Setup guide

Set up CAMLINK, check your first recording and use Link Pause when you fly without a camera.

Firmware 1.0.0 · revision 2026-09-15 · about 30 minutes · soldering required · a phone or a laptop

Firmware updates

Supported cameras

Every CAMLINK includes support for compatible GoPro, DJI, Blackmagic and Sony cameras. Check the model list before pairing.

Choose a model to see its test status and supported OSD values.

Camera not listed? It is not supported. Blackmagic requires camera firmware 8.1 or newer.

Quickstart

Complete the setup and recording check. Step 7 shows how to fly without a camera.

Your flight-controller firmware

Betaflight 2025.12+ or KISS Ultra B67+. Choose your firmware to see the matching setup steps.

Already set up? Explore settings and details.

Confirm all four requirements before you start.

  • Betaflight 2025.12+ or KISS Ultra B67+. Update your flight controller first if needed, then confirm that the quad flies correctly before installing CAMLINK. Older versions are not supported. The firmware update is not included in the installation time.
  • One free UART. Check your flight controller’s pinout and serial-port configuration before soldering. A pad and a connector can share the same UART. Do not use a port already assigned to your video system or another device.
  • A 5 V and GND pad. CAMLINK needs a regulated 5 V pad that can supply at least 0.2 A. Do not use a 9 V or VBAT pad.
  • A supported camera. Verified on our bench: GoPro HERO 11 and 13, MAX 2, Mission 1 Pro; DJI Osmo Nano, Action 2 and 6; Blackmagic Pocket 4K and 6K; Sony ZV-E10 II and ZV-E1. Other models are expected to work but have not been on our bench. Check your exact camera model in the model picker.

What's in the box

  • CAMLINK board and an injection-molded polypropylene case, black or transparent. You put the two together in step 2.
  • 4-wire silicone harness: 5 V, GND, TX, RX
  • Pre-cut heatshrink
  • Camera Cage mount and standoff mount
  • Button cap, one piece covering both buttons, spares included
  • M2 screw
Everything in the CAMLINK box: module, harness, heatshrink, Camera Cage mount, standoff mount, button cap and M2 screw
Module in its case, harness, heatshrink, both mounts, the button cap and the M2 screw.
The tools for a CAMLINK install: solder, lighter, fine-tip soldering iron, 1.3 mm hex driver and side cutters
Fine tip, solder, side cutters and the 1.3 mm driver. The lighter only matters on the heatshrink route.

What you need

  • 1.3 mm hex driver, for the case's M2 screw
  • Soldering iron with a fine tip, and solder
  • Side cutters
  • A lighter, if you go the heatshrink route instead of the case
  • The tools to open your frame, usually 1.5 and 2 mm hex.
  • A smoke stopper is recommended for the first power-up.

  1. Solder four wires

    Leave the flight-controller ends long for now.

    CAMLINK solder padsFront view of CAMLINK with its logo upright. The four pads at the bottom are labeled 5V, GND, TX and RX from left to right. No wires are shown. LED 1 2 5VGNDTXRX
    Side cutters trimming only the exposed wire strands at the CAMLINK end to the length of the solder pads
    Trim only the exposed strands at the CAMLINK end so they are no longer than the solder pad. Longer strands can touch adjacent pads and cause a short circuit.
    Soldering iron display reading 321 degrees Celsius
    Around 320 °C is plenty.
    Four wires leaving the CAMLINK board towards the left, stacked one above another for the case
    For the case: all four wires exit left, stacked one above another.

    Done when all four joints on CAMLINK are clean and no solder bridges adjacent pads.

  2. Mount it

    Mount CAMLINK near the camera, with the LED visible and both buttons accessible. Use the Camera Cage mount on an ERA frame or the standoff mount on a round 5 mm standoff.

    Use either the case or the included heatshrink. The buttons stay easier to press in the case.

    If using the case

    Place the button cap in the lid, insert the board and fold the case closed. Stack the four wires through the left opening.

    The button cap placed into the case lid
    The cap goes into the lid.
    The closed case with the harness leaving through the left opening
    Snapped shut, LED and buttons in their cutouts.

    Secure the cased module to the mount with the M2 screw. Tighten only until the case is secure and both buttons still click freely. Overtightening can jam the buttons.

    The Camera Cage mount peg inserted into the ERA cage
    The mount's peg seats in the ERA cage.
    The cased module screwed onto the cage mount with the 1.3 mm driver
    Case secure, both buttons still clicking freely.
    CAMLINK mounted on a 5 mm standoff of a non-ERA frame, next to the FPV camera
    A round 5 mm standoff on a non-ERA frame.
    The twisted four-wire harness routed along the frame to the mounted module
    Twist the four wires together and route them like a receiver lead.
    The four joints on the flight controller: white on T5, yellow on R5, black on G, red on 5V
    Here on UART 5: white to T5, yellow to R5, black to G, red to 5 V.

    Disconnect LiPo and USB. After mounting and routing the cable, trim the wires and solder to a free UART. This example uses UART 5.

    CAMLINK to VELOX F7 SEWiring example using UART 5 on a VELOX F7 SE flight controller. CAMLINK 5 V connects to the flight controller's 5 V pad with the red wire. CAMLINK GND connects to GND with the black wire. CAMLINK TX connects to R5 with the yellow wire. CAMLINK RX connects to T5 with the white wire. TX and RX cross between the two boards. UART 5 is this example; use a free UART on your own flight controller and select its number in Betaflight. LED 1 2 5V G R5 T5 5VGNDTXRXCAMLINK to VELOX F7 SEWiring example using UART 5 on a VELOX F7 SE flight controller. CAMLINK 5 V connects to the flight controller's 5 V pad with the red wire. CAMLINK GND connects to GND with the black wire. CAMLINK TX connects to R5 with the yellow wire. CAMLINK RX connects to T5 with the white wire. TX and RX cross between the two boards. UART 5 is this example; use a free UART on your own flight controller and select its number in Betaflight. LED 1 2 5V G R5 T5 5VGNDTXRX
    Example: VELOX F7 SE, UART 5. TX goes to R5; RX goes to T5.

