Setup for a Betaflight OSD: Configuration and Ingredient Format Examples?

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The Betaflight Open Source Display is a robust feature allowing real-time viewing of critical flight metrics directly within your first-person view (FPV) video stream. This tutorial guides you through the process of configuring and customizing the On-Screen Display (OSD) in Betaflight, explores the OSD menu, and provides practical Command-Line Interface (CLI) instructions for common OSD settings configurations.

The Betaflight On-Screen Display (OSD) enables the overlay of essential flight data, such as battery voltage, flight duration, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), and additional information, directly onto your FPV video stream. The innovative drone management tool allows real-time monitoring of performance and status while in flight, offering intuitive access to adjust critical settings such as PID, battery levels, filters, transmission channels, and more.

This tutorial concentrates on Open Source Display (OSD) solutions specifically designed for analog First-Person View (FPV) applications. For optimal use of the DJI FPV System, we recommend following our step-by-step tutorial on setup and configuration.

Most Betaflight flight controllers (FCs) support OSD (On-Screen Display) capabilities for analog FPV systems, although there are some notable exceptions that may be specifically optimized for high-definition (HD) digital FPV applications. Within the specified parameters of the FC guidelines.

To facilitate the seamless integration of a flight controller with an on-screen display for analog-first-person-view applications, it is essential that the FC incorporates a dedicated onboard chip, specifically designed for this purpose – namely, the AT7456E. HD digital programs do not require this chip for optimal system display (OSD) performance.

Connect your FPV digital camera and video transmitter to the flight controller seamlessly. When activating the digital camera, users navigate to the “Vin” (video input) pad on the frequency controller (FC), whereas the VTX signal links to the “Vout” (video output) pad.

Obtain and set up the Betaflight Configurator, a comprehensive tool for tuning and customizing your drone’s flight performance, by downloading the installer from the official website, running the installation wizard to install the software on your computer or mobile device, and following the setup prompts to configure the application. Connect your flight controller to your laptop via a USB cable. Launch the Betaflight Configurator application and select the option to open a new configuration file by clicking on the corresponding “New” or “+” button.

Navigate to the Configuration tab within the Betaflight Configurator and enable the “On-Screen Display” (OSD) feature. That’s it – your On-Screen Display (OSD) is now activated.

Access the On Screen Display settings by selecting the OSD tab within the Betaflight Configurator interface. In this section of the settings menu, you determine which elements are visible within your First-Person View (FPV) video stream.

Below, you’ll find a comprehensive inventory of Open System Design (OSD) components. Simply toggle the weather option on or off as desired for display.

Discovering three customizable checkboxes for each factor, aligned with the three available OSD profiles, enables seamless switching between settings during flight. With this feature, you’re free to swap out entirely distinct Open Source Display (OSD) layouts and components at whim, simply by toggling the setting in your radio. To simplify the display settings for those preferring a single profile, set “Preview for” to “OSD Profile 1”, and also configure “Energetic OSD Profile” to match this setting. Carefully inspect the principal region corresponding to the attribute you desire to illustrate.

To add and arrange components, simply select one from the menu on the left and drop it onto the preview canvas, then reposition it to your desired location by dragging it.

My ceaselessly used parts embrace:

• The onboard voltage sensor continuously monitors the battery voltage, alerting you at precisely the right moment to initiate a safe landing or to avoid potentially damaging over-discharge conditions in your lithium-polymer power source.
• Calculates and aggregates the voltage of each individual cell, streamlining monitoring processes by presenting a simplified total voltage reading (e.g., a 4S lithium-ion pack’s combined voltage of 16.0V is displayed as 4.0V per “string”).
• The displayed flight time represents the duration since the drone was last armed and ready for takeoff. Unlike Timer1, revealing powered-on time, this feature tracks overall system uptime.
• Essential. When an issue arises with the quad, informative error messages facilitate prompt troubleshooting?
• Reveals amp attract actual time. It requires a present sensor.
• The power meter reveals that 75% of the battery capacity has been depleted. It requires a present sensor.
• Preferred over RSSI, which is a proportionally weighted metric.
• A crucial step in ensuring seamless communication: Confirming the Channel in Use?

