The Freefly Astro uses a fixed radio channel on the 2.4 GHz band and does not automatically hop between channels. Manually scanning and selecting the best available channel at each new site maximizes radio range and link performance, keeping your drone connected throughout the flight.
Before you begin
The Freefly Astro's Doodle radio operates on a fixed channel - unlike radios that automatically hop frequencies to avoid interference. This means you need to manually select the best channel for every new environment.
The radio ships set to Channel 3 to avoid typical Wi-Fi router interference right out of the box, but you may need to change it if you're experiencing signal issues on site.
| ℹ️ Safety first: Only change channels while the aircraft is on the ground and disarmed. Power off the aircraft completely before starting a channel scan. |
Before you begin, make sure:
- The Freefly Astro is powered off
- The aircraft is on the ground and disarmed
- Your controller is powered on
- You have the latest version of the Pilot Pro app installed
How to scan and change channels
- Power on your controller and open the Pilot Pro app.
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Navigate to Radio Settings > Channel Select, then tap Scan.
- Wait for the scan to complete. This can take 3–5 minutes - the scan will run automatically and a bar graph will display as soon as it finishes.
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Read the results. The bar graph shows available channels color-coded by quality. Select a green channel if one is available.
- Power on the aircraft. Wait for it to connect to the controller - the Aircraft (Air) ping and access indicators must turn green. This can take another 3–5 minutes.
- Tap on your selected channel. Once the aircraft has connected, tap the channel to sync it across both the aircraft and the controller.
| ℹ️ Note: Losing connection during this process is expected. It can take up to one minute for the system to confirm the channel change was applied successfully on both sides. |
| 💡 Tip: If you can't find a clear channel in one scan, try moving to a different area of your site and scanning again. Some environments require multiple scan attempts to identify the best option. |
What's next
Once you've selected a channel and confirmed the aircraft is connected, you're ready to fly. Here are some helpful next steps:
- Freefly Astro quick start guide: Everything you need to set up and register your drone before your first flight.
- Mission planning with the Freefly Astro: How to plan and run your first data capture mission.
- Freefly Astro support with Propeller: Who to contact for AeroPoint issues and other Freefly Astro questions.
I still can't do it!
We wrote these articles to equip you with everything you need to get the job done on your own, but we understand that sometimes this isn't sufficient.
If you're stuck, the Propeller hardware support team may be able to help. You can contact them by emailing hardwaresupport@propelleraero.com.au.
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