How to Setup Jumper T14 ELRS for FPV Drones?

If you’ve just bought the Jumper T14 Express LZ Edition radio or are considering getting one, you’ll need to know how to set it up properly.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of configuring the radio itself and binding it to your ExpressLRS receivers – without needing to flash any firmware. We’ll also cover how to upgrade the firmware if needed.

By the end, you’ll have your T14 ready to fly with your FPV drones.

Understanding the Jumper T14 Controls

Before we dive into setup, let’s review the key buttons and controls on the Jumper T14 that we’ll be using:

• Menu button: Press once to enter the Models menu, hold to enter the System menu
• Page button: Cycles through menu pages
• Back button: Returns to previous menu
• Scroll wheel: Navigate left/right and press to select/enter

The T14 comes pre-flashed with ExpressLRS v3 firmware and the LUA script is preinstalled, so you won’t need to worry about those initially. With the basics covered, let’s get the radio configured.

Configuring the Jumper T14 Radio

Power on your T14 and hold the Menu button to enter the System menu. Select the “ExpressLRS” LUA script and press Enter to open it. Here are the optimal ExpressLRS settings to use:

1. Scroll to “TX Power” and set it to 1000mW for max power
2. Set “Dynamic” to Off
3. Set “Fan Thresh” to 250mW
4. Set “Packet Rate” to 250Hz
5. Set “Telem Ratio” to 1:32
6. Set “Switch Mode” to Hybrid
7. Leave “Model Match” Off

Hit Back twice to return to the main screen. Now press Menu once to enter the Model Setup menu. Navigate to Page 2 labeled “Setup”.

Scroll all the way down and turn Trainer Mode Off. Return to the top of the menu to change your model name:

• Press Enter on Model Name
• Scroll and select each character
• Hold Enter to toggle between upper/lower case
• When done, press Enter to confirm

I recommend naming it something like “ELRS” to keep things clear.

Next, scroll down to Internal RF. If it’s Off, set Mode to CRSF.

If you only see “Multi” mode, you have the multiprotocol version of the T14, not the ExpressLRS one. To use ELRS with the multiprotocol T14, set Internal RF Off, External RF to CRSF, and plug an external ELRS module into the JR bay.

For Crossfire, Tracer, Ghost or 900MHz ELRS, also set Internal RF Off, External to CRSF, and use the corresponding external module.

We’ll be using the Internal RF module, so make sure to set it to CRSF mode. If you ever want to use the T14 with a simulator:

1. Duplicate this model
2. Re-enter Model Setup
3. Set both Internal and External RF to Off

This powers off the RF modules when connected to the sim to conserve battery and minimize noise.

With the System configuration done, click Page to cycle to the Inputs screen.

Configuring Radio Channel Mapping

Before setting up the Inputs, you’ll need to check your drone’s existing channel mapping in Betaflight/your flight control software. Connect your quad and note the Channel Map – it will look something like AETR1234 (signifying Aileron, Elevator, Throttle, Rudder on channels 1-4).

If this is your first radio, it’s actually easiest to just change the channel map on your drone to the default AETR1234 to match the T14.

But if you’re like me and have a fleet of quads already setup, it’s better to update the T14’s channel map to match your drones. Here’s how:

1. In the T14 Inputs menu, Enter and Delete each of the 4 stock inputs
2. Scroll to Input 1, press Enter
3. Scroll to “Source” and press Enter
4. Move the stick that corresponds to the 1st channel (Aileron for AETR) then press Back twice
5. Repeat the process for Inputs 2, 3 and 4, assigning Elevator, Throttle and Rudder

The Inputs should now match your desired channel map. You can double check on the Mixer screen – the number after each channel should correspond to the new input number (eg. CH1 is mapped to I1).

Alternatively, you can leave the Inputs alone and only change the Mixer mappings. To do this, delete the stock mixes, then for each of the 4 channels: Select the channel, change the Source to the desired stick Input, and press Back twice. The downside is the Inputs won’t match the Mixer mapping.

