TBS Crossfire on an RC Ground Vehicle Guide 🎓

[@AlbertKimTV]

RC Truck - bit.ly/3qsfNsq​ PWM to PPM/SBUS Converter - bit.ly/2NObiKt​ Crossfire PWM adapter - bit.ly/3pIVcyK​ Crossfire Nano RX - bit.ly/2NL4NrG​ Crossfire PWM RX - bit.ly/2ZDZmgY​ Crossfire Nano TX - bit.ly/2YWSQSe​ Jumper T-Lite - bit.ly/3pEq7gI​ DJI Air Unit - bit.ly/2xp6685​ 🙏 Please support with a 👍 and don’t forget to hit the 🔔 thanks! 👉 Old gear for sale here - bit.ly/AlbertGearFS​ 💲 Get the latest exclusive coupon codes (updated often) bit.ly/34SYiGn

[@jakestyles002]

Outstanding topic today. I totally appreciate you "going the fun route". I totally didn't expect that "Jump-er" from one tx to the other. I just adore "surprise endings".

[@RPiao]

This is freaking awesome.

[@jimbaylor6863]

To say this is a clever solution is an understatement. I'm so impressed. Plain and simple. No way I could have ever done something like this on my own. I'm not even sure I could replicate this after watching the video...

[@battano]

Albert you madman! This would get me into to much trouble lol I have to stick to something I can fly away from a crash hopefully

[@scrubbasher6418]

Hi I have an XMaxx with crossfire and the Caddx air unit. I am getting about 500mtrs to 600mtrs while driving around the bush in outback Australia. There are trees and bushes and land that interrupt my signal. Crossfire seems fine but its just video that goes blocky .At first I was a bit disappointed but now it looks like, after viewing your video its working just fine.

[@twinturbostang]

Using a small flight controller is nice for a couple of reasons. The Crossfire Rx can connect directly to it without a PPM module. And you can also get battery stats and vehicle speed (with GPS). I'm running a Matek F411WSE with INAV 2.6 on a small R/C car. And have an F405Wing on a large rock crawler, also on INAV 2.6.

[@staticfpv881]

Awesome! I’m using fly sky for my tank build and always wanted to use my crossfire

[@DanJonesShow]

Nice! I did something similar, just using analog fpv and traditional 2.4 ghz and was able to quite far before losing video (about 600 ft in a neighborhood) per Google maps. It's quite a bit of fun! I enjoy it almost as much as flying fpv

[@trevorimpulsebuyguy6398]

Great video! I love doing experiments! My best guess to get better fpv feed is to make a ground tower and get your antennas up as high as possible as well as on the car.

[@runforestrunfpv4354]

Matek F405 wing flashed with Inav is perfect for pulling out telemetry information from. Built in servo outputs makes it easier to drive servos directly from the flight controller.

[@James-hn6hl]

I am doing this now for sure

[@IanBeaty]

I have been thinking about doing something like this for my Traxxas Summit, but have not taken the time to figure out how. Thank you for having some fun and explaining how you do it!

[@AlbertKimTV]

No problem 👍

[@taterfpv]

Thanks Albert. Great explanation!

[@Rulusto]

As always, you have a video that answers or fixes my exact question or problem!

[@AlbertKimTV]

Glad to hear it!

[@jlarson42]

Very cool. Been thinking of getting a 4x4 crawler to fpv. Being able to control it via crossfire is icing on the cake. 🎂💖😎

[@Lucky32Luke]

