Tips on how to Create New Mannequin Profiles on EdgeTX Radios: A Information for FPV Drone with ExpressLRS

Creating a brand new mannequin on an EdgeTX radio transmitter on your FPV drone is easier than you suppose. Whereas many brand-new radios include a preconfigured profile for quadcopters, studying find out how to arrange a brand new mannequin from scratch is extremely helpful. On this information, I’ll stroll you thru the method step-by-step.

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The interface and steps might range barely between radios with monochrome shows and people with shade screens, so I’ve offered directions and screenshots for each varieties.

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Checking Default Channel Order

Earlier than creating a brand new mannequin, it’s vital to make sure your radio’s channel order is ready up appropriately.

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
From the house display screen, press the “SYS” button. Then press the “Web page” button a couple of occasions to the “Radio Setup” menu. Scroll all the way down to the choice “Def Chan Order” (default channel order).	From the house display screen, press the “SYS” button as soon as. Then press the “Web page>” button twice to the “Radio Settings” menu. Scroll all the way down to the choice “Default channel order”.

By default, the default channel order must be AETR, you shouldn’t change it except what you’re doing. AETR stands for Aileron, Elevator, Throttle and Rudder, it principally means:

• CH1 is Aileron (Roll)
• CH2 is Elevator (Pitch)
• CH3 is Throttle
• CH4 is Rudder (Yaw)

Accessing the Mannequin Choice Display screen

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
Press the “Mannequin” (or MDL) button to enter the mannequin choice display screen.	Press and maintain the MDL button for 1 second.

Making a New Mannequin

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
On the mannequin choice display screen, navigate to an empty slot. Maintain the Enter key or scroll wheel, select “Create mannequin” from the dropdown menu. Some radios would possibly provide a mannequin setup wizard (principally lets you setup the channels for sticks and switches). For FPV drones, select Multirotor when prompted and undergo the pages. It doesn’t actually matter when you don’t use the wizard to setup your mannequin, you’ll be able to nonetheless configure it after creating the mannequin.	On the mannequin choice display screen, choose and press the “New” button. Choose the choice “New Mannequin”. Some radios would possibly provide a mannequin setup wizard (principally lets you setup the channels for sticks and switches). For FPV drones, select Multirotor when prompted and undergo the pages. It doesn’t actually matter when you don’t use the wizard to setup your mannequin, you’ll be able to nonetheless configure it after creating the mannequin.
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In case your radio doesn’t provide a mannequin setup wizard, it’s not an issue, the radio will create a generic mannequin profile. You’ll be able to set it up from scratch following the directions beneath.

Set Mannequin Title

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
After making a mannequin, navigate to the Mannequin Setup display screen by urgent the MDL key. Go to the 2nd web page utilizing the Web page button. Give this mannequin profile a reputation.	After making a mannequin, navigate to the Mannequin Settings display screen by urgent the MDL key. Give this mannequin profile a reputation. Optionally, it’s also possible to choose a mannequin picture.

Professional Tip: you could create separate profiles for all your FPV drones. Nonetheless, when you’ve got many drones like I do, that’s lots of work and might be tough to keep up. As FPV drone pilots, we don’t usually want to alter mannequin settings, subsequently I have a tendency to simply create mannequin profiles for the completely different radio hyperlinks I exploit. For instance, I’ve one profile for ExpressLRS, one for Crossfire and one other for Frsky. Every of those profile is certain to a number of fashions which might be utilizing the identical radio hyperlink.

That is simply my suggestion, it’s completely as much as you ways you handle your mannequin profiles, there isn’t a unsuitable or proper manner.

I’ll simply name this mannequin “ELRS” which stands for ExpressLRS.

Need to use your individual {custom} mannequin photos? Take a look at this information: https://oscarliang.com/custom-splash-background-model-images/

Checking Inputs

There are two pages it’s essential to configure for channels: Inputs and Mixes.

