Find out how to 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 Models, you’ll be able to conveniently use the DJI Distant Controller 3 (RC3) while not having a further receiver or radio. On this tutorial, I’ll present you methods to configure Betaflight to work with the RC3, together with radio-related settings you’ll be able to alter 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 totally appropriate with Betaflight FPV drones when paired with DJI Goggles 3 or Goggles N3. Please be aware 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 characteristic built-in receiver performance by way of an SBUS wire on to the flight controller.

Execs and Cons of DJI Distant Controller 3

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

Execs:

• The RC3 is very compact and moveable—one of many smallest FPV radios accessible.
• Simplifies your drone construct and lowers total value, as no further receiver is required.
• Ideally suited for micro drones: reduces weight and house necessities, making small builds simpler and lighter.

Cons:

• ExpressLRS sometimes presents larger vary than DJI’s system. DJI’s radio management shares the video hyperlink, which means if you happen to lose video sign, you additionally lose radio management.
• The minimalist design of the DJI RC3 would possibly really feel restricted for some pilots, particularly these wanting superior options or exact management. ExpressLRS presents a broader vary of radio decisions which are extra highly effective and feature-rich.
• No telemetry accessible: SBUS is a one-way protocol, which means you received’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 screen offers a sensible indication of sign high quality. You may as well show many telemetry information on by way of Betaflight OSD.

Total, for FPV drones that don’t require a variety 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: In search of 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, all the time again up your present configuration. This ensures you’ll be able to restore your settings simply if one thing goes fallacious.

Right here’s an in depth information on methods 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. Underneath “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 might be able to proceed to the following step.

Nevertheless, if the channels are clean/empty, this implies SBUS may not be included in your present firmware construct. You’ll then have to 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/

Vital: Ensure you 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 the moment put in in your FC. Restoring configurations throughout totally different Betaflight variations could 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 methods 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 supplied 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. Underneath 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. Underneath “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 cellphone or the DJI Assistant (Client 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 have 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 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 just a few seconds, the LEDs on each the goggles and RC3 ought to cease blinking and change into 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 would possibly wish to use a fan to forestall the air unit from overheating.
2. Wait till the LED on the O4 Air Unit turns purple. 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 just a few 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 known as “SBUS Baud Quick.” To allow it:

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

To disable SBUS Baud Quick:

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

Step 8: Confirm the RC3 Is Working

Test 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 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 – M/S/N Mode change (top-left 3-position toggle)
• AUX2 – High-right 3-position toggle
• AUX3 – Return-to-Dwelling 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?

Should you’re having bother getting the DJI RC3 to work together with your Betaflight drone, think about the next points:

• Firmware Replace: Be sure your RC3 firmware is up to date by way of 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 will not be 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). Widespread binding points sometimes relate to outdated RC3 firmware or misconfigured settings in Betaflight, comparable to incorrect UART choice or SBUS baud price settings. In some circumstances, you would possibly have to re-flash Betaflight to put in SBUS receiver protocol as a result of cloud construct choices. Pleased flying.