How to get Spektrum RSSI in Betaflight OSD

Stuff required:
Spektrum SPM4649T receiver:
store.rotorrio...
amzn.to/2RkaXiC
Spektrum SPMA3065 TX/RX USB Programming Cable:
amzn.to/2AkBanq
More detail on updating receivers:
• Video

[@sailing4009]

Just set up my RSSI with Spekrtrm SRLX2 receiver and Betaflight 4.3 . Everything is so different now, and kinda easier, but I still found your video helpful. Thank you! For those struggling: at Receiver tab: Telemetry ON RSSI OFF RSSI Channel Disabled

[@beachcomber52]

Thanks for the info Drew. Keep them coming. Seems like us Spektrum users are the red headed step children of FPV.

[@_KSM__FPV]

I can't get this to work with my DX9. do I only need 1 free channel or 2?

[@_KSM__FPV]

I did yea. Onto to TBS now tho

[@KAJBS]

Glad I found your page. Now I can start using my DX9 again

[@lk2178]

Thank you for helping us spektrum guys!

[@dweight1990]

Great video! One important thing is to remember to set max and min values for a channel! In order to have an accurate reading for rssi you need to have channel min at 1000 and max at 2000. You can do it in the console or in the radio itself.

[@JimOHalloran]

I've just been through this with my DX6, a SPM4649T, Betaflight 3.5.5 and a Matek F405 FC. I followed Drew's instructions and it all worked fine, except I never saw AUX7/AUX8 light up as described. Reading the Betaflight Wiki on GitHub, they mention that after BF 3.4 you need to run: set serialrx_halfduplex = ON ... on the CLI. Once I did that, the AUX channels started working as Drew describes, and OSD "just works". Hope that helps someone who follows Drew's otherwise excellent instructions and still has problems. Thanks soooo much for covering this Spektrum stuff on this channel Drew. I love my Spektrum, and it's great that we can now do all the VTX control and stuff the Taranis guys have been able to do for ages. But because Taranis is the "beaten path" there's not a lot of info around for us Spektrum guys about how to set this stuff up, and I'm so greatful to you for sharing with us all. Thanks Drew!

[@ncantny1978]

Do you know which pad i should possibly use to connect this receiver to the F405 Mini that comes on the Diatone GT R249? I'm having a little trouble figuring this out.

[@JimOHalloran]

Anthony Howard looks like the board in the Diatone is a Mamba F405 Mini, so quite a different board to mine (yay for having almost the same name). Looks like there should be UARTs available though. On this RC Groups thread IvanNik mentions that TX3 is uninverted (www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?3126404-MAMBA-F405-stacks), so that should work for the Spektrum receiver. I can’t find any close up photos of the board as it’s mounted in the Diatone, nor can I find a wiring diagram for the Mamba board, so I don’t know if TX3 is free on yours. If it isn’t, the RC Groups thread above mentions UART 6 and UART 1, so TX6 should work as well. They mention UART 1 for SBUS, so it may be inverted and not work for our Spektrum receiver, but if TX1 is all that’s available give that a try as a last resort. Hope that helps!

[@markking4755]

Thank you for doing this video, I really am thankful for the information. Right on mr. Drew. Been trying to figure this out for the longest time.

[@rueda82nd]

Dribby is our Spektrum spokesperson

[@Zayphod_zz9pza]

Timely vid Drew. I was just trying to figure this out. Not a fan of buying a cable, but such is the price of confidence. Thank you for the post.

[@ThatFlyinRyan]

Wow 2 years later they got it figured out ? Lol cheers my friends happy holidays bru !!! Hope to see you in the mia soon !!!

[@dcsmith5839]

Hi,Thank-you much for any Spektrum info.I know we're in the minority,but it's what I have.New to quads,came from fixed wing. Any and all spektrum tips will be appreciated,as almost no one else covers them.Thanks again.

[@mikeman230]

Thanks from another Spektrum user. I will buy my third receiver for my project

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Thanks for sharing Drew, great video! FYI to anyone that is curious, this same cable is used to update MANY of our products. Meaning that it is likely that any RC hobby shop will have one handy that you can use. Registering and updating is super easy using the PC programmer utility, it can all be done on the program, whereas before you had to copy and paste things between the website. Here is a link to the programmer, spektrumrc.cachefly.net/apps/spektrum_programmer.html , Hope that helps!

