Air-headed Aviator
Active member
Recently I struggled, again, to flash my Taranis gear, AGAIN, and took way too long to refigure it out. There are resources out there for telling you how, but no particular clear step by step guides. This is my attempt to provide exactly that, if for no reason other than to give myself an easy to reference guide when I inevitably screw up my gear again.
Step 1: Preparation:
Every FrSky Transmitter needs a mini SD card to operate its systems; for saving model profiles, storing programs, etc. Flashing Transmitters and Receivers requires either a mini-SD card reader or a mini USB-B or USB-A. The ports for the SD card and USB connector are on the bottom of the QX7 radio along with the proprietary smart port.
Step 2: Downloading Firmware:
The programs for FrSky receivers and transmitters at Frsky-rc/.com. Navigation is through the "Download" scroll down menu, then the "products" button. On the Products page are the various series of transmitter and receiver products supported by FrSky. The same individual product can possess multiple versions as well, with different protocols intended.
In the case of the Taranis QX7, accessing the correct programs follows the path of clicking "Taranis Series" and then "Taranis QX7". Avoid clicking "Taranis QX7S" or "Taranis QX7 ACCESS" (unless utilizing the ACCESS version of course) as these are not compatible.
In the next page for the transmitter there will be several drop down menus on the next page. The desired flashing program is located under "Firmware - XJT RF Module". "Firmware - Radio OS" is not for the transmitter protocol but for the on-screen operating system of the transmitter. The firmware folder when downloaded will be a compressed folder with two files.
Downloading the firmware for your receivers is a similar process. First select the correct protocol for the receiver owned, in this example it will be "2.4GHz ACCST" on the side menu. Then select the correct receiver type. These are very specific as well, an X8R will not be compatible with the X6R, or S8R, or RX8R. Several receiver pages on Fr-sky will posses a "Load More" button if the desired receiver isn't immediately visible. Receiver programs are under "ACCST D8 & D16 Firmware" menu.
Step 3: Uploading Firmware
To upload the firmware onto the transmitter first, turn on the remote and connect with the mini USB-A to the computer. When connected the transmitter will ask what mode is desired, and select "USB Storage (SD)" mode. Some FrSky Operating Systems allow storage mode to be toggled by pushing in both horizontal trim tabs and pressing the power button at the same time prior to connection.
In the computer Files Explorer the SD card will appear either as the stock SD card name or as the name given to the SD card by user. [This example has the SD card named TARANISSDHC (D
].
In the downloaded compressed folders for transmitter and receivers there will be several files to choose from; 2 for the transmitter and depending on receiver upwards of 10. The transmitter has two files named "XJT_ACCST_2.1.0_FCC.frk" and "XJT_ACCST_2.1.0_LBT.frk". FCC and LBT denote protocols approved outside of the European Union and LBT is required for in the EU. A US based operate for example should/could use FCC (which has higher range and performance). A transmitter using FCC protocols needs to be paired with a receiver protocol that is also FCC. In this case an S8R receiver needs the "S8R_ACCST_2.1.0_FCC.frk" file.
When the correct files are identified save them to the transmitter SD card. Afterwards the radio can be disconnected from the computer and set to normal mode.
Step 4: Flash Transmitter and Receiver
To begin flashing components with the Taranis QX7 the 3 lined menu button must be help down for several seconds to get to the utility menus. Pressing the "page" button gets to the SD card menu where any files stored in the card can be viewed.
Scrolling down to the XJT file recently uploaded and selecting it by pressing down the grey round button gives the action options. To flash the transmitter firmware with this program select "Flash int. module". Flashing will begin immediately, but takes several minutes. A user should have the radio fully charged to avoid premature power off, which can permanently damage the transmitter.
To flash a receivers firmware it will need to be connected to the transmitter. There are several options to do so via using the smart port, a USB adapter, or the external module pins on the back of the radio. In this guide the external module method is described. To interface with a receiver through that port a servo lead connector must be modified. It needs two PPM leads with on lead having the red or white power cable and brown or black ground cable swapped.
In the transmitter settings power to the external module must be activated. Pressing the 3 lined button on the radio start page once opens settings, and "page" button swaps to the set up menu. Using the rotary button scroll to the bottom of the page until "External RF" is visible. Besides the mode setting set it from "OFF" to any setting other than off, like "PPM" for example. Now the External Module pins are receiving power.
To connect the receiver to the External RF plug the stock PPM connector into the receiver Smart port, and the modified connector into the bottom three pins of the External RF. If the receiver is correctly connected the unit will flash a red LED continuously.
