OSD (On-Screen Display)
The OSD (On-Screen Display) overlays text and graphics on your FPV video feed, showing real-time information like battery voltage, flight time, and signal quality. It’s your instrument panel — you fly by reading it constantly.
How It Works
Section titled “How It Works”The flight controller generates OSD data and injects it into the video signal before it reaches the VTX. On analog systems, a dedicated OSD chip on the FC handles this. On digital systems, the FC sends OSD data to the digital VTX, which renders it on the goggles.
OSD Chips
Section titled “OSD Chips”- AT7456E (analog): The standard OSD chip found on most FCs. Renders text and symbols onto the analog video signal.
- Digital OSD: Betaflight sends OSD data via MSP (displayport) to the digital VTX. The VTX/goggles render it. Higher resolution, more fonts, better looking.
Essential OSD Elements
Section titled “Essential OSD Elements”These are the elements most pilots consider mandatory:
Battery Voltage
Section titled “Battery Voltage”The most important OSD element. Displayed as total pack voltage (e.g., 22.4V for 6S) or per-cell average (e.g., 3.73V).
Watch for voltage sag under load:
- Full charge: 4.2V/cell (25.2V for 6S)
- Nominal: 3.7V/cell (22.2V for 6S)
- Time to land: 3.5V/cell under load (~21.0V for 6S)
- Critical: Below 3.3V/cell — land immediately
Set up a low voltage warning that flashes when you hit your target landing voltage.
mAh Consumed
Section titled “mAh Consumed”Shows how much energy you’ve used from the battery. More reliable than voltage alone because it accounts for your actual flying style.
If you fly 1300mAh packs, set a warning at ~1000-1050mAh (80% of capacity). This gives you a safety margin.
Requires a current sensor (built into most 4-in-1 ESCs and FCs).
Flight Timer
Section titled “Flight Timer”A timer that starts when you arm. Helps you manage flight duration and develop a sense of how long your batteries last.
Link Quality / RSSI
Section titled “Link Quality / RSSI”Shows radio link health:
- RSSI (analog radio systems): Signal strength, 0-100%
- Link Quality (LQ) (ELRS): Percentage of received packets. 100% = perfect link.
- Set a warning at LQ below 50% or RSSI below 40%
Warnings
Section titled “Warnings”Betaflight’s warning element displays text alerts for critical conditions:
- Low battery
- Failsafe triggered
- No GPS lock
- RC link lost
- Crash detected
Recommended OSD Layout
Section titled “Recommended OSD Layout”Minimal (Racing)
Section titled “Minimal (Racing)”Only the essentials to keep the display clean:
- Battery voltage (top left)
- Timer (top right)
- Warnings (center)
Standard (Freestyle)
Section titled “Standard (Freestyle)”| Position | Element |
|---|---|
| Top left | Battery voltage |
| Top center | Warnings |
| Top right | Timer |
| Bottom left | mAh consumed |
| Bottom right | Link quality (LQ/RSSI) |
Full Telemetry (Long Range)
Section titled “Full Telemetry (Long Range)”Add GPS data and more detail:
- All standard elements
- GPS coordinates
- Distance from home
- Altitude
- Speed
- Number of satellites
- Heading/compass
- GPS rescue status
Configuration
Section titled “Configuration”In Betaflight Configurator, go to the OSD tab:
- Enable OSD in the Configuration tab
- Open the OSD tab — you’ll see a preview of the video frame
- Drag elements to your preferred positions
- Check/uncheck elements to show or hide them
- Set warning thresholds (low voltage, mAh consumed, RSSI minimum)
- Fonts: Betaflight includes a default font. Custom fonts (like INAV’s or community fonts) can be uploaded for a different look.
Analog vs Digital OSD
Section titled “Analog vs Digital OSD”- Analog: Limited to the AT7456E chip’s character set. Fixed grid positions. Lower resolution text.
- Digital (DJI/Walksnail/HDZero): Higher resolution rendering, custom fonts possible, smoother text. Configured the same way in Betaflight but rendered by the digital system.
OSD Profiles
Section titled “OSD Profiles”Betaflight supports multiple OSD profiles (typically 3). Switch between them with a radio switch:
- Profile 1: Full telemetry
- Profile 2: Minimal (for recording with less clutter)
- Profile 3: GPS-heavy (for long range)
Useful for switching between “full data while flying” and “clean screen while recording for others to watch.”
Advanced OSD Features
Section titled “Advanced OSD Features”Statistics Screen
Section titled “Statistics Screen”After disarming, Betaflight can display a summary:
- Max altitude
- Max speed
- Max distance
- Max current draw
- Total mAh consumed
- Flight duration
- Min battery voltage
- Min RSSI/LQ
Enable in the OSD tab under “Post Flight Statistics.”
Craft Name
Section titled “Craft Name”Display your pilot name or drone name on the OSD. Set in Betaflight CLI: set name = MYQUAD
Artificial Horizon
Section titled “Artificial Horizon”A horizon line that shows your drone’s attitude. Some pilots find it helpful, others find it distracting. Available in Betaflight OSD.
- Don’t clutter: More elements = more visual noise. Start minimal and add only what you actually reference in flight.
- Test on the ground: Arm with props off and verify all OSD elements display correctly before your first flight.
- Position carefully: Don’t put elements where they’ll obscure obstacles during proximity flying.
- Current sensor calibration: If mAh consumed seems inaccurate, calibrate the current sensor scale and offset in Betaflight using a multimeter or known-good ammeter.