FPV Drone Glossary: Terms Every Pilot Should Know (Beginner to Pro)
FPV has a language of its own. Some terms come from RC planes, some from racing, some from freestyle culture, and a bunch are just stuff pilots started saying because it was faster than explaining the whole thing every time.
This glossary is built to help you decode FPV conversations, troubleshoot faster, and buy the right parts the first time. If you’re brand new, start here, then jump into a beginner build guide like First Drone Build or How to Build a FPV Drone.
If you want gear-path guidance, these are good companion pages: Best FPV Drones for Beginners, Beginner FPV Goggles, and Best Beginner Drone Radio.
Jump to a Letter
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
L |
M |
O |
P |
R |
S |
T |
V |
W
A
Analog
Traditional FPV video system that transmits a live camera feed over 5.8GHz. It’s lower resolution than digital, but it’s cheap, responsive, and still loved by a lot of freestyle pilots. If you want the full breakdown, start here: Analog VTX Guide.
Arming
The moment your quad becomes “live” and motors are allowed to spin. Usually triggered by a switch on your radio. If it won’t arm, it’s almost always a configuration/safety issue, not a “broken drone” issue.
Arming Angle
A safety setting that prevents arming when the drone is tilted too far. Helpful for beginners, annoying for freestyle pilots who arm from weird positions.
ARM / DISARM Switch
A dedicated radio switch used to arm and disarm. This is the single most important safety control you have.
B
Betaflight
The most common firmware and configuration environment for FPV flight controllers. It’s where you set rates, modes, receiver inputs, OSD, and more.
Bind
The process of pairing your radio transmitter to your receiver so the quad responds to your stick inputs. If you’re using modern control links, this often happens once and then “just works.” For radio fundamentals, see How to Get Started in FPV Radios.
Bind Phrase (ELRS)
A text phrase used by ExpressLRS that lets you bind without pressing tiny buttons or plugging/unplugging in a ritual sequence. If ELRS is part of your stack, you’ll see this everywhere.
Blackbox
A flight log recorded by your flight controller (or external memory) that captures gyro data and other telemetry. Used for tuning, diagnosing oscillations, and figuring out why your quad did something cursed.
C
Capacitor (Cap)
A component added to your power input to reduce voltage spikes and electrical noise. This can reduce video breakup, protect electronics, and make your build more reliable. Full install guide: How to Set Up a Capacitor on a FPV Drone.
CLI (Command Line Interface)
A text-based configuration window (inside Betaflight Configurator) where you paste dumps, apply presets, and set advanced parameters.
Cinewhoop
A ducted FPV drone style designed for smoother, safer indoor flying and cinematic footage. If you want a build example: How to Build a Cinewhoop (Squirt v2.1).
CRSF (Crossfire Protocol)
A popular control protocol used by TBS Crossfire and also widely supported as a serial receiver protocol. People sometimes say “CRSF” even when they mean the protocol running over UART, not the brand.
D
Digital FPV
HD video systems (like DJI and others) that deliver a much cleaner image than analog. The tradeoff is typically higher cost and different ecosystem constraints. If you’re choosing goggles, start with Beginner FPV Goggles.
DJI O4 Air Unit
A DJI digital video system component (Air Unit) used for HD FPV. If you’re researching the platform, see: DJI O4 Air Unit.
Drone Stack
A matched set of electronics mounted together in the frame—usually a flight controller + ESC. Stack sizing matters for frame compatibility and wiring cleanliness.
E
ELRS (ExpressLRS)
An open-source radio control link known for excellent range, low latency, and strong community support. Most modern beginner-friendly setups use ELRS now. For a beginner-friendly approach: How to Get Started in FPV Radios.
ESC (Electronic Speed Controller)
The board that controls motor speed. ESC choice affects reliability, performance, and how hard you can push amps without magic smoke. Deep dive: FPV Drone ESCs: Sizing, Firmware, Wiring.
F
Flight Controller (FC)
The “brain” of your quad. It reads sensor data (gyro), interprets receiver input, and tells the ESCs what to do. Most builds use Betaflight-compatible FCs.
Freestyle
A style of FPV flying focused on flow, tricks, and creative lines instead of lap times. If you want the vibe side of FPV, check: How to Have Fun While Flying FPV Drones.
