OpenTX "Bad Radio Data" erases models and settings | HOW TO FIX 

Hey Joshua! The reason it didn't happen before is that QX7/X9D/all taranis radios use EEPROM to store radio & model settings. When FrSky introduced the Horus line, they started storing all data on the SD card. Since T16/T18/TX16S is based on the Horus line, they also behave this way. If you take a new radio that is based on the Taranis line (T-Lite, maybe Tango 2?) they'll store the data in EEPROM and it won't get wiped when you wipe the SD card! doc.open-tx.org/manual-for-opentx-2-2/sdcard#models-and-radio-folder

Love your short videos. Problem, solution, solved. Way to go. Thats why I continue to be a patreon.

Thanks Josh. Great to hear we can update it and now not lose everything.

What the manual states about those folders: MODELS and RADIO folder On the Horus these folder contains the model/readio information. It is used to store model information on the Horus instead of the EEPROM as on other transitters. On the other transmiters the Models folder contains files saved by the "Archive model" command of the model selection screen will be placed here. Similarly, models you want to reload using the "Restore model" of the same page need to be placed there beforehand.

A very helpful companion video to the last update video. Thank you once again Joshua!

Thanks Joshua! This bit me late last night and I had to roll back to fly today. I just followed your instructions and got my radio up to date

This is such a great video! I've always had driver problems on my computer. So I updated from SD card hoping that everything still work after that. Now I can restore everything :)

Really helpful man 😉🍻

Love it, thanks Bardwell!

Very helpful 👌

Just a tutorial for those who have already lost those two folders. If you just make 2 new folders with the names RADIO and MODELS than the radio will recognize them and use them, fixing the problem. Thanks JB!

Sweet! Thank you sir!

Thanks for the video 👍. My first TX16s had a mother board failure, my second TX16s now with edge, now gets this warning! 😫

Thank you! 👍👍

Omg this helped thanks so much

Nice one Bardy.

The way I’ve been updating all my radios since I noticed the models folder IS used by the Horus X10S I bought years ago , is to only copy over the new SD card contents ( except the RADIO & MODELS Folders ) - Haven’t had a problem since. I Also generally choose “Merge” and not “Replace” when copying the new contents to my SD Card - preserves all my custom sounds and lua etc.

You are a genius! Thanks

Hey man! What do you think about the Edge TX? I think it’s the replacement for Open TX.

Never seen that problem, but I just extract new sd file into existing SD and when asked to overwrite contents, say yes.

Great content as usual ox

The recent big-screen radios have always relied on the SD card to store the models and settings

Thanks Josh. I had problems with a setting in the Global function at screenshot. I copy the models and Radio but the error consists further, the TX16s doesn't work correct. But after your tips it works, but I can't use the old Models and Radio folder, but never mind, I start with plane 🤣

It seems like every time I upgrade the OpenTX I have to update SD card as well. Why don’t the OpenTX update both the Firmware and the SD card content all in one shot? Is there a reason behind this that I’m missing?

I have a copy of the SDCard contents on my computer with custom sounds, custom pictures, Lua scripts and Amber sounds. When I need to update to a new release version. Copy replace new card contents to the computer folder. Overwrite Amber sounds then copy to radios SDCard. Never had any problems. The models on the SDCard appear to be like a register but I have noticed that even if I have added new models to my radio I have not had a Bad Radio Data error.

Hi I think this is from day 1 in jumper radio master tx16s etc , , x9d stores setting and models on EPROM. This happens to me on my 1st Jumper long time ago. Notice also that there is no backup to those radios, and it makes sense since it's all on the card. So you just make a copy of the card. Thanks for sharing

Pretty interesting indeed, Joshua! Did you check if there are protected files in it? They wouldn't be normally visible. Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

You also may want to save or copy over your sounds folder if you have custom sounds located there

My Jumper T16 did that randomly after not using for a while.

I have a cutdown of my personal SDCard which I merge INTO the OpenTX supplied card on the PC before copying to the radio. That way I don't forget my custom Images/scripts/sound/etc. Reading & saving the models before starting is a REALLY good idea as you always change something (even if its only the trims) over time.

Will you be reviewing the TBS Mambo radio?

Hi Joshua, i accidentally flashed qx7 firmware to my jumper t18 and now it's not working correctly. How could i solve it?

I didn't even know this is an issue. I updated my 2 year old open tx, on my taranis qx7s without a hitch. It's either a radiomaster thing, or it pertains to the noheli firmware which I don't use. I'll look out for this now.

