What this video covers

Here we have the brand-new Venom S from SpydaBot. In this video, we take a look at the new alloy construction, the upgraded mounting system, and all the different accessories you can run with it. We also show you just how versatile the setup is, and how you can mix and match your thermals, night vision, lights, pointers and power banks to build a configuration that suits your own hunting setup.

This is a first look. We are still in the process of testing battery life and a few other things. There are plenty more in-depth videos coming, including comparisons between the different SpydaBot models and a closer look at how stable they are.

Attachments and construction

Modular from the start

One of the great things about it is the modular setup. You can put attachments all over it, as many as you like, or strip it right back to just what you need. And you can control the whole thing from inside the cab using the remote control.

A lot heavier, and stronger

This one is a lot heavier. It has an alloy body and is built considerably stronger than the previous models.

The motor on its own

Take everything off and you have got the motor on its own. You can bolt it directly to something, or use the magnetic base.

Larger batteries and USB-C

It also takes larger batteries now, so you can potentially get a lot more runtime out of it. We are still in the process of testing battery life and a few other things. You have also got USB-C charging, which means you can use it to power other devices as well.

There is still plenty of testing to do, but there is a lot going on here, which is great to see. Most importantly, it is a really solid unit, and that is exactly what we like.

Attachments and accessories

Play and vibration

One thing we have noticed with previous SpydaBots is that there has been a bit too much play in the bottom section. [?]

The gimbal models also tend to struggle to react quickly enough to the vibrations coming through the vehicle. What that means is when you are moving, you can end up with a lot more motion blur than you would expect from a gimbal-type device.

A lot of people think a gimbal works just like a drone and will automatically keep everything steady. But it is not quite that simple when it is mounted to a vehicle. You are dealing with constant micro-vibrations, and the gimbal simply cannot always respond quickly enough to compensate.

Wireless torch and switch

We have got a wireless torch that mounts onto the unit, and we have also got a wireless switch that can operate your pointer.

Running the pointer

Personally, I do not think you really need the wireless switch with these 18650 pointers (pointers that run on an 18650 rechargeable battery). I would recommend just leaving the pointer on all night and adjusting it so that it is pointing slightly down towards the ground, just in front of you.

That way, rather than shining right out across the paddock, it is simply giving you an indication of the direction the SpydaBot is pointing.

Power bank

We also have a power bank that mounts on top. This screws into place, and you can plug it into your thermal to keep it powered throughout the night. It has got a nice little tightening mechanism underneath, so you can lock everything into position.

Thermal setup

Then, of course, we have got our thermal. You can use pretty much any thermal you like. This one here is the HIKMICRO Lynx LQ35L 3.0, which I think is one of the better-value thermals on the market at the moment. It is also very compact and offers really good image quality. We cover the Lynx 3.0 series in our HIKMICRO Lynx 3.0 review.

We are using the Contourlock moulded rail, and it is absolutely solid. It hugs the thermal and holds it incredibly securely.

Night vision setup

Now, for those of you hunting with night vision, you can also fit an IR illuminator (an infrared torch that lights things up for your night vision). You have got a wireless cable that connects back to your wireless switch, allowing you to turn your night vision illuminator on and off as well.

So you could have your thermal, your pointer, your power bank and your night vision all mounted together. And the great thing is, you can mix and match everything to suit your setup. You could run a wireless white light, an IR torch, your pointer and battery pack. The whole works.

Swapping it around

To change things around, we simply take off the Olight, put on our IR torch and plug in the wireless switch.

As I mentioned earlier, I do not think you necessarily need a wireless switch for the pointer. You can just leave that on its standard setup. You will get all-night battery life out of the 18650 anyway, and you can always swap the battery out if you need to. And that is another configuration.

Customising your setup

You can also strip the whole thing right back, take everything off and rearrange it however you like. For example, you could mount your thermal on top instead.

You could use the power bank in the clamping format, with the ring rail around it, and position your thermal on the opposite side. Then you can mount your pointer as well.

And if you want, you can still add your wireless switches, so you have got one switch for your Olight and another for whatever accessory you have connected it to. You can even mount the switches along the side of your toggle switch [?], so when you are out in the paddock, everything is right there where you need it.

More configurations

We will have plenty more in-depth videos coming soon, including comparisons between the different SpydaBot models and a closer look at how stable they are. So keep an eye out for those.

But if you really want to go all out and build the craziest setup possible, you can do that too. You could mount your pointer and Olight together, one on top of the other. Then you have got your IR torch, your power bank in the middle, a wireless switch operating the IR torch, and your thermal mounted on the other side.

Now, that is a pretty serious setup, particularly if you are running night vision. You have essentially got everything you could possibly need in one package.

Getting your setup sorted

We have got some preconfigured Venom S packages over on the website. You can choose one of the configurations with all the accessories shown in the picture, or you can build your own kit and add everything you need separately.

We have tried to make it as easy as possible, so jump on the website and have a look. Any questions, get in touch and we will help you out and get you all set up.