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Most fashionable radio transmitters assist FPV simulators through their USB port natively. Nonetheless there are outdated radios that don’t on account of limitations like USB ports getting used just for charging or firmware updates, or the absence of USB ports altogether. On this tutorial I’ll share options to that.
You should use any radio transmitter (TX) to play FPV simulators wirelessly utilizing a Betaflight flight controller, all you want is a F4 or F7 FC and a radio receiver. I’ll present you set it up on this tutorial.
Possibly your radio don’t assist FPV simulator, or just don’t have a USB connection. Possibly your USB cable is just too quick and also you need wi-fi connection. Both method, you’ll discover this hack helpful 🙂
Take a look at my different Betaflight tutorials.
Play FPV Sims Wirelessly!
Since Betaflight V3.4, you possibly can flip your flight controller right into a joystick (HID system) once you plug it into your pc. With the instructions coming in from the radio receiver (RX), you possibly can play FPV simulators with out connecting your radio to the pc!
Good drawing i do know. It was late at night time, this might do for now 😉
It additionally signifies that you need to use all radios to play simulators, even those you possibly can’t hook up with the pc instantly, such because the Flysky i6 or Turnigy 9X.
Because it’s a wi-fi connection, you might be not constrained by the size of the USB cable, and you may lastly lay again and play!
I’ve not measured latency, however I don’t really feel any extra latency than utilizing USB cable to the radio.
Solely F4 and F7 flight controllers assist this characteristic presently. F1 and F3 FC can not do it as a result of they don’t have sufficient reminiscence to retailer the extra code. (This text explains the variations between F1, F3, F4 and F7 FC)
You may simply use your drone for this. However if you need a devoted FC and RX setup only for taking part in simulators, these are the most cost effective elements I may discover:
Ensure to flash the most recent Betaflight to your flight controller (3.4 or newer). Take a look at this information if in case you have hassle flashing firmware on FC, it might be a driver problem.
Betaflight Setup
Join the RX to FC, and set it up in Betaflight as you’d usually do for a quad, right here is a information on setup SBUS. All RX protocols are supported: PPM, SBUS, PWM, iBUS, DSMX, Crossfire…
On this instance, I’m utilizing the Frsky XM (SBUS) with Kakute F4 V2 AIO FC:
Energy on Receiver
Most flight controllers lately powers the RX once you plug within the USB cable, and that’s nice.
Nonetheless, some FC’s don’t energy on the RX with USB connection, so that you may need to plug within the LiPo battery as a way to energy the receiver.
If you’re doing this on a quad with LiPo linked, ensure you disconnect the VTX and different energy hungry parts to keep away from overheating and draining your LiPo. And for security, be certain that props are eliminated.
Enter This in CLI
When you’ve confirmed the RX is working in Receiver tab (channels are responding to the stick actions), you possibly can go the CLI, and enter:
set usb_hid_cdc = on save
Choose Joystick in FPV Simulator
As soon as it’s setup correctly, your flight controller will seem as a joystick in your PC, and it’s best to be capable of choose it within the FPV simulator. Ensure to calibrate it within the sim for the primary time and you might be good to go!
If you’re doing this on a quad, it’s best to flip off USB_HID_CDC earlier than your subsequent flight.
set usb_hid_cdc = off save
Devoted Wi-fi Sim Field
So I used to be reviewing a brand new Frsky radio however the software program doesn’t assist simulator but by way of the USB port, so I made this field so I can play sims with the radio for now 🙂
I actually just like the “wi-fi” facet of this answer, I’ll most likely use this field with all my radios any more 🙂
FC, RX and plastic field are all spare elements that I not use. Coin stack is for stability so it gained’t get dragged and slide by the usb cable.
Wi-fi Sim Stick
This can be a industrial answer of the DIY “wi-fi sim field”. It’s mainly an ExpressLRS receiver, with a processor that converts the sign and sends it to your pc through USB.
In case you don’t thoughts spending a bit extra, this may prevent a while.
Get it from GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-bicw
Simulator Dongles
These dongles can hook up with your radio transmitter wirelessly (sometimes through a coach port) after which relay the PPM sign to your pc by way of USB.
These dongles have been round for years. They’re designed for outdated radios that don’t have a USB port that assist simulator natively. Earlier than shopping for, seek the advice of the guide or vendor to ensure the dongle assist your specific radio.
Get a sim dongle from:
COM Port Disappeared
In case you can’t hook up with Betaflight once more after enabling USB_HID_CDC, there’s a simple repair.
With the FC linked to your pc through USB (however not acknowledged and no COM port seems):
- Go to the “Choices” tab on the left in Betaflight Configurator house web page.
- Allow “Present all serial units (for producers for improvement)”.
- Unplug and reconnect USB cable, restart Betaflight Configurator.
As soon as this selection is enabled, your flight controller will magically reappear! In case you flip off ‘Present all serial units,’ the flight controller disappears once more. However with the choice turned on, you possibly can hook up with your flight controller once more.
Now, you need to use the CLI to kind “set usb_hid_cdc=off,” or you possibly can depart it on if you want. The one draw back to leaving it on is you can’t hook up with it till you alter that possibility.
If that didn’t work, you may have to reflash the FC with “Full Chip Erase” enabled. Maintain down the boot button on the FC whereas connecting the USB cable, that ought to put the FC in DFU mode (bootloader mode), able to be flashed.
Edit Historical past
- Jun 2018 – article created for Frsky D16 receivers
- Apr 2021 – tutorial up to date, shared my devoted wi-fi sim field
- Dec 2023 – tutorial up to date for ExpressLRS receivers, up to date product hyperlinks
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