FPV DRONE RECEIVERS

The receiver gets your commands from your transmitter control inputs and passes those signals on to the flight controller. So it's important your receiver and transmitter speak the same language or protocol. That seems obvious but the reason I bring it up is different brand transmitters and receivers have different protocols and sometimes even within the same company's brand (i.e. FrSky transmitters and receivers use different protocols)!

Some transmitters are able to communicate with most types of receivers through the use of multi protocol modules either internally installed or through an external connection in a module bay. The RadioMaster TX16S is a good example of that type of transmitter.

Usually the communication between transmitter and receiver is done at the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) frequency band but you can also get receivers and external modules (or transmitters) which work with the transmitter that operate at the 900 megahertz (MHz) frequency band such as the TBS Crossfire or the FrSky R9 systems. With a 900 megahertz band you can fly farther and through and around objects without losing your control signal more so than you could when using the 2.4 gigahertz band. Just make sure before you purchase a transmitter and a receiver you know which protocol you want to use.

ExpressLRS (ELRS) is a new (in 2021) High-Performance, Open Source, LoRa modulated radio control link. OK, so what does that really mean for us? Well, its fast, REALLY FAST! It has a latency of about 6.5 milliseconds at 200Hz rate AND it has the ability to go up to 500 Hz! 😲 Even at a relatively low output power of 100mW, in the 2.4 GHz band, it has a range in excess of 30 km (18.6 miles)! I'm not done yet . . . it operates in either the 2.4 GHz band OR the 900 Mhz band (depending on the module and receiver you have). I prefer 900MHz myself, not for the range (ELRS 2.4GHz has MORE THAN ENOUGH range!), but for the better penetration ability of 900 MHz which can help you fly through and around objects like trees, buildings, etc. Depending on the ExpressLRS module you have (and associated cooling fan), its output power levels can go up to 2 watts (if legal in your area of the world)! Oh yeah, it's inexpensive compared with other high-performance radio control link modules & receivers as well. Below you will find a few of the ExpressLRS receivers available today. Any ExpressLRS transmitter module and receiver that operates in the same band (2.4GHz or 900Mhz) will work together (they don't have to be from the same brand). ExpressLRS transmitter modules can be found on the Transmitters Page of the TMac FPV Site here.

Between the Crossfire and FrSky R9 systems, I'd recommend the TBS Crossfire 900 MHz system. This requires either a TBS Tango transmitter or external TBS Crossfire module for your transmitter (I use the TBS Crossfire Lite, however, the Micro version is an outstanding choice). The receiver and antenna I use for this system are below.

If I were just getting started with FPV today, I'd go with either the RadioMaster TX12 or TX16S transmitter (depending on my budget), an ExpressLRS Module to plug into the back of it (either 2.4GHz or 900 MHz band), and an associated ExpressLRS receiver (shown below).