How to use your FPV radio as a simulator controller (EdgeTX 2.12)

Contents

1. Radio or sim-only controller?
2. Three ways to connect a radio to a simulator
3. Method 1: USB joystick in EdgeTX (recommended)
4. Method 2: ExpressLRS Bluetooth joystick
5. Method 3: Betaflight HID or a wireless dongle
6. Calibrate in your simulator
7. Per-radio notes: Pocket, Boxer, TX16S
8. Sim not seeing your radio? Fix tree
9. Next step
10. FAQ
11. Sources and versions checked (October 13, 2026; prices and release tags re-checked October 14, 2026)

Researched from the EdgeTX manual, ExpressLRS and Betaflight docs, GitHub release notes and manufacturer pages; sources checked on the date shown above. Not bench-tested yet; diagrams are drawn from the docs.

Radios with an ESP32-based ExpressLRS module can also connect over Bluetooth expresslrs.org. A sim-only controller such as the BetaFPV LiteRadio 2 SIM makes sense only if you won't fly a real quad soon: BetaFPV builds it exclusively for simulator training betafpv.com.

Versions covered

Software / hardware	Version this guide follows	Source
EdgeTX (radio OS)	2.12.4, released Sep 2, 2026	github.com
EdgeTX for STM32 F2 radios	2.11.8, released Oct 10, 2026 (the 2.12 notes say 2.11 is the last series for F2 radios)	github.com
ExpressLRS (Bluetooth route)	4.1.0 (Jul 17, 2026) and 3.6.4 (Jun 8, 2026)	github.com github.com
Betaflight (HID route, optional)	2026.6.2 (Sep 16, 2026)	github.com
Radios	RadioMaster Pocket (M2), Boxer (M2), TX16S MK3	manufacturer pages, Oct 13, 2026

Scroll the table sideways for more columns.

Still picking a sim? Start at our simulators hub. This page covers connecting the radio and doesn't compare sims.

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Radio or sim-only controller?

Search results for this are mostly cheap sim-only sticks. Here's the trade-off (not a ranking; prices from manufacturers' stores on October 14, 2026).

Scroll the table sideways for more columns.

Who a sim-only controller suits: someone who wants to try FPV on a simulator for very little money and isn't sure they'll buy a quad. BetaFPV lists Velocidrone, Uncrashed, DRL and Liftoff among the sims it supports in Joystick mode betafpv.com.

Who it's not for: anyone buying a real quad in the next few months. You'd buy a radio anyway and relearn its sticks and switches.

Don't have a radio yet? Start with our RadioMaster Pocket ELRS setup guide or the Pocket vs Boxer comparison. Manufacturer pages: RadioMaster Pocket · RadioMaster Boxer · BetaFPV LiteRadio 2 SIM

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Three ways to connect a radio to a simulator

Scroll the table sideways for more columns.

USB dongles that plug into a radio's trainer port, or wireless sim receivers, are a fourth option. Compatibility depends on your radio, so check the dongle maker's list before buying.

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Method 1: USB joystick in EdgeTX (recommended)

Step 1: Make a "SIM" model (RF modules off)

The EdgeTX manual: "If using the radio as a USB Joystick, both internal and external RF modules should be turned off." manual.edgetx.org. The colour-radio page adds that, set up this way, the mixer runs at 1000 Hz in Joystick mode manual.edgetx.org.

1. Press MDL and highlight the quad model you already fly.
2. Choose Copy Model. The copy keeps your switch layout, so the arm switch and modes match your real quad. Our EdgeTX model setup guide covers copying models.
3. Rename the copy "SIM".
4. On its Model Setup page, set Internal RF and External RF to OFF (the options are OFF or the installed module's name) manual.edgetx.org.

With RF off, the radio doesn't transmit during sim sessions, and sim tweaks stay off your real quad's model.

Step 2: Plug in and choose Joystick

1. Turn the radio on and select the SIM model.
2. Connect a USB-C cable that carries data. Charge-only cables won't work.
3. When the radio asks what to do with the USB connection, choose Joystick.

That prompt comes from USB Mode in the radio settings: the "default action when a USB cable is plugged into the USB data port and the radio is powered on" manual.edgetx.org. On B&W radios (Pocket, Boxer) the options are Ask (default), Joyst, SDCard and Serial; colour radios (TX16S) say Ask, Joystick, Storage and Serial manual.edgetx.org. Set it to Joystick and the prompt goes away. The radio must be on when you plug in.

Step 3: Classic vs Advanced mode

EdgeTX has two USB Joystick modes, Classic and Advanced, set under USB Joystick on the model's Model Setup page manual.edgetx.org.

Classic (default) sends output channels to the computer in numerical order, mapped to fixed axes and buttons manual.edgetx.org, checked Oct 13, 2026]:

So the sim sees your channels, not your sticks. With an AETR channel order, roll is the X axis, pitch is Y, throttle is Z and yaw is X rotation. A switch only shows up if it's mixed onto a channel, and in Classic mode a switch on Ch5–Ch8 appears as an axis, dial or slider, not a button.

