The Unboxing Experience
Once again today I have some very powerful analog Tech from akk, including a 10 watt, which is 10000 mW VTX. The most I’ve seen so far is 2.5 mW. This is 10 times the power and it’s just incredible. I’m very curious to test this power against the puny one watt, which is 1000 mW DJI O3 system. Usually digital systems have better signal at the same power level, but today I’m very curious to see what happens with 10 times the power.
What’s Inside the Boxes?
First of all, they sent four long antennas – two white and two black 5.8 RP SMA right-sided antennas. There are two very cool patch antennas included which are directional and point forward. In the box, there is a diversity receiver to put on the goggles. Finally, the highlight is the Alpha 10 VTX. It has a sturdy high heat sink on the back and is much larger in size compared to traditional VTXs. In the bottom of the box, you can find an antenna extension, plug with wires, and the manual.
The AKK Alpha 10 VTX
First time opening this box, I’ve never seen a VTX made like this. It’s like a tank, all-metal construction that feels incredibly durable. The Alpha 10 VTX is a beast in terms of power output and build quality. This VTX is sure to pack a punch in terms of signal strength and performance when compared to digital systems.
Specs
Talking about specs, the 10000mW Analog VTX and the 1000mW Digital VTX – AKK Alpha 10 are the same exact dimension and weight. They both weigh 47g and are built in the same way. They feature four mounting holes, a button on the side, a very bright screen, a microphone for inbuilt audio, smart audio support, and an 80 channel VTX.
Power Outputs
The main difference between the two VTXs is their power outputs. The Alpha VTX outputs 25mW, which is useful for various applications. On the other hand, the Alpha 10 is capable of outputting 1W, 3W, 5W, 7W, or a whopping 10W. This means that while the Alpha VTX has 25mW, the Alpha 10 provides a monstrous 10W of power.
Installation
Before mounting the VTX on a drone, it is important to note that the Alpha 10 requires two wires for the positive and two wires for the ground due to the high amperage it consumes. While it may look large on a smaller drone, the Alpha 10 is designed for long-range wings and similar applications.
Installation Process
The installation process for the Alpha 10 is relatively easy. The VTX can handle up to 6S power, so connecting it to the XT60 plug is all that is needed. It outputs 5 volts for the analog camera and comes with all the necessary wires for installation. Despite its size, the Alpha 10 can still be utilized with other flying contraptions for various purposes.
AKK Alpha 10 Review: Analog VS Digital VTX
This is the DJI goles V2, with the DG adapter right here, and here I have installed the AKK receiver, which seems pretty well made to me. Its fast, its pretty intuitive and I have to try it yet, but I hope it works pretty good, and this is the best chance for this system to work. Everything is from the same brand same antennas.
Analog View Experience
Oh my God. I I forgot how bad the analog view is its crazy, oh my God, being used to the O3 and now the o4 from the avata man. This brings back the memories when uh you couldn’t see branches and stuff man, damn wow wow, wow, wow, wow yeah. The thing is, the signal is there, but its very hard to see. I dont want to go too high, because if I go, if I have to drop the Drone, this is 10 thatss by the way and you can see the amount of interferences back there. Its crazy, if you are in pure line of sight, its fine but like this, but I mean compared to when I remember flying this stuff – was impossible with uh analog. So at least you know with one V its impossible, not with uh 10. If I start going here, Im going to start losing signal, Im, sure and and and this is still good signal – luckily Im using oh, my God is – is that the image its jumping all around and its hard to uh to fly.
Digital VTX Performance
Comparing the Analog view experience, the Digital VTX performance is far superior. The AKK Alpha 10 with 1000mW provides a clearer, more stable signal. With the digital video transmission, there is less interference and improved image quality. The ability to maintain signal strength even in challenging environments makes flying much easier and more enjoyable.
Signal Consistency
One of the main advantages of the AKK Alpha 10 digital VTX is its consistent signal strength. Unlike analog systems, the digital transmission maintains a strong and stable connection, even at longer distances or in areas with obstacles. This reliability is essential for smooth flying and precise control of the drone.
