Support/FAQ for RC-Soar templates
This page is for support of the RC-Soar templates. Please scan through the page before configuring your template.
Supported operating systems
The RC-Soar templates are compatible with OpenTX and EdgeTX:
EdgeTX
- Recommended versions: 2.7.1+
- For more info visit EdgeTX
OpenTX
- Mature and stable, but no longer supported
- Recommended version: 2.3.15
- For more info visit OpenTX
Current issues affecting RC-Soar templates
| Date | Problem description |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-25 | Crow-aware trim script fails at startup |
| 2025-12-17 | EdgeTX hangs or stutters during startup, when using E-Soar Plus |
| 2024-10-06 | DLG templates sound 'telemetry connected' when pressing Launch button |
| 2024-10-06 | Custom sounds not playing in EdgeTX 2.10 |
Ensure that EdgeTX and Companion versions match
The versions of ETX and Companion must be identical, otherwise your setup may be corrupted after transfer from Companion to your transmitter. Symptoms include:
- GVs not working
- Mixers missing or corrupted
If necessary upgrade EdgeTX and/or Companion, then start over with a fresh template.
Use the latest templates (ETX files are now included)
Most of the templates on this site have been updated for easier configuration:
- Both .OTX and .ETX files are now included
- Simple switch assignment
- Setup guides don't assume any particular make/model of transmitter
Please use the latest versions for your next install.
Converting your OpenTX model files to EdgeTX
OpenTX model files are no longer supported in recent versions of EdgeTX. However you can still convert them to ETX, using EdgeTX Companion v2.10 or earlier. Here's the procedure:
- Install EdgeTX Companion 2.10.
- Open the .OTX file and save as .ETX file.
- Install the version of EdgeTX Companion to match your EdgeTX firmware version. (There is no need to uninstall Companion 2.10, as multiple versions of Companion can all co-exist.)
- Start the target EdgeTX Companion.
- Open the .ETX file, then save. This becomes your working .ETX file, which you can load into your transmitter.
If there's also a change of transmitter, expect conversion warnings in the last step - see below on how to deal with them.
Loading a template to your transmitter
Below is the recommended method to merge an RC-Soar template into the existing models on your transmitter. Using this method, all your radio settings are preserved.
First, please check that you have the correct versions of EdgeTX and Companion.
- The version of EdgeTX in your transmitter must satisfy the minimum required for the template
- The versions of Companion and EdgeTX must be identical.
Failure to observe the above may lead to corrupted setups, even if they appear to load fine in your transmitter.
Assuming the versions are good:
- Start Companion
- Select (or create) a profile for your transmitter.
- From the File menu, open the template file.
- You may now see a list of conversion errors, and/or the model will be marked in red. If so, see next section on how to fix these issues.
- Connect your transmitter via USB and choose "read models and settings from radio". This will open a second window.
- Drag one or more models from the template window to the tx window.
- Close the template window. There should now be a single window open showing the modified model list.
- Choose 'write models and settings' to update the transmitter.
- Copy all model-specific sound files to the target's SD card.
- Disconnect the target transmitter.
Once the file is installed in the target transmitter, go to the Special Functions menu and check that all the SF's have their Enabled flags checked (Companion may disable them during conversion).
How to deal with conversion warnings
When you open a model (.ETX) file, Companion will check and if necessary convert the model data for your particular transmitter. Any conversion errors will be flagged up and must be fixed. The procedure will depend on the operating system and version:
- EdgeTX Companion 2.11 and later . If there are conversion errors then two things will happen: first, the model will be marked in red. Secondly, the '"Write Models and Settings" menu will be greyed out. The errors must be fixed before the model file can be transferred to the transmitter. To view the errors, right click on the model and choose 'Show model errors'.
- EdgeTX Companion 2.10. After opening the file, Companion will display various conversion warnings. Fix these after uploading to the tx.
- OpenTX Companion. Companion will display a list of warnings. Fix these in Companion before transfer to the tx.
Note 1: errors related to differring switch layout are much easier to fix with the latest versions of the templates – any issues will be confined to the Inputs menu.
Note 2: some warnings, for example RF configuration, are advisory and do not require any corrective action
Copy trims to subtrims - not!
