diff --git a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtreme.pro b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtreme.pro
index 5d03fd233..cd3d2f230 100644
--- a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtreme.pro
+++ b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtreme.pro
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ HEADERS += pipxtremegadget.h \
     pipxtremegadgetoptionspage.h \
     pipxtremegadgetwidget.h \
     pipxtremeplugin.h \
+	widgetbar.h
 
 SOURCES += pipxtremegadget.cpp \
     pipxtremegadgetconfiguration.cpp \
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ SOURCES += pipxtremegadget.cpp \
     pipxtremegadgetoptionspage.cpp \
     pipxtremegadgetwidget.cpp \
     pipxtremeplugin.cpp \
+	widgetbar.cpp
 
 OTHER_FILES += pipxtreme.pluginspec
 
diff --git a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtreme.ui b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtreme.ui
index 4c24a7581..d5547494d 100644
--- a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtreme.ui
+++ b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtreme.ui
@@ -439,36 +439,27 @@
       </widget>
      </item>
      <item row="7" column="1" colspan="2">
-      <widget class="QProgressBar" name="progressBar_RSSI">
-       <property name="font">
-        <font>
-         <weight>75</weight>
-         <bold>true</bold>
-        </font>
+      <widget class="WidgetBar" name="widgetRSSI" native="true">
+       <property name="sizePolicy">
+        <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Preferred">
+         <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+         <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+        </sizepolicy>
        </property>
-       <property name="toolTip">
-        <string>Received Signal Strength Indicator</string>
+       <property name="minimumSize">
+        <size>
+         <width>1</width>
+         <height>1</height>
+        </size>
        </property>
-       <property name="minimum">
-        <number>-120</number>
+       <property name="mouseTracking">
+        <bool>false</bool>
        </property>
-       <property name="maximum">
-        <number>0</number>
+       <property name="autoFillBackground">
+        <bool>false</bool>
        </property>
-       <property name="value">
-        <number>-60</number>
-       </property>
-       <property name="alignment">
-        <set>Qt::AlignCenter</set>
-       </property>
-       <property name="textVisible">
-        <bool>true</bool>
-       </property>
-       <property name="textDirection">
-        <enum>QProgressBar::TopToBottom</enum>
-       </property>
-       <property name="format">
-        <string>%v</string>
+       <property name="styleSheet">
+        <string notr="true">background-color: rgb(112, 112, 112);</string>
        </property>
       </widget>
      </item>
@@ -841,7 +832,7 @@
         </font>
        </property>
        <property name="toolTip">
-        <string>The AES encryption key - has to be the same key on the remote modem as well)</string>
+        <string>The AES encryption key - has to be the same key on the remote modem.</string>
        </property>
        <property name="styleSheet">
         <string notr="true"/>
@@ -1023,6 +1014,13 @@
    </item>
   </layout>
  </widget>
+ <customwidgets>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>WidgetBar</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>widgetbar.h</header>
+  </customwidget>
+ </customwidgets>
  <resources/>
  <connections/>
 </ui>
diff --git a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtremegadgetwidget.cpp b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtremegadgetwidget.cpp
index f25952e63..bd9c0175b 100644
--- a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtremegadgetwidget.cpp
+++ b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtremegadgetwidget.cpp
@@ -132,11 +132,11 @@ PipXtremeGadgetWidget::PipXtremeGadgetWidget(QWidget *parent) :
 	m_widget = new Ui_PipXtremeWidget();
 	m_widget->setupUi(this);
 
-#if QT_VERSION >= 0x040700
-	qsrand(QDateTime::currentDateTime().toMSecsSinceEpoch());
-#else
-	qsrand(QDateTime::currentDateTime().toTime_t());
-#endif
+	#if QT_VERSION >= 0x040700
+		qsrand(QDateTime::currentDateTime().toMSecsSinceEpoch());
+	#else
+		qsrand(QDateTime::currentDateTime().toTime_t());
+	#endif
 
 	device_input_buffer.size = 8192;
 	device_input_buffer.used = 0;
@@ -206,9 +206,9 @@ PipXtremeGadgetWidget::PipXtremeGadgetWidget(QWidget *parent) :
 
 	m_widget->doubleSpinBox_Frequency->setSingleStep(0.00015625);
 
-	m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->setMinimum(-120);
-	m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->setMaximum(0);
-	m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->setValue(m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->minimum());
+	m_widget->widgetRSSI->setMinimum(-120);
+	m_widget->widgetRSSI->setMaximum(0);
+	m_widget->widgetRSSI->setValue(m_widget->widgetRSSI->minimum());
 
 	m_widget->label_RSSI->setText("RSSI");
 
