FPV VTX Frequency Bands Beyond 5.8 GHz
Most FPV video transmitters work in the 5.8 GHz band. A growing class covers other frequencies: 1.2-1.3 GHz, 3.3 GHz, a wideband 4.9-6.0 GHz range, and 6-7 GHz and above. These analog transmitters are usually 2.5-10 W and are built for long range, or for flying several aircraft in one area without their video channels colliding.
This guide covers what each band trades, and lists the transmitters in our VTX database for each one. Every model link goes to a spec page with its frequency range, power levels, channel count, input voltage and mount.
Check the rules first
In most countries only a slice of the standard 5.8 GHz channel table is licence-free. The other bands on this page are amateur-radio, licensed or restricted spectrum in most places. Some of them are shared with other services, such as GPS, radar and mobile networks. Before you transmit on any of them, find out what your country allows at that frequency and power.
Why go off 5.8 GHz at all
Radio physics trades frequency against three things:
- Range and obstacles. Lower frequencies lose less signal over distance, since free-space path loss grows with the square of frequency. They also bend around and pass through trees, terrain and buildings better. Going from 5.8 GHz to 1.2 GHz is the biggest step you can take for range behind cover.
- Antenna size. Wavelength grows as frequency falls, and so do the antennas. A 1.2 GHz antenna is roughly five times the size of a 5.8 GHz one, which is why the lowest band is mostly used on large long-range airframes.
- Congestion. With every other pilot on the standard 5.8 GHz channels, moving to another band is the simplest way to get a clean channel. That is the reason for the wideband and 6-7 GHz transmitters.
Your receiver has to match the band. Most stock analog goggle modules only tune the standard 5.8 GHz channel table. A 1.2 GHz, 3.3 GHz or 4.9 GHz transmitter needs a receiver built for that band.
The bands
| Band | What it is for | Power in our database | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2-1.3 GHz | Longest range behind obstacles; large antennas | 0.8-5 W | GEPRC MATEN 1.2G 5W, Axisflying TERK 1.2G 4W, Skyzone VT1225, Holybro Atlatl HV V2 1.2GHz |
| 3.3 GHz | Middle ground: better penetration than 5.8, smaller antennas than 1.2 | 2-10 W | Foxeer Reaper 3.3GHz 4W, GEPRC MATEN 3.3G 5W, HGLRC 3.3G 5W, RushFPV XSPAN 3.1-3.9GHz |
| 4.9-6.0 GHz (wideband) | Standard 5.8 GHz channels plus 4.9-5.6 GHz, typically 56-104 channels | 2.5-10 W | Foxeer Reaper Extreme 3W, Foxeer Reaper Infinity 5W, FT Systems FT VTX 4W 96ch, GEPRC MATEN 5.8G 4W, RushFPV MAX SOLO X-band 4.9GHz |
| 6-7.5 GHz and above | Clean spectrum above the standard band | 2.5-10 W | Foxeer Reaper Infinity 7.2GHz 10W, RushFPV XSPAN 6.1-7.2GHz 3W, Skyzone VT7550, RushFPV XSPAN 7.0-8.5GHz |
Two dual-band units cover two of these bands at once: RushFPV 5.8/4.9GHz and RushFPV 1.3/3.3GHz.
1.2-1.3 GHz
This is the oldest long-range FPV band, and it goes furthest through foliage and past terrain. The costs are antenna size and neighbours: the band sits next to satellite navigation (GPS L2 is at 1227.6 MHz), so a 1.2 GHz transmitter on a GPS-equipped build needs careful placement and filtering. Channel counts are small, 8-16 in the database, because each channel is wide compared with the band.
3.3 GHz
The 3.3 GHz transmitters sit between the two extremes. They reach further behind obstacles than 5.8 GHz, with antennas far smaller than 1.2 GHz ones. They list 8-64 channels across roughly 3.0-3.5 GHz. Some models stretch to 3.9 GHz.
Wideband 4.9-6.0 GHz
These transmitters keep the whole standard 5.8 GHz channel table and add the spectrum below it. That gives 56-104 channels instead of 40-48. This is the class that transmitters like the Foxeer Reaper Extreme and Infinity, the GEPRC MATEN 5.8G series and the FT Systems VTX belong to.
The appeal is compatibility plus room. On the standard channels they work with any 5.8 GHz receiver. The extra 4.9 GHz channels need a receiver that tunes down there.
6-7.5 GHz and above
These transmitters sit above the standard band, where there is almost no other FPV traffic. Examples are the 6.1-7.2 GHz XSPAN and Reaper Infinity 7.2 GHz, the Skyzone VT6550 and VT7550, and XSPAN units up to 8.5 GHz. The trade-off runs the other way from 1.2 GHz: shorter range for the same power and weaker obstacle penetration, in exchange for a clean channel.
Power, heat and weight
Most transmitters on this page are rated 2.5-10 W. That much RF power means real current draw and heat. The larger units carry their own cooling, and their weight shows it: the GEPRC MATEN 5.8G 10W weighs 110 g, while a typical 5.8 GHz micro VTX weighs a few grams. Check the input voltage range on each spec page. Many of these units take up to 36 V (8S), but not all of them.
FAQ
What is a wideband 4.9-6.0 GHz VTX?
It is an analog video transmitter that covers the standard 5.8 GHz FPV channels and extends down to about 4.9 GHz, typically with 56-104 channels. The standard channels work with any 5.8 GHz receiver; the lower ones need a receiver that tunes there. Using those frequencies is licensed or restricted in most countries.
Is 1.2 GHz or 5.8 GHz better for long range FPV?
At the same power, 1.2 GHz reaches further and handles trees and terrain far better, because lower frequencies lose less signal and diffract around obstacles. The costs are much larger antennas, few channels, and a band next to GPS. It is also licensed spectrum in most countries.
Do I need a different receiver for a 3.3 GHz or 1.2 GHz VTX?
Yes. Standard analog goggle modules tune only the 5.8 GHz band, so a VTX on another band needs a receiver or goggle module made for that band.
Why do these VTXs have so many channels?
Covering more spectrum leaves room for more channels. That lets several aircraft fly in one area on well-separated frequencies, and lets a pilot move away from a channel another transmitter is using.