I just removed the batteries and charged them as I have many times. After I installed the charged batteries I turned on the radio and got the bad radio data and it’s wiped. Never updated firmware, just charged batteries as I have many times before and now it’s hosed!

Hi just had that problem with my mambo tbs. She never did that to me before always worked fine but it s been 15 days shestarted to do that bad data thing to me Dont understand why cause i do not have sd card in it 🤷🏽‍♂️ always have to recalibrate and remake all the chanel thing again Somebody knows why or how to fix that on the mambo I m using the tracer in it have no module on the mambo too. Cheers

Just updated two transmitters. The one with a big color screen had models in the models folder. The one that was a smaller game pad style controller did not. I have a different procedure for copying the SD card contents over. Most of the folders only contain a read me. I copy over the contents of the scripts folder so I will still have the extra scripts I installed. There are a few folders you can just copy over the contents without touching things you installed. One item was moved to a new utilities folder so deleted that and copied new one.

The most recent livestream you did on 6/27 is private and isn't showing on youtube. plz help

2.3.13 was newest ? qx7 no radio folder I transferred models folder and amber sound pack + lua and all is perfect thanks for video

I broke my sd card how do I get the files ....should the tx16 bin file set it up

Another way would be to use the OpenTx Companion SD Card Sync tool , this works both ways , all files will be updated ( if newer) and all models and settings will remain , in addition you would have the same content on your backup SD folder. one lasty tip , to speed things up , extract only the language folder that you use in the SOUNDS folder.

I am just about to trash mine now. Really had a belly full of it. For two months I have been struggling with open tx. I dont get the same screen readings as you and others. I didnt back up my sd card so have no Radio or models folders. Warning comes up on the screen in blue BAD RADIO DATA. Well I can't risk flying knowing that so I have ordered a new FSI6X as a spare and before they stop making them and Six new Flysky rxs. To heck with theT16s. Its caused me nothing but head aches. For the Blade series Hellis I will buy a new Spektrum 6E. At least the FSI6 works and it works well without any fussing around updating this, flashing that and all the rest of it. Sorry for the negatives but that is how it has been at least for me. Peter

Bad radio data comes from the radio config file being missing under RADIO folder. Models on the TX16S are stored on the SD Card. Same with EdgeTX. The steps you used are correct on how to update SD card contents.

When upgrading the sdcard just copy new sounds and scripts but don't delete the old model/radio folder... Just don't wipe the sdcard. Wasn't everyone doing this already?

Joshua.. I need help. I got the elrs boxer radio. I'm clueless.. think I lost my factory back up.. I don't know what's all supposed to be there. The USB thing only one page shows up.. I watched your elrs this tried following.. made every mistake.. my brain just doesn't grasp what to do. Think I have fried my mind I've watched hours of stuff and still clueless..

Perfect video with great timing. Exactly that happened to my Tango 2. Unfortunatelly I have NOTmade a backup and lost these files. Can anyone send these files to me so I can reanimate my Tango 2?

I could still use my xlite with my sd card taken out. Like you said no voice stuff but worked fine but I haven't tried that since updating

had this last night when i went to indoor flying. didnt do any updates. turned on radio and got bad radio data. ive got a backup but i just checked my sd card the models are still all on my sd card

I'd like to know why my Jumper T16 does this randomly? I've been at races before and have turned on my radio and this has happened, no updating, just turning it on. Bad radio data. I had to quit racing because I didn't have my laptop.

mine did the upgrade just fine :)

Passando pra prestigiar aquele like e fortalecer o canal 👍✌

not sure but maye its due the t2/mambo integration to opentx. if so, i suggest to backup at least the models. txt file as it gets recreated when "bad radio data" shows up

The Frsky x9 lite S had antenna problems Aug. 2020. The Answer was: Try using the old version of the internal module: 1.1.3, you can get it of the internet or directly from FrSky technical support. The old version solved the issues for me. Not an identical problem but strange none the less. Obviously a different brand radio.

Waiting for OpenTX 2.4

Hey Josh. Perhaps you can steer me in the right direction. I am convinced that my last SD card was corrupted. When I say nothing worked on my radio (TX16s), I mean NOTHING worked. Models I used to fly no longer functioned, receivers would not bind. Anyway, I decided to buy a new SD card. Do you have any videos showing how to install a new blank SD card, or any other RU-vidrs that might have one?

I've never taken my SD card out. I've heard too many stories of SD cards missing the internal slot. And it's not too slow for me. I only upgrade every few months...