The Inputs web page is routinely arrange by the system, however it’s a good suggestion to double-check. This web page can be utilized to switch uncooked management inputs earlier than being mapped to completely different channels within the Mixes web page – resembling including expo or adjusting weight on the uncooked enter values, however that is sometimes utilized by fixed-wing pilots who don’t use a flight controller. You’ll be able to study extra in regards to the goal of the Inputs display screen right here: https://oscarliang.com/inputs-mixes-outputs/#Inputs-The place-Management-Begins.

In the event you solely fly multirotors, you’ll be able to normally skip this display screen, as there’s no want to alter something.

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
Navigate to the “Inputs” web page by urgent the MDL key, after which the PAGE button a couple of occasions. Ail for Roll stick, Ele for Pitch stick, Thr for Throttle stick, Rud for Yaw stick. The order doesn’t matter right here, simply be sure that all 4 stick controls are assigned with 100 weight, that’s it.	Navigate to the “Inputs” web page by urgent the MDL key, after which the PAGE> button twice. Ail for Roll stick, Ele for Pitch stick, Thr for Throttle stick, Rud for Yaw stick. The order doesn’t matter right here, simply be sure that all 4 stick controls are assigned with 100 weight, that’s it.

Configuring Mixes

Within the Mixes web page, you’ll be able to map inputs to channels. Radio techniques typically have 8 to 16 channels accessible, for instance, ExpressLRS helps as much as 16 channels. The primary 4 channels (CH1 to CH4) are at all times used for the stick controls, and the remaining channels are for switches, often called Auxiliary channels (AUX).

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
Navigate to the “Mixes” web page by urgent the MDL key, after which the PAGE button a couple of occasions.	Navigate to the “Mixes” web page by urgent the MDL key, after which the PAGE> button thrice.

The channels are setup routinely by the radio primarily based on the default channel order (as we confirmed earlier in step 1), so usually you don’t want to alter something right here. Nonetheless, it’s a good suggestion to double-check to keep away from any surprises. In case your default channel order is AETR, the Mixes ought to present:

• CH1 Aileron (Roll)
• CH2 Elevator (Pitch)
• CH3 Throttle
• CH4 Rudder (Yaw)

To study extra about channel order, what it’s, and find out how to change it manually, you’ll be able to comply with this information: https://oscarliang.com/channel-map/

Swap Configuration

You will have to configure switches for arming the drone, flight modes, and beeper.

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
Navigate to the “Mixes” web page by urgent the MDL key, after which the PAGE button a couple of occasions. For the beginning, you’ll be able to assign any 4 switches to channels 5 to eight (CH5 to CH8), that must be greater than sufficient. Chances are you’ll assign extra switches when you’ve got extra accessible channels. In case you are utilizing ExpressLRS radio hyperlink, Channel 5 is normally reserved for arming, so we’ve got to assign the arming change to CH5. You’ll be able to assign the remainder of the switches nonetheless you want.	Navigate to the “Mixes” web page by urgent the MDL key, after which the PAGE> button thrice. For the beginning, you’ll be able to assign any 4 switches to channels 5 to eight (CH5 to CH8), that must be greater than sufficient. Chances are you’ll assign extra switches when you’ve got extra accessible channels. In case you are utilizing ExpressLRS radio hyperlink, Channel 5 is normally reserved for arming, so we’ve got to assign the arming change to CH5. You’ll be able to assign the remainder of the switches nonetheless you want.

