One of many coolest new options in Betaflight Model 2025.12 would most likely be GPS Place Maintain and Altitude Maintain. Flip a swap and your FPV drone can hover in place hands-off—extraordinarily helpful for emergency conditions, in addition to for cinematic and long-range flying.
Think about somebody approaches you whilst you’re flying: now you can cease immediately to speak to them. Or if you happen to really feel drained mid-flight, you’ll be able to take your goggles off and seize a sip of water earlier than persevering with. It’s a tremendous function, nevertheless it requires correct setup and ought to be used with warning. On this tutorial, I’ll present you learn how to set it up and share what I’ve realized from testing it.
Earlier than establishing Place Maintain, I strongly suggest establishing GPS Rescue Mode as properly. I’ve a devoted tutorial right here: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
Demo Footage
Try some footage how properly place maintain works in Betaflight:
Official Documentation
I’ll attempt to hold this information concise, however you also needs to take a look at the official documentation written by the Betaflight builders: https://www.betaflight.com/docs/wiki/guides/present/Place-Maintain-2025-12
{Hardware} Required
For Altitude Maintain and Place Maintain to work, all you want is a GPS module (with or with no magnetometer).
Many flight controllers nowadays additionally embody a barometer. If yours doesn’t, that’s not finish of the world—Place Maintain will nonetheless work, as altitude might be estimated from GPS information. Nonetheless, a barometer is advisable as a result of it improves altitude accuracy.
GPS Suggestions
See my GPS testing right here: https://oscarliang.com/gps-review/
High Performer: GEPRC M1025Q (With Compass)
High Performer: HGLRC M100 5883 (With Compass)
Smallest Price Having: GOKU GM10 Nano V3 (With Compass)
Smallest Price Having: FlyFishRC M10 Mini
Smallest Price Having: HGLRC M100 Mini
Do You Actually Want a Magnetometer?
Some GPS modules include a magnetometer (often known as a compass). Whereas it may enhance place maintain accuracy, it’s not obligatory.
I examined Place Maintain each with and with no compass, and the distinction in efficiency wasn’t as dramatic as I initially anticipated.
The primary benefit of getting a compass is you could activate Place Maintain instantly after takeoff, and it typically holds heading extra precisely all through the entire flight.
With no compass, you can not activate Place Maintain instantly—it’s good to fly in a straight line for a couple of seconds first, in any other case you’ll get a “Place Maintain Fail” error. It’s because Betaflight wants ahead movement to estimate the heading course. It additionally makes use of the gyro to trace heading. Since gyros can drift over time, heading accuracy can slowly degrade, inflicting the drone to float.
That stated, in my testing, the quad held place and heading surprisingly properly for nearly 8 minutes even with no compass. Realistically, that’s greater than sufficient for most individuals, because it’s longer than a typical battery will final anyway.
Organising and calibrating a compass shouldn’t be simple, to say the least. If it’s executed incorrectly, it may really make Place Maintain much less dependable. There’s additionally extra upkeep concerned—you ideally have to recalibrate the compass when flying in a special location to get probably the most correct readings.
So sure, it’s a good quantity of labor. If you will get away with no compass, I most likely wouldn’t trouble. Nonetheless, if you happen to plan to make use of Place Maintain commonly and need the absolute best efficiency, then a compass can undoubtedly be useful.
I’m at the moment writing a submit to cowl learn how to arrange and calibrate a magnetometer—coming quickly.
The place to Mount GPS
You must place the GPS as far-off as potential from the next sources of interference:
- VTX antennas
- ESC, motors, and motor wires
- Energy cables (e.g. XT60)
- Motion cameras (reminiscent of a GoPro)
Good places for mounting a GPS module embody:
- Above the FPV digital camera
- On the rear of the drone (so long as it’s not too near the VTX antennas)
- On the battery strap
Methods to Join GPS to FC
Connecting a GPS module to an FC is pretty easy. Merely join it to an accessible UART on the FC (TX to RX, RX to TX), and energy it with 5V. You probably have a compass, you additionally want to attach the i2c port (SDA and SCL wires):
- GPS RX → FC TX
- GPS TX → FC RX
- GPS 5V → FC 5V
- GPS GND → FC GND
- GPS SDA → FC SDA (if the GPS has a compass)
- GPS SCL → FC SCL (if the GPS has a compass)
Reminder: Keep away from utilizing SoftSerial for GPS connections. SoftSerial is proscribed to a 19200 baud price, which is just too sluggish and may compromise GPS reliability—particularly for options like Rescue Mode and Place Maintain. All the time use a {hardware} UART for probably the most steady and dependable efficiency.