Now that the primary controls are mapped, we need to assign switches for arming and auxiliary channels.

Setting up Switches and Aux Channels

ExpressLRS requires that the Arm switch is assigned to Channel 5 (AUX1) and mapped to a 2-position switch. This is because, like the 4 main inputs, AUX1 is updated in every control packet for lowest latency.

The other AUX channels are only sent every other packet, which is fine for mode switches, but not ideal for arming. If you use a 3-position switch for arming, ELRS will only see it as either On or Off anyway and it’s a waste of a more versatile switch.

Personally, I use the SA 2-position toggle switch for arming on all my radios and quads. The consistent physical layout makes it easy to build muscle memory even when switching between different transmitters.

To map the arm switch:

1. Scroll to Channel 5 and press Enter
2. Scroll to “Source” and press Enter
3. Flip the 2-position switch you want to use for arming, then press Back twice
4. Repeat this process for the other AUX channels, assigning each to a 2 or 3 position switch

With all your switches configured, the basic transmitter setup is complete. Now you need to bind it to your drones.

Binding ExpressLRS (v3+)

If all your drones are running ExpressLRS v3+, there’s a really slick way to bind that doesn’t involve manually flashing firmware.

1. On the T14, hold Menu to enter the System screen
2. Scroll to the ExpressLRS LUA script and press Enter
3. Scroll to “WiFi” and press Enter to enable the ELRS WiFi hotspot
4. On your PC, connect to the “ExpressLRS TX” WiFi network using “expresslrs” as the password
5. In a web browser, navigate to 10.0.0.1 to open the ELRS TX configuration portal
6. Click the Options tab
7. Under “Binding Phrase”, enter your binding phrase (case-sensitive) and click Save
8. Press Reboot when prompted

The T14 will reboot and you’ll be disconnected from the WiFi hotspot. Power cycle the transmitter for good measure to ensure the changes take effect.

As long as your drone’s receiver has the same binding phrase setup, they will now connect without any further configuration! Super simple.

I would recommend double checking that everything works before flying: remove props, connect a battery, and verify the ARM switch and other controls behave as expected. You can also connect the drone to Betaflight and confirm the channels respond properly to stick inputs.

This binding trick is awesome, but you’re limited to whatever firmware version the T14 shipped with. Let’s talk about how to update that.

Updating ExpressLRS Firmware

I recommend upgrading to the latest firmware whenever you get a new ExpressLRS transmitter. Subsequent releases often contain bug fixes, stability improvements, and performance enhancements. After the initial flash, I generally stick to the same major version to maintain compatibility across my fleet.

Here’s how to flash your T14 to the newest ExpressLRS:

1. Download and install the ExpressLRS Configurator from the official GitHub repo (select the version that matches your operating system)
2. Plug the T14 into your PC via USB-C and select “USB Serial” mode on the pop-up
3. Open the ExpressLRS Configurator
4. Select the latest release under “Target” and choose “Jumper T14 2400MHz” for the 2.4GHz model
5. Set “Flashing Method” to HID, Regulatory Domain to “ISM 2400” (unless you need EU/JP output power compliance)
6. Enter your WiFi credentials to allow automatic updates when not bound after 60 seconds
7. Enter your binding phrase – make sure it matches your other ELRS gear! It’s case sensitive.
8. Click Build and Flash – the first attempt will take longer as it has to download and compile the firmware

Flashing new firmware may wipe the LUA script – in that case you’ll need to use the Configurator’s “Lua” page to flash the latest LUA to match your firmware.

And that’s it! Your Jumper T14 running ExpressLRS should now be fully setup and ready to fly. The convenient binding and easy firmware updates make this an excellent radio and protocol combo for FPV.

I hope you found this guide clear and comprehensive. Properly configuring your gear is critical for safety and performance. Take your time, double check your work, and enjoy exploring the skies with your well-tuned machine.

Happy flying!