That\u2019s not what you want to see cruising over a river half a mile from home. Poor video signal is pretty plain to see, there\u2019s so much information being exchanged between the video transmitter and receiver pair that even the slightest bit of signal loss will manifest itself as evident video breakup. However, signal loss between the radio transmitter and receiver is more difficult to detect, usually only becoming noticeable when a failsafe occurs. Setting up RSSI readouts with your FrSky receiver is an excellent way to keep track of your radio link quality.<\/span>[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2051″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) is a measurement of the signal strength between a radio receiver and transmitter pair. The unit for RSSI is decibels (dB), decibels are used to quantify the power of an electrical signal.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n This guide will focus on using Betaflight\/Butterflight in conjunction with FrSky \u2018R\u2019 (X8R, X4R-SB, XSR, R-XSR) and \u2018M\u2019 (XM, XM+) receivers. Displaying RSSI values within Betaflight OSD will also be covered. The Taranis X9D+ will be the model of choice for this tutorial, although other FrSky radios such as the QX7 follow similar setup processes.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”1313″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n There are two distinct variations of FrSky telemetry output: Smartport and channel transmission. \u2018R\u2019 receivers utilise Smartport technology, all telemetry values including RSSI are exchanged via a single wire connected to a hardware UART. \u2018M\u2019 receivers are designed to communicate RSSI values by a defined output channel, for both the XM and XM+ receivers, Channel 16 is reserved for RSSI outputs.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Please note that this guide does not describe the receiver binding process, consult your receiver manual for more information.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”1322″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”1328″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with the \u2018R\u2019 receivers, specifically the XSR. The wiring process for all R receivers is near identical, likewise for the \u2018M\u2019 line. Smartport is a two-way signal that allows for information to be sent and received along a singular wire, making the wiring process more efficient. Firstly, identify the smartport wire from your receiver and connect it to an unused \u2018TX\u2019 (transmit) pad or pin on the flight controller. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the wiring out of the way, open up the Betaflight\/Butterflight configurator and navigate to the ports tab. Find the unique UART that the Smartport wire was assigned to and select \u201cSmartport\u201d from the dropdown menu. Remember to press save, then continue to the configuration window.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2049″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the configuration window, locate the ‘Other Features Menu’ and ensure that the \u2018Telemetry\u2019 button is activated. Don\u2019t forget to save and reboot or you will lose your changes. With this process completed, disconnect from the Betaflight\/Butterflight configurator and get out your Taranis.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2040″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Open up the Taranis menu with the \u2018MENU\u2019 key, long-press the \u2018PAGE\u2019 button twice to navigate to the telemetry page. Once in the telemetry page, turn on your quadcopter and press the \u2018Discover new sensors\u2019 button to allow the Taranis to automatically identify the RSSI output. Once the RSSI value becomes visible in the sensors list, advance onward to the next step.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2043″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Now you must decide how you want your radio to communicate RSSI information. There are three methods; on-screen telemetry, callouts or OSD. (The OSD technique is covered at the end of the \u2018M\u2019 receiver tutorial).<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n On-screen telemetry allows for the display of RSSI values on the screen of the Taranis. To configure this, press \u2018MENU\u2019 once and long-press the \u2018PAGE\u2019 button to enter the \u2018DISPLAY\u2019 menu. In the \u2018DISPLAY\u2019 page, select the \u2018None\u2019 option next to an available screen and change it to \u2018Nums\u2019 or \u2018Bars\u2019. Now, select one of the available \u2018—\u2019 spaces and scroll through the menu until RSSI is found, press enter and exit the menu. RSSI values can now be displayed by long-pressing the page button outside of the menu.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2041″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2045″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Press \u2018MENU\u2019 once and long-press the \u2018PAGE\u2019 button four times over. In the \u2018SPECIAL FUNCTIONS\u2019 page, select a free \u2018SF\u2019 profile. Firstly assign it to a switch than choose the \u2018Play Value\u2019 option in the next selection. Now, select RSSI as the value and choose a suitable callout period. The FrSky radio can now audibly read RSSI values in live time.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2044″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n \u2018M\u2019 receiver RSSI can be displayed in the Betaflight OSD. As mentioned before, RSSI information is transmitted on Channel 16 by SBUS communication, making wiring extremely simple. Locate the SBUS wire on the XM or XM+ receiver and route it to a free UART RX (receive) pin or pad on the flight controller.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Connect the flight controller to the Betaflight\/Butterflight configurator and open the ports tab. Now, find the UART number that SBUS was designated to and activate the Serial RX button. Press save.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2048″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Head over to the configuration tab and find the \u2018Receiver\u2019 menu, select \u2018Serial-Based receiver from the first dropdown and choose \u2018SBUS\u2019 in the second dropdown window. Remember to save and reboot the flight controller.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2039″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Power up your \u2018M\u2019 receiver and FrSky radio, confirm that all channels are responding correctly. AUX 12 should be indicating a higher value than the other channels, this is the RSSI channel. (Four movement channels + twelve AUX channels = sixteen) In the \u2018RSSI Channel\u2019 dropdown, choose AUX 12. Now, the RSSI value can be set to display in the Betaflight OSD.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2050″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Placing RSSI values in the Betaflight OSD is very simple, enter the OSD tab and activate the \u2018RSSI Value’ button under \u2018Elements\u2019. Position the RSSI indicator anywhere on the OSD display and press save. That\u2019s it! You can now view the real-time RSSI strength in your goggles.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2047″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image” image_hovers=”false”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n RSSI is a very useful tool not only for those going the distance, but also freestyle and race FPV drone pilots. RSSI can also be used to test the radio frequency situation of an environment before attempting any risky manoeuvres, or even to find a lost FPV drone. It\u2019s highly recommended that you enable RSSI monitoring today.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Oh My… That\u2019s not what you want to see cruising over a river half a mile from home. Poor video signal is pretty plain to see, there\u2019s so much information being exchanged between the video transmitter and receiver pair that even the slightest bit of signal loss will manifest itself as evident video breakup. However, … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2051,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[133],"tags":[1793,2223,2228,421,420,982,858,2451,2450,2453,2385,2452,2448,2447,1667,1426,1454,2449,1453,1452],"class_list":["post-2038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fpv-essentials","tag-beginner","tag-betaflight","tag-butterflight","tag-drone","tag-fpv","tag-fpv-building","tag-frsky","tag-osd","tag-r-xsr","tag-radio-receiver","tag-rssi","tag-signal-loss","tag-smartport","tag-telemetry","tag-video-receiver","tag-video-transmitter","tag-x4r-sb","tag-x8r","tag-xm","tag-xsr","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2038"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2133,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2038\/revisions\/2133"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getfpv.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What is RSSI?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Can my Receiver Output RSSI Information?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Two Types of FrSky Telemetry Output<\/span><\/h2>\n
\u2018R\u2019 Receiver Configuration<\/span><\/h2>\n
On-Screen Telemetry<\/span><\/h2>\n
Callouts<\/span><\/h2>\n
\u2018M\u2019 Receiver Configuration<\/span><\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n