[@rabysimon]

Thanks drew! I just decided to get back to Flying and now I'll have telemetry on my spektrum fleet!

[@TorqueRoller]

Nice one man! This helped me figure out what I screwed up on my BeeBrain V2, it had Spektrum RSSI stock out of the box, but I lost it when I updated with Newbeedrone's Hex file from their product page. Had to re-select Aux 5 for RSSI on receiver tab and re-activate Telemetry on config page. Thanks for the help!

[@bobbin69]

Why am I watching this, I don't even fly Spektrum, I fly FrSky. Whatever. Great content, Drew! And I love that startup-tone so much :P

[@peterpichler8986]

Great job Drew, I was planning to do it one day and now I know all the things I would have run into beforehand ;) Thanks a lot!

[@Mikebfpv]

Interesting. I'm glad there is at least one person I'm subscribed to to get my spektrum information from. Smdh. I'm subscribed to all things spektrum and HH afaik, and now subscribe to this guy on your link, to hopefully keep up. It really ticks me off to find out this way, as I've invested a fair amount into spektrum. No offense but jeez!!

[@knobbshots]

getting back in to quads after a couple years (lots has changed)...do you know if this applies to the SPM4650 also? or is firmware already in that rx and just need to change in betaflight? Also, using Immersion Vortex 180, can i still use this function?

[@kelvinwolf225]

"how to watch your inevitable failsafe in osd" lol. Thanks, drib

[@dennislee8253]

Thanks Drew, really appreciate seeing this. I always thought you had moved up to Crossfire on the DX12? What's up with that comparison? Crossfire not needed?

[@marcellowithtwols]

Hi Drew, this question is about fixed wing planes, not drones, but hoping you might know the answer. I'm wondering how I would go about getting my spektrum receiver's telemetry (speed/altitude/rssi/vario/etc) over to some kind of simple OSD/VTX solution. My receiver has xbus and SRXL2, and I'm hoping something can tap into those and grab that data. I would rather not leave the spektrum ecosystem if I can help it, as I already bought their expensive remote & telemetry receivers. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[@MrAnderson1221]

please help! I have a SPM4650 connected with 3V3, G, T2. Using a DX9. I can arm and fly. Receiver and transmitter seem to function properly. This last time I flew I got a RSSI DBM message flashing. I was able to fly and then the drone just dropped from the sky. This happened on 2 different battery packs. My RSSI value is -130 and my LQ is 0 and they will not change. I started watching this video. I tried doing the range test and I am getting nothing on CH8 in movement. I think I am hitting a failsafe and that is causing the drone to shut down. Any help you can provide would be really appreciated.

[@user-uj8oi2xd5h]

How'd you get this to work? l've tried the setup instructions, but it only ever displays 99

[@michagrudziecki326]

I have the same problem. I have done the same setup and see only 99. It doesn,t change the value. It is depends of radio? I have DX7S and in telemetry/ Flight log there isn't signal strength. Is it becaus of that?

[@TheMetalSandman]

@@michagrudziecki326 Actually guys I have the same exact problem as well! I think you really need to make a spektrum account and update the firmware of the receiver, which I didn't do, and won't be doing lol

[@admranch8154]

have you tried the SPM4650 ? is it good?

[@burlingtonfilms]

Do you know how to take the antenna wire off of the green chip? I'm trying to replace mine but can't figure out how that gold part pops off.

[@propbender3301]

Great. Now that we have moved up to Crossfire, how about the same thing for that. I don't know it. You must never sleep. Tremendous work ethic.

[@TalosFPV-GR]

Hello and thank you for all the videos you ‘re uploading, really helped me a lot. Just a question, is the RSSI over OSD (on this Rx) gonna work with an older Tx like Spektrum DX7 (gen1) or you need a Tx with telemetry (I mean does the tx sends back the RSSI value so as to be displayed on the osd)?

[@drib2896]

I believe the RSSI value is calculated by the RX itself so the transmitter won’t matter

[@TalosFPV-GR]

Drib 2 Thank you for your response! In this case this is great for ppl with older spektrum transmitters.

