How to Setup Switches and Control Sticks in the Mixes Page on EdgeTX

If you’re using EdgeTX, setting up control sticks and switches on the Mixes page is essential for flying your FPV drone. Whether you’re configuring the sticks for basic flight control or setting up switches for arming, flight modes, or other functions, this guide will walk you through the process step by step.

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By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to assign your control sticks to channels, set up switches for different actions like arming or flight mode changes, and test the setup to make sure everything is working correctly.

Check out my other EdgeTX related posts: https://oscarliang.com/tag/edgetx/

Access the Mixes Page

To begin, you’ll need to open the Mixes page on your EdgeTX radio. This is where you’ll map your control sticks and switches to various channels that your flight controller uses.

1. Turn on your EdgeTX radio.
2. From the Home screen, press the Model button.
3. Navigate to the Mixes tab by either pressing the Page button until you find it or selecting it from the menu if you’re on a touchscreen radio.

Here, you’ll find a list of channels (e.g., CH1, CH2, CH3, etc.). Each channel can be mapped to a specific input, like a stick or switch.

Assign Control Sticks to Channels

For most models, the first four channels (CH1 to CH4) are typically assigned to the main controls: roll, pitch, throttle, and yaw. For example:

• Channel 1: Roll (Aileron)
• Channel 2: Pitch (Elevator)
• Channel 3: Yaw (Rudder)
• Channel 4: Throttle

Usually, this should be automatically configured for you when you create a new model, but if not, you can do it yourself:

1. Channel 1 (Roll):
   • Highlight CH1 using the jog wheel and press to enter the setup.
   • Set the Source to your aileron stick.
   • Optionally, you can adjust Weight (how much of the stick movement is passed through to the output) or apply Expo for smoother control.
2. Channel 2 (Pitch):
   • Highlight CH2.
   • Set the Source to the elevator stick.
3. Channel 3 (Throttle):
   • Highlight CH3.
   • Set the Source to the throttle stick.
4. Channel 4 (Yaw):
   • Highlight CH4.
   • Set the Source to the rudder stick.

Setup Switches

Now that your control sticks are configured, it’s time to assign functions to your switches. These switches can be used for various tasks like arming, changing flight modes, or activating features like a buzzer or GPS rescue.

Setting Up an Arm Switch

In ExpressLRS, it’s recommended to use Channel 5 (CH5) for the Arm switch. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Highlight CH5 in the Mixes page.
2. Press the jog wheel to enter the mix setup.
3. Scroll to Source and flip the switch you want to use for arming (e.g., SD). The switch you flip will automatically appear as the source, so you don’t need to manually search through a list.
4. Leave the remaining settings at their default values.

Setting Up a Mode Switch

For configuring flight modes (e.g., Acro Mode, Angle Mode, Horizon Mode), you’ll typically use a 3-position switch. Let’s use CH6 for this example.

1. Highlight CH6 in the Mixes page.
2. Assign a 3-position switch (e.g., SC) to control the different flight modes.

How Many Switches Can You Set Up?

Most radios come with more switches than you’ll ever need. While you can assign all of them to the available channels, it’s usually not necessary. For most FPV drone setups, you’ll only need a few switches.

The number of channels available depends on your radio link. In ExpressLRS, you can have 8 to 16 channels based on the switch mode. The default setup for most FPV drones allows for 12 channels, with 8 channels available for switches after the first 4 are used for control sticks.

How Many Switches Do You Really Need?

For most FPV drones, I typically use 3-4 switches:

• Arm switch: To arm/disarm the drone.
• Buzzer switch: To locate the drone when lost.
• Flight mode switch: To toggle between Acro, Angle, or Horizon modes.
• GPS Rescue Mode switch (if applicable): To enable GPS Rescue in case of signal loss.

Test Your Setup

Once your sticks and switches are mapped, it’s important to test them:

1. Connect your drone and open the Receiver tab in Betaflight (or your flight controller’s configuration tool).
2. Move the sticks and flip the switches to see if the corresponding channels are responding correctly. If your drone needs to be powered for this step, remove the propellers before connecting the battery for safety.

Now you can move on to assigning functions to those auxiliary channels you just setup in Betaflight modes

Conclusion

Setting up control sticks and switches in the Mixes page of your EdgeTX radio is a key step in configuring your FPV drone for smooth, responsive control. Whether you’re assigning control sticks to basic functions or configuring switches for arming and flight modes, following these steps will ensure that everything is mapped correctly and ready for flight.

Edit History

• Sep 2018 – tutorial created
• Sep 2019 – updated
• Oct 2024 – updated for EdgeTX and ExpressLRS