EdgeTX and OpenTX both offer a Copy Trims to Subtrims feature. Please do not use this with any RC-Soar template or any setup which has multiple flight modes. Not only will it confuse your trims, it will also trash your CAL settings.
Configuring ELRS
The RC-Soar templates work well with ELRS.
Recommended RF configuration
The following RF configuration is recommended for sailplanes/electric. This provides 10-bit output on 8 channels with excellent range, while minimising current draw. Configuration is done in System>Tools>ExpressLRS script:
- Packet rate: 100 Hz
- Dynamic RF: enabled
- Max RF power: 100 mW
- Model match: On
- Switch mode: 8CH/Full-res (this is the packet switch mode, not related to arming mode)
- Telemetry Ratio (TLM): affects telemetry data rate - use the default value. Exception: for DLG setups with launch height callout, a lower ratio like 1:8 or 1:4 is needed to capture launch height with sufficient precision.
ELRS arming flag
The ELRS arming flag must always be managed, in order for Dynamic Power to work correctly. Easiest is to permanently enable the armed flag - this is fine if using max power of 100 mW.
How you program it will depend on your version of ELRS:
- Up to ELRS 3.x: the arming flag is transmitted via CH5 (if CH5 is already used, it must be swapped with an unused channel, easily done using ChannelChanger script). Create a single mix for CH5, set the source to MAX and weight to 100%. The arming flag will be permanently On.
- ELRS 4.0 and later: arming may be done via a switch. This avoids the need to reserve CH5, however the option is only available with EdgeTX 2.11 and later. Go to Model Setup>RF and set Arm Using = 'Switch'. Set the switch to 'ON'
More ELRS tips
For a deeper dive into ELRS, see my blog post Introduction to ELRS.
FAQ
Your common queries answered
- Write Models and Settings is greyed out
- Starting with EdgeTX 2.11, 'Write Models and Settings' is greyed out if the setup contains conversion errors. See above how to identify and fix these.
- How do I re-order the servo channels?
- Servo channels in your EdgeTX/OpenTX setup can be re-ordered using Channel Changer script.
- Alt sensor is not resetting in DLG templates
- The ALT sensor should reset to zero on launch. If it doesn't, go into the Telemetry menu, locate the ALT sensor and set AutoOffset to 'enabled'.
- Sounds not playing in EdgeTX
- First, make sure that the sound (.wav) files are in the correct location. If that doesn't fix it, then go to the Special Functions menu, and make sure that Enabled is ticked on each line.
- Special functions not triggering
- Go to the Special Functions menu, and make sure that Enabled is ticked on each line.
- A switch is missing from the dropdown list
- Sometimes, a switch may be missing in the drop-down menus of the radio and/or Companion. To fix this, go to the System>Hardware menu. The chances are that the switch has not been defined. Once corrected, the switch should appear in the dropdown menus.
- A switch is not behaving as expected.
- Go to the System>Hardware menu, and check that the switch is correctly defined (2 or 3-pos, toggle etc.).
- Where's the GVARs menu?!
- There's no dedicated GVARS menu on tx's with small mono screens like Q X7, X-Lite, and X-Lite Pro. For these transmitters, the GVARS are set in the Flight Modes menu.
For all other transmitters, the most likely cause is incorrect settings when downloading the OpenTX firmware. Re-flash OpenTx ensuring that the NOGVARS option is unchecked in Companion Settings -> Build options.
- My global functions have disappeared.
- Go to the Model Setup menu and make sure that 'Global functions' is ticked.
- Motor control (CH7) is not working on G-RX8 receiver
- Make sure that CH7 is configured for PWM output (and not S.BUS out). See receiver instructions.
- I think I've pressed the wrong key - help!
- If you suspect you made a data entry error, then there's no need to start again. In Companion, open a known working version of the template in a second window, and use Companion's 'Compare models' tool to identify any differences.
Historical issues
Queries/feedback
Comments and queries are always welcome, I can be contacted by email.
If you've found an issue with one of the templates, please include following info:
- Template name and version
- Transmitter type
- Operating system and version
- Enough info to reproduce the problem
If there's insufficient info to reproduce the problem, I'll just pass it back, so please take the time to document the steps carefully.