@@ -477,8 +477,11 @@ void PipXtremeGadgetWidget::enableTelemetry()
 
 void PipXtremeGadgetWidget::randomiseAESKey()
 {
-//	uint32_t crc = ((uint32_t)qrand() << 16) ^ qrand() ^ QDateTime::currentDateTime().toMSecsSinceEpoch();	// only available with Qt 4.7.1 and later
-	uint32_t crc = ((uint32_t)qrand() << 16) ^ qrand() ^ QDateTime::currentDateTime().toTime_t();
+	#if QT_VERSION >= 0x040700
+		uint32_t crc = ((uint32_t)qrand() << 16) ^ qrand() ^ QDateTime::currentDateTime().toMSecsSinceEpoch();	// only available with Qt 4.7.1 and later
+	#else
+		uint32_t crc = ((uint32_t)qrand() << 16) ^ qrand() ^ QDateTime::currentDateTime().toTime_t();
+	#endif
 
 	QString key = "";
 	for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
@@ -977,13 +980,13 @@ void PipXtremeGadgetWidget::processRxPacket(quint8 *packet, int packet_size)
 						m_widget->lineEdit_LinkState->setText("Unknown [" + QString::number(pipx_config_state.link_state) + "]");
 						break;
 				}
-				if (pipx_config_state.rssi < m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->minimum())
-					m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->setValue(m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->minimum());
+				if (pipx_config_state.rssi < m_widget->widgetRSSI->minimum())
+					m_widget->widgetRSSI->setValue(m_widget->widgetRSSI->minimum());
 				else
-				if (pipx_config_state.rssi > m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->maximum())
-					m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->setValue(m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->maximum());
+				if (pipx_config_state.rssi > m_widget->widgetRSSI->maximum())
+					m_widget->widgetRSSI->setValue(m_widget->widgetRSSI->maximum());
 				else
-					m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->setValue(pipx_config_state.rssi);
+					m_widget->widgetRSSI->setValue(pipx_config_state.rssi);
 				m_widget->label_RSSI->setText("RSSI " + QString::number(pipx_config_state.rssi) + "dBm");
 				m_widget->lineEdit_RxAFC->setText(QString::number(pipx_config_state.afc) + "Hz");
 				m_widget->lineEdit_Retries->setText(QString::number(pipx_config_state.retries));
@@ -1135,7 +1138,7 @@ void PipXtremeGadgetWidget::disconnectPort(bool enable_telemetry, bool lock_stuf
 	m_widget->lineEdit_MaxFrequency->setText("");
 	m_widget->lineEdit_FrequencyStepSize->setText("");
 	m_widget->lineEdit_LinkState->setText("");
-	m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->setValue(m_widget->progressBar_RSSI->minimum());
+	m_widget->widgetRSSI->setValue(m_widget->widgetRSSI->minimum());
 	m_widget->label_RSSI->setText("RSSI");
 	m_widget->lineEdit_RxAFC->setText("");
 	m_widget->lineEdit_Retries->setText("");
diff --git a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtremegadgetwidget.h b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtremegadgetwidget.h
index 6af22d9fa..25b0e7ccb 100644
--- a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtremegadgetwidget.h
+++ b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/pipxtremegadgetwidget.h
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 #include <QtCore/QLinkedList>
 #include <QMutex>
 #include <QMutexLocker>
+#include "widgetbar.h"
 
 // *************************
 // pipx config comms packets
@@ -138,7 +139,6 @@ public:
 public slots:
     void onTelemetryStart();
     void onTelemetryStop();
-
     void onTelemetryConnect();
     void onTelemetryDisconnect();
 
