FPV video problems feel mysterious because you cannot see the chain that delivers the picture. But that chain – camera, video transmitter, antenna, receiver, display – fails in predictable ways. Work through it in order.

Black screen with a connected display

First separate power from signal. Does the camera menu appear (many cameras show one when you hold the menu button)? If yes, the camera works and the fault is cabling or the VTX. If no, check the camera's power leads for voltage and look for a crushed ribbon cable – the most common casualty of a hard landing.

No signal at all

Confirm the receiver and VTX are on the same band and channel – the single most common cause. Then verify the VTX is actually powered; a VTX that lost its 5 V feed after a crash is the second most common. If the camera worked before a crash and there is now no signal, inspect the antenna joint and the SMA connector for a cracked center pin.

Static and dropouts

Intermittent static that comes and goes with distance is range-related: check that antennas are undamaged, oriented to match (linear antennas care a lot), and not buried inside carbon or battery wiring. A propeller nicking an antenna wire produces static that changes with RPM – a distinctive symptom worth remembering.

Short range that used to be fine

  • Antenna damage: kinks and crushed sleeves kill gain long before the antenna looks broken.
  • A loose SMA connector – finger-tight is not enough after vibration.
  • VTX power set to a lower mode after a settings reset.
  • A failing camera module producing a weak signal (rare, but it happens).

Replacing parts

Camera modules, VTX boards, and antennas are model-specific on camera drones and standard on FPV builds. Either way, check the fitment notes on our drone parts listings, and when two similar-looking parts exist, match the connector before the price. If you are stuck, send photos of the camera and VTX wiring to the contact form – wiring photos solve most of these by email.