UK OpenLRS Guide and Future Development

[TeeJay]

I would echo all of your points.

I plugged the OpenLRS module into the back of my FF9 (which arrived this morning)

This morning ?
It was sent for next day delivery several days ago

[Splashy]

Yes, I know. And the tracking showed it went from Swansea to Birmingham to Milton Keynes to Taunton. Strange route.

I don't mind really. I am very pleased with the TX, it does have a nice feel to it. I am now thinking about trying to get my Spektrum DX8 working with the OpenLRS.

Many thanks for sorting out the FF9 for me.

[Splashy]

I connected from the trainer port of my Spektrum DX8 to the OpenLRS TX and it worked first time. This is quite exciting for me since I can now just plug the 3.5mm jack into the trainer port (leaving the DX8 switched off). It loads the current model and offers full control over OpenLRS. Because something is plugged into the trainer port it does not transmit anything over 2.4Ghz. I powered the OpenLRS TX from a 2S LiPo and the trainer lead can be up to maybe 6ft long so could plug into your base station where you can mount the TX.

The next step for me is to add a Wii Motion+ gyro and an accelerometer onto the RX. I will also be adding a GPS which will communicate with the base station using the transparent serial comms.

The possibilities for OpenLRS are endless. This could be much more versatile and exciting than the MultiWii since it can offer everything that the MultiWii offers and a great UHF system built in and 2 way serial communications.

[g.collins]

I nearly bout one of these from FPVUK, yesterday, I even put the stuff in my basket, but ended up leaving it, I'm thinking of one for my quad, how big is the aerial on thes, is it like 35mhs and as long as you like, and do you get one with it, there isn't one shown in the picketers on FPVUK.
:) G

[Devonian]

G, the ones supplied are short 'rubber duck' ones and tuned for 433MHz so not ideal for 459MHz.

I made my own for the Tx and Rx and at full 1/4 wave, they are just 163mm (6.5") long !!
Go back a page and look at my post #33 to see physical sizes ;)

Nigel.

[g.collins]

Thanks Nigel
that's not to bade a length, thanks.
:) G

[SouthPawPaul]

I've just received my OpenLRS Tx and Rx from Flytron and I have a few questions for the UK community that I hope someone can shed some light on.

A stumpy aerial was packaged with the Tx and there was a longer aerial that was loose in the jiffy bag.

Now I assumed that because the stumpy aerial was packaged with the Tx that it was the Tx aerial, but looking at others stock setups it looks to be the Rx aerial (and also logically being small).

I have attached the stumpy aerial to the Rx and the longer aerial to the Tx and all seems well. Can someone confirm my findings please?

Neither unit came in any sort of protective case. I now notice that after ordering that a Futaba module case can be ordered as an extra, but they now appear to be out of stock. I've ordered an empty Futaba module case from Ebay, but it doesn't have that lump on the back meaning that I'll probably have to use a right angled SMA connector. Does anyone foresee an issue with this?

Also, how do you guys protect the receiver given that it has no hard casing? I noticed that one person was lucky enough to have a suitable Tx case lying around, but I'm not that fortunate. Any ideas?

:pleasantry:

[Devonian]

The short rubber duck is for the Rx and the longer rubber duck is for the Tx.
Personally, I wouldn't fly too far out with them as they are tuned for 433MHz.
Make a couple of antennas for 459MHz, look on this thread and my thread for some guides.
http://www.fpvuk.org/forum/index.php?topic=2551.0

I'd get on to Melih at Flytron as the Tx normally comes cased??

Maybe this is suitable...
http://www.giantcod.co.uk/frsky-module-case-futaba-p-405244.html

My Rx is now hard cased, as I had a suitable case and adapted it to fit, otherwise maybe some clear heatshrink?

Nigel.

[Ian F]

Am I right in thinking you can change the firmware to and from 459 to 433 very easily, and does 433 have a longer range as per the Dragon link or is the range specific to this unit? (I spend alot of time abroad so could change to 433 when in Europe)

[thundead]

Hey there,
Yup you can easily change between 459 and 433 but you will need your pc/laptop to upload the fw.

In theory, 433 has longer range because the wave length is bigger per say. If you fly a lot in europe I'd suggest you go for another UHF system because openLRS has a low power output (100 mw) compared to the other long range systems (500 mw - 2w).

Regards,
Mihai.

Am I right in thinking you can change the firmware to and from 459 to 433 very easily, and does 433 have a longer range as per the Dragon link or is the range specific to this unit? (I spend alot of time abroad so could change to 433 when in Europe)

[Ian F]

I noticed Flytron do a 7w booster anyone got feed back on that

[Devonian]

Yes, it's uni-directional (it SHOUTS, but can't listen) so you lose the bi-directional useage when it's in circuit.

Plus it's up to 7 watts for goodness sake!

Nigel.

[Ian F]

Plus it's up to 7 watts for goodness sake!

Nigel.
[/quote]

I take it thats quite alot!?!?!?

What kind of range could you get?

[thundead]

well, most UHF systems have up do 2w and manage roughly 40 km

doubling the power gives you 1.4 times better range so quick calculation gives me about 78km for 8w of power haha so 7w should be maybe 70km ?

would be very very tricky to get video on that range but it has been done:
Long Range Flying (One Way Record)

Trappy doind trappy stuff haha: 86.9 km

Plus it's up to 7 watts for goodness sake!

Nigel.

I take it thats quite alot!?!?!?

What kind of range could you get?
[/quote]

[thundead]

Have a treat for all the openLRS lovers out there : proper RSSI :P Check first post.

Regards,
Mihai.