Advanced lets you set each channel yourself manual.edgetx.org:

• Interface mode: Joystick, Gamepad or MultiAxis. The manual notes that Windows may detect the radio only as a joystick whatever you choose.
• Channel mode per channel: None, Btn (button), Axis or Sim (Ail, Ele, Rud, Thr and others).
• Circular cutout: limits an axis pair to a circle, like gamepad sticks. Leave it at None for FPV.
• On colour radios, changes take effect only after you press Apply Changes.

Use Advanced when a sim wants a switch as a button (arm or reset, for example). B&W radio limit: "The advanced joystick mode is not available for black-and-white display radios with less than 1 MB of flash memory" manual.edgetx.org.

RadioMaster lists the Boxer's STM32F407VGT6 with 1 MB flash radiomasterrc.com, so the Boxer meets that rule. RadioMaster doesn't publish the Pocket's flash size, so check whether your menu shows Advanced. If it doesn't, use Classic and map switches as axes in the sim.

Step 4: Check it on the computer

Before opening the sim, confirm the computer sees the radio and every stick moves:

• Windows: search for Set up USB game controllers (or run joy.cpl), select the radio, click Properties and move each stick and switch.
• macOS / Linux: use the sim's own controller screen.

If a stick doesn't move here, the problem is on the radio, not in the sim: check the Channel Monitor.

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Method 2: ExpressLRS Bluetooth joystick

ExpressLRS can turn the TX module into a Bluetooth game controller. The docs list BLE Joystick as "ESP32 TXes Only"; it "allows connection to simulators through the bluetooth of your computer" expresslrs.org.

Does your radio qualify? The ExpressLRS targets list gives the esp32 platform for the internal modules of the Pocket, Boxer, TX16S MK2 and TX16S MK3 github.com. RadioMaster's product pages don't mention Bluetooth.

1. Open SYS → Tools → ExpressLRS (the Lua script).
2. Select [BLE Joystick] expresslrs.org.
3. On the computer, open Bluetooth settings and pair the new ExpressLRS device.
4. Calibrate it in the sim like any joystick.
5. To leave BLE mode, reboot the radio or change models expresslrs.org.

What to know:

• On ELRS 4.x, "Backpack is now disabled in wifi and BLE modes" github.com.
• Third-party reports (B, opinion, not our tests): a 2022 guide puts the usable range at about 3 m, and commenters there report Bluetooth adapters that couldn't find the device and call the latency poor oscarliang.com. If it feels laggy, use USB.

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Method 3: Betaflight HID or a wireless dongle

If your radio can't do USB joystick, a flight controller can act as one: the radio talks to the FC's receiver as normal, and the FC shows up on USB as a game controller.

1. Bind the receiver (how to bind an ELRS receiver) and confirm the sticks move in the Betaflight App Receiver tab (Betaflight setup guide).
2. Back up with diff all in the CLI.
3. In the CLI, type set usb_hid_cdc = on, then save (this stores the setting and reboots the board, as the guide requires). HID joystick support "is currently only available on F4 / F7 boards", and Windows 7 needs a driver betaflight.com.
4. Select the FC as the controller in the sim and calibrate.
5. When you're done: set usb_hid_cdc = off, then save.

For dongles, see the note under the routes table above.

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Calibrate in your simulator

Every sim needs a one-time calibration, whichever route you use:

1. Select the SIM model on the radio and center the trims.
2. In the sim's controller or radio setup screen, select the radio.
3. Run calibration: move every stick to all ends, then leave them centered with the throttle down when asked.
4. Assign the axes (throttle, yaw, pitch, roll) and invert any that move the wrong way.
5. Assign an arm switch or reset button if the sim uses one (Advanced mode if it needs a button).
6. Test: with the throttle stick down, the sim's throttle should read 0%, not 50%.

Per sim:

• Velocidrone: sold on velocidrone.com, not Steam; the licence was £16.99 (GBP, the only currency shown) on October 14, 2026, for Windows, macOS and Linux velocidrone.com. Calibration and rates: Velocidrone setup.
• Uncrashed: sold on Steam. Axis mapping per radio: Uncrashed controller setup.
• Liftoff and DRL Simulator: sold on Steam. Use the steps above.

If a sim screen looks different, check the sim's patch notes. Buy sims only from the official store (velocidrone.com or Steam), never "free download" sites. Then match your sim rates to your quad's; our Betaflight setup guide shows where to find them.

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Per-radio notes: Pocket, Boxer, TX16S

Scroll the table sideways for more columns.

TX16S MK3 EdgeTX version (checked October 13, 2026): the two official sources disagree. EdgeTX's supported-radios page lists the MK3 "since v2.12" edgetx.org. RadioMaster's product page says the firmware must be EdgeTX "3.0.0 or higher" radiomasterrc.com. EdgeTX's GitHub had no 3.0 release or pre-release on that date; the latest was 2.12.4 github.com. Check the version your radio runs before following menu names here.

