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APFPV Firmware — Beginner's Guide

APFPV stands for "Access Point FPV" – it's a simple way to get video from your drone to your phone, tablet, or computer using standard Wi-Fi. Imagine your drone creating its own Wi-Fi network that you connect to for real-time video viewing.

What is APFPV?

The APFPV firmware from the OpenIPC team creates a direct Wi-Fi connection between your drone's video transmitter (VTX) and the ground station. Instead of complex networks, the drone simply acts as a Wi-Fi router that you connect to directly.

This isn't a revolutionary technology, but a solution created for simplicity and accessibility, especially for those who find other FPV systems too complex.

Why Choose APFPV?

Ideal for beginners:

  • No complex setup
  • Works with any Wi-Fi enabled device
  • Doesn't require special ground equipment
  • Simple web interface in the browser
  • The ground station can be any Wi-Fi device!

Important limitations:

  • 40–70 ms latency (not suitable for racing). Sometimes up to 35 ms is possible.
  • Depends on distance and interference

What You Need

For the drone (VTX):

  • An OpenIPC-compatible camera or board
  • A Wi-Fi chip (RTL8812AU, RTL8733BU, RTL8812EU are supported — the most popular ones)

For viewing (ground station):

  • Android: PixelPilot app (recommended)
  • Computer: Any with Wi-Fi and a browser
  • Professional: External Wi-Fi equipment (TP-Link, Ubiquiti)
  • Any device: That supports RTP streams

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Installing APFPV Firmware

There are three ways to install APFPV firmware on your drone. The internet method is much simpler if the drone can connect to Wi-Fi, or you can use the Configurator.

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Easy Installation via Internet (Recommended)

Step 1: Connect the Drone to the Internet

Physical connection:

  1. Connect the drone to your computer via Ethernet.
  2. Power on the drone.
  3. Wait for it to fully boot (1–2 minutes).

Step 2: How to Connect to the Drone via SSH

On Windows: 1. Install PuTTY 2. Open PuTTY 3. In the "Host Name" field, enter the drone's IP 4. Port: 22 5. Connection type: SSH 6. Click "Open" 7. Log in with username: root, password: 12345

Tip

Enter the password when prompted.

Find the drone's IP:

  • Check the list of connected devices on your router.
  • Try network scanners on your phone.

Step 3: Install Firmware with One Command

After connecting via SSH and having internet access:

First, perform a full reset using the command - firstboot, wait for the camera to complete a full reset.

Then enter the command:

sysupgrade -k -r -n --url=[https://github.com/OpenIPC/builder/releases/download/latest/openipc.ssc338q-nor-apfpv.tgz](https://github.com/OpenIPC/builder/releases/download/latest/openipc.ssc338q-nor-apfpv.tgz)

Press Enter and wait for the reboot (5–10 min).

Attention

Remove the Ethernet cable for normal stream operation. And reboot the AIR Unit.

By default, the drone's Wi-Fi operates at 2.4 GHz.

To switch to 5.8 GHz:

bash fw_setenv wlanfreq 5805

Check if the Wi-Fi access point is working and on which frequency:

bash iw dev wlan0 info bash fw_printenv | grep wlan

Set maximum power:

fw_setenv wlanpwr 3000

Login / Password

Openipc / 12345678

Method 2: Manual Installation (without Internet)

Step 1: Download the Firmware
1. Go to: https://github.com/OpenIPC/builder/releases/download/latest/openipc.ssc338q-nor-apfpv.tgz
2. Download the archive.
3. Unpack it — you'll get:
uImage.ssc338q rootfs.squashfs.ssc338q

Step 2: Copy Files to the Drone

WinSCP (Windows):
1. Install WinSCP.
2. Protocol: SCP
3. Host: Drone's IP
4. Login: root, password: 12345
5. Log in and upload files to /tmp.

On Mac/Linux:

scp uImage.ssc338q root@[drone-IP]:/tmp/
scp rootfs.squashfs.ssc338q root@[drone-IP]:/tmp/

Step 3: Installation

SSH into the drone: 

sysupgrade -z -n --kernel=/tmp/uImage.ssc338q --rootfs=/tmp/rootfs.squashfs.ssc338q

Connecting to the Drone

  1. Connect to the OpenIPC Wi-Fi network.
  2. Password: 12345678
  3. Drone's IP: 192.168.0.1

Viewing Video

On Android:
- Open PixelPilot — video will appear automatically.

In browser:
- Enter: http://192.168.0.1

On Linux (GStreamer):

gst-launch-1.0 udpsrc port=5600 ! application/x-rtp ! rtph265depay ! avdec_h265 ! fpsdisplaysink sync=false

Other Features and Tips

Other devices:

Use any application that supports RTP streams over UDP on port 5600.

Configuring the Wi-Fi Network

To change the Wi-Fi name and password:

Connect to the drone via UART or SSH and enter:

fw_setenv wlanssid Drone
fw_setenv wlanpass openipcfpv

Tip

Replace "Drone" with your desired network name, and "openipcfpv" with your password. Reboot the drone.

How the System Works

Imagine it this way:

  • Your drone = Wi-Fi router (192.168.0.1)
  • Ground station= Connected device (192.168.0.10)
  • Video stream = Data transmitted from the drone
  • Web interface = Control panel at http://192.168.0.1

Supported Hardware

Wi-Fi chips (on the drone):

  • RTL8812AU (powerful, dual-band)
  • RTL8733BU (compact USB adapter)
  • RTL8812EU

Ground station:

  • Any smartphone or tablet
  • Computer with Wi-Fi
  • Professional external Wi-Fi equipment
  • FPV goggles with Wi-Fi support
  • Any Wi-Fi device!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the video latency?

Usually 40–70 ms. Depends on:

  • Distance
  • Interference
  • Receiver device power

  • Video quality settings C an I use professional Wi-Fi equipment? Yes! You can use:

  • TP-Link with external antennas

  • Ubiquiti equipment
  • Other commercial Wi-Fi with good antennas

What is the range?

  • Smartphone: 50–200 m
  • Good Wi-Fi adapter: 200–500 m
  • Professional equipment: over 1 km

Troubleshooting

Cannot see the "OpenIPC" network

  • Check power and firmware.
  • Wait 1–2 minutes after startup.
  • Reboot the drone.
  • Move closer.

Connected, but no video

  • Enter http://192.168.0.1 in your browser.
  • Check PixelPilot (Android).
  • Make sure you are connected to the correct network.

Unable to install? Execute these commands and specify the AIR Unit name:

fw_printenv sensor
ipcinfo -cs
#
iw dev wlan0 info
cat /tmp/wpa_supplicant.conf
fw_printenv | grep wlan
ip a
lsusb
ps
iw list ; grep -e 'GITHUB_VERSION' /etc/os-release

Feedback

Copy the command output from the terminal and send it to info@openfpv.com.ua

Poor video quality

  • Reduce distance.
  • Avoid interference.
  • Change location.
  • Adjust quality in WebUI.

Tips for better performance

  • Use 5 GHz if possible.
  • Maintain direct line of sight.
  • Use good antennas.
  • Test everything on the ground.

Why APFPV is cool

Unlike complex systems (WFB-NG, RubyFPV), APFPV:

  • Doesn't require special equipment
  • Works with any Wi-Fi
  • Has a simple point-to-point connection
  • Offers a web interface
  • Supports both beginners and professionals

APFPV — FPV simplicity for everyone. From first steps to serious experiments.