    With LiPo and USB disconnected, connect CAMLINK 5 V to 5 V, GND to GND, TX to the FC’s RX pad and RX to its TX pad on one free UART. The KISS GUI example below uses Serial 6. The selected serial port must match your wiring.

    Done when both buttons are accessible and click freely, the four joints at the flight controller are clean, and the harness is secured away from props and sharp carbon edges.

  3. Configure your flight controller

    Ports tab: enable MSP on the UART you soldered to, leave the baud at 115200 and every other row unchanged, then save and reboot.

    Betaflight Ports tab with MSP switched on at 115200
    MSP on the UART you soldered to, 115200.

    Done when MSP is enabled on your UART at 115200 and the flight controller has rebooted.

    If MSP is off again after saving and reconnecting, check the number of MSP-enabled ports. Betaflight allows three by default, including USB/VCP and your MSP DisplayPort port. Disable MSP only on an unused port, such as a factory-enabled UART1 if nothing needs it, then save again; keep USB and your video-system port enabled. For Betaflight 2025.12, you can instead build and flash firmware using Expert Mode → Build Configuration → Custom Defines with MAX_MSP_PORT_COUNT=n (up to 6); this is a build option, not a CLI setting.

    Open Advanced → Serial configuration. On the port wired to CAMLINK, select MSP Protocol, then Save. This example uses Serial 6. Use your own wired port and leave other ports unchanged.

    Advanced: MSP Protocol on Serial 6, the port used in this example.
    Advanced: MSP Protocol on Serial 6, the port used in this example.

  4. Place the OSD lines

    Props off, quad disarmed, battery in. Use a LiPo for this test unless you know that your flight controller powers CAMLINK and the video system from USB. Fresh from the install the LED sits solid amber: powered, but not ready.

    1. Hold button 2 for 3 seconds. The LED turns magenta.
    2. On your phone, join CAMLINK-XXXXXX. Password: itsfpv1234.
    3. Open http://10.0.0.1/ in your browser.
    4. Open Before You Fly, then CAMLINK lines. Set Corner to Bottom left, tap Set up and confirm. Wait for Verified.

    Choosing a camera under Before You Fly is optional and only shows which functions your model supports. You pair your camera in Step 5.

    A finger holding button 2 on the mounted CAMLINK, LED lit
    Button 2, three seconds.
    Goggle view with the four CAMLINK lines showing the Setup Mode screen: network name, SETUP MODE, 10.0.0.1 and firmware version
    The four lines, live in the goggles.

    Written steps

    1. Hold button 2 for three seconds to open Setup Mode.
    2. Wait for the LED to turn solid magenta. That is Setup Mode.
    3. Join the Wi-Fi network CAMLINK-XXXXXX, password itsfpv1234, also printed on the label.
    4. Type http://10.0.0.1/ into your browser.

    Open Before You Fly, then CAMLINK lines. Under Corner, choose Bottom left, tap Set up and confirm. CAMLINK enables Custom Message 1 to 4, stacks them in that corner and reads the layout back. Check that the corner is free first. Continue when Flight controller reads Connected and Betaflight OSD reads Verified.

    Check your goggles. In Setup Mode, the four CAMLINK lines show the network, address and firmware.

    Press button 1 or 2 once to leave Setup Mode. CAMLINK restarts. Then pair your camera in Step 5.

    Open the OSD tab. In Sensor Visibility, set Custom Text 1, 2, 3 and 4 to YES. Place the four lines in order, with 1 at the top and 4 at the bottom.

    On KISS Ultra, place the lines in the KISS GUI. CAMLINK’s automatic corner placement is available only for Betaflight.

    Enable all four Custom Text elements. The screenshot shows CAMLINK in Setup Mode.
    Enable all four Custom Text elements. The screenshot shows CAMLINK in Setup Mode.

    Done when all four Custom Text elements are enabled and positioned. Continue with camera pairing below.

    CAMLINK’s Setup Mode is optional for changing recording, warnings and other settings. Hold button 2 for three seconds to open it. If you are already in Setup Mode, press button 1 or 2 briefly to leave it before pairing.

    KISS Ultra support made possible by Alexander Fedorov, the KISS Ultra developer. Thank you!

  5. Pair your camera

    GoPro

    Swipe down on the GoPro, swipe left to the last screen and tap Connect Device. Leave that screen open. No touchscreen? Use the GoPro Labs QR code below.

    DJI

    Switch the camera on and keep it awake. DJI has no pairing menu to open. When the connection request appears, check the code and approve it on the camera.

    Blackmagic

    Requires camera firmware 8.1 or newer. Switch Bluetooth on in the camera menu. Turn on your transmitter and connect it to the quad. You will enter the camera's PIN with the sticks while watching the OSD.

    Sony

    Enable Bluetooth Function and Bluetooth Rmt Ctrl. Open the camera's Pairing screen and leave it open.

    Camera ready? Short-press button 1 on CAMLINK. Pairing is open for 30 seconds and the LED blinks violet while it runs. If it is already blinking violet, leave it running: another press cancels pairing.

    CAMLINK

    Buttons, LED and pads With the CAMLINK logo upright: short-press button 1 to start pairing your camera. Short-press button 2 to toggle Link pause, or hold it for 3 seconds to enter Setup mode. The status LED sits between the two buttons. The four bottom pads are 5 V, GND, TX and RX from left to right. 5VGNDTXRX

    OSD

    NOT PAIRED
    PRESS 1 TO PAIR
    HOLD 2 FOR SETUP

    Current state

    No camera paired

    Prepare the selected camera as shown above, then short-press button 1. The LED blinks violet while pairing.

    GoPro screen with the Connect Device tile
    Swipe left to the last screen, tap Connect Device.
    GoPro Bluetooth screen searching for a device in pairing mode
    Leave Connect Device open while CAMLINK pairs.
    GoPro Bluetooth list showing CAMLINK
    CAMLINK appears on the camera while they pair.

    Naked GoPro: pair by QR code

    With GoPro Labs installed, point the camera at this QR code and press the shutter three times quickly. The GoPro is now ready to pair with CAMLINK.

    GoPro Labs pairing QR code, command !PR
    Point the GoPro at this code, then press the shutter three times quickly.

    The code carries the GoPro Labs !PR command. Install GoPro Labs from the camera's microSD card before the camera gets stripped.

