459MHz UHF legal Tx and Rx - Arduino based programability.

[Funky Diver]

I would be tempted to send as little info as you can across the link, less chance of packet loss / corrupt code

[Devonian]

Good news Mihai - thought it was a bit too quiet in here lately !

Send telemtry as often as you can (I presume therefore, the data packets should be as short as possible) and do the math on the ground station.  For decent tracking, ideally 5Hz or greater.

This may also be an alternative to Xbee
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/apc220-wireless-communication-module-for-arduinousb-converter.html
This module is being considered for CopterControl (OpenPilot)
http://wiki.openpilot.org/display/Doc/APC220+Transceiver+Telemetry

Seen this:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1473207
and this:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1490446

I have a CopterControl board and will use it and the 459MHz OLRS on a tri-copter I am trying to get built.

Soo damned busy myself + the wife is poorly with a very bad back, so I'm nurse maid for the last week or so.

Nigel.

[thundead]

That module is interesting :) But I'll use what I have available for now. RC stuff budget gone haha.

I'm finishing writing a guide for the UK openLRS.
I'll create another thread for the guide and tracker.

Cheers,
Mihai.

EDIT: post created and Guide + other stuff added:
http://www.fpvuk.org/forum/index.php?topic=2925.0

[Devonian]

Melih has now placed my 1.8 version of UK 459MHz firmware on the Google repository:
http://code.google.com/p/openlrs/downloads/list

Nigel.

[Asomaro]

Subscribed - don't want to miss any of this....

Cheers,

[Devonian]

New v2 Rx is due for release - read more...
http://forum.flytron.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=142&sid=a0e6eccd5f4a22f888327e4e64ed3904

Nigel.

[simondale]

Version 2 OpenLRSs will be available from FirstPersonView.co.uk in the next few days.

Transmitters are listed here: http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/rc-control-systems/openlrs-m2-tx-module-for-futaba
and receivers here: http://www.firstpersonview.co.uk/rc-control-systems/openlrs-receiver-v2

Pricing to be calculated ASAP.

I'm pleased to be able to be involved with the OpenLRS "movement"!

All the best

Simon

[thundead]

That's awesome news !!!!!

[Devonian]

Well done Simon.

Does that mean UK developers now get a good discount for getting the system working on 459MHz ;)  :D

Nigel.

[Devonian]

I was looking at ways to hard case my Rx, especially for my Tricopter.
I found an empty case from a cheap 2.4GHz Rx that I had removed the PCB from and embedded in a Multiplex Fox conversion.

I had to file 05.mm from each side of the Rx PCB to make it fit the hard case and filed a little from the servo holes in the top of the hard case and - voila!







Nigel

[seibernator]

Hello Devonian

Thanks very much for supplying us non-programmer people something to work with when changing the OpenLRS system to work with 459Mhz.

I just need some more advise please. I have recently received the version 2 of the OpenLRS system from Flytron and have downloaded the 1.09 version firmware. Looking at your code changes to make it work for 459Mhz I have simply transfered the changes you have stipulated into the files for 1.08 onto the 1.09 firmware. The two versions are different (1.08-459 and 1.09) and I am not sure if you have a chance to see if any additional changes need to be made within the 1.09 firmware. If at all.

I have made the changes within version 1.09 and have uploaded them to the RX and TX and it appears to work just fine. However I have noticed that when I have a servo attached to the RX and move the sticks full travel the servo arm appears to have a lot of steps in the movement. It is not smooth when travelling from one end to the other.

I have also noticed that I don't appear to get full travel on the servo arm as well. Instead of around 120 degrees I get less than 90. Is this normal for this system? Do I need to make any additional changes in the firmware?

The model memory within the TX has been reset so I am back to all of the defaults so no mixes or sub-trims have been applied.

Many thanks for your help.

[Devonian]

Hi,

Glad you found my 459MHz files useful, but as I said in the first post, I'm no programmer!!!
As best I understand it, the v1.09 and upwards firmware is for the v2 Tx & Rx boards - I'm still with the original v1, so at the moment, v1.08-459 files are enough for me.
I see in the Google repository, the 459 files been downloaded 18 times, so there must be a few who have/are tempted by OLRS in the UK.

My servo movement is similar to yours @ ~90deg, but as I have no need/knowledge to refine it further as it is on my Tricopter at the moment and does just fine for my current needs.
As an experiment, I compared the same servo on a 2.4HGz Tx/Rx and it is the same (Futaba T6 clone), but moving the servo arm by hand, it will move ~180 deg.

Don't be afraid to ask a question in the Flytron forum and possibly someone more knowledgeable will be able to help a little more than I can...
http://forum.flytron.com/viewforum.php?f=7

Nigel.

[simondale]

Well done Simon.

Does that mean UK developers now get a good discount for getting the system working on 459MHz ;)  :D

Nigel.

Sure thing!  I'm sure we can offer you guys plenty of discount if you're after more gear.

You've done a fantastic jobs and been everso helpful with it.

All the best

Simon

[seibernator]

Thanks for the response Devonian. I will have to keep on digging and post something in the Flytron forum. The servo movement on the version 2 of OpenLRS is far to ratchety for my liking. Too many steps in the movement.

[Devonian]

My servo movement is somewhat 'ratchety' as well - I can pretty much count the steps as I move the stick.
Maybe Mihai can help a bit as he is more a software type of guy...?

@ Simon - cheers!
Maybe I'll see what's left in the piggy bank for v2 hardware !!

Nigel.