# How to Set Up GPS Rescue in Betaflight: Configuration, Testing, and Best Practices
GPS Rescue is Betaflight’s emergency return-to-home feature. When your video link drops or your RC signal is lost, GPS Rescue can autonomously fly your quad back to the home point and land — potentially saving you from a long walk of shame or a lost drone. This guide covers the complete setup, from hardware selection to field testing, with the exact settings that work reliably.
## What GPS Rescue Does (and Doesn’t Do)
GPS Rescue is NOT a full return-to-home like DJI drones. It’s a relatively simple rescue mode designed to get your quad back within visual range on a straight-line path.
| Feature | GPS Rescue | DJI RTH | iNav RTH |
|———|————|———|———-|
| Autonomous Return | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Obstacle Avoidance | No | Yes | No |
| Altitude Hold on Return | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-Land | Yes (rough) | Yes (precise) | Yes |
| Climb Before Return | Configurable | Yes | Yes |
| Course Correction | Basic | Advanced | Advanced |
| Sanity Checks | Configurable | Built-in | Built-in |
**Key Limitation**: GPS Rescue flies straight back at a set altitude. It will NOT avoid trees, buildings, or terrain. Always set your return altitude higher than the tallest obstacle in your flying area.
## Required Hardware
| Component | Recommendation | Notes |
|———–|—————|——-|
| GPS Module | BN-880Q, Matek M8Q-5883 | UBlox M8 or M10 chipset recommended |
| Compass (Magnetometer) | Built into BN-880Q | Optional but improves heading accuracy |
| FC UART | One free UART (TX + RX) | GPS needs both TX and RX |
| Firmware | Betaflight 4.3+ | GPS Rescue improved significantly in 4.3 |
### GPS Module Recommendations
| Module | Chipset | Compass | Size | Best For |
|——–|———|———|——|———-|
| Matek M8Q-5883 | UBlox M8 | Yes (QMC5883) | 18×18mm | Best all-around |
| BN-880Q | UBlox M8 | Yes (HMC5883) | 22×22mm | Good value |
| HGLRC M100 Mini | UBlox M10 | No | 13×15mm | Micro builds |
| TBS M10 GPS | UBlox M10 | No | 18×18mm | Fastest lock |
We recommend the **Matek M8Q-5883** available at [uavmodel.com](https://uavmodel.com) — it offers reliable performance, a built-in compass, and an excellent form factor for 5-inch builds.
## Wiring the GPS Module
GPS modules need 4 wires:
“`
GPS VCC ──► 5V pad on FC
GPS GND ──► GND pad on FC
GPS TX ──► FC RX pad (e.g., UART6 RX)
GPS RX ──► FC TX pad (e.g., UART6 TX)
GPS SDA ──► FC SDA pad (compass, if available)
GPS SCL ──► FC SCL pad (compass, if available)
“`
**Mounting**: Mount the GPS module on the top of the quad, ceramic antenna facing up, away from the VTX antenna and carbon fiber. Carbon fiber blocks GPS signals entirely. Use a TPU mount or stick it to the top plate with VHB tape with a clear sky view.
## Betaflight Configuration
### Ports Tab
1. Select the UART you wired GPS to
2. Under **Sensor Input**, set to **GPS** at **115200** baud
3. Click **Save and Reboot**
### GPS Tab
After configuration, check the GPS tab:
– **3D Fix**: Must show “True” and at least 8+ satellites before flying
– **HDOP**: Should be below 1.5 (lower is better; 0.8–1.2 is excellent)
– **Home Point**: Should set automatically once you arm (first arm location)
### Failsafe Tab (Critical)
| Setting | Recommended Value | Explanation |
|———|——————-|————-|
| Stage 2 Failsafe | GPS Rescue | Activates on signal loss |
| Throttle idle duration | 1.0s | Wait before activating (avoids brief blips) |
| Angle | 32° | Maximum tilt angle during return |
| Climb time | ~3s | Time to gain initial altitude |
| Initial climb altitude | 30–50m | Height gained before starting return |
| Return altitude | 60–100m | Absolute altitude ceiling above home |
| Ground speed | 10–15 m/s | Speed during return flight |
| Descent distance | 100m | Start descending this far from home |
| Land altitude | 5m | Hover and drop from this height |
| Sanity checks | ALL ENABLED | Prevents flyaway if GPS data is bad |
### CLI Tweaks for Reliability
“`
set gps_rescue_angle = 32
set gps_rescue_initial_alt = 50
set gps_rescue_descent_dist = 100
set gps_rescue_ground_speed = 1200 # 12 m/s
set gps_rescue_throttle_min = 1350
set gps_rescue_throttle_max = 1750
set gps_rescue_throttle_hover = 1450
set gps_rescue_min_sats = 8
set gps_rescue_allow_arming_without_fix = OFF
save
“`
## Testing GPS Rescue Safely
**Never test GPS Rescue for the first time on a real failsafe.** Test it deliberately.
### Recommended Test Procedure
1. **Bench test**: Confirm 10+ satellites and home point set in OSD
2. **Line-of-sight hover test**: Hover 5m up, 10m away, activate GPS Rescue via switch
3. **Observe**: Quad should climb, turn toward home, fly back, and descend
4. **Be ready to override**: Move any stick to cancel GPS Rescue instantly
5. **Repeat at 50m, then 100m**: Gradually increase test distance
### Setting Up a GPS Rescue Switch
Add a dedicated switch mode in Betaflight Modes tab:
1. Go to **Modes** tab
2. Add range for **GPS RESCUE**
3. Assign to a 2-position or 3-position switch
4. This lets you activate rescue manually for testing (or real emergencies)
## Common GPS Rescue Issues
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|———|——-|———-|
| Quad flies wrong direction | Compass not calibrated or incorrect orientation | Align compass arrow forward, calibrate |
| Rescue activates too easily | Brief RC link blip | Increase “Throttle idle duration” to 1.5s |
| Quad descends too fast / crashes | Sanity checks disabled | Enable all sanity checks, test hover throttle |
| GPS won’t get 3D fix | VTX noise, carbon blocking signal | Mount GPS away from VTX, on top, clear sky |
| “Rescue N/A” in OSD | Home point not set, <8 satellites | Wait for home point to set before flying |
## OSD Elements to Add
Add these to your OSD for GPS Rescue awareness:
- **GPS Satellites** — Always know your sat count
- **GPS Speed** — Monitor ground speed during rescue
- **Home Direction Arrow** — Shows direction to home point
- **Home Distance** — Distance back to arming point
- **Warnings** — Shows "RESCUE" and "RESCUE N/A" status
## Watch: GPS Rescue Setup Walkthrough
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