    Start in the camera menu: set Auto Power Off to the highest value the camera offers. On a shorter setting it switches itself off between takes, and CAMLINK cannot turn it back on.

    DJI camera settings with Auto Power Off set to 30 minutes
    Auto Power Off on the highest value.
    • Osmo Nano / Action 2: When CONFIRM 30S appears, check that the code matches and approve the connection on the camera before the countdown ends. Once paired, the camera reconnects automatically.
    • Action 4 to 6 normally reconnect without another confirmation. If the camera asks again, approve the request.
    DJI camera asking to confirm the pairing verification code
    Check that the code matches the goggles, then tap Accept.

    The camera's PIN window lasts about 30 seconds. Read the code and enter it before the OSD countdown ends.

    Blackmagic Setup tab with Bluetooth switched on
    Setup tab, Bluetooth on. Where the pairing starts.
    Blackmagic showing the 6-digit passcode to enter
    This is the code you type with your sticks.
    Goggle view of the CAMLINK PIN entry: PAIR FPV, PIN half typed, PITCH=DIGIT, ROLL=NEXT with countdown
    Your goggles at the same moment: pitch changes the digit, roll moves on.
    Blackmagic reporting CAMLINK is currently connected
    Done: CAMLINK is connected to this camera.
    1. At ROLL R = GET PIN, roll right when ready. This requests the code and starts the timed PIN entry.
    2. Read the six digits on the camera. The OSD shows PIN _ _ _ _ _ _ and the remaining time.
    3. Pitch changes the digit, roll moves the cursor. Hold pitch to run through the digits quickly.
    4. After the sixth digit, roll right to >OK<. Roll right again or stay there for one second to send. Roll left to edit.
    5. PAIRED means you are done. PIN WRONG, PIN TIMEOUT or PIN CANCELLED means you start over.

    Arming cancels pairing. Losing the RC link for five seconds or briefly pressing either CAMLINK button also cancels it.

    The MOVIE button has to stay assigned to movie recording. Reassign it with a Custom Key and CAMLINK triggers whatever you assigned instead.

    Sony Network menu with the Bluetooth section highlighted
    Menu, Network, Bluetooth.
    Sony Bluetooth Rmt Ctrl setting switched to On
    Bluetooth Function and Bluetooth Rmt Ctrl both On.
    Sony pairing screen waiting for a device
    Leave the Sony pairing screen open while CAMLINK pairs.
    Sony asking to allow pairing with CAMLINK
    Approve CAMLINK with OK.
    Sony confirming it is paired with CAMLINK
    Done: Connected device CAMLINK.

    When the OSD shows ACCEPT ON SONY, approve CAMLINK on the camera.

    Pairing CAMLINK replaces the camera's previous Bluetooth remote.

    Switch to another camera

    To use another supported GoPro, DJI Osmo, Blackmagic or Sony, follow the pairing steps for that camera. There is no camera-brand setting to change. CAMLINK has one current pairing. A successful new pairing replaces the previous one, so pair again when you switch back.

    Done when the LED is solid green and your OSD lines show live values instead of SEARCHING.

  6. Check it in the goggles

    Props off, USB unplugged, quad powered by LiPo. Disconnect the configurator before this test. Arm the quad and check that the camera records and REC appears in the goggles.

    CAMLINK

    Buttons, LED and pads With the CAMLINK logo upright: short-press button 1 to start pairing your camera. Short-press button 2 to toggle Link pause, or hold it for 3 seconds to enter Setup mode. The status LED sits between the two buttons. The four bottom pads are 5 V, GND, TX and RX from left to right. 5VGNDTXRX

    OSD

    RDY
    85% 1H50M
    8K 25
    M1P 16:9

    Current state

    Camera connected

    Example: Mission 1 Pro. Arming starts recording. Click “Arm quad” to try it yourself.

    Quad armed on the ground with the action camera recording light on
    Armed. The camera is already rolling.

  7. A pack without the action cam

    Disarm and stop any recording. Short-press button 2: CAMLINK disconnects the Bluetooth camera link, stops searching for action cams and hides its four OSD lines. Your flight data stays visible.

    CAMLINK

    Buttons, LED and pads With the CAMLINK logo upright: short-press button 1 to start pairing your camera. Short-press button 2 to toggle Link pause, or hold it for 3 seconds to enter Setup mode. The status LED sits between the two buttons. The four bottom pads are 5 V, GND, TX and RX from left to right. 5VGNDTXRX

    OSD

    RDY
    85% 1H50M
    8K 25
    M1P 16:9

    Current state

    Camera connected

    Short-press button 2 to disconnect the Bluetooth camera link, stop searching and hide the four CAMLINK lines. Your paired camera stays saved.

That is the install. Go fly.

Settings, warning messages and help are in the reference below.

Settings and details

Choose the setting or problem you want help with.

Recording control

Trigger modes, stop delay, confirmed camera state

Arm is the factory setting and the simplest starting point: arming requests recording, and disarming starts the stop-delay countdown.

All recording modes and exceptions

Stop delay: time to re-arm

We recommend five seconds, adjustable from zero to thirty. After a crash, disarm and recover the quad. If you re-arm before the countdown ends, the stop is cancelled and the same recording continues.

Stop delay applies after disarming in Arm and Combi when Auto stop on disarm is on. A direct stop command from a radio switch or button skips it.

During Stop delay, the timer shows both elapsed recording time and the remaining delay. 3:24 5S means a 3:24 clip with five seconds until the stop request. STP is a stop in progress, not confirmation that recording has ended.

Wait for the camera-confirmed stop before disconnecting power. If CAMLINK loses power during the countdown, it cannot send the stop command. A camera with its own battery may keep recording; cutting power to the camera itself can lose the unfinished clip.

Every start and stop is checked

CAMLINK checks starts and stops against the camera’s recording state. !REC FAILED means a start failed; !STOP FAILED means a stop failed. On Sony, !REC UNCONFIRMED means the recording state is still unknown.

