Specifications

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OpenTX Software

Companion

The companion can be downloaded here. It's a very nice application that can, among other things, simulate a Taranis radio.

A very nice feature is to analyze logs from your quad. To do that, you first need to enable logs in your Taranis:

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I have developed a script to extract GPS coordinates from the CSV log file to a GPX file. You can download it from here: https://github.com/sebastiendamaye/public/tree/master/csv2gpx.

Flash OpenTX

Firmware

Download files

The below procedure explains how to flash OpenTX on a Taranis X9D+.

• Go to http://www.open-tx.org/ and check the last version available in the News section:

• Now, download the latest available version from the Downloads section:

You'll need these 2 files

• SDCard content
• OpenTX Companion

Backup

• Put the Taranis in bootloader mode (press both horizontal trims inwards while powering on the radio):

• Once done, plug the USB cable.
• Open CompanionTX and go to menu Transfer > Read models and settings from the radio:

• Save as *.otx

Note

In addition to the above backup of the models, you can also backup your radio settings and OpenTX firmware currently installed. To do that, select "Backup Radio to file"

Flash

• Go to Settings > Preferences and customize the screen as follows:

Note

To avoid memory issues (e.g. while changing frequencies via SmartAudio), select "luac" in addition to "lua"

• Select File > Download. In the window, select Download firmware and click on OK.

• Now, select Transfer > Write firmware to radio.

• Once finished, uncompress the content of the SDCard Content previously downloaded from OpenTX and replace the content on the memory card in your radio with the one just uncompressed.

Note

You can then copy back your IMAGES, SCRIPTS and SOUNDS

• Properly eject the Taranis, unplug the USB cable and restart your radio to check that it works fine.

Flash the bootloader

To flash the bootloader:

• Copy the *.bin file to the FIRMWARE directory of the SDCard
• Rename the file so that it only contains 8 characters (e.g. OPENTX223.bin)
• Eject the Taranis from the computer and select EXIT from the bootloader menu
• Navigate to the files page of the Taranis and go to the FIRMWARE directory
• Hold on ENTER and select Flash bootLoader

Radio menu (long press MENU)

From the main screen, long press the MENU button to access the main menu.

Radio setup

This screen lets you update, among other things:

• date/time
• volume
• contrast
• alarms (e.g. low voltage battery on radio)
• regional settings (country, language, ...)
• radio mode (i.e. mode 1, mode 2, ...)

SDCard

View, delete files on SDCard.

Global Functions

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Trainer

This screen will be helpful if you want to setup a trainer mode, in case you are learning with an instructor (the instructor will also have a radio).

Version

Show version of OpenTX.

Switch Test

This screen can be used to check that all switches/buttons/sticks work properly on your radio.

Analog Input

This screeen shows the current value of your AUX channels. For example, the throttle stick associated to A2 on the below screenshot has value -88 (minimum: -100, max: +100)

Hardware

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Calibration

This screen will let you calibrate the sticks and pots on your radio. It is an important process that should be done at least for the first use, as well as if your drone drifts.

Telemetry menu (long press PAGE)

From the main screen, long press the PAGE button to access the telemetry screen. It will display the telemetry screens (see below) defined in the telemetry setup.

Model menus

Views (short press PAGE)

Once on the model screen, short press PAGE to switch between these views:

Model Selection

This screen enables you to select a model, back it up, copy it, ...

Model Setup

This menu will let you:

• label your model
• choose an image
• create timers
• create switch positions checks
• define your radio receiver and bind it. See how to bind the FrSky X4RSB radio receiver
• define the failsafe behavior. See how to configure failsafe on your radio
• define the trainer port (e.g. Slave/Jack to connect to PC)

Heli Setup

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Flight Modes

This screen will let you define flight modes as well as the associated switch. It is very common to define the following flight modes:

• Angle (SD switch in the upper position)
• Horizon (SD switch in the middle position)
• Accro/Rate (SD switch in the bottom position)

Inputs

This screen will let you define the inputs. You can consider the inputs as custom labels for the radio commands (sticks, buttons, ...).

To modify an entry, long press ENT on the selection. Most of the time, only these 2 fields will need to be updated:

Mixer

This screen will let you associate the previously defined inputs to channels (CH1, CH2, ...) that will be visible in your flight controller software as AUX (e.g. Cleanflight or Betaflight).

To modify an entry, long press ENT on the selection:

Servos/Outputs

This screen will be usefull to fix the minimum and maximum values read by the flight controller software (normally 1000-2000 range, with the middle set to 1500).

Curves

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Global Variables

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Logical Switches

This screen is where you define logical conditions. What you do is that you create conditions and you name them in order to refer to them in the next screen (special functions).

It is very convenient to get the value of the lowest cell of your lipo from the telemetry, and raise an alert if this value gets below a certain limit.

Special Functions

Special functions make use of physical switches or logical switches to trigger actions (play track, play sound, ...).

It is very convenient that your Taranis is talking to you when you are wearing FPV goggles :)

Custom Scripts

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Telemetry

Notice that not all receivers are able to provide telemetry information. If you're interested in this feature, ensure that your receiver supports it before bying one. The FrSky X4RSB radio receiver is very popular in FPV racing/freestyle because it supports it natively, is lightweight, has a good radio range and is affordable.

First click on Discover new sensors:

Then identify the sensors you are interested in (e.g. VFAS is the power sent by the VBAT link and A4 is the lowest cell voltage):

Then add widgets to your telemetry wall:

Here is what it looks on the telemetry screen:

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