How to make a £9.99 Airwave Vtx module work... for less than a fiver.

[stevec]

Because the fat bit of the legs meant it sat up too high so I used shrink on the legs and laid it flat.  I couldn't do that from the other side as the pin headers were blocking it...  Glad you got it ok.

Cheers Steve

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[mrwilljackson]

Hi all DIY fans  ;D

Whilst searching online for info about the nextwave modules for Steve's project - I came across this site www.opencopter.de . Use google translate thingy and you'll see there are pcb layouts and list of components for various nextwave modules including a receiver with rssi as well - good eh?!

[iwan_canobi]

Hi Guys,

I have 2 people with dibs on a back board so that means I have a spare.

if anyone wants to have a kit I am selling for £10 delivered to the uk including paypal.

I will supply all the parts to make the mother board plus chuck in a short length of coax and if you need it some welding wire so you can knock up an antenna.

Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve, do you still have one of these available? I'll take it off your hands if you do, just ordered the module tonight! :)

I don't think I can PM yet since I'm a new member though. :(

[stevec]

Hi matey,  yes I have one left,  actually I have enough bits for 2...

I'll try a pm..

Cheers Steve

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[iwan_canobi]

Cheers, money sent! Cant even reply to PM's still, think it may be 5 posts!

How does the antenna fit? Is it soldered directly on?

[stevec]

Hi, Yes the antenna solders directly to the board, you could solder an SMA connector onto it but I felt it defeats the object of a lightweight Tx.

/Steve

[iwan_canobi]

Got my antennas today so can finally test this, built it up the other day!

Connected it all up and it works a treat! The regulator got really hot when connected directly to a 3S lipo, but I then realised I should just be running it from the Rx power from the ESC. Once this was done it was nice and cool!

Tested indoors and range was a bit ropey, but will give it a bash outside as well. The cable tie is just for support so the module isnt stressing the solder joints too much. Decided to go with an SMA connector so I can easily swap antennae!

Thanks a lot Steve! :D

[RogerD]

The reg should run fine on 12v. That's what it's there for.

[stevec]

The reg should run fine on 12v. That's what it's there for.

Roger is right  the reg can handle up to 15 v so 3s will be fine. You can run on 2s but you will not be able to use the 12v feed.

Looks great by the way
/Steve

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[iwan_canobi]

I think I would want a heat sink on there if running at 12v though, I could smell it burning and it was too hot to touch! Excuse my ignorance but what difference does the 5v or 12v feed make?

Either way its good to know its up and running, just need this bloody weather to improve, been wall to wall 20-30mph winds the last 2 weeks here and I'm not brave enough to attempt my first ever fpv flight in that! :(

[stevec]

The switchable feed gives either a 5v or 12v feed to power the camera

It pulls power from either the main supply battery or the voltage regulator depending on how you have the jumper.

/Steve

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[RogerD]

..and it shouldn't get smelly hot - too hot to touch... I use 12v-5v regs in other electonics and they just get a little warm. Only time one got hot was when there was a short in the 5v side - it got hot quick and the 5v faded to less than 1v as it heated up

[OrangeDog]

Well, what a great PCB fab site! - Thanks Will! - Unless I'm missing something, they are somewhat of a bargain! - 3 boards, dual sided, with silkscreen, $10 and free postage. Blimey!

Ok...  Here are two projects. One is dual sided and meant for the PCB fab, or anyone if you can make dual side at home, though there is no need as the single sided version is only a touch bigger as you'll see below.



It is designed for the Immersion vTx to mount on the BACK side, the underside. So components on top, vTx underneath. The pins of the vTx should slide straight into the PCB.

Below is what it will look like when made by the fab linked by Will.



You need the following file to upload to the fab. (not used this file host before so let me know if there is a problem)

http://www.filedropper.com/immers5v

The board ends up being 3cm wide by 4.3cm long - basically a little bigger than the vTx.

OK... next, below is the single sided version. This is designed for making at home if you do your own etching. It's much the same but I've spaced things out to make single sided routing easier.







Above is the copper. I've done it for you in a 1:1 scale PDF below. Make sure in your print options there is no scaling / fit-to-page. This board comes out at around 3.6cm wide by 4.8cm long.

http://www.filedropper.com/5vregforimmersionrc2mmpinspacingsinglemanualv2

Does anyone have the channel settings for these boards?

[stevec]

The channel specs are in the data sheet. Can't remember them off the top of my head.

with them all set to 0 mine is at the first channel on my fatsharks.

hope this helps
Steve