[@schmudge]

whos the spew babies giving you Thumbs Down? Nice vid for the Spektrum players

[@roryoconnell9424]

Great video 👍. On an unrelated note, you should try the nv14 radio 😂. It would be great to get someone big like yourself to get on it to speed up the firmware issues. It’s a great radio for thumbers and pinchers, gimbals are fantastic aswell. I think you’d like it 👍

[@M0rdH0rst]

That would be nice. I've bought the Nirvana because the Spektrum receivers are so expensive. 30,- EUR for the normal one and 45,- EUR for this one with telemetry. With FlySky it is like 13,- EUR with telemetry :) I'm still using Spektrum for my planes tho.

[@cyclicracer]

Thank you so much Drib! I have been searching for a way to do this for ages. Is this the best telemetry receiver out there? Is there anything more suitable for long range?

[@amen_ra6926]

If you wanted to use the telemetry pad instead to have data sent to the transmitter, you could still use OSD w/o RSSI as long as the camera output was soldered to the camera input on the FC correct?

[@jackdaniels7913]

Went to the hours x10s with a DSM2 AIRMOD (SPMMSJR720) still figuring it out but I can't say I miss my old spectrum TX's lol

[@muriaticfpv2328]

With this I can switch my VTX channel, during races, right from my DX6. Which is amazing. But I am planning on upgrading to a DX9/Crossfire setup. Will I still be able to switch video channels from the radio? Like can you change VTX channels from your ix12 with Crossfire?

[@partytimepplable]

So dx6 is compatible??

[@muriaticfpv2328]

@@partytimepplable Yes, with the spectrum telemetry receiver I'm getting all my telemetry and vtx control right from my dx6. As well as rssi in my osd. And the rssi does not use up a channal, you still have all 6. It's quite magical.

[@partytimepplable]

Thanks now all I have to do is buy the cable and then get rssi on osd!! Greatly appreciated!! Happy flying bro!!

[@SPAZit101]

so just to be clear you need a spare aux channel to set this up? I have dx6 with arm and flightmode on the aux channels, will i have to get rid of the flightmode switch to use this?

[@josephbove7477]

Awesome video!

[@no-wing7229]

It Wont connect to my jumper. Still 😞

[@itsallaboutthekarma5881]

Would like to see a video on how you edit your vlogs

[@robboape8532]

Great video bro. My conf is this, I using a matek f722-std FC. 4649t promptly updated and Dx9. Flying well. Ihave two issues to ask to you, if you can help me. First, I tried to move blu wire from uart 2 RX to uart 2 tx, set betaflight as your instruction and....stop to receiving input from my radio. Why? F7 chip need the blu wire moving? I read that f7 no need special attention for rx-tx ports, is this the same case? You suggest to try uart 3 tx just to try or you know that I forgot somethings? Second, If I don't care about vtx setting by radio...I need in any case to connect smartaudio wire on vtx? Or is an additional/not essential function? My target is have rssi and voltage on OSD and voltage on display radio. For the second I can use the additional input port directly available on the 4649t...but rssi still be a problem. Thanks in advance

[@2121spnkr]

Why can’t spektrum make it easier ugh. Buying a cable and registering is silly just to get this. Thanks for the info anyway. Maybe my next quad I’ll attempt this.

[@user-uj8oi2xd5h]

Do you need to set the aux8.aux7 by moving the signal 99%?stop

[@TomOteri]

I followed the steps and everything thing works except my AUX 7 is not at a low value. It’s at mid range and not sure how to get it down so it displays the proper rssi value. Any suggestions are appreciated. TY. Using an iX12 if that helps.

[@ncantny1978]

Please show us how to connect this receiver properly to a Matek Mamba fury F405OSD mini FC. I can't find any Doc that shows it. I'm flying a Diatone GT R249 and would love to have a working RSSI value in my OSD!

[@jordankramp5177]

Is there a way to get vbat data from betaflight through RX telemetry with this receiver? I know that you can solder the receiver directly to a vbat terminal on the PDB to have audible battery voltage readout from the transmitter but this does not make for a clean install in my build.

[@AndWhoIsMakingMovies]

Some des-information on AUX7 and 8. There is no "inverted RSSI" on 7. And RSSI can be put on any free Aux channel, not only 8. Watch the range test, no movement on 7, only 8 as that is the select channel for RSSi. You could have selected 7 equally well, or 6 or 5. If those where free and not used by any other function. As usual, reading is a good alternative to watching TV/Video/YT. : github.com/betaflight/betaflight/wiki/Spektrum-Rx-setup

[@jbw5485]

Any way to know if my receiver is up to date without getting the adapter plug? Just purchased it recently.