Replace Betaflight
Flash Betaflight to model 2025.12 or newer.
Essential: To flash and configure the newest firmware, you need to use the Betaflight net app, not the standalone desktop utility:
https://app.betaflight.com/
When deciding on construct choices, be certain that the next options are enabled:
- Altitude Maintain
- Place Maintain
- GPS
- Magnetometer (in case you are utilizing a compass)
Unsure learn how to flash Betaflight? Try this information: https://oscarliang.com/flash-update-betaflight/
Betaflight Setup
Ports Tab
Allow GPS on the UART to which the GPS module is linked.
Configuration Tab
Allow the next choices:
- Accelerometer (MUST be enabled)
- Barometer (in case your have one)
- Magnetometer (when you’ve got one)
In case you are not utilizing a magnetometer, enter the next command within the CLI:
set pos_hold_without_mag = ONsave
GPS Tab
These are my settings for GPS module.
Modes Tab
It’s advisable to make use of Altitude Maintain and Place Maintain collectively, so I assign them to the identical swap.
- Altitude Maintain: ALTHOLD
- Place Maintain: POS HOLD
I exploit a 3-position swap:
- Place 1: Each modes OFF
- Place 2: Altitude Maintain ON
- Place 3: Altitude Maintain + Place Maintain ON
This setup means that you can check or use Altitude Maintain independently if wanted.
OSD Tab
Allow “Fly Mode” so you’ll be able to clearly see which mode is lively.
The “Residence Course” arrow can also be very helpful for validating heading—particularly if you happen to’re flying with no compass.
Hover Throttle
Lastly, go to the CLI tab, and set the hover throttle worth (this is similar worth used for GPS Rescue mode btw):
set ap_hover_throttle = 1275save
Change 1275 with your individual hover throttle worth primarily based on testing.
Accelerometer Calibration
Identical to Rescue Mode, each Place Maintain and Altitude Maintain depend on Angle Mode, which makes use of the accelerometer. Due to this fact, it’s best to calibrate the accelerometer earlier than utilizing these modes to reduce drifting.
Place your quad on a degree floor, then go to the Setup tab and click on Calibrate Accelerometer.
To check Angle Mode, strive hovering the drone and see if it self-levels as anticipated. Understand that Angle Mode makes use of solely the accelerometer and gyro, so it gained’t maintain place completely like a DJI drone. That’s precisely why we’re establishing Place Maintain.
A small quantity of drift attributable to sensor error, weight distribution, or wind is regular. You’ll be able to reduce this by trimming the accelerometer utilizing stick instructions after touchdown, trim in the wrong way of the drift, as an example:
- If the drone drifts left, use Trim ACC Proper
- If it drifts backward, use Trim ACC Ahead
It’s unlikely you’ll get rid of drift utterly. The purpose is to reduce it—so long as the drift isn’t extreme, it ought to be high-quality.
Magnetometer Calibration
You’ll be able to skip this part in case you are not utilizing a magnetometer.
Magnetometer setup and calibration is a reasonably complicated subject and actually deserves its personal devoted information. I’ll be publishing a separate submit on this quickly.
For now, right here’s the official Betaflight documentation that explains the method intimately: https://www.betaflight.com/docs/wiki/guides/present/magnetometer
Methods to Use Altitude Maintain
Now we’re able to strive these flight modes.
Altitude Maintain might be activated independently of Place Maintain.
As soon as activated, Altitude Maintain behaves equally to Angle Mode (self-leveling), however with computerized throttle management. When your throttle stick is centered, the drone will try to keep up a set altitude. You may as well decrease the throttle stick all the way in which to 0%, it does the identical factor.
In case you increase or decrease the throttle from heart, the drone will climb or descend.
Nonetheless, identical to Angle Mode, the drone will nonetheless drift, and also you’ll have to appropriate that drift utilizing the pitch and roll sticks. That is regular and anticipated.
Essential: Getting the hover throttle worth proper is necessary. If the worth is just too low, the quad will instantly drop when Altitude Maintain is activated. If the worth is just too excessive, the quad will instantly climb. You’ll be able to regulate the hover throttle within the OSD menu underneath GPS Rescue, or by way of the CLI utilizing the ap_hover_throttle setting.
