WFB-NG (WiFi Broadcast Next Generation)

WFB-NG is an open-source digital radio link that carries video, telemetry and data over raw Wi-Fi. It is the foundation of the video link in OpenIPC/OpenFPV systems. The project is developed by svpcom.

Unlike a regular Wi-Fi connection, WFB-NG puts the network card into monitor mode and transmits packets directly (injection), without association or acknowledgements — giving minimum latency and long range.

How it works

• Broadcast without association. There is no "connection" between devices and no waiting for ACKs — the transmitter simply broadcasts packets, and any receiver on the same channel picks them up.
• FEC (Forward Error Correction). Redundant packets are added to recover lost ones. By default the link recovers up to 4 lost packets out of a 12-packet block (configurable via fec_k/fec_n).
• 1:1 RTP → IEEE 802.11. Each RTP video packet maps to a single radio packet without serializing into a stream — minimizing latency.
• Encryption. Traffic is encrypted (libsodium) with the gs.key / drone.key key pair.

Advantages

• Low latency — no handshake protocols.
• Interference resilience — FEC recovers lost packets, with diversity reception.
• Long range — several kilometres with proper antennas and power.
• Bidirectional link — video "down" + MAVLink telemetry "up".
• Multiple receivers — aggregation across several cards/stations, automatic selection of the best transmitter by signal level.

Supported hardware

Chipset	Note
RTL8812AU	Most common, needs a patched driver
RTL8812EU	Needs a patched driver
Atheros AR9350	Supported

The card must support monitor mode and packet injection. See also Network Cards.

Power supply and cooling

• Connect the card +5V to a BEC (≥ 5 A), not to a USB port
• Install active cooling (25–30 mm heatsink + fan)
• Never power the card without antennas connected — you can burn the amplifier
• Recommended power capacitor: ≥ 470 µF low ESR (e.g. Panasonic EEUFR1V102)

Components

Tool	Purpose
wfb_keygen	Generates the encryption key pair (gs.key, drone.key)
wfb_tx	Transmitter (packet injection in monitor mode)
wfb_rx	Receiver
wfb_tun	IPv4 tunnel over the link (for MAVLink/data)
wfb-cli gs	Link status monitor on the ground station (RSSI, FEC, losses)