Trigger modes

ModeBehavior
ArmThe factory setting and our recommendation for normal flights. Arming requests recording; disarming starts the selected stop delay.
SwitchUse Switch when recording should have its own radio switch. The assigned position records; leaving that position requests an immediate stop. Arming and disarming do not control recording in this mode.
ButtonUse Button for a momentary radio control without arm/disarm automation. Press to start, release, then press again to stop a take. Direct stop commands skip Stop delay.
CombiCombi is our preferred option for manual takes in flight. Arming starts recording; a momentary radio button lets you stop and start again without landing. On a RadioMaster Boxer, SF is a good choice. Assign it to an AUX channel and confirm which channel moves in the learner. A deliberate button stop while armed stays stopped until another press or a new arm cycle. A press during the disarm countdown cancels the pending stop and keeps recording.
OffCAMLINK watches and reports. You operate the camera.

With Auto record on arm enabled in Arm or Combi, CAMLINK also requests recording after a late connection or reconnection while armed. Retries while the same recording demand stays active are spaced at least 20 seconds apart. In Combi, a manual stop lasts until the next button press or a new arm cycle.

Arm and Combi let you set Auto record on arm and Auto stop on disarm separately. Keep both on for normal flights. Stop on disarm off is a niche choice for keeping the camera rolling on the ground or after a crash; stop the clip yourself at the camera or, in Combi, with the assigned radio button.

Keep Stop delay at five seconds unless you need a different recovery window. Re-arming cancels the countdown in Arm and Combi.

During RC failsafe, Switch mode follows the AUX position reported by the flight controller. If that position leaves the recording range, recording stops. Button, Combi and HiLight ignore AUX changes during failsafe. Choose Combi to avoid an unintended stop from a failsafe switch position. The preset switch also follows the AUX position reported during failsafe.

The OSD

Check the camera and plan the next shot

All fields, presets and status messages

Four lines, 16 characters each, up to eight tokens per line. What the camera has not confirmed renders as nothing at all.

The Detailed preset on a HERO 13: recording for 3:24, camera at 85% with 1 h 50 m of card left, 5.3K at 25 fps in LOG, 8:7 aspect.

Line roles

With Link Pause off, an active warning takes over line 1 and hides the tokens there while it blinks. A status message can take line 2. These warnings and messages leave your layout on lines 3 and 4 unchanged. To hide all four CAMLINK lines, use Link Pause.

The three presets

PresetLine 1Line 2Line 3Line 4
CleanState, timerBattery, time leftoffoff
StandardState, timerBattery, time leftResolution, fps, profileoff
DetailedState, timerBattery, time leftResolution, fps, profileCamera, aspect

Standard keeps the Clean lines and adds line 3. Detailed also adds line 4. Detailed is the factory default, and it is what a factory reset gives you back.

Or build your own

Drag tokens onto a line, reorder them or drag them back to the shelf to remove them. On a phone, hold a token before dragging. The editor reserves each token's maximum width. Keep each line within 16 characters to avoid text being cut off.

Tokens your camera cannot report are dimmed rather than hidden. You can still place and save them, and they render blank in flight.

Goggle view of all four CAMLINK lines live, with the preset name cut at the right edge
The 16-character cut, live: the preset named 8K25 169 ends as 8K25 16.

Token reference

On the way back, check camera battery and recording time left to decide whether you need a battery or card change. Format and preset fields help you check the next shot before committing to it. Values your camera does not report stay blank.

A dash means that camera brand does not transmit the value over Bluetooth, so the token stays blank.

TokenShowsLooks like GoProDJIBlackmagicSony
STATEWhat the camera is doing: REC recording, RDY ready, STP finalizing the recordingREC, RDY, STP••••
REC_TIMELength of the current clip3:24••••
BATTERYCamera battery85%••••
REMAININGRecord time left at current settings1H50M, 45M••••
CAMShort camera tagGP13, NANO, BM4K••••
RESResolution5.3K, 1080P•••–
FPSFrame rate60, 23.98•••–
ASPECTAspect ratio16:9, 8:7, ANAM•••–
SDFree card space108G, NO SD••––
PROFILEColor profileSTD, LOG•–––
BUSYCamera busy changing stateBUSY•–––
PRESETActive preset name25FPS•–––
TCGPS clock sync confirmedTC•–––
ISOISOISO800––•–
SHUT_ANGShutter angle180D––•–
SHUT_SPDShutter speed1/50––•–
WBWhite balance5600K––•–
IRISIrisF2.8––•–
CODECCodecBRAW, PRORES––•–

On Sony, storage state arrives as warnings instead of a token: !NO SD and !SD FULL, plus !WRONG MODE when the body is set to stills.

PROFILE is blank on the Mission generation: those cameras have no color-profile setting.

The same compatibility table is available offline in Setup Mode, under Before You Fly → Camera compatibility.

When something is wrong, the OSD says so

You seeIt means
NOT PAIRED / PRESS 1 TO PAIRNo camera stored. Short-press button 1. Line 3 adds HOLD 2 FOR SETUP.
SEARCHINGCAMLINK cannot currently find the paired camera. To fly without it, use Link Pause. To use another camera, pair it in step 5.
LINKINGThe camera has been found and the connection is being established.
RECONNECTINGAn existing connection is being restored to the same camera. Nothing to do.
PAIR CANCELLEDYou cancelled a pairing attempt. It shows for a moment, then the previous screen returns.
!PAIR FAILED / PRESS 1 TO PAIRThe pairing attempt failed or timed out. Start it again.
!REC FAILEDA recording start failed. Missing recording media can cause this whether or not the !NO SD warning is enabled.
CAM BUSY 10SAppears under !REC FAILED when the camera stayed busy for the full ten seconds CAMLINK waits for confirmation.
!STOP FAILEDA stop could not be delivered. Until it clears, assume the camera is still rolling and filling the card, and land to stop it at the camera if the warning remains visible. It clears itself once the camera confirms that recording has stopped.
!SD ERRORThe camera reports a card fault or a write error. Land and check the card. GoPro and Blackmagic report this, and it has no toggle.
!CAM STALEThe camera stopped providing current status. Old values are hidden. On DJI, line 2 adds RESTART CAM. Land if airborne and restart the camera.
WAKE CAMYour paired camera is asleep or switched off. Press its button. Covers a sleeping Osmo Nano, a GoPro with Auto wake off, and an Action 6 sleeping while connected. CAMLINK never wakes a DJI camera by itself.
!STATE UNKNOWNWith Auto wake off, a paired GoPro is nearby but not reporting whether it is awake. Switch Auto wake on or go and check the camera. Do not press the camera's power button unless you have confirmed that it is asleep.
!WAKE FAILEDAuto wake tried to boot your GoPro and got no answer. CAMLINK keeps watching and reconnects to the camera the moment it advertises as awake. Check the camera; press its button only if you know it was asleep.
PAIR AGAINThe camera no longer accepts the saved CAMLINK pairing. Remove it under Camera in Setup Mode, then leave Setup Mode and pair again.
!REC UNCONFIRMEDSony only. The camera accepted the command but never reported a change from stopped to recording. CAMLINK reconnects until the camera reports what it is actually doing.
!CHECK CAM MENU / REMOTE / MOVIETwo start attempts on a Sony with no reported change of state. Check Bluetooth Rmt Ctrl and your MOVIE button assignment.
!REC STATE?Sony, connected, recording state not yet known.

