Discussion New Quadrocopter and Tricopter UAVP updated with GPS and more - UAVX!

[13brv3]

Originally Posted by jesolins

Also, I'm sure Rusty will be willing to trade you your 14ch for his R617FS and converter board...or maybe not...

Not likely I've got several of those monsters laying around collecting dust now

Originally Posted by jesolins

Another option for you is to get a Spektrum module for your Futaba 10CHP and an AR7000 RX You would just use the Futaba 9C and Spektrum pull-down for that option for now.

Bite your tongue! Why would he want to downgrade his excellent system like that

Rusty

[narpat007]

Hi Jim !

Many many thanks for addressing my points proactivily.

You are right ! Greg is around 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead as compared with me in Gurgaon - India.

Jim, Rusty in one of his post also said correctly that the level of commitment of both of you is like any one working in NASA.

Hats off to you, to Greg and to Rusty too !


Thanks & Best Regards

narpat

[dleroi]

Originally Posted by 13brv3

Bite your tongue! Why would he want to downgrade his excellent system like that

Hi Rusty, et al,

So, what IS the best 2.4 GHz transmitter/receiver combo for the UAVP/UAVX/MK?

I've been using the Futaba 7CHP (72 MHz) without any problems, but it's starting to be embarrassing.

Thanks,
Don

[jesolins]

Hi Don,
I've got both the 2.4Ghz FASST TM8 / R617FS and the 2.4Ghz Spektrum DM8 / AR7000 systems for my Futaba 9CHP and a Futaba FASST T7C. I have flown the FASST R617FS without the converter with 5 channels and with Rusty and OMM's converter with 7 channels and the TT-RecEnc converter on the EDF, MK UAVP and X-BL-Funpilot. I have flown the Spektrum on the MK, UAVP, X-BL and X-BL-Funpilot. On the UAVP, I have used both the 1, 3, 5, 7 channel setup and a TT-RecEnc converter board using the composite PPM. On the MK and X-BL I have used the Spektrum Remote Satellite only firmware option too. I've tested the Spektrum satellite-only option out to 2500 feet in all quadrants with no glitches. I've seen reports where both FASST and Spektrum systems were successfully flown over 2 miles. In actual flight of quads that are controlled by the flight processor, I have not been able to see or feel any difference between the two systems.
Bottom line is that if you are putting on expensive cam and FPV equipment and flying beyond visual range, then get a Futaba or Spektrum system! Either will work fine with the afore mentioned quads.
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by dleroi

Hi Rusty, et al,
So, what IS the best 2.4 GHz transmitter/receiver combo for the UAVP/UAVX/MK?
I've been using the Futaba 7CHP (72 MHz) without any problems, but it's starting to be embarrassing.
Thanks,
Don

[13brv3]

Originally Posted by dleroi

Hi Rusty, et al,

So, what IS the best 2.4 GHz transmitter/receiver combo for the UAVP/UAVX/MK?

I've been using the Futaba 7CHP (72 MHz) without any problems, but it's starting to be embarrassing.

Thanks,
Don

Hi Don,

Obviously, there's no universal answer to that question. Connectivity wise, the Spektrum probably has an advantage. Function wise, I like the Futaba better, but it's really just a Ford/Chevy thing. Now Mike will give you the complete engineering reason why he considers the Futaba superior, and wouldn't and couldn't debate that.

If you're 72 MHz is working fine where you fly, then you really wouldn't need to change. Our field just happens to be the devils triangle when it comes to 72 MHz, so it isn't even an option.

FWIW, I think the new 10CG (the one that's dedicated to 2.4 GHz) is the best all around choice in the Futaba line. The only feature it lacks, that I needed, is the ability to reassign the first 4 channels. The only failsafe channel on the 6-7 channel receivers is channel 3, so I swap that with one of the higher channels to use the failsafe for GPS-Home mode for the MK, and Ardupilot. Not sure if that can be done with the UAVX?

