Cannot Calibrate Radio - X8R Receiver

PX4 Autopilot Configuration & Flight Modes ⚙️
1

I stepped away from drones for a while and I’m trying to re-learn things that I’ve forgotten.

I updated the pixhawk firmware for PX4 via qgroundcontrol and also updated firmware for my Taranis -plus controller. I switched out my X8R Frsky receiver for a new one because the antenna had broken on a previous crash (it was actually still working fine, but I didn’t want to take a chance with it).

Everything was going well calibrating my drone for my first return flight until I reached the “radio” calibration section. Qgroundcontrol states “Detected 0 radio channels. To operate PX4, you need at least 5 channels.”

Here is what I have done.

  1. I made sure the new receiver was bound to the controller by holding the “reset” button while powering the pixhawk via battery. I put the 3 pin connector in the three vertical far right pins highlighted highlighted in the first picture, with the signal pin on top. After disconnecting and connecting, I got a solid green light which I think means it binded.

Bind Receiver.png800×600 282 KB

  1. I then tried to place the 3 pin connector back in what I thought was the correct orientation [the second uploaded picture below]. When I did this I just heard a constant clicking noise and no response from receiver. I moved the connector up to the next row and I got the same clicking noise [Also no LED for either location]. Moved the connector up one more and no clicking noise, but also no LED and cannot calibrate radio.

Working Receiver.png800×600 255 KB

I really am not sure what I’m doing wrong. Any help is GREATLY appreciated. If the information that I’ve provided isn’t clear or you need any more information, I’d be happy to provide it. Can’t wait to get to using this powerful and impressive tools again.

-Chase

2

Hi Chase,

You really need to look at the manual for binding the X8R and the Taranis. Here is a link to the manual:
http://www.frsky-rc.com/download/down.php?id=102
It all depends on how you want to bind, 8 or 16 channels, etc. You only use the jumpers for binding. After that store them for future needs.

For control through SBUS you need to hook into the connector right below the pins you have colored as red and labeled try 1 in your second picture. That is the SBUS connector. That too is listed in the manual.

The X8R has a lot of features and I wouldn’t want to see you miss any.

Russ

3

@Chase_Brumfield Did you solve the “Detected 0 radio channels. To operate PX4, you need at least 5 channels.”? I have similar issue and I can not find solution for it.