Review: BetaFPV SuperP ExpressLRS 14-Channel PWM Receiver

The market for ExpressLRS PWM receivers had been lacking in variety, and BetaFPV noticed it. Enter the BetaFPV SuperP receiver, which supports up to 14 PWM channels as well as both CRSF and SBUS protocols. Like its predecessor, the SuperD, the SuperP also stands as a true-diversity receiver, but with a twist. The ‘P’ in its name indicates its PWM-centric design, making it ideal for RC models such as planes, boats and cars that do not support digital protocols. In this review, we will delve into the features and advantages of the BetaFPV SuperP 14ch PWM receiver, a promising new entrant in the RX market.

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New to ExpressLRS? See my comprehensive beginner’s guide: https://oscarliang.com/setup-expresslrs-2-4ghz/

Table of Contents

Where to Buy?

You can get the BetaFPV SuperP PWM Receiver from:

BetaFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-zjlt
AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdRyYnZ

It’s available in 2.4GHz, 868MHz, and 915MHz.

In the box, along with the SuperP, you’ll find these accessories:

A detailed user manual
An assortment of cables, including a servo Y-splitter and a voltage test cable

SuperP Strengths

There’s had been a lack of PWM receivers with high channel count. We recently checked out the latest offerings from Radiomaster – the ER4, ER6, and ER8 G and GV series. However, these models offer only up to 4 to 8 channels. If your needs demand even more channels, you can consider the BetaFPV SuperP. Standing as the market’s first 14-channel ELRS PWM receiver, it fills a much-needed niche.

Technical Details

Unlike many “diversity receivers” in the market, which feature a single receiver chain with dual antennas, the SuperP is a true diversity receiver. It features two complete RF receiver chains, ensuring a robust and reliable signal reception.

Arriving pre-flashed with ExpressLRS V3.3 firmware, the BetaFPV SuperP is available in both 2.4GHz and 900MHz versions (915MHz or 868MHz, depending on your region). What makes it special is its capacity to support up to 14 channels as well as external sensors like battery voltage, barometer, current sensor, etc.

The receiver is equipped with a TCXO (temperature-compensated crystal oscillator), shared by both RF chips, providing a super-accurate clock synchronisation. This is essential for long-range stability, particularly in extreme ambient temperatures.

SuperP vs. SuperD

My trusty BetaFPV’s SuperD (review) has been serving my Explorer LR 4″ perfectly for nearly a year now, proving itself a reliable receiver. My take on the SuperP and SuperD is this: the SuperP seems primarily designed with fixed wing models in mind, whereas the SuperD is an ideal choice for multirotors paired with a flight controller.

For a clearer comparison, here’s a summary table delineating the differences between these two receivers:

Feature	SuperP RX	SuperD RX
Weight	15.5g (2.4GHz), 15.8g (915/868MHz)	1.1g (2.4GHz), 1.2g (915/868MHz)
Antennas	IPEX MHF1	IPEX MHF1 + T antenna
PWM channels	14ch	n/a
Frequencies	2.4GHz ISM, 915MHz (FCC), 868MHz (EU)	2.4GHz ISM, 915MHz (FCC), 868MHz (EU)
Power of telemetry	100mW (2.4GHz), 50mW (915/868MHz)	100mW (2.4GHz), 50mW (915/868MHz)
Protocols	PWM, CRSF or SBUS	CRSF
Input Voltage	3.5~8.4V	5V
VBAT Sensor	1-6S	n/a
Compatible Sensors	Barometer (SPL06)	n/a

Closer Look

Much like traditional PWM receivers, the SuperP comes in a rectangular plastic protective case. Weighing just 15.5g and with dimensions of 47x33x50mm, this 14-channel receiver is an impressive piece of technology.

Not only does the SuperP support 14 PWM channels, but it also supports CRSF and SBUS digital protocols, which significantly enhances its versatility.

Like all other ELRS receivers, the range of the SuperP depends on your transmitter module’s output power and how you mount the antennas. According to the numbers on the ExpressLRS website, a distance of 20km is achievable with only 250mW in ideal conditions. It also features an admirable telemetry power of 100mW. I conducted some tests on the orientation of diversity antennas and how it impacts range, which you can read about here: https://oscarliang.com/antenna-positioning/#How-to-Mount-Diversity-Receivers-Antennas

One notable feature of the SuperP is its RGB indicator. This is designed to display different colors based on the receiver’s status. The RGB indicator proves incredibly helpful, allowing you to understand the receiver and radio link’s state at a single glance.

Connections and Ports

At one end of the receiver, there are connections for PWM channels 1 to 10, and CH13 and CH14. Along with these, there’s a connection for VBAT (battery voltage). This can be hooked up to your main battery to monitor its voltage and send this information to your radio’s telemetry.

Located on one side of the receiver, there’s a USB-C port, which is primarily used for updating the ELRS firmware. It also powers up your receiver, ready for binding and configuration. Conveniently, you also have the option to update the firmware via WiFi, giving you the flexibility to choose the method that suits you best.

On the opposite side of the receiver, there are the GH23 and GH24 port pins. These include PWM CH11 and CH12 (which are configured as I2C connection for external sensors out of the box).The SuperP comes equipped with two antennas, fitted with excellent strain relief.

To facilitate these connections, the package thoughtfully includes appropriate cables.

How to Setup

The SuperP receiver comes pre-installed with the ExpressLRS 3.3 RC (release candidate) firmware. At the time of writing, this version is still in beta. You can configure the receiver using the ExpressLRS Web UI via WiFi.

Power

The SuperP takes a wide input voltage range, from 3.5V to 8.4V. This flexibility allows you to power it directly from your 1S or 2S battery, or alternatively, through a 5V BEC. Its current draw is approximately 180mA.

Binding

If you’re unfamiliar with how to bind an ExpressLRS receiver, you can refer to this handy tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/bind-expresslrs-receivers/

Until the stable firmware for the SuperP is released, you can just enter your bind phrase in the web UI via WiFi, which is my recommended method of binding for now.

Configuring SBUS and CRSF

By default CH13 and CH14 are set to output PWM signals and they are shown as CH11 and CH12 in the Web UI PWM configuration (10.0.0.1). That’s because CH11 and CH12 are set to i2c out of the box. You can manage i2c pins in the Web UI via WiFi (10.0.0.1/hardware.html).

To enable CRSF or SBUS, you can do so in the PWM configuration, change the pin “mode” to Serial TX and Serial RX. With CRSF output, CH13 becomes Serial_RX while CH14 becomes Serial_TX. With SBUS output, CH14 becomes SBUS while CH13 has no output.

It might be slightly confusing at first, but BetaFPV provides detailed instructions how to set it up.

Final Thoughts

The BetaFPV SuperP 14ch PWM receiver is an impressive newcomer in the realm of ExpressLRS receiver options. BetaFPV’s entry injects further diversity and versatility into an already dynamic market. Managing the pins, configuring i2c, CRSF and SBUS etc are still a little bit technical and confusing for beginners, bear in mind this is still a beta firmware so hopefully things will be easier to setup in the future.