Wow! It was interesting to see what great length you went to use the "pistol" type controller instead of using the sticks (to me its kinda misunderstood why) so you have multiple systems powered on and talk to each other just to have the "pistol" to control. But, still a very impressive build. I had my trusted HPI E-Savage monster truck installed for two years on using my Taranis Qx-7 for controls and an old Frsky 8ch PMW (X8R) receiver (good for up to 6-800m depending on terrain). Fellow RC car club members never understood how on Earth I got such distance for my control (and still to this day they don't get it). My left stick controls the throttle ch1 (must be set to middle position before the car is "armed") the camera pan on my "yaw" (ch3) and the right stick is for steering (ch2). I use 4 channels in total for having a pan/tilt servo combo for my FPV camera (Runcam Eagle with a Rushtank VTX on 800mW) sitting on the top of the servos. Ch 3 and 4 is dedicated for the FPV camera the tilt is on a potentiometer on my radio. I suggest to check out a French guy who is on the top of this game for years called "thonain" on YT. His Traxxas E-Maxx is a beast (probably the best platform to build such a system if you can afford it £990 in the UK). He is using 1.2Ghz for his video (probably haven't heard about DJI yet) but his videos are all about FPV long distance driving. This FPV hobby is getting more and more interesting. Since FPV came along I have cameras on every RC. Micro crawler, monster truck and of course all my quads.

[@AlbertKimTV]

I was bored so why not?

[@jwanda10]

awesome! Albert you delivered again with the topics i want to see. One suggestion ... find the high ground for your control location so it will always be below you

[@AlbertKimTV]

The control link was fine, just the video that was bad. I was higher up than the truck but the ground wasn't completely flat so it went into a lower section where the ground in between got in the way.

[@MrBvbike]

Awesome project/ tutorial Albert! Keep the projects coming! I'll try a similar setup with one of my crawler for sure😎

[@nicjansma]

I've been wanting to do *exactly* this for my TRX-4 -- thanks!

[@NoiseBoysGarage]

That’s insane great work

[@ChrisParayno]

Bought a cheapo $20 vtx to attach to my kids rc car. It's definitely fun and a different perspective.

[@Haverr1]

Just what i needed! Due the regulations im more and more into fpv cars

[@Metaphysicalgrace86]

I literally just got a Traxxis UDR I wanna do this with it. I'm really into drones, but I live close to a military base and the airspace is off limits. if I want to use my drone, I have to drive about an hour away to be outside of the no fly zone. This is a great alternative.❤ I'm not really confident doing the electrical work, but tinkering, i'm really good at.

[@speedyturtlefpv3290]

This is ingenious

[@jaechoe]

DJI, so nice. offroad jump test next??? :) Liking the variety of vids.

[@dougmcpheters1546]

Too FUN and Too COOL!!!

[@blam3329]

Is there a way to replace a pistol-grip’s tx module with a crossfire tx module?

[@medrone7097]

Very fun! How can he top this? Range extender for this car using a Mavic!? An RC lawn mower? An fpv gimbal for this guy?

[@CritCraft]

Hey, Albert! I want to use Crossfire in my RC car as well. I have a Flysky Noble NB4 ground remote, which allows users to switch to PPM output. The radio doesn’t have an output jack, so I’m not able to send the PPM data to a Crossfire unit using an audio jack like you did. Do you think I could use the Noble’s outgoing antenna lead to transmit the data to the Crossfire unit?

[@AlbertKimTV]

Sorry, I don't know how that transmitter works.

[@divingfalconfpv4602]

I want to do this. So my dog can chase it in the snow.. so cool.. seen guy online that goes far.. and another sent it across small bridge into a store to get food (cause covid)

[@NoiseBoysGarage]

I put a caddx vista dji on my inspire 1 same way . But it would be nice to see the voltage of the air unit when you only connect power and ground .

[@CodySmiley]

On this setup, do you have brakes using rc car remote via "drone" remote? Or just forward/backward, so if you driving fast, all you can do is wait for the car to stop by itself?

[@AlbertKimTV]

It works exactly the same was as before (brakes work). The drone remote is just a passthrough device sending the control to the truck.

[@CodySmiley]

@@AlbertKimTV Interesting. Works as 100% passthrough? So should traxxas telemetry work? Originally, the reciever comes with a three-pin cable for ESC and the same cable for the servo. Telemetry is supported by an application on a phone connected via bluetooth with radio.

[@imadabualia4843]

Thanks for the vid. Do you think there is a way to get this done using ELRS ?

[@AlbertKimTV]

Yes, it would work the same way. Just swap the receiver.