Analog vs. Digital VTX
Technology has evolved rapidly in the world of FPV drones, with advancements in video transmission systems being a key area of development. The debate between analog and digital VTX (Video Transmitter) has been ongoing, with each having its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The AKK Alpha 10 offers a powerful 10000mW analog VTX, while digital systems typically have lower power outputs, with the AKK Alpha 10 offering 1000mW.
Signal Strength and Quality
Testing the AKK Alpha 10 in real-world scenarios reveals that the analog 10000mW VTX provides a strong and reliable signal even in challenging environments. The reviewer notes that despite obstacles such as trees and buildings, the signal remains clear and usable, albeit with some interference in certain conditions. This demonstrates the robustness of the analog transmission power, making it suitable for long-distance flights and challenging flight environments.
Flight Experience
The reviewer points out that flying with the AKK Alpha 10 analog VTX requires some adjustment, as the signal may not provide as clear a visual as digital systems. However, for line-of-sight flying, the power of the analog VTX is evident, providing a stable and strong connection. It is mentioned that analog VTX like the AKK Alpha 10 may require some skill and experience to navigate effectively, especially in areas with obstacles that could cause signal degradation.
Analog VTX Experience
Go behind the chicken coup here, its pretty bad, with the O3, like uh, almost you’re crashing and its crazy – that I’m still hovering and I’m still controlling it. You’re going to see in a moment what happens with the O3 back here so yeah of course, 10 times the power means something lets fly here and if I lose it I’m going to drop it, I mean I’m still able to see what I’m doing more Or less so its crazy wow digital, I guess, is going to drop back there. Also. This is another very bad spot for digital behind these bushes and it looks like wow wow yeah. There are some interferences but I’m still able to fly. I’m not able to see chickens because it’s very hard to identify them, but okay let’s bring it back home mixed laughter, the I had to crash on the easiest part and boom. The Drone is a little bit dirty from the scraggle, but in very good condition, and luckily it crashed on the back. So the this VTX is in pretty good shape. Man I have such mixed feeling with the analog its crazy. You can see very bad but uh. Of course, 10 VTS is powerful, so was able to fly everywhere without too many issues, but as soon as you have leaves or a wall, it starts scattering the signal and you see a lot of artifacts. Probably this VTX as intended, is good for line of sight long range, where you don’t have too many surfaces to scatter the signal on.
Digital VTX Experience
Finally it’s time to test the O3 system. The digital VTX experience was also interesting. Behind the bushes, there were some interferences but I was still able to fly. The digital VTX seemed to struggle a bit in the challenging environment, but overall it performed admirably. Flying in areas where the signal could potentially be scattered, the digital VTX held up much better compared to the analog VTX. The clarity of the signal was impressive, despite some minor disruptions in signal transmission. Overall, the digital VTX proved to be a reliable option even in less than ideal flying conditions.
The Original DJI Antenna
It has the original DJI antenna, so the results are pretty much stuck. The difference is just crazy. It feels even more defined after flying the analog. You can see it has some issues but it’s much better than the analog. Sometimes when following chickens, you see the signal degrade a little bit, but nothing compared to analog. When digital is bad, it’s pretty bad.
Comparing Analog and Digital
When it comes to analog versus digital, the difference is astounding. Flying with digital VTX is a game-changer when compared to analog. The signal quality is much better with digital, making flying much smoother and more reliable. Digital may have its issues, but when it’s good, it outperforms analog by a long shot.
Confidence in Flying
When flying with digital VTX, there is a sense of confidence that comes with it. The reliability and stability of the signal make it easier to maneuver and control the drone. While analog may have its uses, particularly in racing scenarios, digital is definitely the way to go for overall performance and peace of mind.
Best Use Cases
For small drones flying inside buildings or in challenging environments, digital VTX like the AKK Alpha 10 is the ideal choice. The improved signal quality and reliability make it perfect for these scenarios. However, analog may still have its place in racing situations where speed and agility are key factors.