Lastly, don’t anticipate DJI-level altitude stability. Altitude Maintain in Betaflight makes use of solely the barometer to estimate altitude, so going up and down barely is regular.
Methods to Use Place Maintain
To make use of Place Maintain, it’s advisable to activate Altitude Maintain on the identical time, ideally utilizing the identical swap.
Earlier than testing Place Maintain, it’s best to first check Altitude Maintain by itself. Be certain that there’s no sudden drop or climb in altitude if you interact it. If the quad instantly climbs or sinks, regulate the hover throttle first.
As soon as Altitude Maintain is working easily, you’ll be able to transfer on to testing Place Maintain.
When Place Maintain is lively, the OSD flight mode will show POSH.
Utilizing Place Maintain With a Compass
In case you are utilizing a magnetometer (compass), you’ll be able to activate Place Maintain at any time throughout flight, so long as you may have an excellent GPS lock (at the very least 8 satellites) earlier than takeoff.
When engaged, the quad ought to maintain its place routinely. A small quantity of drift—usually inside 1m—is regular in accordance with the Betaflight builders.
You’ll be able to nonetheless transfer the quad utilizing pitch, roll, and yaw, much like Angle Mode, however stick responsiveness is considerably lowered in comparison with regular Angle Mode.
Utilizing Place Maintain With no Compass
In case you are not utilizing a compass, Place Maintain shouldn’t be instantly accessible after takeoff.
In case you attempt to activate it too early, you’ll see a “POSHOLD FAIL” warning within the OSD. You will need to first fly in a straight line for a couple of seconds (or roughly 100 meters) so Betaflight can estimate the heading from GPS information.
To confirm you might be prepared, test the house arrow within the OSD—if it factors within the appropriate course, Place Maintain ought to work.
In my testing, Place Maintain labored surprisingly properly with no compass. The quad held each place and heading for over 7 minutes, till the battery ran out (most likely may have gone on for longer). Nonetheless, if drifting begins to happen, it’s possible you’ll have to disengage Place Maintain, fly straight once more briefly to refresh the heading estimate, after which re-engage it. That is the primary draw back of not having a compass.
Is This the Similar as DJI’s Panic Button?
Not fairly.
On the DJI Avata 2, urgent the panic button instantly brakes and stops the drone nearly immediately. Place Maintain behaves equally, nevertheless it’s not as aggressive, particularly if you happen to’re flying quick.
In order for you stronger braking, you’ll be able to improve the ap_max_angle worth (default is 50°, most is 70°). Larger values lead to extra aggressive braking habits.
Potential Points and Troubleshooting
My Quad Received’t Arm
You can not arm the quad whereas Place Maintain or Altitude Maintain is already engaged. Be certain that each modes are disengaged earlier than arming.
Altitude Wavering
In keeping with the Betaflight documentation, altitude stability inside about 1 meter is regular. It gained’t be as steady as DJI drones, which use LiDAR and different digital camera sensors. Betaflight depends solely on barometer.
Wind and excessive airspeed can even trigger errors, as airflow over the barometer impacts air strain and readings. You’ll be able to scale back this by protecting the barometer with a small piece of open-cell foam, permitting strain adjustments however limiting airflow.
“POSHOLD FAIL” Warning in OSD
This normally occurs when:
- You don’t have a compass and haven’t flown straight lengthy sufficient to determine heading, or
- There aren’t sufficient GPS satellites locked
Quad Flies Off at a Unhealthy Angle or Circles
If the quad instantly flies off at an odd angle or begins circling, the heading data (from GPS or magnetometer) is probably going incorrect.
In case you’re not utilizing a magnetometer, disengage Place Maintain and fly straight for 50–100 meters at a gradual velocity with minimal roll or yaw enter, then strive once more.
Conclusion: Place Maintain Is Helpful, however Not Foolproof (But)
In my expertise, when Place Maintain works, it really works very well. Nonetheless, there have been instances it was doing bizarre stuff like pulsating, wandering, or was simply wobbly—and on a few events, it simply didn’t work.
It is a highly effective and genuinely helpful function, nevertheless it’s not foolproof but. You must check it totally earlier than counting on it in real-world conditions.
Personally, I’ll primarily use it for emergency eventualities—when it’s good to take your goggles off or put the radio down briefly. That alone is usually a lifesaver. Nonetheless, I might not belief it to hover over folks with out actively controlling the quad. Use frequent sense.