Setup DJI Distant Controller 3 and O4 Air Unit in Betaflight FPV Drones

For Betaflight FPV drones outfitted with the DJI O4 and O4 Professional Air Items, you possibly can conveniently use the DJI Distant Controller 3 (RC3) without having an extra receiver or radio. On this tutorial, I’ll present you tips on how to configure Betaflight to work with the RC3, together with radio-related settings you possibly can modify utilizing DJI Goggles 3 and Goggles N3.

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New to DJI O4? Take a look at 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 absolutely 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 Items.

You should purchase 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 Items function built-in receiver performance through an SBUS wire on to the flight controller.

Execs and Cons of DJI Distant Controller 3

You could be questioning concerning the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing the DJI RC3 in comparison with an ExpressLRS radio:

Execs:

• The RC3 is very compact and transportable—one of many smallest FPV radios accessible.
• Simplifies your drone construct and lowers general price, as no additional receiver is required.
• Excellent for micro drones: reduces weight and house necessities, making small builds simpler and lighter.

Cons:

• ExpressLRS sometimes affords higher vary than DJI’s system. DJI’s radio management shares the video hyperlink, that means if you happen to 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 affords a broader vary of radio decisions which might be extra highly effective and feature-rich.
• No telemetry accessible: SBUS is a one-way protocol, that means you received’t get RSSI, hyperlink high quality, or different telemetry data. This isn’t normally a dealbraker, as video bitrate on the bottom-right nook of your goggles’ display offers a sensible indication of sign high quality. You too can show many telemetry information on through Betaflight OSD.

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

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

Step 1: Backup Betaflight Configuration

Earlier than making massive modifications in Betaflight, at all times again up your present configuration. This ensures you possibly can restore your settings simply if one thing goes flawed.

Right here’s an in depth information on tips on how to 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. Beneath “Serial Receiver Supplier,” choose SBUS.
3. Click on Save and Reboot.

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

Nonetheless, if the channels are clean/empty, this implies SBUS may not be included in your present firmware construct. You’ll then must flash Betaflight once more with SBUS chosen because the Receiver Protocol. To substantiate if that is certainly the case, observe this information to examine your Betaflight construct choices: https://oscarliang.com/check-betaflight-build-options/

Necessary: Be sure to again up your Betaflight configuration earlier than flashing firmware, which usually resets all settings to default. To simplify restoration, think about flashing the identical firmware model at present put in in your FC. Restoring configurations throughout totally different Betaflight variations could not at all times 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 tips on how to 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 easy, 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. Beneath 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. Beneath “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 Items, 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

Not like 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 need to 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 ability button till it begins beeping (bind mode).
3. In your RC3, press and maintain the ability button till it additionally begins beeping (bind mode).
4. After a number of seconds, the LEDs on each the goggles and RC3 ought to cease blinking and grow to be strong, 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 stop 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 ability button till steady beeping begins.
4. After a number 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 quicker SBUS referred to 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 Normal.
• 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 ensure that the corresponding channels reply accurately.

Step 9: Assign Switches for Arming and Flight Modes

Right here’s the switches you should utilize in Betaflight:

• AUX1 – M/S/N Mode change (top-left 3-position toggle)
• AUX2 – Prime-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)

Sadly, you possibly can’t change the change mapping in DJI RC3 in the mean time.

To make use of these switches for arming and flight modes, open Betaflight Configurator, go to the Modes tab:

On this instance I’m utilizing:

• AUX 1 (M/S/N Mode change on the left) for arming
• AUX 2 (3-position change on the suitable) for Angle mode
• AUX 3 (Return to house button on the left) for Beeper

Word: You need to use any change for arming, it doesn’t must be AUX1 like ExpressLRS.

Troubleshooting: RC3 Doesn’t Work in Betaflight?

Should you’re having bother getting the DJI RC3 to work along with your Betaflight drone, think about 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 proper UART port in Betaflight’s Ports tab.
• Receiver Configuration: Make sure you’ve accurately chosen SBUS because the receiver protocol in Betaflight,
• SBUS will not be included within the construct choices: Flash Betaflight once more with SBUS chosen within the Receiver Protocol if doubtful.
• Incorrect SBUS Baud: Attempt toggling the sbus_baud_fast setting each ON and OFF in Betaflight and goggles.

Closing 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). Widespread binding points sometimes relate to outdated RC3 firmware or misconfigured settings in Betaflight, comparable to incorrect UART choice or SBUS baud fee settings. In some circumstances, you may must re-flash Betaflight to put in SBUS receiver protocol as a result of cloud construct choices. Joyful flying.