I never had this issue on my QX7/ T16xs.... because I always copyíed only the new scripts and updated to the new folder system. Deleting the content would be a mess, I would lose all my additional scripts and tools which do not come with the new OTX sdcard version.

Mine says, Cant extract/radio.bin. I'm stuck

Joshua, I am using FW 2.3.14 in a Jumper t-18 lite, and I am having the "Bad radio data" message, but not upon a FW update, but in the field when trying to make a new flight. About the models in the SD card Radio folder, and Models folder, I found two things: The Model file in the Radio folder, has been set to default, showing a blank model 1 after you recalibrate the sticks. The other finding was that all models are kept in good shape in the Model folder, although you need to do some back and forth job for them to be able to see them back in the transmitter. (I think I copied the Model file from a backup SD card to the installed SD card, and that fix the problem. However, given that in my case, this did not happen upon an FW update, but after powering off the transmitter, this is a very disturbing issue related to the FW that people should be aware of and report.

You can restore your models on the SD card by counting the number of *.bin files in the models folder and then editing the models.txt file in the radio folder just add a modelN.bin (N= model number) line for each *.bin file in the models directory i.e. if in /models you have model1.bin model2.bin model3.bin add: model1.bin (will already be there) model2.bin model3.bin When you have finished adding lines, save the txt file. Restart the TX This will bring back all your models including the ones that you previously deleted, then go to the radio and delete the models labelled model1 model2 etc as these are previously deleted models. Also keep an eye open for duplicates as these will also be restored.

It seems to be radio dependent. Some radios save it to eeprom, some save it to the sd card.

This just happened to me and I didn’t even update the radio but then I had to

Josh im having massive problems can you help please

Hmm. I can't even update firmware anymore. I think my internal SD card is broken.

I was not smart i deleted both model and radio how do i fix it

Basically none of the colour screen radios have an EEPROM, so all the radio and model settings are stored on the SD card. There are some radios like the TX16S which also have a SPI connected FLASH memory chip, but that isn't currently used by OpenTX or EdgeTX. That's why you should *never* format the card to erase it, or delete all the contents, unless you have made a backup of the RADIO and MODELS folders first ;) With the B&W screen transmitters, if you have backed up your models or settings, your model backups will be in MODELS, and your radio settings backups with be in EEPROM, so on those transmitters you want to backup those folders, just so you have them, but all the radio and model settings will still be in EEPROM, so you will only lose you backups if you don't do that ;)

It has to do with frsky vs everyone else. Frsky saves the models (not backups) and radio data to the eeprom. The jumper/radiomaster masters do not save the radio and models to the eeprom they save the data to the Sd card.

if "Bad radio data" error happens randomly without apparent reason then you should change the sd card

Yes they used to work but i have noticed the same thing

Reading these comments makes me glad I still use my X9D, no need to change it 🙂

But there’s no RADIO folder on QX7 somehow

wouldn't be easier just to overwrite the SD card content? this way old (relevant) files will be replaced and the remain will not be touched, including custom images and sounds files? same result less effort.

I always copy my RADIO MODELS IMAGES THEMES and SOUND when i upgrading my opentx.

I thought models was always on SD card on color screen radios

I had this problem. Luckily I didn't have many models to remake.

The "Bad radio data" will occured if you unplug the battery before power off.

This happened to me at the field and pissed me off something fierce.

I got the message when I dropped my tango 2 accidentally...

I sometimes think to avoid all this frustration just stick to the DJI radio. It is so user friendly. If all you want to do is fly FPV with out all the hassle its a good option. I like my Tango 2 but have spent many sleepless nights trying get it to work again after a firmware upgrade.

It's always nice to stay on the stable build when dealing with unreliable open source codes. The rule of thumb all the time~ Do you know who tested the open source codes? Nobody knows~

you know... If you use the sync SD card tool.. you will never have this problem... I don't know why you don't do this and why you do it the confusing way you do.

LOL If you were smart hahahahaha!!! Love that !

First

You waste a lot of space just copying everything over because of other languages in SD Card contents

Always have a backup sd card just in case....🤣

Why are you getting this error message in the first place? Because you had to be the first one to install a new firmware and couldnt wait for it to be vetted by JB first! Hah! You had it coming!

EXTREMELY PAINFULL PROBLEM !!!

open tx is really shit. you can't even download the old versions. I tried flashing my r9m with ELRS and FRsky firmware, both don't work anymore. absolute trash.