Warnings

Optional, off by default, and what the amber light means

Warnings are off by default. Turn on the supported warnings: SD card missing or full, Camera not in video mode, Camera too hot and, on GoPro, Camera too cold. Missing and full card share one switch.

An amber status LED tells you to check the OSD for a problem. The small blue LED on the back only confirms power. During an ordinary warning, a camera that is recording keeps the red recording LED.

  • Too hot: see when the camera reports overheating. Supported by GoPro and DJI.
  • SD card missing and SD card full: catch a camera that cannot record to its card.
  • Too cold: see when a GoPro reports that it is too cold to record. GoPro only.
  • Wrong mode: catch a camera left in photo or timelapse mode before you expect normal video.

CAMLINK can only show a warning when the camera reports that condition. The available warnings depend on your camera.

All warnings and camera support

  • Camera not in video mode warns when the camera is set to photo, timelapse or another non-video mode. Switch back to video before flying so you get the footage you intended.
  • A missing or full card prevents the camera from recording to it. These warnings catch a problem you may not see once the camera is mounted.
  • Temperature warnings report a camera condition; they do not prevent a temperature-related failure. A heat warning can appear while recording continues. If a clip stops, check cooling and whether the mount covers too much of the camera. Too hot is supported by GoPro and DJI; Too cold is GoPro only.
  • Waiting for GPS, if you run GoPro time sync. Switch this on only if the flight controller has GPS. Without GPS hardware, the warning remains active continuously.
  • Camera battery low and Recording time running out are optional reminders. Leave them off if you already watch those OSD values.

A warning blinks in the line 1 slot, one second on, one second back to your tokens.

SettingShows
Camera too hot!HOT
Camera too cold!COLD, GoPro only
Camera not in video mode!WRONG MODE, when the camera sits in photo, timelapse or any other non-video mode
Waiting for GPS!WAIT GPS FIX, while GoPro time sync waits
SD card missing or full!NO SD or !SD FULL
Recording time running out!SD LOW below your threshold in minutes
Camera battery low!LOW BAT 18% below your threshold, with the live percentage

A warning can only appear on a camera that reports the state behind it.

  • !NO SD: GoPro, Blackmagic, Sony, and on DJI only the Osmo Nano and Action 2.
  • !SD FULL: DJI Action 4 to 6 report free space, not a separate missing-card state. Blackmagic and Sony report a full medium when remaining recording time reaches zero; neither supplies an SD token.
  • !HOT: GoPro and DJI.
  • !COLD and !WAIT GPS FIX: GoPro only.

Before You Fly in Setup Mode carries the full matrix for your camera.

With Link Pause off, three kinds of message appear without an optional warning toggle: a card the camera reports as broken, a failure to start or stop recording, and camera-connection status.

While an enabled warning remains active, the status LED sits solid amber instead of green. A fast amber blink indicates an urgent fault that requires action.

GoPro features

Auto wake, preset switch, saved presets, GPS time sync, HiLight, naked pairing

All GoPro functions and exceptions

Auto wake

Auto wake is on by default. Powering the quad lets CAMLINK wake the paired GoPro automatically.

Turn Auto wake off to keep the GoPro off while the quad stays powered. Switch the camera on yourself when you are ready. WAKE CAM appears when the camera reports that it needs waking.

Change the shot without landing

Switch between prepared presets in flight, for example 25 fps for B-roll and 200 fps for slow motion, if your camera supports them. No landing or camera handling needed. Assign the two presets to Low and Mid; High is optional.

The switch must stay in one position for at least 0.5 seconds before CAMLINK loads the assigned preset, so sweeping a three-position switch past the middle never loads the middle preset.

Ignore is the default during recording. It leaves the current clip uninterrupted and loads the selected preset once recording stops.

Enable Apply and restart when changing the shot mid-flight matters more than keeping one file. CAMLINK waits for a confirmed stop, loads the preset and starts a new clip if recording is still requested.

While Preset switch is enabled, CAMLINK restores the preset assigned to the current switch position if the preset is changed directly on the camera. To shoot something else, move the switch or change the mapping in Setup Mode.

Available frame rates, resolutions and burst durations depend on the camera. Check those limits before building a slow-motion preset; burst modes are not the same as continuous high-frame-rate recording.

Saved presets

Create and name presets on the GoPro before flying. Prepare exposure, frame rate, resolution and framing in each one. CAMLINK reads them when it connects and lists them in Setup Mode. Before that first connection, the presets show Not loaded yet.

Use short, recognizable preset names so you can check the next shot in the goggles. The OSD PRESET field shows up to 12 characters.

GoPro Mode Options: Edit Name and Icon, Duplicate Mode, Delete Mode
On the GoPro: duplicate a mode or edit its name.
GoPro New Mode screen: choose icon and custom name
New Mode: pick the icon, then the name.
GoPro keyboard with the custom preset name 8K25 169 typed
This name is what the OSD shows. Short reads best.
The finished GoPro preset 8K25 169 with aspect ratio and resolution set
Prepare exposure for each preset before flying. Check shutter, ISO and the ND filter you will use: an exposure that works at 25 fps may not suit 200 fps.