G
Goggles
Your FPV display. Your video system choice (analog vs digital) often dictates which goggles make sense. Beginner path: Beginner FPV Goggles.
Gyro
The sensor in your flight controller that measures rotation. Almost every tuning problem is, at some level, a gyro-and-filtering problem.
L
LQ (Link Quality)
A signal health metric used in ELRS that helps you understand how strong your control link is in real flight conditions.
LiPo
Lithium Polymer battery used for most FPV drones. LiPos are powerful and require safe charging/storage practices.
M
Motors
Brushless motors spin your props. Motor size (like 2207, 2306) and KV rating affect how your quad feels and what battery voltage makes sense. Full guide: FPV Drone Motors.
KV (Motor KV Rating)
RPM per volt (in simple terms). Higher KV generally spins faster on the same battery voltage, but it’s not “better,” it’s just different.
O
OSD (On-Screen Display)
Overlay text in your goggles showing info like battery voltage, timers, RSSI/LQ, and warnings.
P
PID Tuning
A process of adjusting control loop values (P, I, and D) so your quad feels locked-in without oscillations or heat issues.
Props (Propellers)
Props are defined by diameter and pitch (and blade count). Props massively affect feel, noise, efficiency, and how hard you stress your motors and ESCs.
Part 107
The FAA remote pilot certification commonly required for commercial drone work in the United States. If you’re going legit (or want to), start here: How to Pass the FAA Part 107 Exam and use this to drill: Part 107 Practice Test.
R
Receiver (RX)
The electronics that receive your radio signal. Your RX needs to match your control link (ELRS, Crossfire, etc.). If you’re just starting, see: How to Get Started in FPV Radios.
Rates
How fast your quad rotates in response to stick movement. Rates are personal. Changing rates can make the same drone feel completely different.
RSSI
Signal strength indicator. Older systems used RSSI heavily; ELRS pilots often care more about LQ.
S
Simulator
A flight sim you use with your real radio to build muscle memory without breaking gear. If you’re new, this is your cheat code. Start here: Best FPV Drone Simulator for Beginners.
Soldering
The skill that makes FPV cheaper, more reliable, and less frustrating. If soldering feels like a wall, use this: How to Solder FPV Drone Electronics.
Stack
A combined flight controller + ESC set mounted in the frame. “30×30” and “20×20” are common mounting patterns.
T
Throttle Control
The core skill that separates “barely surviving” from “smooth and intentional.” If you want to improve control fast: FPV Throttle Control.
Turtle Mode
A mode that flips your quad upright after a crash by reversing motors. Useful, but it can burn motors/ESCs if you abuse it in tall grass or debris.
TX (Transmitter)
Your radio controller. The thing you hold. Beginner-friendly options and what matters most: Best Beginner Drone Radio.
V
VTX (Video Transmitter)
The device that sends your camera feed to your goggles. In analog, VTX tables, channels, bands, and antennas matter a lot. Start here: Analog VTX Guide.
Voltage Sag
The voltage drop you see when you punch the throttle. Normal to a point, but excessive sag can indicate an old battery, wrong C rating, or an inefficient setup.
W
Whoop
A small ducted FPV drone (often 65mm–85mm) used for indoor flying and tight spaces. If you’re shopping, start here: Small Whoop Drones.
Analog vs Digital Quick Comparison
| Category | Analog | Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Image Quality | SD (classic “snow” breakup) | HD (cleaner, more detailed) |
| Cost | Usually cheaper to start | Higher buy-in |
| Compatibility | Mix-and-match friendly | More ecosystem-specific |
| Beginner Path | Great if you want cheap reps | Great if you prioritize image clarity |
If you’re choosing your first setup, start with Best FPV Drones for Beginners and then pick goggles with Beginner FPV Goggles.
Next Steps
If you want the “start flying without wasting money” path, here’s a clean order:
1) Learn the basics with an FPV simulator
2) Choose a radio using Best Beginner Drone Radio
3) Choose goggles using Beginner FPV Goggles
4) Build your first quad with First Drone Build
5) Learn ESC basics with ESC Sizing, Firmware, Wiring
If you want updates, drops, and build notes, you can jump on the list here: Mailing List.
Suggest a Term
FPV slang evolves fast. If there’s a term you keep seeing that isn’t listed here, message me and I’ll add it.