diff --git a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/widgetbar.cpp b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/widgetbar.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cebb68c01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/widgetbar.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+/**
+ ******************************************************************************
+ *
+ * @file       widgetbar.cpp
+ * @author     Cathy Moss Copyright (C) 2011.
+ *             Parts by Nokia Corporation (qt-info@nokia.com) Copyright (C) 2010.
+ * @addtogroup GCSPlugins GCS Plugins
+ * @{
+ * @addtogroup ConfigPlugin Configuration Plugin
+ * @{
+ * @brief A bar display widget
+ *****************************************************************************/
+/*
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY
+ * or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
+ * for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+ */
+
+ #include <QtGui>
+
+ #include "widgetbar.h"
+
+ WidgetBar::WidgetBar(QWidget *parent)
+     : QWidget(parent)
+ {
+	m_maximum = 0;
+	m_minimum = -120;
+	m_value = -60;
+
+//	m_orientation = Qt::Vertical;
+	m_orientation = Qt::Horizontal;
+
+	setBackgroundRole(QPalette::Base);
+	setAutoFillBackground(true);
+ }
+
+ QSize WidgetBar::minimumSizeHint() const
+ {
+	 return QSize(8, 8);
+ }
+
+// QSize WidgetBar::sizeHint() const
+// {
+//	 return QSize(200, 400);
+// }
+
+ void WidgetBar::setMaximum(int value)
+ {
+	m_maximum = value;
+	update();
+ }
+
+ void WidgetBar::setMinimum(int value)
+ {
+	m_minimum = value;
+	update();
+ }
+
+ void WidgetBar::setValue(int value)
+ {
+	if (value < m_minimum) value = m_minimum;
+	else
+	if (value > m_maximum) value = m_maximum;
+
+	m_value = value;
+	update();
+ }
+
+void WidgetBar::setOrientation(Qt::Orientation orientation)
+{
+	m_orientation = orientation;
+	update();
+}
+
+void WidgetBar::paintEvent(QPaintEvent * /* event */)
+{
+	QPainter painter(this);
+	painter.setRenderHint(QPainter::Antialiasing, false);
+
+	int range = abs(m_maximum - m_minimum);
+	if (range < 1) range = 1;
+
+	int value = m_value;
+	if (value < m_minimum) value = m_minimum;
+	else
+	if (value > m_maximum) value = m_maximum;
+
+	float level = (float)(value - m_minimum) / range;	// 0.0 to +1.0
+
+	int length = 0;
+	QRect rect;
+
+	switch (m_orientation)
+	{
+		case Qt::Horizontal:
+			{
+				length = (int)((width() - 5) * level + 0.5f);
+				rect.setLeft(2);
+				rect.setTop(2);
+				rect.setWidth(length);
+				rect.setHeight(height() - 5);
+			}
+			break;
+
+		case Qt::Vertical:
+			{
+				length = (int)((height() - 5) * level + 0.5f);
+				rect.setLeft(2);
+				rect.setTop(height() - 3 - length);
+				rect.setWidth(width() - 5);
+				rect.setHeight(length);
+			}
+			break;
+	}
+
+	// background
+	painter.setPen(QColor(160, 160, 160));
+	painter.setBrush(QColor(255, 255, 255));
+//	painter.setPen(QColor(80, 80, 80));
+//	painter.setPen(QColor(160, 160, 160));
+//	painter.setBrush(QColor(160, 160, 160));
+	painter.drawRect(QRect(0, 0, width() - 1, height() - 1));
+
+	if ((m_maximum - m_minimum) > 0)
+	{
+		// solid bar
+		painter.setPen(QColor(128, 128, 255));
+		painter.setBrush(QColor(128, 128, 255));
+		painter.drawRoundRect(rect, 3, 3);
+/*
+		// colourful bar
+		for (int i = 0; i < length; i++)
+		{
+			if (!(i & 1))
+				painter.setPen(QColor(0, 0, 0));		// black
+			else
+				painter.setPen(QColor(128, 255, 128));		// green
+//				painter.setPen(QColor(128, 128, 255));	// blue
+
+			if (m_orientation == Qt::Horizontal)
+				painter.drawLine(rect.left() + i, rect.top(), rect.left() + i, rect.bottom() + 1);				// horizontal bar
+			else
+				painter.drawLine(rect.left(), rect.bottom() + 1 - i, rect.right() + 1, rect.bottom() + 1 - i);	// vertical bar
+		}
+*/
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/widgetbar.h b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/widgetbar.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..22e84b4d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ground/openpilotgcs/src/plugins/pipxtreme/widgetbar.h
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+/**
+ ******************************************************************************
+ *
+ * @file       widgetbar.h
+ * @author     Cathy Moss Copyright (C) 2011.
+ *             Parts by Nokia Corporation (qt-info@nokia.com) Copyright (C) 2010.
+ * @addtogroup GCSPlugins GCS Plugins
+ * @{
+ * @addtogroup ConfigPlugin Configuration Plugin
+ * @{
+ * @brief A bar display widget
+ *****************************************************************************/
+/*
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY
+ * or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
+ * for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+ */
+
+#ifndef WIDGETBAR_H
+#define WIDGETBAR_H
+
+#include <QBrush>
+#include <QPen>
+#include <QPixmap>
+#include <QWidget>
+
+QT_MODULE(Gui)
+
+class WidgetBar : public QWidget
+{
+	Q_OBJECT
+
+	Q_PROPERTY(int maximum READ maximum WRITE setMaximum)
+	Q_PROPERTY(int minimum READ minimum WRITE setMinimum)
+	Q_PROPERTY(int value READ value WRITE setValue)
+
+	Q_PROPERTY(Qt::Orientation orientation READ orientation WRITE setOrientation)
+
+public:
+	WidgetBar(QWidget *parent = 0);
+
+	QSize minimumSizeHint() const;
+//	QSize sizeHint() const;
+
+	void setMaximum(int value);
+	void setMinimum(int value);
+	void setValue(int value);
+
+	int maximum() { return m_maximum; }
+	int minimum() { return m_minimum; }
+	int value() { return m_value; }
+
+	Qt::Orientation orientation() const { return m_orientation; }
+	void setOrientation(Qt::Orientation orientation);
+
+protected:
+	void paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event);
+
+private:
+	int m_maximum;
+	int m_minimum;
+	int m_value;
+
+	Qt::Orientation m_orientation;
+};
+
+#endif