[@_KSM__FPV]

I have done the steps in this video and it does not work for me. I have a DX9. can I get some help?

[@jeremykelley9054]

I currently have only 6ch radio with all 6 already assigned . Can I still set up rssi in betaflight osd using the same rx or does it use the two way link to the radio to calculate the value. Basically can this be done on a 6ch radio?

[@juulverheijen1359]

Sorry i am new in doc drone and i dont now how anything Aboutale programming Do You need to update Your reciever and do You need that spekteum receiver to fly or not

[@Unsub223]

What if Rssi does not change strength from like 16 or 17 and only 10 feet away

[@davidezambello3014]

hello dear, I follow your every video, I have a curiosity, I have your own RX but I have a spektrum dx7s DSMX is it possible to view the rssi? from my TX there is no auto config as selection, if you can help me you would do me a favor hello

[@ueber30uwe]

Hi...this video is very helpfull....but i have a question. I bought the receiver new a month ago. All telemetrie data is show in the dx9. in bf aux8 is so high like in the video. But with reduced power nothing changed ond no movement see on aux8. Must i ever update the receiver or is it in new ones up to date...regards uwe

[@shitstirrer_fpv4398]

Drew is this possibly the only spektrum receiver that goes to 5v instead of 3.3v.

[@rocketronfpv5654]

Thank you so much drib :)

[@austinedgemon328]

@drib2 bro... I still cant get it. I've tried several times, still says 99%. Dx6e. Hobbywing G3 fc. 4649t. ??please lmk if u can help me from failsafing into sum crazy stuff man

[@rcboffa]

I have 2 problems. First, the RSSI on my transmitter is very different from what I'm seeing on the betaflight OSD. Second, its very erratic; the number just jumps around and can go from 20 to 90 within a small open field with nothing in the way. Anyone have a similar experience.

[@edmyster81]

Is updating the firmware on the Receiver absolutely necessary to get this to work?

[@gunslingerfourtysix]

Finally

[@ImpactFPV]

Hi, I'm Le Drib, welcome to 2010! The usb cable for the receiver gave me a serious flashback

[@northernflyer5311]

Great Drew!

[@grampafpv8013]

Hi Drew, can I set this up on dx6e controller or should I get a better spectrum radio

[@miklosko3355]

That will work with your transmitter too.

[@MILLERS066]

Can you do a range test video on one of these rx’s

[@Equity_FPV33]

Purchased this reciever, updated it and bound with no issue. The RSSI is working in the dx6, can see the values changing both on the controller and on aux 8 in betaflight when doing a range test. However, my rssi osd just shows "40" for the value and doesnt change. Everything else works, tested the rssi alarm on the dx6, all is working except the betaflight rssi osd reading. Anyone have this issue or know what I'm missing?

[@Equity_FPV33]

I went and flew the quad and the value actually isn't locked at 40, it appears to begin at 40, as I would see the number lower as I got farther away. Any help would be awesome!

[@Equity_FPV33]

Figured it out, in case anyone runs into this issue, you simply need to type the following in your CLI "set rssi_scale = 100". For some reason mine was set at 41. Happy New Year everyone!!

[@hillbillyfpv784]

Other than some stuff with getting and flashing the new firmware on the receiver, it's all not really any different than setting it up with FrSky.

[@rougeneon1997]

It can be any UN-USED channel correct? Most spektrum guys dont have the 12 channel so say for example on a dx6 it could be a different aux?

[@drib2896]

It will still be on AUX8 even if your radio doesn’t have that many channels. The receiver still supports 12 channels so it will just use AUX8.

[@rougeneon1997]

@@drib2896 Thank you!!!!!

[@GOAFPilotChannel]

@@drib2896 thanks! I was just about to ask

[@mikeexplorer7893]

is it compatible with dx6i?

[@hunterreehoorn7831]

Crap like this makes me regret going the Spektrum route when I got into this hobby.

[@mark1944]

Same here mate. I've finally changed to frsky with a dsmx module do I can use my spek receivers

[@capnye6580]

OK here’s what we’ve talked about last time...

[@mark1944]

My rssi warning only goes down to 40% on my dx6 anyone know why?

