News: Frsky XSR-SIM FPV Simulator Dongle

by Oscar

Tired of having a wire in the way when playing FPV simulators with your Taranis? Problem solved! FrSky recently released a Wireless USB Simulator Dongle – the XSR-SIM. It allows you to wirelessly connect your FrSky transmitter to the computer for racing drone simulators.

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Where to Buy?

How Does XSR-SIM Work?

It’s actually pretty similar to using a flight controller + receiver combo, except the wiring and requirement is much simpler.

For Windows it should work straight out of the box given that the HID driver is pre-installed. for Mac users you will have to download the correct HID drivers first.

The XSR-SIM has a built-in receiver, so you will have to bind it to your Taranis or Horus radio.

According to Frsky, this dongle works with all popular sims such as DRL, Liftoff, Velocidrone, Freerider, FPV Air 2 and so on. You can also flash the firmware quite easily through the SmartPort interface if there are incompatibility issues with future sims.

Yes, it’s much cheaper to just run a Mini USB cable between the transmitter and computer. But sometimes you might want a wireless connection because having a cable can be quite inconvenient. It’s good to have options.

Specifciations

  • Size: 48.2 x 19.1 x 9.2mm
  • Weight: 6.2g
  • Low power requirement – around 55mA at 5V
  • Compatible with FrSky transmitters and module systems (Mode D16)
  • Supports up to 8 channels (has to be set up on transmitter’s input & mixer)

Can’t Bind to Radios?

For Binding instructions, check out the manual: https://www.frsky-rc.com/wp-content/uploads/Downloads/Manual/XSR-SIM/XSR-SIM-%20manual.pdf

If you are having trouble binding it, usually this is a firmware problem, where your Taranis or Horus might be on FCC or LBT (EU) firmware but the XSR-SIM is on the other (don’t forget it has a receiver built-in!)

In this case you will have to flash the correct firmware through the S.Port just like flashing the R-XSR receiver. Download firmware from FrSky’s website here, it contains both firmware: https://www.frsky-rc.com/xsr-sim/

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15 comments

Darren 15th February 2021 - 3:48 pm

How precise are the axes as seen by Windows’ USB Game Controllers – calibrate – “show raw values”?

For example, when using OrangeRx DSMX/DSM2 Compatible USB Dongle, I get very basic precision. Like 250ish different values (8-bit) between extreme ends of axes.

The year is 2021, we should be getting 10-bit or better precision.

I am interested in using RC TXs for both RC sims as well as regular flight sims like x-plane 11 and MSFS2020, because they are more compact than traditional joysticks-hotas-rudder-pedals.

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Lezly 15th October 2020 - 12:31 am

I have X-lite. Ever since I was running Opentx 2.3.10 and my XSR-Sim was upgraded to ACCST 2.1.0, but I can’t get it to not bind to the FCC or LBT and X-Lite to the FCC and is also run by LBT.

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Paul Ames 11th September 2020 - 11:05 am

Hi
I have just created a “SIM” model on my Taranis X9D. I have bound it to my XSM-SIM Dongle.
My Real Flight on my computer does not respond to the connected Taranis.
But I get a green light on my XSM-SIM after I turn off my Taranis X9D and turn it on again.
So the two FrSky items are communicating. But the Real Flight on my computer is left out. I am running Windows 10.
I cannot find a single written or YouTube presentation that addresses the whole chain of creating the model (fixed wing), binding the XSR-SIM to the X9D and getting Real Flight to recognize my transmitter as its controller. But what needs to happen next to get the Real Flight software respond to the X9D as the controller? Do I need to make a setup change and change the “Storage” setting to Joystick? Do I need to find the driver I previously rolled back to try a cable linkage which did not work? I am going to be 85 early in this coming October. I am desperately trying to relearn what I used to know so I have something to do to keep from going bonkers in my retirement. Please Please help me.

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Patrick Bergs 27th June 2020 - 2:21 pm

i have an X-lite running Opentx 2.3.9 and my XSR-Sim is updated to the ACCST 2.1.0 but i can’t get it to bind not with the FCC or the LBT my X-Lite is running FCC

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Sgali 24th July 2019 - 11:41 pm

Hi Oscar
Your website is THE most resourceful place for all my questions. Thanks for your efforts!
Since Google could not answer my question, I hope you can help me here. Got a XSR-USB running LBT firmware and a x9d with flex firmware but I fail to bind. Would flashing the rx with FCC resolve my issue?
PS: Don’t wanna solder the pins if not absolutely necessary…

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Oscar 28th July 2019 - 3:58 pm

Yea try flashing FCC firmware and see. It has nothing to do with the “flex” firmware which is just a OpenTX firmware.

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Zdeněk 11th May 2019 - 5:11 pm

Hi, I have tanaris qx7. I put in xsr-sim to bind mode and on tanaris start binding mode, but still shines red and green diode. Whatˇs wrong?

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Dieter Preiser 1st March 2019 - 2:31 am

I’m trying to set this device with RealFlight8 and a Taranis 9xd Plus. When I calibrate, it shows channels 5,6,7 and 8 even through my Taranis puts out channels 1, 2, 3 and 4.

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Mick51 19th October 2018 - 12:03 pm

I can not flash fcc with the radio, you have a solution?

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Chris C 26th September 2018 - 4:28 pm

If I can already use a USB cord to connect my QX7 to my Mac and use a simulator, is it safe to say that I already have the HID driver installed?

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Oscar 1st October 2018 - 4:53 pm

No, it’s different.

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Fred Jean 8th October 2018 - 6:14 am

Is there a link to the Mac HID drivers? I cannot seem to find a link to them anywhere.

Thanks!

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Oscar 23rd October 2018 - 4:08 pm

have you tried googling for it? sorry i really dont know because i only use windows.

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Scott Miles 9th November 2018 - 2:21 pm

It seems, from what I read that most OS X users are installing USB Overdrive, with limited success.
usboverdrive.com/USBOverdrive/News.html

For FRSky to say “…for Mac users you will have to download the correct HID drivers first…”, is pretentious! Who would know what the correct OS X HID drivers are, if not FRSky?

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Oscar 23rd November 2018 - 4:01 am

Wish I can offer more help on this topics unfortunately i don’t use Mac myself.

Reply