AKK Technology A1 — impressive set of micro FPV camera & 40CH 25mW VTX

December 6, 2020 ZMarketChangers

There are some good companies emerging lately in the field of FPV products and equipment. Just a week passed since I’ve started flying my micro FPV quad and now I am already testing some good products from a growing company — AKK Technology. This company already has some significant amount of products like cameras, VTX, antennas, micro FPV sets and so on. You can get familiar with the AKK Technology company on their website

Today, I would like to introduce some great FPV set for micro copters:

AKK A1 — 600TVL FPV Micro AIO Camera + 40CH (with raceband) 5,8GHz 25mW VTX

Technical Specifications:

Output power: 25mW
Input power: 3.2–5V
Current consumption: 3.2V-5V, 200mA
Camera resolution: 600TVL
Video system: NTSC
Minimum illumination: 1 lux
Field of view: 120° viewing angle
Antenna dimensions: 22mm
Antenna: dipole
Frequency: 5.8GHz 5 bands 40 channels (with raceband)
Size: 18.7*13mm(L*W)
Weight: 4.5g

Features:

Compatible with 5.8GHz googles and monitor.
It’s just one more way AKK technology lets you have more fun with fewer hassles.
This AIO camera can be installed in minutes and ready to fly.
Its signal range is ideal for park flyers or racing quads. Integrated booster circuit prevents motor and servo interference.
40 channel with raceband
Good quality image with zero latency
Button control instead of switches to change channels

Package includes:

1x A1 AIO FPV Camera and VTX
1x Power Cable with 1 extra adapter
1x Manual

I’m not new to this stuff and want to submit a little bit of expertise here. Moreover, this AKK A1 set is worth a try as you would see from my tests. Finally, I would be comparing this set to the one that I have on my KingKong 90GT RTF micro copter which has very similar cam and 16CH 25mW VTX with the similar antenna.

PACKAGING:
My package contained camera with a lens protector and integrated VTX with dipole antenna and battery lead. There were also one more power adapter lead from more convenient 1S battery connection and a short user manual. All neatly packed in a small box full of soft foam.

CAMERA and VTX physically:
Camera lens is glued at place which means that you wouldn’t have to worry about focusing it — it is done on the factory for you. This is an advantage over my KingKong set — I always touch the camera and it looses focus.

VTX back plate is soldered to the camera board and antenna is also soldered to VTX. This does a good job on maintaining the least possible weight but would be a bit harder to tilt the camera. Although, as you would see further — it is not needed. VTX has a great feature and advantage over many other micro FPV sets — it has a control button and small multi-segment LED to indicate CH. This is much more convenient than using flashing LED.

The process of CH selection is very easy:

Short button press = CH 1-8 change
2s button press = FR A,B,E,F,R change
5s button press = ON|OFF switch

Frequency table is the following:

Very easy to use in comparison to my KK 90GT VTX where pair of LEDs tell me what FR to guess…

CAMERA at work:
Picture quality of this camera doesn’t stand out of the crowd… It is usual for the micro sets like this but not more than that. You should remember that the smaller physical size of the camera sensor is — the less sharpness details you have and the earlier noises come through. But anyway, all those cameras are almost the same in terms of piсture quality. I’d say — completely enough to fly indoors and outdoors.

One of the best thing about this particular AKK A1 set is that despite the fact that FOV is stated to be 120 degrees — it seems to be much wider. KingKong camera claims to have 150 degrees FOV but the final picture is narrower in comparison to AKK A1. This is better because cameras are usually fixed and not tilting on micro quads and the more degrees FOV we have — the better….

Watch my video comparisons between AKK A1 picture and KK 90GT picture quality indoor, outdoor and side by side at the end of this post.

Exposure change and levels are not an issue for this cam as well. I would say that KK90GT cam has a bit wider dynamic range by default but AKK A1 is still perfectly usable.

VTX at work:
Here is where AKK A1 really shines and takes over KK90GT set. Having the same output power and antenna type — the range of AKK A1 is covering noticeably more distance. I am using my KDS Kylin Vision FPV goggles with Aomway cloverleaf antenna to check the signal quality. As you would see from my comparison videos — AKK A1 does a better job in terms of signal quality and strength. It falls off later and doesn’t have so much interruptions like KK90GT FPV VTX does. Neither outdoors nor indoors. But remember that video recorder and Youtube reduces actual picture quality.

Watch my video comparisons between AKK A1 picture and KK 90GT picture quality indoor, outdoor and side by side at the end of this post.

Neither it gets hot. Just warm. I would say that this is a very decent performer! Cloverleaf equipped model might be even better. But this one is lighter and does a perfect job to cover my concrete house and surrounding area. The only place it really suffers — when the house is between VTX and goggles. But even in this case it keeps some frames much better than KK90GT. But don’t forget that this little piece of technology also has 40CH with a raceband. KK90GT only have 16CH. AKK A1 is just has more superior features that are packed at the smaller board.

CONCLUSION:
In case if I’d build new micro quad or have something wrong with my KK90GT FPV set — I would definitely use AKK A1 as a better subsitution product. It has less weight, more range, less RF interference and wider FOV — ideal for the micro quads build. And I would say that this is very good first try from the new company AKK Technology. I hope that each of their following product would be even better.

PROS and CONS:
PROS:

Excellent range
Good picture quality
Wide FOV
Light
Convenient to use

CONS:

Lens is fixed

AKK Technology corner at AMAZON

Recording setup: KDS Kylin Vision modified goggles (added video out connector) + Aomway cloverleaf antenna + EasyCAP USB capturing stick + Win10 Teclast X10Pro tablet + VitrualDUB app to grab the video.

OUTDOOR TEST COMPARISON: