Methods to Setup DJI Distant Controller 3 and O4 Air Unit with Betaflight FPV Drones

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For Betaflight FPV drones outfitted with the DJI O4 and O4 Professional Air Models, you’ll be able to conveniently use the DJI Distant Controller 3 (RC3) with no need an extra receiver or radio. On this tutorial, I’ll present you configure Betaflight to work with the RC3, together with radio-related settings you’ll be able to modify utilizing DJI Goggles 3 and Goggles N3.

New to DJI O4? Try my full setup information: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-lite/

Can You Use DJI Distant Controller 3 with Betaflight FPV Drones?

Sure, the DJI Distant Controller 3 (RC3) is totally appropriate with Betaflight FPV drones when paired with DJI Goggles 3 or Goggles N3. Please word that RC3 doesn’t work with DJI Goggles 2 and Integra. The RC3 helps DJI O4, O4 Professional, and O3 Air Models.

You should buy the DJI Distant Controller 3 from:

The RC3 eliminates the necessity for a separate receiver as a result of DJI’s O3, O4, and O4 Professional Air Models function built-in receiver performance through an SBUS wire on to the flight controller.

Professionals and Cons of DJI Distant Controller 3

You is likely to be questioning concerning the benefits and downsides of utilizing the DJI RC3 in comparison with an ExpressLRS radio:

Professionals:

• The RC3 is extremely compact and moveable—one of many smallest FPV radios obtainable.
• Simplifies your drone construct and lowers general value, as no additional receiver is required.
• Ultimate for micro drones: reduces weight and house necessities, making small builds simpler and lighter.

Cons:

• ExpressLRS sometimes provides higher vary than DJI’s system. DJI’s radio management shares the video hyperlink, that means when you lose video sign, you additionally lose radio management.
• The minimalist design of the DJI RC3 may really feel restricted for some pilots, particularly these wanting superior options or exact management. ExpressLRS provides a broader vary of radio decisions which are extra highly effective and feature-rich.
• No telemetry obtainable: SBUS is a one-way protocol, that means you gained’t get RSSI, hyperlink high quality, or different telemetry info. This isn’t normally a dealbraker, as video bitrate on the bottom-right nook of your goggles’ display provides a sensible indication of sign high quality. You may as well show many telemetry data on through Betaflight OSD.

General, for FPV drones that don’t require quite a lot of vary or penetration, the DJI Distant Controller 3 is a wonderful selection—particularly for micro drones benefiting from less complicated, lighter setups.

Additional studying: Searching for an FPV micro quad with DJI O4? Try my purchaser’s information: https://oscarliang.com/micro-drone-dji-o4-lite-comparison-mar-2025/

Step 1: Backup Betaflight Configuration

Earlier than making massive adjustments in Betaflight, all the time again up your present configuration. This ensures you’ll be able to restore your settings simply if one thing goes improper.

Right here’s an in depth information on backup and restore your Betaflight settings: https://oscarliang.com/backup-restore-betaflight-config/

Step 2: Confirm If SBUS is Working

1. In Betaflight Configurator, go to the Receiver tab.
2. Below “Serial Receiver Supplier,” choose SBUS.
3. Click on Save and Reboot.

Now, return to the Receiver tab and if the web page seems to be like this, you’re able to proceed to the subsequent step.

Nevertheless, if the channels are clean/empty, this implies SBUS won’t be included in your present firmware construct. You’ll then have to flash Betaflight once more with SBUS chosen because the Receiver Protocol. To verify if that is certainly the case, comply with this information to test your Betaflight construct choices: https://oscarliang.com/check-betaflight-build-options/

Essential: Be sure you again up your Betaflight configuration earlier than flashing firmware, which usually resets all settings to default. To simplify restoration, take into account flashing the identical firmware model at the moment put in in your FC. Restoring configurations throughout totally different Betaflight variations might not all the time work reliably. Right here’s my full information on flashing Betaflight firmware: https://oscarliang.com/backup-restore-betaflight-config/

Right here’s my tutorial on flash Betaflight: https://oscarliang.com/flash-update-betaflight/

Step 3: Configure UART Port for SBUS

Decide which UART port in your flight controller is linked to the SBUS wire from the DJI O4 Air Unit. Seek advice from your flight controller’s wiring diagram offered by the producer. It’s simple, if the SBUS wire is linked to RX1, it’s UART1; If the SBUS wire is linked to RX2, it’s UART2, and so forth.

In Betaflight:

1. Navigate to the Ports tab.
2. Below the column labeled Serial RX, allow the UART port that your SBUS wire connects to.
3. Disable Serial RX on all different UART ports.
4. Click on Save and Reboot.

Step 4: Configuring the Receiver

In Betaflight Configurator:

1. Go to the Receiver tab.
2. Below “Serial Receiver Supplier,” choose SBUS.
3. Click on Save and Reboot.

Step 5: Updating DJI Distant Controller 3

Earlier than continuing, guarantee your DJI Distant Controller 3 (RC3) firmware is up-to-date so it helps the DJI O3 and O4 Air Models, by connecting your DJI RC3 to both the DJI Fly App in your telephone or the DJI Assistant (Shopper Drone Collection) software program in your laptop.

Step 6: Binding the DJI RC3, Goggles, and O4 Air Unit

In contrast to conventional radios that bind on to the drone, the DJI RC3 binds first to your goggles, which act as a bridge to the drone. You could bind within the following order:

1. Bind radio with the Goggles,
2. Then bind goggles with the drone.

First, bind the RC3 to your goggles:

1. Flip in your DJI Goggles 3/N3 and DJI RC3.
2. In your goggles, press and maintain the facility button till it begins beeping (bind mode).
3. In your RC3, press and maintain the facility button till it additionally begins beeping (bind mode).
4. After a couple of seconds, the LEDs on each the goggles and RC3 ought to cease blinking and develop into stable, indicating a profitable bind.

Subsequent, bind your goggles to the DJI O4 Air Unit:

1. Energy in your drone by connecting a battery, you may need to use a fan to forestall the air unit from overheating.
2. Wait till the LED on the O4 Air Unit turns pink. Press the bind button on the air unit; the LED will begin flashing, indicating it’s in bind mode.
3. Place your goggles into bind mode once more by urgent and holding the facility button till steady beeping begins.
4. After a couple of seconds, the goggles will cease beeping, and the LED on the air unit will flip inexperienced, confirming a profitable bind.

Step 7: Setting sbus_baud_fast Mode

The DJI O4 system helps a sooner SBUS known as “SBUS Baud Quick.” To allow it:

• In your goggles, navigate to Settings → Management → Protocol and choose “SBUS Baud Quick”.
• In Betaflight CLI, sort: set sbus_baud_fast = ON, hit enter, after which enter save.

To disable SBUS Baud Quick:

• Set the goggles’ Management → Protocol again to Customary.
• In Betaflight CLI, sort: set sbus_baud_fast = OFF, hit enter then enter save.

Step 8: Confirm the RC3 Is Working

Verify that your DJI RC3 is correctly speaking with Betaflight:

• Go to the Receiver tab in Betaflight Configurator.
• Transfer the sticks in your RC3 controller and make sure that the corresponding channels reply appropriately.

Step 9: DJI RC3 Switches Mapping

Presently, the DJI RC3 doesn’t permit customized button mapping. Right here’s how every button/change corresponds to Betaflight AUX channels by default:

• AUX1 – Mode change (top-left 3-position toggle)
• AUX2 – High-right 3-position toggle
• AUX3 – Return-to-House button (top-left push button)
• AUX4 – Begin/Cease button (top-right push button)
• AUX5 – C1 button (subsequent to neck strap attachment)

Troubleshooting: RC3 Doesn’t Work in Betaflight?

In the event you’re having bother getting the DJI RC3 to work along with your Betaflight drone, take into account the next points:

• Firmware Replace: Ensure your RC3 firmware is up to date through the DJI Fly app or DJI Assistant to make sure compatibility with the O4 Air Unit.
• Incorrect UART settings: Confirm you’ve chosen the right UART port in Betaflight’s Ports tab.
• Receiver Configuration: Make sure you’ve appropriately chosen SBUS because the receiver protocol in Betaflight,
• SBUS isn’t included within the construct choices: Flash Betaflight once more with SBUS chosen within the Receiver Protocol if unsure.
• Incorrect SBUS Baud: Strive toggling the sbus_baud_fast setting each ON and OFF in Betaflight and goggles.

Last Ideas

That’s the way you arrange the DJI Distant Controller 3 (RC3) with any Betaflight FPV drones outfitted with the DJI O4 Air Unit (Lite and Professional). Frequent binding points sometimes relate to outdated RC3 firmware or misconfigured settings in Betaflight, equivalent to incorrect UART choice or SBUS baud charge settings. In some instances, you may have to re-flash Betaflight to put in SBUS receiver protocol on account of cloud construct choices. Pleased flying.