If you’re utilizing the BETAFPV ArtLynk system, ultimately you’ll most likely need to replace the firmware in your VR04 HD goggles and P1 Air Unit. The replace course of needs to be easy, however I bumped into fairly a number of issues, and the shortage of documentation on BETAFPV’s half didn’t assist. So I made a decision to place collectively this information to indicate you replace the firmware on numerous ArtLynk {hardware}.
Study concerning the Artlynk FPV system in my evaluation and whether or not it’s for you: https://oscarliang.com/betafpv-artlynk/
Firmware Compatibility
That is the half you actually ought to perceive earlier than doing something.
{Hardware} operating V2 firmware is incompatible with {hardware} operating V1 firmware.
Meaning:
- in case your goggles are on V2 and your air unit remains to be on V1, they gained’t work collectively
- in case your goggles are on V1 and your air unit is on V2, identical downside
- if you wish to use your gear collectively, it’s best to both:
- replace every little thing to V2
- or go away every little thing on V1
The excellent news is, you too can downgrade from V2 again to V1 if wanted.
So earlier than updating, determine whether or not you need to keep on V1 for compatibility with older gear, or transfer every little thing to V2.
Advantages of V2 Firmware
The primary cause to replace is easy: bug fixes and new options.
It is best to all the time verify the firmware launch notes to see precisely what has modified in every model.
One of many greatest benefits of the V2 firmware is cross-compatibility with different ArtLynk-compatible programs, resembling HGLRC Draco and doubtlessly different Artosyn-based FPV programs. I talked extra about that right here: https://oscarliang.com/artosyn-fpv-system-cross-compatible-betafpv-artlynk/
That could be a fairly large deal, as a result of it means the ArtLynk ecosystem might develop into much more versatile sooner or later.
Obtain Firmware for P1 VTX
Obtain firmware right here: https://assist.betafpv.com/hc/en-us/articles/53202850073497-Firmware-for-P1-Air-Unit-HD-VTX
Obtain Firmware for VR04 HD Goggles
Earlier than downloading firmware on your goggles, be sure you know whether or not you will have:
They use totally different firmware, so downloading the improper one is a straightforward mistake to make.
Methods to Inform? Listed below are the variations:
| Function | VR04 HD | VR04 HD Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Display screen Measurement | 4.5 inch | |
| Display screen Decision | 1920×1080 | |
| Recording Decision | 1080P@60fps | |
| Card Slot | microSD card (most 1TB) | |
| Antenna | Twin antenna | Replaceable twin antennas |
| Kind-C Port | Learn a microSD card | Learn a microSD card / stay feed output through Kind-C with DP assist |
| Energy Provide | 2 × 18650 2600mAh batteries | 2 × 18650 3800mAh batteries |
| Runtime | 3H | 4H |
| Fan | Cooling fan (computerized) | |
| Weight | 400±10g (batteries excluded) | |
| DC Port | Prolonged 2–6S energy provide | |
The best method to inform them aside is normally simply verify what the battery capability is: 2600mah? Non-pro. 3800mAh? Professional.
So be sure you obtain the proper firmware on your goggles.
VR04 HD
Obtain firmware right here: https://assist.betafpv.com/hc/en-us/articles/53798961852185-Firmware-for-VR04-HD-Goggles
VR04 HD Professional
Obtain firmware right here: https://assist.betafpv.com/hc/en-us/articles/55872193522329-Firmware-for-VR04-HD-Professional-FPV-Goggles
Verify Which Firmware Model You Are On
With the goggles and drone powered on and linked (so you possibly can see the digital camera picture), go to
- Setting within the goggles menu
- then System
- System Information
There you’ll find the firmware variations for each the goggles and the Air Unit (drone).
Greatest to verify earlier than and after firmware flashing so you possibly can affirm you’ve efficiently finished it.
Firmware Flashing Steps
One necessary factor concerning the ArtLynk system is that the Air Unit is upgraded by the goggles. So in contrast to another FPV programs, you CAN NOT simply replace the air unit utterly by itself.
Earlier than you start, it’s a good suggestion to take some screenshot or notes of your present settings in case they get reset after the replace.
Steps:
- Copy firmware recordsdata to the SD card
- Insert the SD card into the goggles
- Energy on each the quad and the goggles
- Make sure that they’re linked (you possibly can see digital camera’s picture within the goggles)
- Within the Goggles menu, go to Setting → System → Improve → Begin
- Anticipate the Replace to End, Don’t energy something off whereas the replace is operating.
- As soon as the improve is full, restart each the quad and goggles (energy cycle).
- It’s essential to rebind your goggles and drone (you solely must press the bind buttons on each air unit and goggles).
That’s it.
Be aware:
- If wanted, BETAFPV notes that you would be able to improve solely the goggles or solely the quad by copying solely the corresponding firmware on the SD card.
- Don’t flip off energy throughout the replace, interrupting firmware flashing is likely one of the best methods to create issues
- Verify firmware model after updating to verify
- Some settings could reset after updating, so verify your settings and reconfigure something that has been reset
Flashing A number of Air Models
As a result of your goggles have to be linked to the air unit to be able to replace it, as soon as your goggles are on V2, they’ll not bind to an air unit that’s nonetheless on V1.
To flash one other air unit, the work round is to downgrade your goggles again to V1 first.
Sure, it’s tedious when you have a number of air models. I actually hope BETAFPV makes firmware flashing much less annoying sooner or later.
When you’ve got a number of air models, one of the best strategy is to replace all the air models first by placing solely the air unit firmware on the SD card. Then replace the goggles on the very finish, so that you shouldn’t have to maintain downgrading the goggles.
Methods to Downgrade Firmware
Obtain this firmware: P1_GND_VR04_v1.0.44_20260122_09de6e7.img
Copy this file to the goggles’ SD card and run the replace.
Within the unlikely occasion that if the goggles refuses to replace, you possibly can strive renaming the file to one thing like this: P1_GND_VR04_v2.0.7_20260122_09de6e7.img. The goggles count on a more moderen firmware model when flashing. So in case your goggles have already been flashed with V2.0.6, it’s essential to rename the older v1.0.44 firmware file to V2.0.7 to be able to trick the goggles into putting in it.
“No Picture File Discovered” Error
My goggles got here with a really previous firmware model (V1.0.36), and updating on to the most recent V2 firmware (V2.0.6) merely didn’t work. It saved displaying the error:
“No picture file discovered”
Altering the filename didn’t work. Making an attempt one other SD card didn’t work both.
In the long run, I needed to first flash the following accessible firmware model (V1.0.44) and solely then it was capable of recognise the V2 firmware and allowed me to flash it.
This subject was not documented anyplace, and it took me about two hours to determine it out.
Timeout Error
Simply restart each goggles and air unit and take a look at once more (plug battery and plug it again in).
Conclusion
Updating the BETAFPV ArtLynk firmware on the VR04 HD goggles and P1 Air Unit shouldn’t be troublesome, however you do must be cautious about firmware compatibility. The primary cause to maneuver to V2 is the added options and the potential for broader ArtLynk cross-compatibility, which might develop into one of many greatest benefits of this technique going ahead.
