FAQ

ExpressLRS is competing with some of the best commercial solutions out there, but all are expensive 🙁. Well, ELRS is not 😄, it can be set up for around 60$ (Using second-hand r9 hardware). It also is better than many (higher sensitivity, lower latency👌).

It is faster than most links out there with a latency of 6.5ms (at 200hz). At 250hz 100mW 2.4GHz it is capable of ranges 30km+.

OpenTX 2.3.12 or newer should work just fine. No need to use OpenTX Nightly, unless you have requirements not present in the Stable versions.

EdgeTX 2.4.0 or newer should work too.

ExpressLRS needs your radio to support crsfshot (a.k.a. Mixersync) to work properly. This will give you the lowest possible latency and optimal consistency of the RC link. When your radio does not have crsfshot working, this often shows in your ExpressLRS Lua script. The Lua script top bar will show inconsistent numbers like 0:63 or is stuck at 0:250 at every packet rate rate you select.

The Lua script top bar should always show a stable 0/[user selected packet rate]

For example: 0/50, 0/150, 0/250, 0/500, ...

When that is the case your radio has crsfshot working and you're good to go. Click here to read more on OpenTX.

See Getting Started page

Any Receiver and TX Module from the same Band (2.4GHz or 900Mhz) will work together. Supported R9 receivers will work with the 900Mhz modules from Happy Model, Namimno RC and the R9M, same with the other 900Mhz receivers, DIY or off-the-shelf. Likewise, any 2.4Ghz receivers should work with any 2.4Ghz TX Modules, from any manufacturer and even the DIY ones. This is as long as they have the same binding phrase and configuration options (Regulatory Domain, Performance Options and Extra Data).

The difference between the PP and the EP1/EP2 is only the processor. The PP is the original design and uses an STM32 while the EP1/EP2 use an ESP82xx. Both offer firmware update through Betaflight passthrough, but the EPx also support firmware upload over wifi. The EP1 is the same as the EP2 except it has a U.FL/IPEX1 connector for an external antenna. The wifi capability of the ESP is not used apart from the update procedure, and the wifi is only enabled shortly after power-up if no TX connection is received (AUTO_WIFI_ON_INTERVAL if bound, 60s otherwise). Receiver performance should be identical between the two. If you're confused by the PP being more expensive, it's because there is a shortage of the STM part.

Make sure that your radio is set to use 400K Baud Rate and you're running at least OpenTX 2.3.12 or EdgeTX 2.4.0. These firmware versions have Mixer Sync or CRSFShot.

To confirm your update rate is working as intended, you can use the ExpressLRS Lua script to check the current update rate and confirm you are getting 500hz. See Using the Lua Script.

16 channels*. With more than 8 aux channels, there are tradeoffs that must be made, therefore ELRS offers the following aux modes:

• 4x full-resolution (10-bit) channels for sticks (CH1-4) with either:
  • HYBRID Mode 1x 2-position channel, AUX1 (CH5; Must be used for Arming), 6x 2-position/3-position/6-position (AUX2-7) and 1x 16-position (AUX8), OR
  • WIDE Mode 1x 2-position channel, AUX1 (CH5; Must be used for Arming), 7x 64 or 128-position channels (AUX2-8). Available via the Lua Script since 2.0.
• 8x full-resolution (10-bit, ext-limits) with 1x 2-position channel, AUX1
• 16x full-resolution (10-bit, ext-limits, all half rate) with 1x 2-position channel, AUX1
• 12x full-resolution (10-bit, ext-limits) with 1x 2-position channel, AUX1, channels AUX2-9 run at half rate.

See Switch Modes for more details on switch modes and how they work

No, just like what channel your VTX is on is not a secret. The binding phrase is not security, it is anti-collision. If everyone kept their VTX channel a secret, the chances of you blasting someone out of the sky accidentally is pretty high. To provide the best chance of not interfering with other pilots and them not interfering with you, be sure you're not using the same dumb bind phrase as someone else. Express your style with a hilarious or saucy bind phrase.