Older TX16S (Mark II): supported since EdgeTX 2.4; internal ELRS module listed as esp32 edgetx.org github.com.

Battery safety: the Pocket takes two 18650 Li-ion cells radiomasterrc.com; the Boxer and TX16S MK3 also accept a 2S LiPo radiomasterrc.com radiomasterrc.com. Charge as your RadioMaster manual says, never unattended, and don't use cells with torn wraps or dents. Joystick mode isn't a charging spec, so check the manual before leaving the radio plugged in for long sessions.

Full radio guides: Pocket · Boxer · TX16S.

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Sim not seeing your radio? Fix tree

1. No USB prompt on the radio. Probably a charge-only cable, or the radio was off when you plugged in. Use a known data cable and turn the radio on first.
2. Prompt appears, but no controller on the computer. Check you picked Joystick, not Storage or Serial. On EdgeTX 2.12.0–2.12.2, update (back up models and SD card first): 2.12.3 fixed "some devices require specific USB joystick HID report for detection" github.com.
3. Sim only sees throttle, or some sticks are dead. Open the Channel Monitor. If a channel doesn't move there, the SIM model is missing that mix; if it does, reassign the axis in the sim.
4. Axes swapped (roll moves pitch). That's your channel order (A = Aileron, E = Elevator, T = Throttle, R = Rudder) manual.edgetx.org. Reassign the axes in the sim.
5. Throttle sits near 50% with the stick down. Rerun the sim's calibration, throttle fully down when asked, trims centered.
6. A switch isn't recognised. Mix it onto a channel (Ch9 and up become buttons), or use Advanced and set that channel to Btn.
7. Bluetooth pairs, but the sim doesn't see it. Start the sim after pairing. Third-party reports (B) point to Bluetooth adapter compatibility oscarliang.com. USB is the fallback.
8. The radio links to your quad while you fly the sim. An RF module is still on in the SIM model. Set both to OFF.

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Next step

1. Calibrate and set rates in Velocidrone setup.
2. Or map axes per radio in Uncrashed controller setup.
3. Still choosing a sim? See the simulators hub.

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FAQ

Can I use my RadioMaster Pocket as a sim controller?

Yes. With the radio on, plug in a data cable and choose Joystick (EdgeTX Radio Setup page). Its internal ELRS module is listed as esp32 in the ExpressLRS targets list, so ELRS Bluetooth (BLE Joystick in the Lua script) is also an option.

Do I need drivers?

The EdgeTX manual doesn't mention a driver for USB joystick mode. Its USB Joystick page notes Windows may detect the radio only as a joystick, while macOS, Linux and Android handle the interface modes properly. Per Betaflight's HID joystick guide, Betaflight HID needs a driver only on Windows 7.

Why does the sim only detect throttle, or swap my axes?

The sim reads output channels in order (Ch1 = X, Ch2 = Y and so on, per the EdgeTX USB Joystick page). Check the Channel Monitor and the SIM model's mixes, then reassign axes in the sim.

Does Betaflight HID mode affect flying?

Betaflight's guide doesn't say. We recommend set usb_hid_cdc = off and save before you fly.

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Sources and versions checked (October 13, 2026; prices and release tags re-checked October 14, 2026)

This page is researched (how we research). (B) marks third-party opinion.

• EdgeTX manual, B&W radios (Model Setup, Radio Setup): https://manual.edgetx.org/bw-radios/
• EdgeTX manual, colour radios (USB Joystick, Radio Settings): https://manual.edgetx.org/color-radios/
• EdgeTX releases 2.12.4, 2.12.3, 2.11.8: https://github.com/EdgeTX/edgetx/releases
• EdgeTX supported radios: https://edgetx.org/supportedradios/
• ExpressLRS Lua how-to (BLE Joystick): https://www.expresslrs.org/quick-start/transmitters/lua-howto/
• ExpressLRS targets list: https://github.com/ExpressLRS/targets/blob/master/targets.json
• ExpressLRS 4.1.0, 4.0.0 and 3.6.4 release notes: https://github.com/ExpressLRS/ExpressLRS/releases
• Betaflight HID joystick guide: https://betaflight.com/docs/wiki/guides/current/HID-Joystick-Support · Betaflight 2026.6.2 release: https://github.com/betaflight/betaflight/releases/tag/2026.6.2
• RadioMaster Pocket (M2), Boxer (M2), TX16S MK3 product pages: https://radiomasterrc.com/
• BetaFPV LiteRadio 2 SIM: https://betafpv.com/products/literadio-2-sim-controller
• Velocidrone shop and news: https://www.velocidrone.com/shop, https://www.velocidrone.com/news
• Third-party report (B): https://oscarliang.com/expresslrs-bluetooth-joystick/ (2022)