Set the preset-switch mapping once for each GoPro. CAMLINK keeps a separate profile for up to four GoPros, with each camera’s presets and mapping. Switching to DJI or another brand keeps these profiles. Pair a remembered GoPro again and its saved mapping is available again. Only one camera is paired at a time. Adding a fifth GoPro removes an older profile, prioritising one without a switch mapping.

The Saved presets page lists every remembered GoPro by model and the last four digits of its serial number, the same digits the camera shows under Preferences, Connections, Camera Info. Identical GoPro models remain separate entries, each with its own presets and mapping.

Removing a camera asks whether its presets go too. If you keep the saved presets, CAMLINK restores them when the same GoPro is paired again.

Set the clock on a naked GoPro

A naked GoPro may lose the correct date and time when power is removed. GPS time sync sets its clock after connecting, using flight-controller GPS time and your timezone offset. It needs a valid GPS fix and is off by default. If your camera already keeps the correct clock, you may not need it.

CAMLINK reads the camera clock back before showing TIME SYNCED. The TC field then confirms clock sync for the rest of that connection. This sets date and time, not frame-accurate timecode or synchronization between cameras. The optional !WAIT GPS FIX warning explains when the flight controller has no valid fix yet.

Enable GPS time sync, then use Use my timezone as the simplest way to set the offset. Check it again after travel or a daylight-saving change. The stored offset does not update itself.

HiLight

On supported GoPros, HiLight marks a moment in the current clip so you can find it later. Assign a dedicated momentary radio button. HILIGHT SAVED confirms the camera saved the marker. Your viewing or editing software must support GoPro HiLight markers.

Setup Mode does not allow HiLight to share an AUX channel with another function.

Buttons

Both buttons, and Link Pause

Example: Mission 1 Pro

Watch the sequence, or press a board button yourself.

CAMLINK

Buttons, LED and pads With the CAMLINK logo upright: short-press button 1 to start pairing your camera. Short-press button 2 to toggle Link pause, or hold it for 3 seconds to enter Setup mode. The status LED sits between the two buttons. The four bottom pads are 5 V, GND, TX and RX from left to right. 5VGNDTXRX

OSD

NOT PAIRED
PRESS 1 TO PAIR
HOLD 2 FOR SETUP

Current state

No camera paired

Short-press button 1 to pair the Mission 1 Pro.

Illustrated sequence. Camera responses and values are examples.

All button functions and exceptions

Two buttons, marked 1 and 2 on the board, left to right. The Setup UI calls them by number.

ActionResult
Button 1 (left) · short pressPair a camera, or replace the current pairing after a successful new pairing. Press again during the pairing countdown to cancel. With Link Pause on, button 1 is blocked; short-press button 2 to resume first.
Button 2 (right) · short pressToggle Link Pause. During pairing, the first press cancels pairing; a second short press enables Link Pause.
Button 2 (right) · hold 3 sEnter Setup Mode. Press either button to leave Setup Mode.
Both · hold 10 sFactory reset. A rainbow animation confirms the reset for about three seconds, then CAMLINK restarts in Flight Mode.

Both buttons are disabled while the quad is armed or the camera is recording. A press produces no message or LED change.

The LED becomes steadily lit after you hold button 2 for one second. Hold button 2 for three seconds in total to enter Setup Mode. Releasing earlier counts as a short press.

Link Pause: fly without the camera

See A pack without the action cam in step 7 for pausing, what the LED and goggles show, and resuming camera use.

What survives a power cycle

CAMLINK retains the paired camera, GoPro mappings, OSD layout and settings when power is disconnected. For Link Pause after a pack change, see step 7. A factory reset erases the stored settings and camera data.

A camera on its own battery records independently of CAMLINK: cut CAMLINK's power and the camera keeps rolling until you stop it at the camera. A camera powered from the quad loses power with the pack.

LED

Every colour, and brightness

All LED colors and patterns

Read the colour and the pattern together: steady, breathing or blinking.

Once the OSD is configured, read the goggles for the reason behind an amber light.

LEDPatternState
GreensolidCamera connected, current status available, no enabled warning active
RedblinkingRecording
BluebreathingLooking for the camera, connecting, or getting the link back
AmbersteadyNot paired, camera asleep, or an active warning. Check the goggles.
Amberfast blinkAttention required. Check the goggles.
Violetfast blinkPairing is open
MagentasolidSetup Mode
Magentaslow blinkAn update is running. Keep the power on.
WhitesolidLink Pause. All four lines are blank.
Rainbowone sweepFactory reset completed

LED brightness

For night flights, reduce the LED brightness under Device: Night 5%, Dim 25%, Day 100%. This also dims warning colors. The LED cannot be switched off.

Setup Mode

The Wi-Fi and every screen

Setup Mode is a Wi-Fi access point with a configuration page served from the module itself. No app, no cloud account, no internet. Works the same on a phone or a laptop.

Automatic OSD placement is Betaflight-only. With KISS Ultra, enable and place Custom Text 1–4 in the KISS GUI.

Setup Mode reference

  1. Hold button 2 for 3 seconds. The goggles show HOLD 2 FOR SETUP and count 2S, 1S. Then CAMLINK reboots and the LED turns solid magenta.
  2. Join CAMLINK-XXXXXX. The six characters are unique to your module.
  3. Password itsfpv1234, printed on the label, unless you changed it.
  4. Open http://10.0.0.1/.

Only one phone or computer can connect to the Setup Wi-Fi at a time. Camera pairing is unavailable while Setup Mode is active.

Press either button to leave Setup Mode. CAMLINK restarts and the OSD shows REBOOTING, then FLIGHT MODE. Most changes are saved automatically: the top right reads Live when device data is fresh and Saved when your last change is stored. Wi-Fi changes require you to tap Save.

The screens

ScreenPurpose
Before You FlyThe pre-flight check, first in the menu. Shows the status of the flight-controller connection, camera pairing, OSD setup and recording trigger, and writes the OSD lines into Betaflight. Detail below.
RecordingWhen the camera should start and stop. Trigger mode, arm and disarm automation, stop delay. Recording in detail.
AUXLow, Mid and High band edges in microseconds, if the defaults don't match your radio.
WarningsSeven optional OSD warnings with thresholds. Detail.
OSDThe layout editor and the built-in presets. The OSD in detail.
GoProPreset switch, HiLight, GPS time sync, saved presets per camera. GoPro features in detail.
CameraYour paired camera, and where you remove it.
Wi-FiRename the Setup network or change its password. Changes apply on the next reboot. After a rename, the Setup screen in the goggles reads plain CAMLINK instead of your custom name.
DeviceFirmware version, device ID, live MSP status, baud, RX/TX swap, LED brightness, updates, diagnostics, reboot, factory reset.