Going back to the SD menu, select the receiver firmware to flash, in this case the program "X8R_ACCST_2.1.0_FCC.frk" and select "Flash ext. module". If the receiver is being successfully written it will begin to flash green. Now both Transmitter and Receiver have been flashed to compatible protocols.
Step 5: Binding receiver to transmitter
The process to bind the receiver to transmitter is: create new model on radio. Set Internal module on model set up to XJT and desired D mode (16 or 8). Set number for model file and select "BND". Radio should begin beeping. Now find a tool and depress the "F/S" button on the receiver. Add power to the receiver, either via transmitter with smart port chord, or through a BEC/ESC and flight battery. Compatible receivers will show a solid green light and a flashing red light, indicating a successful bind. If receiver shows solid green and red lights, the receiver has an incompatible firmware and will not bind. No lights mean no power is going to the receiver. Flashing red is standby mode, so no radio communications at all are being sent.
When the receiver is successfully bounded, you can power off the receiver, reselect "BND" and turn off Bind mode. When the receiver is powered on again it will connect to the radio when the correct model is selected. And thus a Taranis radio and receiver have been successfully set up!
Step 1: Preparation:
Every FrSky Transmitter needs a mini SD card to operate its systems; for saving model profiles, storing programs, etc. Flashing Transmitters and Receivers requires either a mini-SD card reader or a mini USB-B or USB-A. The ports for the SD card and USB connector are on the bottom of the QX7 radio along with the proprietary smart port.
Step 2: Downloading Firmware:
The programs for FrSky receivers and transmitters at Frsky-rc/.com. Navigation is through the "Download" scroll down menu, then the "products" button. On the Products page are the various series of transmitter and receiver products supported by FrSky. The same individual product can possess multiple versions as well, with different protocols intended.
In the case of the Taranis QX7, accessing the correct programs follows the path of clicking "Taranis Series" and then "Taranis QX7". Avoid clicking "Taranis QX7S" or "Taranis QX7 ACCESS" (unless utilizing the ACCESS version of course) as these are not compatible.
Downloading the firmware for your receivers is a similar process. First select the correct protocol for the receiver owned, in this example it will be "2.4GHz ACCST" on the side menu. Then select the correct receiver type. These are very specific as well, an X8R will not be compatible with the X6R, or S8R, or RX8R. Several receiver pages on Fr-sky will posses a "Load More" button if the desired receiver isn't immediately visible. Receiver programs are under "ACCST D8 & D16 Firmware" menu.
To upload the firmware onto the transmitter first, turn on the remote and connect with the mini USB-A to the computer. When connected the transmitter will ask what mode is desired, and select "USB Storage (SD)" mode. Some FrSky Operating Systems allow storage mode to be toggled by pushing in both horizontal trim tabs and pressing the power button at the same time prior to connection.
].In the downloaded compressed folders for transmitter and receivers there will be several files to choose from; 2 for the transmitter and depending on receiver upwards of 10. The transmitter has two files named "XJT_ACCST_2.1.0_FCC.frk" and "XJT_ACCST_2.1.0_LBT.frk". FCC and LBT denote protocols approved outside of the European Union and LBT is required for in the EU. A US based operate for example should/could use FCC (which has higher range and performance). A transmitter using FCC protocols needs to be paired with a receiver protocol that is also FCC. In this case an S8R receiver needs the "S8R_ACCST_2.1.0_FCC.frk" file.
Step 4: Flash Transmitter and Receiver
To begin flashing components with the Taranis QX7 the 3 lined menu button must be help down for several seconds to get to the utility menus. Pressing the "page" button gets to the SD card menu where any files stored in the card can be viewed.
Going back to the SD menu, select the receiver firmware to flash, in this case the program "X8R_ACCST_2.1.0_FCC.frk" and select "Flash ext. module". If the receiver is being successfully written it will begin to flash green. Now both Transmitter and Receiver have been flashed to compatible protocols.
The process to bind the receiver to transmitter is: create new model on radio. Set Internal module on model set up to XJT and desired D mode (16 or 8). Set number for model file and select "BND". Radio should begin beeping. Now find a tool and depress the "F/S" button on the receiver. Add power to the receiver, either via transmitter with smart port chord, or through a BEC/ESC and flight battery. Compatible receivers will show a solid green light and a flashing red light, indicating a successful bind. If receiver shows solid green and red lights, the receiver has an incompatible firmware and will not bind. No lights mean no power is going to the receiver. Flashing red is standby mode, so no radio communications at all are being sent.
When the receiver is successfully bounded, you can power off the receiver, reselect "BND" and turn off Bind mode. When the receiver is powered on again it will connect to the radio when the correct model is selected. And thus a Taranis radio and receiver have been successfully set up!