Suggestions for OSD Placement:

• Avoid overwhelming your display with too much information at once. Ensure the stability of your First-Person View (FPV) transmission by addressing key factors to preserve a crisp and legible video feed.
• Position crucial on-screen display (OSD) elements in locations that allow for easy readability without obstructing your visual perspective.

On the correct aspect of the OSD tab, users will find a range of options related to on-screen display, with many settings capable of being left at their default values. Despite what may seem obvious, consider these crucial settings:

• Select video format options: Auto, PAL, NTSC, or HD, depending on your digital camera or FPV system’s capabilities. When recommending settings for analog playback, I suggest defaulting to the “Auto” option, which automatically detects and adjusts the video format for optimal performance. For DJI, Walksnail, and HDZero, set this to High Definition (HD).
• Establish strict boundaries on RSSI thresholds, battery performance, flight duration, and maximum altitudes to ensure seamless and reliable drone operations. When the predetermined limits are surpassed, a flashing on-screen alert will notify users of the impending threshold.

The Betaflight OSD doesn’t just display flight data; it also allows direct access to the configuration menu from within your goggles. Without the need for a PC connection, this intuitive menu allows you to adjust a range of settings on your drone, including PID configurations, battery levels, VTX power and channel, and more. This feature proves particularly useful in refining your quadcopter’s performance within a specific environment. Be aware that not all options in the Betaflight Configurator are accessible through the OSD menu; therefore, it may still be necessary to access your laptop or a compatible device for comprehensive configuration.

To enter the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu, ensure your drone is disarmed and utilize your transmitter’s Mode 2 control sticks.

The throttle should remain steady and controlled throughout your navigation of the menu.

• Move items up and down on the menu.
• Enter a menu merchandise.
• Return or exit.
• Change parameter values.
• Shortly save and exit.
• Return to the final menu.

After making changes, save your settings by going again to the principle menu and deciding on “Save & Reboot.”

You can modify the OSD font by clicking the “Font Manager” button located at the bottom right corner of the OSD tab. Choose a font preset, I suggest “Daring”, then click on the “Add Font” button.

Within this window, it’s also possible to customize your brand by adding a personalized logo that will appear when you charge or unplug the device from its battery.

When you upload a brand-new font, it won’t display in the preview window initially, but it will render correctly on your device.

• • When a drone remains stationary for an extended period without proper cooling, this issue may arise. Typically, this notification poses no concern, and you’ll easily suppress it by navigating to the OSD tab under “Warnings” and disabling the alert.
• • Ensure that you have correctly configured the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) alarm threshold value. By default, it’s set to -60 decibels, which is far too aggressive a setting for ExpressLRS applications. The system’s sensitivity limits must be adjusted to ensure optimal performance? Given the strict specifications of ExpressLRS 250Hz, the sensitivity threshold is remarkably low at -108 dBm; accordingly, I typically configure the warning to trigger around -93 dBm (with a 15 dBm safety buffer for added caution). You can definitely set this in a command-line interface. set osd_rssi_dbm_alarm = -93. Extra data right here:
• • If the Betaflight logo appears when your system is powered on, it’s a sign that your On-Screen Display (OSD) is functioning correctly. To confirm this, verify that you’ve selected the correct OSD components and are employing the suitable OSD profile. If the Betaflight logo does not appear during startup, check your video settings and ensure that they are set to auto, particularly the format (NTSC or PAL), as incorrect settings may be the cause of this issue. Carefully inspect your digital camera and VTX wiring to ensure they are functioning properly and free from any damage or wear. Otherwise, it’s possible that a faulty On-Screen Display (OSD) chip is installed in the flight controller.
• • The Enter Area field can be found within the Configuration tab of the Craft system.
• • Connect your battery while making adjustments in the Betaflight Configurator to ensure that the OSD chip is properly powered and operational. Before starting any project, make certain to remove all props for safety purposes.
• • Connect the battery to the flight controller before opening the Betaflight Configurator?