Before You Fly writes your OSD lines

  • This guide uses Bottom left, matching the goggle photo. That option becomes available once CAMLINK detects the OSD dimensions from the flight controller. Top left is also available; choose a corner that is free. The right side is not offered.
  • If another element already sits in your corner, the lines overlap it; move that element in the Betaflight OSD tab.
  • The quad has to be disarmed, and Betaflight has to report 2025.12 or newer. The page tells you when either is missing.
  • Want the lines somewhere else entirely? Place them by hand: Betaflight.

Once every check passes, the header reads You're ready to go. The camera check remains incomplete until the camera has been paired in step 5.

Assigning an AUX channel

Turn your radio on and connect it to the quad. The channel picker shows the live AUX input reaching CAMLINK. Move your switch, then tap the highlighted channel. Move it again to check the assignment.

If the channel is already assigned, the page shows which feature uses it. The preset switch may share a channel with the recording trigger. HiLight requires a dedicated AUX channel.

The Device page shows whether your wiring works

If the OSD is blank, check Device. Flight controller reads Connected when CAMLINK receives valid MSP data and Silent when it does not. Active wiring shows the active RX/TX assignment; Active baud shows the current UART speed.

After installation, Silent usually indicates incorrect TX/RX wiring or a missing GND connection. Degraded means the link was working and MSP replies are now failing, so check TX, RX and GND before anything else.

Flight controller

Your flight-controller firmware

Enable MSP on your serial port

Open Advanced → Serial configuration. On the port wired to CAMLINK, select MSP Protocol, then Save. This example uses Serial 6. Use your own wired port and leave other ports unchanged.

Advanced: MSP Protocol on Serial 6, the port used in this example.
Advanced: MSP Protocol on Serial 6, the port used in this example.

Enable and position the four OSD lines

Open the OSD tab. In Sensor Visibility, set Custom Text 1, 2, 3 and 4 to YES. Place the four lines in order, with 1 at the top and 4 at the bottom.

On KISS Ultra, place the lines in the KISS GUI. CAMLINK’s automatic corner placement is available only for Betaflight.

Enable all four Custom Text elements. The screenshot shows CAMLINK in Setup Mode.
Enable all four Custom Text elements. The screenshot shows CAMLINK in Setup Mode.

KISS Ultra: check the serial connection

Enable MSP on your serial port

  1. Find the UART you soldered to in the Ports tab.
  2. Enable MSP on it.
  3. Keep the default baud rate, 115200. Change it only when troubleshooting a deliberately different MSP speed in Betaflight.
  4. Save and reboot.
Betaflight Ports tab with MSP switched on at 115200
MSP on the UART you soldered to, 115200.

Your goggles must support the full Betaflight OSD, also called Canvas mode. Analog, HDZero, Walksnail and DJI O3/O4 support it out of the box. The original DJI V1 HD system needs the WTFOS mod.

Each line holds 16 characters, and anything past that is cut off at the right edge in the goggles. With Link Pause off, the CAMLINK text returns automatically after a flight-controller restart.

Enable and position the four OSD lines

Most pilots never open this tab: Before You Fly enables and places the four Custom Message elements for you. Do it by hand when you want them somewhere other than the two offered corners, or when the automatic setup reports Unverified.

  1. Enable Custom Message 1 through Custom Message 4.
  2. Place them on the canvas, stacked top to bottom.
Betaflight OSD tab with Custom Message 1 to 4 enabled and stacked on the canvas
Enable Custom Message 1 to 4, then stack them on the canvas.

Place Custom Message 1 at the top, followed by 2, 3 and 4. Horizontal position is yours: on analog the right side has no reserved DJI goggle elements, so the right corners are open too. Enable all four elements so additional CAMLINK lines can be used later without reopening the Configurator.

Each CAMLINK line holds up to 16 characters. Longer content is cut off at the right edge.

Firmware updates

Check what changed. Update when a release adds a feature you need or fixes a problem that affects you.

1.0.0

Released 2026-09-01

Current version

What changed

First retail release.

Download .camfw

Check your current version in Setup Mode under Device.

Updates ship as signed .camfw packages and install over the Setup Mode Wi-Fi: Device → Firmware Update. A raw .bin is refused, and so is a package built for a different device.

After choosing the file, tap Flash. Keep the page open and CAMLINK powered until the update finishes.

  1. Download the .camfw for your module.
  2. In Setup Mode, open Device → Firmware Update and choose the file.
  3. Select Flash. The progress bar first verifies the package and then installs it. Stay on the page and keep the power on.

After installation, CAMLINK restarts in Setup Mode once. Rejoin the Wi-Fi to check the version; the next power-up goes to Flight Mode.

Package checks and recovery

CAMLINK reboots itself to finish. If the new firmware does not boot successfully, CAMLINK rolls back to the previously installed version.

If the page says the update installed but the device could not restart itself, the update is complete. Power-cycle CAMLINK once; do not upload the package again.

If the upload is interrupted, reconnect and start it again. There is no resume, so use a stable connection.

For an older release, use its signed .camfw package. CAMLINK checks whether it can be installed and explains any rejection. Retail modules cannot be flashed by cable.