Rusty

[narpat007]

Originally Posted by 13brv3

Hi Don,

Obviously, there's no universal answer to that question. Connectivity wise, the Spektrum probably has an advantage. Function wise, I like the Futaba better, but it's really just a Ford/Chevy thing. Now Mike will give you the complete engineering reason why he considers the Futaba superior, and wouldn't and couldn't debate that.

If you're 72 MHz is working fine where you fly, then you really wouldn't need to change. Our field just happens to be the devils triangle when it comes to 72 MHz, so it isn't even an option.

FWIW, I think the new 10CG (the one that's dedicated to 2.4 GHz) is the best all around choice in the Futaba line. The only feature it lacks, that I needed, is the ability to reassign the first 4 channels. The only failsafe channel on the 6-7 channel receivers is channel 3, so I swap that with one of the higher channels to use the failsafe for GPS-Home mode for the MK, and Ardupilot. Not sure if that can be done with the UAVX?

Rusty

In an attempt to check the maximum control range of my Futaba 2.4GHz, 10CHP, I found around 2 miles of range in our huge flying field at Sohna - India.

narpat

[13brv3]

Originally Posted by narpat007

In an attempt to check the maximum control range of my Futaba 2.4GHz, 10CHP, I found around 2 miles of range in our huge flying field at Sohna - India.

narpat

That's good to know. The US version of the FASST system has 100mw of power, but many other countries are restricted to 10mw. Do you happen to know what version you get in India?

Rusty

[dleroi]

Thanks Jim and Rusty,

Being a slow learner, I think I will stick with what I know and get the Futaba 7C FASST.

Cheers,
Don

[jesolins]

A good choice Don. Be sure to get a PPM converter too.
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by dleroi

Thanks Jim and Rusty,
Being a slow learner, I think I will stick with what I know and get the Futaba 7C FASST.
Cheers,
Don

[narpat007]

Originally Posted by 13brv3

That's good to know. The US version of the FASST system has 100mw of power, but many other countries are restricted to 10mw. Do you happen to know what version you get in India?

Rusty

Hi Rusty !

I got my Futaba 2.4GHz, 10CHP from US only.

I imported the radio specifically for UAVX, in which I am going to install a high definition video camera and video transmitter.

On my radio Transmitter side I will be using a head tracker, interfaced with my Radio Transmitter, to move the servos of the camera at UAVX side.

In the second face, I will use one ardu 2.2.3 along with X-Bee modem at the UAVX side and another X-bee modem in my Laptop running the ground station with antenna tracker.

Keeping all the extra channels needed in view, I decided some time back to go for Futaba 2.4GHz 10CHP. However there is one great feature in this radio and that is, it can be programmed as Futaba 2.4GHz 7C also but in that case the 14 channel receiver won't work and separate 7 ch receiver will be used.

All the 35MHz or 72MHz radios, in VHF Band will be discontinued soon because of increasing interference in VHF Band.

I have Futabs's 35MHz & 72 MHz Digital Radios, I also face lots of interference.
I generally check the interference at and nearby my channel by the Spectrum Scanners of 35MHz and 72MHz. If interference is not there, only then I proceed.

Once, before the flight I checked the interference and found none at that channel but at the time when the plane was airborne and going away from me I noticed strong interference. Fortunately my plane was equiped with UAV Development Board rev 2, with software MatrixNavRed rev 1.6 by Bill Premerlani.

The plane was around 800mts away from me, I immediately activated Return to Home, I was lucky that I could activate the RTH and the plane safely came back where due to my strong signal the interference was doninated and I landed it safely when it reached near home lat. long.

IT IS MY PERSONAL SUGGESTION TO ALL EXCEPT THE TOP NOTCH GUYS LIKE GREG, JIM & RUSTY, THAT YOUR INNER SIDE WILL TRY TO DOMINATE YOY TO TRY THE GPS NAVIGATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT PL. DO NOT LISTEN TO THAT.

UNTIL UNLESS YOU CRAM THE GPS MANUAL AND STARTUP 15TH. AUG MANUAL LIKE CHILDREN DO CRAM THE POEMS, PL. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE GPS.

