Team BlackSheep Crossfire for Long-Range Control
Team BlackSheep started as a group of FPV pilots flying far beyond what stock radio links allowed, and TBS hardware grew out of that. Its best-known product is Crossfire — a control link many long-range pilots still treat as the reference. R5D5 carries the Crossfire Micro TX V2 module and two Nano receivers.
Why Pilots Choose Crossfire
Crossfire works in the sub-GHz band, 868 MHz in Europe and 915 MHz in the US. Lower frequencies pass obstacles and terrain better than 2.4 GHz, so the link holds where others drop. The connection is two-way: battery voltage and link quality show up on your radio in real time. On the drone side, the CRSF protocol needs a single UART and works with Betaflight, INAV and ArduPilot.
TBS Crossfire Micro TX V2
The Micro TX V2 is the transmitter module that turns your radio into a Crossfire ground station. It slides into the module bay on the back of the radio and is set up through a Lua script in EdgeTX or OpenTX. Before ordering, check that your radio has a compatible bay or an adapter for it. Other options sit in the transmitter modules category.
TBS Crossfire Receivers
Both receivers are small enough for 5" quads and still fit large long-range builds:
- Crossfire Nano RX Pro: a compact receiver for most FPV drones, light and easy to mount.
- Crossfire Diversity Nano RX: two antennas instead of one. When the frame or battery shadows one antenna, the other keeps the link — fewer failsafes on long flights.
iFlight drones in TBS versions bind to the same system — see the iFlight range.
Getting a Reliable Link
Most "bad range" complaints come from setup, not hardware:
- Set the same region on both ends — 868 MHz in the EU.
- Mount receiver antennas away from carbon, wires and the battery, ideally pointing down or out to the sides.
- Configure failsafe before the first flight and test it with props off.
FAQ
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Crossfire or ExpressLRS?
ExpressLRS is open-source and cheaper. Crossfire is a mature closed system with a long track record in long-range flying. The two aren't compatible, so the module and receivers must come from the same system.
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Does Crossfire depend on the video system?
No. Crossfire carries only control and telemetry, so it works with analog, DJI or any other video link on the same drone.
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How do I update Crossfire firmware?
Update the transmitter module first through TBS Agent or the radio's Lua script. Then update the bound receivers over the air from the module.