[@trajanfpv]

How about a modified cell phone gimbal on the DJI camera so you get smoother video in your goggles and the recording? Get one of those Bangood specials.

[@quad_jake904]

Yes please! Tell me which gimbal and show me how. Nice work

[@manski209]

So funny i just found this, Great video. i'm almost done building my first FPV 1:10 scale 4x4 off road truck for my son. My issue is trying to find a spot for a fan to keep walksnail vtx cool. I'm thinking of installing it on the body inside upside down and drilling holes so the fan can have the air flow hitting the vtx. I'm also running an ELRS RX for long distance. Is it possible to run the throttle on left gimbal and steering on right gimbal. Im using elrs e5 rx pwm.

[@AlbertKimTV]

Yeah, you just rearrange your channels in the mixer for your radio.

[@kwadkrazy6078]

Hey Albert, I was wondering if you could possibly make a couple videos on ardupilot, you could put that on the car and get autonomous capabilities, or better yet, a flying wing.

[@lesdmess845]

Great job on the video production and thorough coverage! No telemetry available?

[@AlbertKimTV]

It's not setup with telemetry. Perhaps in a future project.

[@lesdmess845]

@@AlbertKimTV Do you mean that it has the capability of displaying telemetry info or will that require something else?

[@microrcdiaries9648]

There's an Indian KZbinr who connected a module to the pistol tx, so no need for a go-between. The module was taped to the bottom of the RC tx. He said you should locate the ppm (or was it pwm?) Inside the car tx and solder the connections to the module there. He did it with a UHF module though he said it's the same with crossfire.

[@AlbertKimTV]

Yeah, I did think of that but nothing was labelled inside my TX. So no way to know where the PPM signal is to tap into.

[@microrcdiaries9648]

@@AlbertKimTV I know. The Indian guy (I forgot his name. Sorry if you're reading this!) had to trace the circuit board or something. He did say it won't be marked so it required a bit of work.

[@dannycooper1574]

Nice, thanks

[@Zorr0000x]

Hi there I have a question!? Does anybody know if I can plugin the hobbywing 2 in 1 2300kv directly into tbs crossfire nano receiver ?

[@trnnesseeMAGA]

I needed more Radio range. I have an Dji Occusync unit for video on my Xmaxx and has way more range than my Frsky. At least for now. Thanks

[@michel_76_57]

cool thanks 😍 Is there a cheaper S.BUS Convertisseur PWM on aliexpress ? Have you a link, thanks a lot !

[@AlbertKimTV]

😀😁😂🤣😃😄😅😆😉😊😎😎😘🥰😍🤔🤗

[@MCsCreations]

Pretty interesting, Albert! Thanks a lot!!! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@deadstickfpv8115]

Can you just connect the tbs module directly to the ppm converter since it is outputting ppm signal instead of using the trainer port? Thanks

[@AlbertKimTV]

On the nano and micro modules it doesn't work. It should work on the full sized module.

[@michnoga7680]

Is there any delay in controlling with sbus-ppm converter?

[@AlbertKimTV]

None I was able to notice.

[@CodySmiley]

Is it possible and does it make any sense to connect the crossfire reciever via the flight controller and not via the PPM module on car?

[@AlbertKimTV]

It could be done with iNAV but that's a huge rabbit hole!

[@samsonfpv8902]

First

[@rogueFactor]

oh sht.... this is.. dude you hack into my workbench feed? lmao man i'm so glad i'm subscribed to your channel.

[@AlbertKimTV]

What, you working on something like this too?

[@rogueFactor]

@@AlbertKimTV i have all the ARRMAs but my Typhon 6S im working on adding crossfire to it. rigged with FPV already, i never drive it FPV unless i lose LOS. i stuck a horrendously tall lollipop on it and that fixed the interference at about 300m and on the other side of a dirt hill. no DJI setup yet so stuck with analog with 4k DVR. i'm all about the range. most people do speed runs with these. i wanna do a distance run.