IF YOU DO NOT DO THAT THEN IT IS LIKELY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CRASH VERY SOON.

Thanks & Best Regards

narpat

[gke]

On the Tx/Rx question.

All the combinations that UAVP supported are still supported in UAVX. The single input pin constraint means that simultaneously driven servo channels cannot be resolved so you WILL need a converter for those Tx/Rx combinations.

The setup item in the Tools menu of UAVPSet will tell you what time ordering of the channels is assumed to be and what to connect for any given Tx/Rx pulldown combination so it need not necessarily the Tx/Rx combination named. These are what UAVX is actually assuming not print strings of the patterns BTW.

UAVX only uses the first 7 channels but will happily except 12 channels throwing those above 7 away. There is a 6 channel version for the AR6200 but be aware of the manufacturers advice on range limits.

Anybody flown yet?

Greg

[13brv3]

Originally Posted by narpat007

Keeping all the extra channels needed in view, I decided some time back to go for Futaba 2.4GHz 10CHP. However there is one great feature in this radio and that is, it can be programmed as Futaba 2.4GHz 7C also but in that case the 14 channel receiver won't work and separate 7 ch receiver will be used.

Hi Narpat,

Are you saying that you plan to use two 7 channel receivers to get 10 total channels? If so, I don't think that will work. For the full 10 channels, you'll probably end up having to use the 14ch receiver, and one of the other converters. The converters are only good for 8 channels, but you would only connect 7, then use 8, 9, and 10 directly from the receiver.

Rusty

[narpat007]

Originally Posted by 13brv3

Hi Narpat,

Are you saying that you plan to use two 7 channel receivers to get 10 total channels? If so, I don't think that will work. For the full 10 channels, you'll probably end up having to use the 14ch receiver, and one of the other converters. The converters are only good for 8 channels, but you would only connect 7, then use 8, 9, and 10 directly from the receiver.

Rusty

Hi Rusty !

I will certainly not use two 7 channel Receivers but for the time being I will use one 7 ch receiver.

Once the Futaba 2.4GHz, 10C is programmed as 7ch transmitter then it actually does not transmit any channel beyond 7ch.

For exploring rest other channels and still using on UAVX, I am very much worried as what to do.

I have seen your website, there are PPM converters but none of them seem suitable for Futaba's 2.4GHz 10C's 14ch receiver.

You have any suggestion ??

Thanks & Best Regards

narpat

[Danveal]

Thanks for the development work you have done !!

I have some problems with the software UAVX and I2C HOLGER ESC

Compass, barometer and GPS are not installed.

In UAVPSet 3.0 I have chosen:
JR XP8103/R700 PPM (I have a Graupner MX16)
ADXRS610/300, Melexis90609
HolgerI2C

But the engines do not run.

With PWM ESC and appropriate parameters everything works.

If I change the 18F2620 pic with the 16f876 and load the old original software: Profi-Ufo-V315-CAM0-HOL-ADX300 everything works.

Thanks for any help, sorry for my bad english.

Regards, Danilo

[jesolins]

Hello Danilo,
Thanks for trying the UAVX with Holger ESC's. I'm sure Greg will have a quick fix for you and your Holger's after he has his morning coffee. The I2C was working on Ken's quad with previous gkeware, so be a bit patient for his response. Also you might want to try the GKE 16F876 version in our download area on your 16F876. Ken was flying I2c with that firmware as well.
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by Danveal

Thanks for the development work you have done !!
I have some problems with the software UAVX and I2C HOLGER ESC
Compass, barometer and GPS are not installed.
In UAVPSet 3.0 I have chosen:
JR XP8103/R700 PPM (I have a Graupner MX16)
ADXRS610/300, Melexis90609
HolgerI2C
But the engines do not run.
With PWM ESC and appropriate parameters everything works.
If I change the 18F2620 pic with the 16f876 and load the old original software: Profi-Ufo-V315-CAM0-HOL-ADX300 everything works.
Thanks for any help, sorry for my bad english.
Regards, Danilo