Impressive Digital Performance
I can go wherever I want with digital and Im behind the hill back here yeah. I am having a hard time seeing but yeah its probably better. Okay, we lost it. I dont remember if I flew with uh analog back there. I have to say I am impressed with digital. I didnt expect it to work this good.
Signal Strength Comparison
Usually I dont push it. This much when I start seeing the yellow line. I pull back because Im scared the issue with digital is: if you lose signal, youre not getting it back while with analog, you can still punch it in the air and immediately get the signal back. Try twisting the Drone here once its gone, it needs reconnection and you need to be close to reconnect, so you can say bye, bye to your drone unless you have a GPS on it.
Performance Observation
So what did we learn today? I mean to me is crazy that these two performs almost identically, and sometimes one was better than the other and vice versa, but its crazy that one was using one VT and the other, and that goes to show you first of all how digital its crazy.
Diminishing Returns with Signal Power
Second, the law of physics that, if you start having obstacles in the middle, you have diminishing return by bumping the signal to the max the curve goes like this so 10 times the power is not 10 times. The performance is almost the same, because this is digital, but if we had one watt versus 10 watt of the same analog, you will see probably twice the performance but not 10 times, and also one thing to say.
Analog vs. Digital: Signal Strength
If you fly analog in a bando in a place with a lot of concrete, the more signal, the more power you have is not always the best signal you get, because the waves start bouncing from walls and they create a lot of interference. Its like shouting, you hear noise and uh yeah digital is pretty good at that, because it only it. It only allows the good bits of information to come into your goggles and the rest. It starts discarding it and thats. Why? For urban areas, digital its so much better.
Long Range Capability
Talking about long range, the digital system has a technical limit and you cannot go above 10-12 kilometers. Even if you have good reception, the signal is going to drop. With this one, well, until you have signal you can go and that’s the beauty of analog. This product is not made, of course, for regular FPV drones, it’s made for wings and long-range drones and that’s where it’s going to shine.
Performance in Different Scenarios
Today, I didn’t really bring it justice, but I was curious to see what would happen not in a line of sight scenario, because I cannot go 100 kilometers to test it out. So if you’re wondering, I would recommend flying digital to the major part of the pilots watching this. You have more confidence, more penetration, and a much better image. I don’t know how to put it. You saw it while analog, and especially this system is good for long range and that’s where it shines where the limits of digital start to show up and also for racing.
Latency and Smoothness
When comparing the 10000mW Analog VTX to the 1000mW Digital VTX, one of the key differences that stands out is the latency and smoothness. Analog VTX offers lower latency and much smoother video transmission, which is highly beneficial for drone racing and FPV flying. The real-time video feed with minimal delay provided by analog VTX can make a significant difference in performance.
Weight
Another advantage of the analog VTX is its lighter weight compared to digital VTX. The lighter weight of analog VTX can contribute to improved maneuverability and overall flight performance of the drone. In drone racing where every gram counts, having a lighter VTX can make a noticeable difference in speed and agility.
AKK Alpha 10 Review
The AKK Alpha 10 VTX is a high-powered transmitter that is built to last, with a sturdy construction akin to a tank. While the analog transmission of the AKK Alpha 10 offers low latency and smooth video feed, some users may wish it was digital for even better performance.
Future Prospects
There is a demand for an open-source digital system that can outperform DJI’s digital transmission technology while maintaining the modularity of analog VTX systems like the AKK Alpha 10. With advancements in technology, it is possible that such a system may become available in the future, offering the best of both worlds in terms of performance and flexibility.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the AKK Alpha 10 digital VTX with 1000mW outperforms analog systems in terms of signal quality, reliability, and overall performance. The transition to digital video transmission technology offers significant benefits for drone pilots, making it easier to fly and enjoy the experience.
Overall, the AKK Alpha 10 with its 10000mW analog VTX offers impressive signal strength and reliability, making it a viable option for FPV enthusiasts who value long-range capabilities and robust performance. While digital VTX systems have their advantages in terms of image quality and latency, analog VTX like the AKK Alpha 10 prove that they still have a place in the world of FPV drones, particularly for pilots looking for reliable signal transmission in challenging environments.
