Unit as a consequence of its decrease recording decision (FHD vs 4K). As a substitute, in case you usually fly at night time, the Avatar HD PRO Digital camera might be what you have to make your flight expertise extra pleasurable. That includes a 1/1.8 inch Sony Starvis Ⅱ sensor, it sees a lot better in darkish situations, even higher than the human eye. The low gentle efficiency is measured by a parameter referred to as “LUX” and the decrease the worth, the higher. Like most “Starlight” FPV cameras, the Avatar PRO additionally has 0.00001Lux minimal illumination.

Key options

• [Support 1080P/120fps high frame] First excessive body night time imaginative and prescient HD digital camera in FPV market.
• [1/1.8 inch Sony Starvis Ⅱ sensor] Extraordinarily clear night time imaginative and prescient in addition to day imaginative and prescient.
• [Gyroflow] Makes use of movement knowledge from a gyroscope for extra steady and smoother footage.
• [32G built-in storage] Can file a couple of hour of footage with out the necessity for a micro SD card.
• [Dual mounting pattern] Adopting 25.5*25.5mm and 20*20mm may be put in in nearly any FPV drone body with out the necessity for a further adapter.
• [Dual connectivity modes] Devoted knowledge+energy socket and further soldering pads.
• [Solo antenna] One antenna, identical efficiency. The compact and handy single-antenna design makes it simpler to assemble your FPV drone.
• [Canvas mode] Telemetry knowledge overlaid onto their FPV digital camera feed with straightforward. BetaFlight appropriate OSD.

Avatar HD Professional V2 digital FPV system overview

Disclosure: I acquired this Avatar HD Professional digital FPV package as a part of a product overview collaboration with CaddxFPV. Technical specs and high quality could fluctuate in keeping with the producer’s reliability, so I can not assure that you’ll get an an identical product, as seen in my article.

A number of days earlier than the official launch of the Avatar V2 system, I used to be contacted by Caddx relating to the potential of reviewing their upcoming merchandise. To have the ability to check Walksnail {hardware}, additionally they despatched me an Avatar VRX module with HDMI-out. Caddx advisable me, earlier than beginning the exams, to improve the firmware to V32.37.10 and in addition use 1080P@60fps decision. They mentioned that 60 fps provides a greater show than 100 fps.

The Walksnail Avatar Professional package consists of the V2 VTX, Professional digital camera with lens cap, MIPI cable, Antenna, USB-Sort C knowledge cable, FC cable, and a bag of mounting screws.

At a look

At first look, visually, aside from the darker colour, there’s not a lot change between the V1 and V2 -both appear to be a heatsink. Caddx says the radiator is now correctly grounded to scale back GPS interference and make the satellite tv for pc lock quicker. The place of the binding button has been modified to make the pairing operation with the FPV Goggles/VRX extra handy.

The Walksnail V2 Avatar HD VTX measures 33*33*10.5mm and has two mounting patterns (25.5*25.5mm and 20*20mm), making it appropriate with most FPV drones. Solely the 25.5*25.5 mount permits the screw undergo the VTX. In 20*20 programs, the VTX may be put in solely on the highest of the stack. The Professional digital camera comes already related with the VTX utilizing a 12cm MIPI cable. Together with the antenna and all of the cables, the package weighs 33 grams.

Whereas its predecessor had two antennas, the V2 has just one. The U.FL antenna connector has a metallic retention bar to maintain them from popping off. An identical metallic bar is used for the digital camera MIPI cable.

You may file 1080p footage contained in the Avatar V2 video transmitter. The 8GB model can retailer for about 20 minutes, and the 32GB version can do it for a couple of hour. The benefit of the built-in reminiscence is that you just don’t want a micro SD card that you could probably lose or overlook at dwelling. The draw back is that if it turns into defective, you’ll be able to’t file anymore, and you have to substitute the whole VTX. Sadly, the module will not be powered by means of the USB, so you have to join the drone’s battery. The file switch is made by 20-30 MB/s, so if you must copy 30GB will take a while, which might trigger overheating of the whole drone.

Wiring and pinout

Not like DJI programs, there are solely four-wire connections to the flight controller: voltage, floor, and UART (TX + RX) for the MSP connection (OSD). Along with the JST connector, now it additionally has solder pads, permitting a safer and clear reference to the flight controller. It is vitally necessary to do not forget that these two wiring choices have completely different pin orders! The pin-out is labeled on the aspect of the VTX.

As most of my flight controllers have a DJI digital FPV port, I opted to solder a appropriate cable (to look cleaner, I eliminated the three unused wires) on the Avatar V2 VTX. To comfortably entry the solder pads, you have to take away the highest cowl secured by 4 tremendous tiny screws.

