Holybro SiK Telemetry Radio V3, 500mW, 915MHz, Pixhawk Plug-and-Play

The Holybro SiK Telemetry Radio V3 is a small, low-cost, open-source radio pair built specifically to link an autopilot like Pixhawk to a ground station running Mission Planner, QGroundControl, ArduPilot or PX4. Running the open-source SiK firmware, it speaks MAVLink natively over a transparent serial link, which is why it remains one of the most widely used telemetry options in the ArduPilot and PX4 communities rather than a proprietary alternative.

This 915MHz, 500mW version is plug-and-play with Pixhawk Standard flight controllers straight out of the box, using a 6-position JST-GH connector that matches the Pixhawk telemetry port directly, with an included adapter cable for Pix32 and Pixhawk 2.4.6-style Molex DF13 connectors for older or alternate flight controller models. Out of the box, Holybro rates typical range at better than 300 metres; fitting a patch antenna on the ground-side unit extends that considerably, into the multi-kilometre range for line-of-sight flying.

The radios use Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) with a configurable duty cycle, which both improves resistance to interference and keeps the radio compliant with regional spectrum-sharing rules, and the whole link is configurable through Mission Planner or APM Planner rather than needing separate configuration software. Buyers should note that Holybro also sells a 433MHz version of the same radio, and the two frequencies are not interchangeable: which one is legal to use depends on the region's own spectrum allocation rules, so always confirm 915MHz is appropriate before ordering.

The set includes two radio modules with antennas (one for the air side, one for the ground side), a Micro-USB to USB-A cable, a Micro-USB to Micro-USB OTG adapter, a Micro-USB to Type-C adapter, and both Pixhawk Standard and Pix32/Pixhawk 2.4.6-style connector cables. This is a sensible, well-proven telemetry choice for anyone running ArduPilot or PX4 who wants real-time MAVLink data without committing to a far pricier long-range radio.