Can I use ExpressLRS with a basic PWM receiver on a wing?

Question: Can I run ExpressLRS with a cheap PWM receiver on a wing?

Answer: ExpressLRS (ELRS) is primarily designed to work with digital receivers that support its protocol, providing low latency and long range. Using a basic PWM receiver with ELRS isn’t straightforward because PWM receivers output individual servo pulses for each channel, while ELRS transmitters send data digitally. To use ELRS on your wing, you’ll need a compatible ELRS receiver, which communicates via CRSF or SBUS rather than PWM. If you only have a cheap PWM receiver, you can’t directly connect it to an ELRS transmitter and expect proper operation.

If your wing’s flight controller supports PWM inputs, you could connect the PWM receiver to it, and then use an ELRS transmitter with a matching ELRS receiver to control the wing. In short, replace the cheap PWM receiver with an ELRS-compatible one for native ELRS benefits. This ensures you get the best range, reliability, and response times ELRS offers.