While configuring Open Source Development (OSD) components from scratch for every individual quadcopter build can indeed prove to be a labor-intensive process. To streamline issue resolution, I’ve compiled a selection of my favorite OSD part/structure configurations that can be easily copied and pasted into the command-line interface.

set osd_vbat_pos = 6465
set osd_link_quality_pos = 2112
set osd_rssi_dbm_pos = 2080
set osd_tim_2_pos = 6520
set osd_throttle_pos = 2298
set osd_vtx_channel_pos = 2101
set osd_current_pos = 2327
set osd_mah_drawn_pos = 6496
set osd_craft_name_pos = 6155
set osd_warnings_pos = 6410
set osd_avg_cell_voltage_pos = 2348
save

set osd_vbat_pos = 2371
set osd_link_quality_pos = 2179
set osd_rssi_dbm_pos = 2147
set osd_tim_2_pos = 2467
set osd_flymode_pos = 2456
set osd_throttle_pos = 2391
set osd_current_pos = 2421
set osd_mah_drawn_pos = 2404
set osd_gps_speed_pos = 2359
set osd_gps_lon_pos = 2065
set osd_gps_lat_pos = 2048
set osd_gps_sats_pos = 2115
set osd_home_dir_pos = 2190
set osd_home_dist_pos = 2156
set osd_flight_dist_pos = 2435
set osd_altitude_pos = 18508
set osd_warnings_pos = 14601
set osd_avg_cell_voltage_pos = 2339
save

set osd_vbat_pos = 6444
set osd_link_quality_pos = 2112
set osd_rssi_dbm_pos = 2080
set osd_tim_2_pos = 6520
set osd_throttle_pos = 2298
set osd_vtx_channel_pos = 2101
set osd_current_pos = 2327
set osd_mah_drawn_pos = 6496
set osd_craft_name_pos = 6155
set osd_warnings_pos = 6410
save

For those seeking a clean and unobstructed perspective, the minimalist setup prioritizes showcasing only the essentials:

set osd_vbat_pos = 2433
set osd_rssi_dbm_pos = 2150
set osd_tim_2_pos = 6520
save

set osd_vbat_pos = 2529
set osd_link_quality_pos = 2337
set osd_rssi_dbm_pos = 2305
set osd_tim_2_pos = 2625
set osd_flymode_pos = 3670
set osd_throttle_pos = 3606
set osd_current_pos = 3636
set osd_mah_drawn_pos = 2561
set osd_craft_name_pos = 2049
set osd_pilot_name_pos = 2081
set osd_gps_speed_pos = 3382
set osd_gps_lon_pos = 3119
set osd_gps_lat_pos = 3087
set osd_gps_sats_pos = 2369
set osd_home_dir_pos = 2269
set osd_home_dist_pos = 2235
set osd_flight_dist_pos = 2593
set osd_altitude_pos = 18587
set osd_warnings_pos = 14712
set osd_avg_cell_voltage_pos = 2587
set osd_log_status_pos = 1616
set osd_sys_lq_pos = 225
set osd_displayport_device = MSP
set osd_canvas_width = 60
set osd_canvas_height = 22
save

set osd_vbat_pos = 2499
set osd_link_quality_pos = 2237
set osd_rssi_dbm_pos = 2229
set osd_tim_2_pos = 2563
set osd_flymode_pos = 3596
set osd_throttle_pos = 3532
set osd_current_pos = 3563
set osd_mah_drawn_pos = 2531
set osd_craft_name_pos = 2083
set osd_pilot_name_pos = 2115
set osd_warnings_pos = 14677
set osd_avg_cell_voltage_pos = 2520
save

While establishing an OpenSD (OSD) in Betaflight is a straightforward process, it’s the customizations that truly unlock the full potential of your FPV experience, elevating your skills to the next level. Regardless of whether you’re leveraging the On-Screen Display (OSD) to keep tabs on your battery life, track your flight time, or quickly enter the configuration menu, this feature is an asset every pilot can tap into. Tailor your Open Source Display (OSD) configuration to your unique preferences by following these guidelines, and indulge in an even more engaging first-person view (FPV) flight experience.

• – Article created
• – With outdated information removed and fresh data integrated, this comprehensive piece now features the latest insights and visuals.
• Tutorial updated with current information, also included my Open Sound System (OSD) settings within the Command-Line Interface (CLI) guidelines.