[@norgtube]

WhAT YEAR IS THIS

[@NickPiatek]

Yeah.. I have two 4649T's neither of them will stay connected long enough in the programmer to do the update. grumble spektrum, grumble

[@adeburnham419]

I used to fly Spektrum on my helicopters.....Then I got into quads and kept getting failsafes on all my Spektrum quads which was extremely annoying and for the next six months I tried everything to rectify this from different receivers to sending my Spektrum dx9 back to Spektrum in Germany twice (I live in the U.K.) but according to Spektrum there was no problem they could find ??? So after 8 months of frustrating flying I moved all my quads to Frsky and never looked backed not one failsafe even flying in the same spots I couldn't fly with Spektrum ?? I only fly Spektrum with my one remaining helicopter now......Otherwise it's Frsky all the way with my quads with much smaller cheaper receivers and full telemetry what's not to like ?? Love watching all your videos Drew but you'll never intice me back to Spektrum but I'm glad you still may help someone who hasn't moved across from the 'Dark Side' ;)

[@nfamoussbf37]

Honestly I’m amazed your not on CRSF...

[@snafuedem]

You cant figure out why? No one uses this spektrum stuff

[@thirtythreeeyes8624]

@@snafuedem Hey now some people use that crap, I still use spektrum granted it's now with a walkera DEVO TX and I started FPV back in the multiwii days when a spektrum satellite was the best choice. Either way I've yet to lose a quad or plane in almost ten years of using various forms of spektrum and 5 years of FPV although with dsm2 I would get brownouts after 400-500 meters if there was a lot of wi-fi around but, DSMX seems to have fixed that and even on DSM2 the signal always came back before it went to failsafe. Personally I've never had a need to "upgrade" I think spektrum got a bad name with dsm/dsm2 not being true frequency hopping and once people form an opinion it tends to stay that way..

[@zymurgyjwt]

Hi, I'm Drew. Here's all the reasons to not run spektrum.

[@miklosko3355]

This Spektrum shit is giving me headache. So much stuff to do to get simple things to run. I have to say it's a bit annoying. I'm spektrum pilot for nearly 10 years now ( since day one since it came out Dx6i with blade 400 3D.) And I have to say that the price is getting higher for the same features that for example frsky offers for half the price. And not to mention the Failsafe kicking in just because it decides to glitch mid-air causing models(quads and planes) just go down. Grrr. Im having enough. I'm considering buying a Frsky Q7 so I don't have to solder/re solder receivers on most the new drones that just don't come with stupid spektrum. Anyway. Sorry for ranting about it. That's just my experience. Drew is my favourite pilot that flies Spektrum so I always look up to him for tips and tricks. I always learn something new.

[@amen_ra6926]

I wired up this Rx to my CL Racing F4s last week. It took hours of digging to find it used SRXL. It’s not in the specs or manual. How the hell was anyone supposed to know this? Someone should tell Spektrum to include this in their documentation. It would definitely help instead providing such lame instructions. I found it in a Github wiki . github.com/betaflight/betaflight/wiki/Spektrum-SPM4649T-SRXL-Telemetry-setup. . I followed the instructions of soldering it to a UART Tx pad and using a CLI set serialrx_halfduplex = ON command. But the response in BF was so laggy. I soldered the signal line to SBUS and got a better response in the receiver tab. So I guess if I want RSSI I need to move it from the SBUS pad back to the Tx?

[@curtisnstacey]

if this could be done on kiss setup it would be epic!!!!!

[@dweight1990]

It can be done :D just use mr Steele PDB or Wolf PDB ;)

[@skatj23]

I'll just use the warning on the transmitter easier faster cheaper, and dont have to have betaflight osd..

[@flybadfpv1185]

Here, I'll save everyone 10:20 sec, money, a d failsafes...frsky....crossfire...ur welcome, nice vid for spek users drew.....

[@michaelcrawford4940]

Flybad FPV Said some guy who’s never owned a Spektrum radio

[@flybadfpv1185]

@@michaelcrawford4940 says the guy with 30+ yes in the rc industry, with more spektrum radios than he can count, they ruled the market for a while, had their place in the industrie, land,planes,heli. But without crossfire they just dont stack up to Frsky

[@RidiFPV]

First!

[@NitrousBanshee]

Omg..! Just say Fvck spectrum.! Lol