[@sleepyheadfpv1507]

I have a slash running up to 2w output and CrSfR. Runs on my t18 pro. I have yet to run out of video.

[@emboli]

Hi Albert how do i do this with the 124019 if it has no receiver?

[@AlbertKimTV]

Did it come with a controller? If it did, you just match the receiver the controller. If not, you just buy one of those combo receiver/controller packs. The receivers should be the same or similar. Check the specs to be sure.

[@SergyFPV]

The limit is the video ,would like to see 1.2/1.3 GHz video for replace 5.8 digital for see how many range you can get. Smart this relay system between the 2 radios 😉

[@AlbertKimTV]

I don't have 1.2 or 1.3 ghz video systems

[@mikeoleksa]

Leave it to Albert Kim to have an answer for something I've been thinking about doing. Crossfire on an RC vehicle! I've got a TX with a DSC connection on it, so the part of having a Crossfire TX module should be pretty easy. It's the RX end I was trying to figure out since I'd like to use the gyro function of my existing RX.

[@Roman-h4h]

Amazing

[@AlbertKimTV]

Thanks

[@SIHdW3W]

hi Albert, I love your channel always full of nicely put information. I am currently working on something similar for my rc car, I was wondering if Id need to step down from esc to crossfire and out of crossfire back to servo? Ive noticed you didnt use one but might be different case for me. Thanks for the video.

[@AlbertKimTV]

I'm using the 5v provided by the ESC (I think). So whatever you have just needs to be within the voltage range of your components. If your power source is not 5v then you'll want to step it down. Also you'll want to match the voltage requirements of your servos. I don't know what you have. Not all servos are running on 5v, some are different. You'd have to research the specs for your components.

[@SIHdW3W]

@@AlbertKimTV wow thanks for the reply, yeah, my esc outputs 6v and my servo can work at 7.2 so I'm researching about step up and down devices (I'm noob). Have a good day Albert!!

[@Reecefpv]

since it's only using ch 1&2, could You do this without the adapter somehow? I'm sure someone knows how. I know it's only 5$ but I'm so broke all the time lol.

[@AlbertKimTV]

🤲

[@Reecefpv]

@@AlbertKimTV 🤔 what is 🤲? I'm confused lol

[@daveopie1234]

Wow! Fantastic. I didn't know you could convert PWM/PPM to SBUS. That's really slick, to use the original car controller. Now you just need to extend your DJI FPV signal. A taller antenna on the car will definitely help. Do you have Crystal HD or Cyclops or some other directional antenna for your goggles? I'd be very curious how far you could extend that video signal. It would be fun to drive all through a neighborhood, or a park, or a closed shopping mall, or a campus, or whatever.

[@TrentTationnaiseXization]

Best way to get antenna up would be to mount the whole unit on a boom/pole and run the data/power down to the vehicle.

[@scottyfpv5651]

How do you get the flight info from dji at the bottom?

[@AlbertKimTV]

From the goggle DVR. Some telemetry data is recorded with the video file.

[@CarbonGlassMan]

A long pigtail going up a helium balloon string with the antennas on top of the balloon. For a covert long distance reconnaissance vehicle. I always imagined how great it would be to have a drone on top of my car that flies up 50 feet and stays above the car to see around corners and over hills for cops taking radar. I thought that would be cool 20 years ago. It's actually becoming a possibility these days. Everything but the battery exists now.

[@bobg1443]

How did you get 500mw from your crossfire?

[@AlbertKimTV]

Details in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3uTiWuAadt0ack

[@whatafuname]

How do you solve the issue of low power mode on air unit? Thanks

[@AlbertKimTV]

Turn off auto temp control

[@whatafuname]

@@AlbertKimTV Thanks, but do you risk to burn the unit? And what power do you recommend to run?

[@scrubbasher6418]

@@whatafuname Use fans to cool.

[@vazza69]

Thers no ppm in on Xfire TX? We used to do this on the old 433 transmitters before.

[@AlbertKimTV]

I'm using the Crossfire Nano TX module. If you're using the full size Crossfire TX, there is an input for PPM signals but that setup is totally different from this one.