That is how I usually use my switches:

• For Arming: Any 2-position change
• For Angle/Horizon Mode: Any 3-position change
• For Beeper: Any 2-position change
• For added options, resembling turtle mode or return to dwelling: Any 3-position change

Now, go to the Modes tab in Betaflight Configurator, and assign the AUX channels to the features you wish to use. Observe that:

• AUX 1 is CH5
• AUX 2 is CH6
• AUX 3 is CH7
• AUX 4 is CH8
• and so forth…

You’ll be able to study extra about Betaflight Modes and find out how to set it up right here: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-modes/

Binding to ExpressLRS Receiver

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
Go to the Mannequin Setup web page by urgent the MDL button. Scroll all the way down to Inside RF. In case your radio has a built-in ExpressLRS transmitter module, set the Inside RF module to CRSF.	Go to the Mannequin Setup web page by urgent the MDL button. Click on on Inside RF. In case your radio has a built-in ExpressLRS transmitter module, set Mode to CRSF.

Now you’ll be able to bind the drone to your radio following this information: https://oscarliang.com/bind-expresslrs-receivers/

Telemetry Setup

Telemetry is beneficial for monitoring very important flight information, resembling battery voltage and GPS coordinate (when you’ve got a GPS module put in).

Fashionable radio hyperlinks resembling Crossfire or ExpressLRS they each assist Telemetry.

To set it up, go to Betaflight Configurator, Receiver tab, and allow the Telemetry output choice.

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
Energy in your quad. Go to the Telemetry Web page on the radio, scroll all the way down to and press the choice “Uncover new sensors”.	Energy in your quad. Go to the Telemetry Web page on the radio, beneath Sensors, click on “Uncover new”.
When telemetry is working, the sensors must be updating quickly, with an Asterisk on the finish flashing.	When telemetry is working, the sensors ought to populate, with an black dot flashing, indicating the worth being up to date.

Finalizing Mannequin Setup

B&W Radios	Colour Display screen Radios
In Mannequin Setup, flip ADC Filter to OFF to scale back latency and keep away from interference with PID tuning.	In Mannequin Setup, go to Others, flip ADC Filter to OFF to scale back latency and keep away from interference with PID tuning.

ADC filter is barely wanted for fastened wings and not using a flight controller, it will possibly easy out RC instructions and scale back jitter actions in servos. Nonetheless, it will possibly introduce extra latency to your controls, which isn’t supreme for multirotors, Betaflight has its personal built-in RC smoothing anyway, so ADC filtering isn’t wanted and must be turned off. You would additionally depart the choice at International (default worth) and handle it from {Hardware} web page in Radio settings.

Listed here are another elective options that I usually configure in my mannequin.

Arm Timer – the radio says the time each minute. Timer 1 begins when the arm change is activated. It helps me maintain monitor how lengthy I’ve been flying for.

Listed here are the particular features I’ve. One perform is for studying battery voltage out loud utilizing a momentary change. The opposite perform is for resetting timer 1 when the arm change is deactivated.

Earlier than your first flight, totally check all controls in Betaflight Receiver tab, with out plugging within the LiPo battery. Confirm that the management course, arming change and different auxiliary features work as meant.

It’s vital to make sure yaw, roll and pitch sticks at middle place are precisely 1500, and all these channels, in addition to throttle, can attain a minimum of 1000 and 2000 at their finish factors. A little bit decrease than 1000, and better than 2000 is ok (e.g. for the bottom, 988, and for the very best, 1012, are each acceptable. In any other case, you aren’t utilizing the complete vary of your controls, and it is best to repair it within the Outputs web page on the radio by following this information: https://oscarliang.com/adjust-tx-channel-mid-end-point/

Backup Mannequin Profiles

As soon as you’re proud of how your new mannequin profile is setup, it is best to again it up.

Following directions right here to backup and restore fashions and radio settings: https://oscarliang.com/backup-restore-models-radio-settings-edgetx/

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve efficiently arrange a brand new multirotor profile in your EdgeTX radio. The setup might be not probably the most intuitive for newcomers, however it’s a strong radio system, the deeper you study this technique the extra you’ll be able to obtain. All the time guarantee your configurations align together with your particular tools and wishes. Secure flying!

Edit Historical past

• Nov 2023 – Information created
• Apr 2026 – Up to date directions, added screenshots for shade display screen radios