How to Set Up a VTX Table in Betaflight

A VTX table tells Betaflight which frequency each band and channel slot means, and which power levels your video transmitter accepts. Without one, Betaflight cannot change the channel or power of a SmartAudio or Tramp transmitter. With one loaded, you can switch both from the OSD menu, the radio or the Configurator, without pressing the button on the VTX.

Every analog VTX in our database that has a manufacturer-published table shows it on its spec page, in three forms: a channel grid, the CLI commands, and a JSON file that Betaflight Configurator can load. The list is at the top of the VTX hub.

Where the table comes from

Use the table your transmitter's maker publishes, usually as a download next to the manual or on the product page. Do not build one from a generic band plan. Transmitters differ in three ways:

Bands and channels. The standard 5.8 GHz bands (A, B, E, F and R, often plus L) are common, but wideband 4.9-6.0 GHz units and transmitters on other bands use the maker's own band layouts.
Power levels. A 1 W unit and a 2.5 W unit offer different steps, and some steps are only allowed in some modes.
The value column. What Betaflight sends to the VTX for each power level depends on the control protocol. The same 25 mW step can need a different number on a SmartAudio unit than on a Tramp unit. Only the maker's table gets these values right.

Loading it from the CLI

Open the CLI tab in Betaflight Configurator. Paste the commands from the transmitter's spec page and press Enter. The last line, save, stores the table and reboots the flight controller. The commands look like this:

vtxtable bands 2
vtxtable channels 8
vtxtable band 1 BOSCAM_A A CUSTOM 5865 5845 5825 5805 5785 5765 5745 5725
vtxtable band 2 BOSCAM_B B CUSTOM 5733 5752 5771 5790 5809 5828 5847 5866
vtxtable powerlevels 3
vtxtable powervalues 25 200 500
vtxtable powerlabels 25 200 500
save

That block only shows the format. It is not any particular transmitter's table, so do not paste it into your flight controller.

Loading it from a JSON file

In Configurator's Video Transmitter tab, choose Load from file, pick the vtxtable.json downloaded from the spec page, then click Save. The tab then shows the bands and power levels, and lets you pick a band, channel and power.

Reading the table

Bands and channels. Each band is a row of up to eight frequencies in MHz. Betaflight allows up to eight bands of eight channels. A 0 is an empty slot, which also appears as "—" on our pages.
FACTORY and CUSTOM. For a FACTORY band, Betaflight sends the band and channel numbers and the transmitter uses its own built-in frequency. For a CUSTOM band, Betaflight sends the frequency itself. The maker's table says which one each band is.
Power values and labels. The value is what Betaflight sends to the VTX. The label, up to three characters, is what your OSD shows, for example 25, 200 or 1W.

FAQ

Do I need a VTX table for a digital system like DJI or Walksnail?

No. The VTX table is for analog transmitters that Betaflight controls through SmartAudio or Tramp. Digital systems set their channel and power in the goggles or the air unit's own menu.

Why can I not change my VTX channel from the OSD?

Usually because no VTX table is loaded, or the transmitter's control wire is not set up. Load the maker's table, then check in the Ports tab that the UART the VTX control wire is soldered to has the right peripheral (SmartAudio or Tramp) selected.

Can I use another transmitter's VTX table?

Only if the maker says the two use the same table. Power values and band layouts differ between models, so a borrowed table can select the wrong power or a frequency the transmitter does not use.

Is every channel in the table legal to use?

No. A table lists what the hardware can do. Which frequencies and power levels you may transmit on depends on your country and licence; see VTX frequency bands.