As a substitute of a typical USB port for firmware upgrades and file switch, it has a 4-pin connector to which you’ll be able to join the Sort C extension cable. Personally, I don’t like this method. A Sort-C onboard socket that may additionally energy the VTX could be way more handy.

Canvas OSD

The Walksnail Avatar HD system totally helps Betaflight OSD and LUA scripts. You may function the OSD menu utilizing your sticks, and all of the OSD parts may be displayed. Right here I ought to point out that at this second, OSD can’t be recorded both by the VTX or Goggles.

To show BetaFlight telemetry info in your FPV goggles, you have to carry out the next two instructions:

• set osd_displayport_device = MSP
• set displayport_msp_serial = Y (The place Y is one lower than the variety of the serial port. e.g. Y = 2 for serial 3)

In case you acquired this “###ERROR IN set: INVALID NAME: displayport_msp_serial” error message, it implies that you run on the newest BetaFlight V4.4 firmware, and you’ll skip over the second command. As a substitute, within the “Ports tab” underneath the “Peripherals”,  you must choose the “VTX(MSP+Displayport)” choice.

Even with the inventory fonts, the interface appears to be like very nice. The configuration menu jogs my memory of a console video games menu system. You will have 4 principal tubs: Channel (TX energy, Decision, Body price, and extra), Share, Settings, and Playback.

Technical specs

Pricing, availability, and choices

The most recent Avatar V2 VTX is on the market with two digital camera choices. Whereas the combo package with the “Professional” digital camera, 32G storage, and Gyroflow may be ordered for $159, the essential Avatar HD Equipment V2 with the usual digital camera, 8G, and w/o Gyroflow for $139. Each variants include the brand new upgraded solo antenna and energy+knowledge cables. For the smaller builds, the older Avatar Mini 1s package remains to be out there for less than $99.

Avatar system firmware replace

As I beforehand talked about, earlier than testing, I upgraded the firmware to the newest model. Following this information, the method was simple and might be performed in quarter-hour on each VTX and VRX. Virtually you have to copy the suitable firmware file (Avatar_Sky_32.37.10.img for VTX and AvatarSE_Gnd_32.37.10.img for RVX) into the machine and long-press the bind button. If the method fails, simply restart the method. The one inconvenience I discovered, is that you have to energy the Walksnail V2 from the drone’s battery through the course of.

Date: 3/21/2023, V32.37.10, obtain from right here

• Added assist for Avatar V2 VTX;
• Added assist for Avatar digital camera V2 and Avatar Professional digital camera;
• Added assist for Gyroflow (should be Gyroflow 1.5 model);
• Added 4:3 full mode;
• Fastened some identified points.

Walksnail vary hack and FCC mode

By default, the Walksnail Avatar system is proscribed to 4 channels and a max of 700mW transmission energy. Unlocking FCC mode (all 8 channels) and enabling the 1000mW and 1200mW consist in copying some textual content information into the Avatar headset’s reminiscence card. The Avatar HD hack information may be downloaded from right here.

1. 1. For FCC mode and to unlock all 8 channels, copy ‘Avatar_std.txt’
   2. Copy ‘Avatar_pwr.txt’ to unlock 1000mw and 1200mw transmit energy (prolonged vary)

Observe: Solely carry out this process if the channels and energy ranges are in accordance with the principles and rules of your area and also you maintain any mandatory licenses to broadcast on these channels and energy ranges. Additionally, growing the transmission can harm the {hardware} as a consequence of overheating.

Avatar HD Professional: First flight after sundown

After I up to date the firmware, I put in the package on my HGLRC Veyron 3 drone. I mounted it on high of the F4 AIO controller. I had all the things up and working in lower than one hour. 

The Avatar HD Professional is optimized for low-light situations, so I had my first check flight after sundown. My flight was very nice, aside from some conditions the place the picture was out of focus and grainy as a result of increased ISO. Even flying in nearly utterly darkish, the digital camera didn’t swap to nighttime mode (black/white). The pattern video beneath was recorded from the HDMI out of the VRX module.

Walksnail Avatar V1 vs V2 VTX

There isn’t any change in efficiency between the primary and second-generation Avatar VTXs. Each promise 22ms latency and a spread of as much as 4KM. Whereas the V1 has solely an 8GB built-in storage choice, the V2 is on the market with 8GB or 32 GB. When it comes to design, essentially the most important modifications are the upgraded single antenna, twin mounting sample, and grounded heatsink.

Avatar HD digital camera V2 vs Avatar HD Professional Digital camera

Whereas the usual V2 digital camera is designed to supply a excessive body price, the Professional digital camera is optimized for low-light efficiency. Each have 19x19mm mounting patterns and MIPI connectivity.