Troubleshooting

The OSD lines don't show up at all

In order of likelihood:

  1. Check the FC firmware: Betaflight 2025.12+ or KISS Ultra B67+ is required.
  2. If MSP is off again after saving and reconnecting, check the number of MSP-enabled ports. Betaflight allows three by default, including USB/VCP and your MSP DisplayPort port. Disable MSP only on an unused port, such as a factory-enabled UART1 if nothing needs it, then save again; keep USB and your video-system port enabled. For Betaflight 2025.12, you can instead build and flash firmware using Expert Mode → Build Configuration → Custom Defines with MAX_MSP_PORT_COUNT=n (up to 6); this is a build option, not a CLI setting.
  3. Is the LED solid white? Link Pause is on. Resume camera use in step 7.
  4. Check the small blue power LED on the back of CAMLINK. It stays on while the board is powered; it is separate from the front status LED. If it is off, disconnect LiPo and USB, then check the 5 V supply, GND, polarity and solder joints.
  5. Check the four OSD elements. Betaflight: enable and place Custom Message 1–4 in its OSD tab, or use CAMLINK’s automatic setup. KISS Ultra: enable and place Custom Text 1–4 manually in the KISS OSD tab.
  6. Check pads and connectors in the FC pinout, then the serial configuration. An apparently unused pad can share a UART with a connected Air Unit. Choose a free port. In Betaflight enable MSP at 115200; in KISS Ultra select MSP Protocol on that serial port.
  7. TX and RX the wrong way around. Setup Mode → Device shows whether CAMLINK is receiving MSP data, and Flight controller reads Silent when it is not. Try Swap RX/TX before resoldering the wires.
  8. No common ground. The UART will not work without a common ground.

KISS Ultra: check the serial connection

No camera data? In the OSD tab, open Serial Test in the OSD menu. Find the serial port assigned to MSP. In this example it is SER6.

Open Serial Test in the OSD menu.
Open Serial Test in the OSD menu.

Watch TX BYTES and RX BYTES. Increasing counters in both directions indicate serial traffic. They help check the connection, but do not prove that the OSD lines are enabled or correctly placed.

SER6 is assigned to MSP. Check both TX BYTES and RX BYTES.
SER6 is assigned to MSP. Check both TX BYTES and RX BYTES.

If a counter stays at zero, check CAMLINK power, the selected port, TX/RX wiring and common ground. Keep this check for troubleshooting; it is not a required installation step.

I want to stop camera searching

For a pack without an action cam, use Link Pause. You do not need to delete the saved pairing.

The Setup Wi-Fi never appears

Check the rear blue power LED first. If it is off, disconnect LiPo and USB and check 5 V, GND, polarity and soldering. Disarm and stop recording so the buttons are enabled. Hold button 2 for three seconds; the front status LED turns solid magenta. Wait a few seconds for the Wi-Fi network to appear.

I can't join the Setup Wi-Fi

Only one device can connect at a time. Turn Wi-Fi off on any other phone or computer connected to CAMLINK. If it disappeared without disconnecting, its slot may remain occupied for about 30 seconds. Default password: itsfpv1234.

10.0.0.1 doesn't open

Open http://10.0.0.1/ in your browser. If your phone offers to leave the network because it has no internet, decline.

The camera won't pair

If the LED is white, turn Link Pause off with button 2 before trying button 1. Pairing runs in Flight Mode with the quad disarmed, recording stopped and the camera close by. Follow the instructions for your camera brand:

  • GoPro: it has to be in its own pairing menu. If a GoPro you used before refuses to reconnect, remove it on the Camera page in Setup Mode and pair it fresh.
  • DJI: the camera has to be on and awake; CAMLINK will not wake it for you. Then approve the prompt on the camera screen. On a Nano or Action 2 you have 30 seconds and the OSD shows you the code.
  • Blackmagic: you need a powered FC, a working RC link and camera firmware 8.1. Roll right to start, then pitch and roll to enter the digits. Full procedure.
  • Sony: both Bluetooth Function and Bluetooth Rmt Ctrl must be on, and the camera has to be in its pairing screen.

If pairing previously failed, remove the stored camera on the Camera page and start pairing again.

My DJI camera won't wake up

CAMLINK cannot wake a sleeping DJI camera. Switch it on by hand. When an Osmo Nano shows WAKE CAM, press its button to reconnect.

Recording didn't start when I armed

The goggles name the reason. !REC FAILED means the camera did not confirm the requested state within ten seconds, or reported the card as missing. When the video-mode warning is enabled, !WRONG MODE appears before arming.

A hot camera gets a !HOT warning, and CAMLINK still attempts to start recording. On a Sony, !CHECK CAM MENU means Bluetooth Rmt Ctrl or the MOVIE button assignment needs checking.

The OSD shows SEARCHING mid-flight

The Bluetooth link dropped and CAMLINK is reconnecting to the camera that is already paired. A Bluetooth link loss alone does not stop an active recording. If it happens often, move CAMLINK closer to the camera and avoid placing it behind thick carbon.

Some values in the OSD are blank

The camera has not confirmed the value or does not support it. Sony supplies fewer values; exposure data is Blackmagic only. Check the token reference or Before You Fly → Camera compatibility. If Sony was already recording when CAMLINK connected, the timer stays blank for that clip.

The stop delay isn't working

Stop delay applies after disarming, with Auto stop on disarm enabled. Direct radio stop commands skip it. In Combi, a button press during the disarm countdown cancels that pending stop and keeps the recording going.

A firmware update failed

Reconnect to the Setup Wi-Fi and run it again. If it keeps failing, the page identifies the failed update stage and displays the reason. Send us that text.

The goggles say RESTART CAMLINK

CAMLINK stopped during startup and is waiting for a manual restart: the goggles read PRESS ANY BUTTON, and pressing either button reboots it. If it keeps coming back, send us the diagnostics file.

The LED blinks amber and won't stop

If the LED continues flashing amber, restart CAMLINK. If it returns, open Setup Mode → Device → Diagnostics, download the file and email it to us.

Factory reset: the clean slate

Hold both buttons for 10 seconds, or use Device → Factory Reset. The LED stays steadily lit while you hold, and the rainbow sweep means the reset completed. It wipes settings, the paired camera, saved GoPro presets, stored Bluetooth pairings and your Wi-Fi credentials, then reboots. Factory reset is unavailable while the quad is armed or the camera is recording.

Support

Email info@itsfpv.net and tell us what happened, which camera you use and what the OSD shows. Include the diagnostics file so we can investigate the device’s state and settings.

In Setup Mode, open Device → Diagnostics, select Download diagnostics file and attach that file to your email. Download it from your own CAMLINK; the guide only shows the process.

If we confirm a firmware bug, we will address it in a firmware update.

The diagnostics file is encrypted for it's FPV support. Your Setup Wi-Fi password is redacted from the settings report.

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