[@phuocthiennhantam7970]

Hello! Can I supply 7.4V input voltage? Thanks you!

[@AlbertKimTV]

To what?

[@phuocthiennhantam7970]

@@AlbertKimTV I am using 2s batteries for a nitro internal combustion engine so I want to use the available 2s power supply

[@da33ie]

At the start of video you show a pistol grip controller. I thought you had rigged that up to use crossfire...but then halfway thru...you using a stick type controller. Cant you get the trigger type tx to work instead of the stick tx?

[@AlbertKimTV]

I explained it in the video around the 10 minute mark (and to the end). I'm using the stick controller as a passthrough for the PPM signal from the receiver for the pistol grip controller.

[@gpgp1750]

How far can you go

[@AlbertKimTV]

very far

[@gpgp1750]

@@AlbertKimTV ok I definitely need to know about the crossfire then . Been thinking about doing this but didn’t want to buy another remote for dji. Let me know anything and I’ll appreciate it

[@RollnHeavyKevy]

You can also use one of those sbus to pwm to ppm converters and use the dji controller.

[@kingofkards1110]

Will this work on a vxl traxxas Esc

[@AlbertKimTV]

I have no idea, sorry

[@bongarcon8806]

Je viens de prendre sur studio sport 160 USD, my RC Long range and fox 2500 mw 1.2 GHz 😂

[@AlbertKimTV]

😎

[@shenanigan3083]

I've got fpv rc truck but the thing holding it back isn't the range... dumbo rc👍 it's trying to soft mount the camera in a way that my eyes dont hate me 🤯🤯🤪.. it's like riding the corkscrew at cedar point if you can fix that I'd appreciate it a bunch

[@simonwood8685]

Just put the camera on a gimbal

[@lexsteel12]

I'll be honest with you, that looks way more complex than I could handle. A way I've seen a few other people do it a long-range test on an RC car is, with a range extender antenna. They basically used a range extender on their trigger stock remote, and an FPV camera to get some really impressive long-range out of the car. A little under 1 mile. I believe the FPV camera did not have the range, but they used another person to follow the car and report back to the driver. The setup I believe is simpler than what you are using. They just replaced the stock antenna on the remote with the antenna that comes with the range extender and used a small Lipo battery to power the range extender. And they attached the range extender to the remote. the range extender also has its own antenna. I have one on my Spektrum dx5c remote. I haven't tried it yet, though. maybe you can try a setup like that?

[@AlbertKimTV]

There are lots of different ways to do this. I could have a whole channel with hundreds of videos just to cover all the possibilities but I just don't have that much free time on my hands.

[@knoopx]

Protocol is probably DUMBORC, which is actually 99.9% radiolink, they just swapped sync words to make them incompatible. I recently added support for it on the multi module firmware. github.com/pascallanger/DIY-Multiprotocol-TX-Module/issues/480

[@yngndrw.]

A little tip, the TrueRC Bardpole Crossfire antenna is the ideal format for RC cars. Sadly for me the Tango 2 doesn't have a trainer input so I'm stuck using the elevator for the throttle and the rudder for the the steering. I'm tempted to buy a spare Tango 2 mainboard and put it inside of the case of a cheap trigger-style radio. I believe the Crossfire modules take a raw PPM signal so that could be another option, binding and configuration would need to be done through Agent X / Agent M.

[@theronin48]

Excellent!!! Any way to preserve the breaking mechanisms you get on a standard surface radio? Check my channel for "gmade gom" for my surface fpv stuff. I got a minim osd, cam servo and walkie talkie in mine lol.

[@carlmantosvisuals]

Can you please make a tutorial.:)

[@AlbertKimTV]

Yes, tutorial starts about the 6 minute mark of the video.

[@KwongKan]

I was hoping for a true pistol style TX with XF/module bay without really building a Taranis Pistola

[@biggalrclife]

You got s lot to learn about rc car fpv 😂 cool video tho

[@short-circuitz]

please trim steering. Stupid I know..... But O.C.D..... LOL