RUSHFPV Max Solo 5.8GHz 2.5W VTX - 37CH Smart Audio Video Transmitter with Active Cooling

Specifications

• Operating Frequency: 5.8GHz Analog

• Channels: 37CH (Includes Raceband)

• Input Voltage: 7V to 36V DC (2S to 8S LiPo compatible)

• Output Power Levels: PIT / 25mW / 500mW / 1000mW / 2500mW (Max)

• Audio: Built-in AGC Microphone

• Video Format: NTSC / PAL Automatic

• Antenna Connector: MMCX (Pigtail to SMA included)

• Protocol: Smart Audio / IRC Tramp

• Cooling: CNC Aluminum Shell + Active Micro Fan

• Mounting Holes: 30.5 mm x 30.5 mm (M3) compatible spacing (via zip-ties or tape, check specific frame clearance)

Key Applications and Projects

• Mountain Surfing & Long Range: Punching through miles of atmospheric interference to capture cinematic GoPro footage of remote ridges and valleys.

• Bando-Bashing: Maintaining a solid video link while diving through the concrete floors and steel rebar of abandoned buildings.

• Cinematic Heavy-Lifters: Providing a rock-solid, fail-proof video feed for professional Cinewhoops and X8 drones carrying expensive cinema cameras.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The Autonomous 7-Inch Mountain Cruiser: Ready to explore beyond visual line of sight? Evolve your fleet by building a dedicated 7-inch long-range quadcopter. Combine the RUSHFPV Max Solo VTX with a Matek M8Q GPS module, a TBS Crossfire Diversity receiver, and a 6S 4000mAh Li-Ion pack. Wire the VTX to a high-quality TrueRC SMA antenna mounted high on a 3D-printed TPU stalk to clear the battery's carbon shadow. Setup Betaflight's "GPS Rescue" mode. With 2.5 Watts of video power, you can now safely dive down the back side of a mountain ridge, secure in the knowledge that if your video ever does get slightly snowy, the drone will autonomously climb back into the sky to re-establish the RF link!

Downloads:

• RUSHFPV Max SOLO 5.8GHZ 2.5W 37CH VTX Smart Audio Video Transmitter - User Manual

Package Includes:

• 1 x RUSHFPV Max Solo 5.8GHz VTX

• 1 x Protective Red Storage/Carrying Case

• 1 x MMCX to SMA Female Pigtail Cable

• 1 x MMCX Linear Dipole Antenna

• 1 x 6-Pin Silicone Wiring Harness (Power/Video/Telemetry)

• 1 x Spare Silicone Wiring Harness

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Q: What is the maximum range of this VTX? Range is highly dependent on your environment and your receiving antennas. However, with clear line-of-sight and high-gain directional antennas on your goggles, a 2.5W VTX can easily transmit video over 15 to 20+ kilometers.

Q: Can I power this directly from my 6S battery? Yes! The Max Solo has an incredibly robust internal regulator that accepts anywhere from 7V up to 36V DC. Wiring it directly to your ESC's VBAT pads on a 6S (25.2V) or even 8S setup is perfectly safe.

Q: Do I need to power it from a 5V or 9V pad on my flight controller? No, and it is highly discouraged. A 2.5W VTX draws a massive amount of current (often over 1 Amp). Standard 5V or 9V BECs on flight controllers will overheat and burn out if you try to power this VTX from them. Always wire it directly to VBAT.

Q: Why does it have a built-in fan? RF amplifiers are wildly inefficient at high power levels and convert a lot of energy into heat. Running at 2.5W produces enough heat to melt solder. The CNC case and active fan prevent the unit from experiencing thermal shutdown mid-flight.

Q: What happens if I plug it in without an antenna attached? You will likely destroy the VTX instantly. At 2.5W, all that RF energy has nowhere to go if an antenna isn't attached. It reflects back into the amplifier circuitry and burns it out. Never power on a VTX without an antenna.

Q: What is Smart Audio? Smart Audio is a protocol that allows your Flight Controller to talk to your VTX. Instead of pressing physical buttons, you can use your radio transmitter to navigate the Betaflight OSD on your goggles and change your video channel, band, or power output remotely.

Q: Does this provide power to my FPV camera? Yes, the Max Solo features a dedicated 5V Output pad specifically designed to power standard analog FPV cameras (like RunCam or Caddx).

Q: What does the red box do? The red plastic box is simply the premium retail packaging provided by RUSHFPV to protect the VTX and its delicate cables during shipping. It can be repurposed as a hardware storage case.

Q: Can I remove the metal casing to save weight for racing? Absolutely not. The metal casing is the primary heatsink. Without it, the bare PCB will overheat in a matter of seconds, leading to permanent failure. If you are building an ultra-light racer, you should purchase a smaller, lower-power VTX.

Q: What is the connector type on the VTX itself? The connector physically attached to the VTX board is an MMCX connector. It is far more durable and snaps in tighter than older U.FL connectors.

Q: Why does it come with two antennas? It comes with a simple linear MMCX dipole antenna for basic testing, and an MMCX-to-SMA adapter pigtail. You will use the pigtail to mount a high-quality SMA circular polarized antenna (sold separately) to your drone frame.

Q: Is this compatible with the DJI O3 or Walksnail digital systems? No. This is a purely analog 5.8GHz video transmitter. It is only compatible with analog FPV goggles (like FatShark, Skyzone, or analog-module equipped goggles).

Q: What is PIT mode? PIT mode drops the transmission power down to almost zero (barely a few feet of range). This allows you to plug in your drone in the "pits" at a race to check your settings without blasting your video signal and blinding other pilots who are actively flying.

Q: Can I turn the fan off? The fan is automatically controlled by the VTX's internal thermostatic circuitry. It will spin up as the unit gets hot. You cannot and should not attempt to disable it.

Q: How do I wire this to my Flight Controller? Typically: Wire BAT to VBAT, GND to GND, Video IN to the VTX or VO pad on your FC, and the RX/Telemetry pin to a spare UART TX pad on your FC for Smart Audio.

Q: Do I need a HAM radio license to use this? In many countries (including the US and parts of Europe), operating a 5.8GHz transmitter at 2.5W technically requires an amateur radio (HAM) license. It is the user's responsibility to understand their local RF broadcasting regulations.

Q: Why is my video still cutting out when I go behind a thick concrete building? While 2.5W is incredibly powerful, 5.8GHz is a microwave frequency. Microwaves do not bend around objects well, and water/dense concrete absorbs them. If you completely break the line of sight behind thick enough mass, even 2.5W will eventually drop.

Q: Does it have a microphone so I can hear my motors? Yes, the RUSHFPV Max Solo features a built-in onboard microphone with AGC (Automatic Gain Control) so you can pipe motor audio down to the headphone jack on your FPV goggles.

Q: What band should I use for the best range? Lower frequencies theoretically travel slightly further. Within the 5.8GHz spectrum, Raceband 1 (5658 MHz) is the lowest frequency commonly used and may offer a marginal, almost imperceptible increase in penetration compared to Raceband 8 (5917 MHz).

Q: Can I coat this in conformal coating to make it waterproof? You must be extremely careful. You can carefully paint conformal coating on the exposed PCB edges and wiring pads, but if you get coating inside the MMCX connector, the microphone hole, or the cooling fan bearing, you will ruin the VTX.