Quick Answer
ELRS Finder is a free EdgeTX Lua tool that turns live ExpressLRS telemetry into a signal-strength meter with increasingly rapid tones. Install the correct colour or monochrome script before you fly, then follow the improving signal after a crash. It only works while the aircraft remains powered and returns telemetry.
Why This Free Tool Belongs on Your Radio
A quad disappearing into long grass creates a specific problem: you may still have a radio link but no useful visual clue. ELRS Finder reads the CRSF telemetry already reaching your handset, smooths the changing value and makes the trend obvious on screen and through Geiger-counter-style audio.
The script prefers the 1RSS sensor, which reports RSSI in dBm. If that is unavailable, it falls back to RSNR and then RQly. Its code blends 80% of the previous average with 20% of each new reading, then changes the tone interval from roughly 1.2 seconds at the weak end to 0.1 seconds near the strong end. The fallback values are estimates, not distance measurements, so trust a repeatable rise rather than one sudden spike.
Choose the version that matches the radio. The original monochrome script is designed for 128×64 displays such as the RadioMaster Boxer. The colour adaptation requires EdgeTX 2.8 or later and has been tested at 480×320 and 800×480, including the RadioMaster TX16S MK3.
Install It Before You Need It
Download the correct Lua file and copy it to /SCRIPTS/TOOLS/ on the radio’s SD card. On EdgeTX, long-press SYS, open Tools and launch ELRS Finder. If the tool shows no useful signal, open the model’s Telemetry page, select Discover new sensors and wait for 1RSS, RSNR or RQly to appear.
Our recommendation is to test it with a powered, disarmed model in an easy location. Set ExpressLRS to a fixed 10–25mW while searching; high power can saturate the meter and hide useful changes. Restore your normal power settings before the next flight. If ExpressLRS itself is new to you, read our ELRS explainer and the practical RadioMaster Boxer setup guide.
The Limitation That Matters
ELRS Finder is not a locator beacon. A disconnected flight battery, dead receiver or lost telemetry path leaves it with nothing to read. It also cannot provide a map position or distinguish a direct signal from a reflection off a wall or wet vegetation.
For a valuable build, pair software recovery with independent hardware. A VIFLY Finder V2 self-powered buzzer keeps sounding after the main pack ejects, while ELRS Finder adds direction when the link survives. Browse our radio range for compatible EdgeTX handsets, but do not buy a new radio solely for this script.
FAQ
Q: Does ELRS Finder work if the quad battery disconnects?
A: No. The receiver must remain powered and send ELRS/CRSF telemetry. Use a self-powered buzzer or GPS as a separate recovery layer.
Q: Why does the signal stay near 100%?
A: Transmitter power is probably too high for the search area. Select a fixed 10–25mW setting, then reduce it further as you approach the aircraft if your hardware permits.
Q: Which file should I install?
A: Use ELRS_Finder.lua for monochrome radios and ELRS_Finder_Color.lua for compatible colour radios running EdgeTX 2.8 or later.