OpenLRS range testing. RCHacker #33

[@Rchacker]

Will do. I have done some more testing and have another range test with decent antennas coming up. Looking forward to some long range flights in the future.

[@funwithcamera]

thanks for the video how far are you actually walking in terms of distance ?

[@Rchacker]

Yes, next video. FPV through the trees and both worked well. I even had an unshielded GoPro on board.

[@Rchacker]

Yep they are crap, pulling them to bits now to make new antennas. I'll keep the back link, It is nice to know something is wrong before the link fails. Perhaps a test on with / without back link is in order.

[@handleftman]

Hi Marc, great video. can you show how installing two receiver and programm range beeper?

[@robopony]

Awesome video. I'd love to see a video on how you set it up!

[@zodrik81]

Hi Marc thanks for share all of your test with us.....I don't want borred you,but i have little question...I oder the 433mhz tx-rx modules,I found the diagram of the 5 pins goes in the back of a turnigy radio,well i don'y have one,so do you think i can connect the tx module in the trainer port of my spektrum radio using ppm and power it with an external battery?

[@Rchacker]

Yes, there is lots of room and if you are willing to flash it is a better option than the 9XR. My website has articles on all my mods.

[@invertedpropstrike]

Hi Mark, great video, nice to see some useful feedback on this system. You may want to slap together some cheap dipole antennas and try again, the antennas that hobbyking provides are OK for bench testing but resonate very poorly at all frequencies, even a simple dipole will produce much less return loss and a little gain.

[@k6tf]

Grate video. Where are you located?

[@brunok222]

Hello Ian! Did you get better results now with Flytron OpenLRS 1W? I have FySky and I want to get the next step on range. Thanks!

[@havanissa]

Interesting, have you tested it with a 5.8G video transmitter?

[@iam12hak]

I tried the moxon with turnstyle and get 500m at 50m high max before failsafe kicks in. This is very strange - my third Orange OpenLRS with same issue. My antennas are exact so not sure where to from here.

[@PatriotPaulUSA]

Nice comparision Mark, I have been using Fr Sky with my Taranis and love it! But I recently made the jump to UHF, and did it wrong, and bought 6 - 9 ch orange rx, and a orange 1watt TX . Now I just got Deluxe DTF UHF wish I would have learned more from guys like you before I ordered the Orange 1w TX has been a pain and expensive.

[@siginellox9178]

HiRc HAcker, nice Video, can you repeat the same procedure under water?

[@FLYBYMEable]

any chance for the code change you did?

[@SJohnM81]

Good video. I would still like to know how far from the Rx you were when the fail safe was trying to kick in.

[@marclazarusgriffith]

about 100m although that is through trees and with a hill in between, useful for me as jungle flying is what I am after.

[@halloweenlv]

Im in the same situation as You. Did You resolved the problem? I am considering returning my RX and TX for inspection/exchange

[@Rchacker]

Actually those antennas have broken just from bending am building new ones for it now expect another range test.

[@12Hak]

Very strange. I am not getting the range. I normally run FrSky on Quads and get 1km with no issues. I have bought two of these sets in two different 9x radios and only get 400m LOS on the ground. I am running sanders and also tried inverted V. I have reflashed all the boards and set long range baud and telemetry Happy to hear suggestions. Its got me baffled.

[@STRK3R1234567]

What TX and RX antennas are you using to achieve this range? As I wait for delivery of my openLRS system from China, Ive been trying to find the best antenna combo for openLRSng firmware... Research suggests some sort of Nagoya antenna for the TX and a dipole or an IBCrazy turnstile antenna for the Rx... Just interested as to what you use.

[@Rchacker]

I'm onto homemade vee dipoles now.

[@zodrik81]

well my is working ,I just use a mono audio cable and share the ground,one goes to the trainer port the other one goes to the battery to power the openrls module,Spektrum has 1 v ppm output,the dragon link I think need at least 6 v,so what u need is put a transistro between the main power of the radio and the ppm signal,so you'll get the 6 v ppm signal and your dragon link should work...

[@Rchacker]

Best to power it with the radio, I think it is good for 5v.

[@Rchacker]

Even with these stock antennas I have more range than my FrSky gear which is plenty for me right now. I will probably go for some inverted vee's but not till I need the extra range.

[@shebotnov]

so what was the range?

[@Rchacker]

Got to love dumb questions, watch the video.

[@shebotnov]

RCHacker There are no dumb questions, only dumb answers. I was watching the video - its 12 min long, I didnt find the range you were getting.

[@Rchacker]

The range is only relevant when comparing it to the FrSky video. ie lots more. Unless you are going to come to my house and fly in the jungle giving a number is pointless.

[@FeedCrayfish]

RCHacker so, why do you make this video?

[@Rchacker]

OK I did some google work, and from what I have seen the Spektrum trainier PPM signal is not standard and either too weak or inverted. You will need to open your radio up. Tim has an article on it. Google 'FPV manuals DX7 dragonlink'. Strange that the dragon link failed it must have very poor input protection. It should at least have a resistor on the PPM input. Would you like to send me your broken one?

[@bmxbikerify]

which one is better the frsky or this

[@marclazarusgriffith]

+Khalil Buckley Both excellent: Openlrs, range. Frsky, ease of use.

[@Rchacker]

No worries, will do.

[@Rchacker]

The Jaguars are only a problem at night here.

[@Rchacker]

All you need to make this work in power, ppm and ground. And you really need at least a multimeter to find those. Very strange that dragon link would blow up if you got something wrong. It must have very poor input protection. Perhaps the Spektrum does not even have those signals on its trainer port. Sorry to bag your purchases but from what I have seen Spektrum radios have their issues too. Google 'My Spektrum radio caught fire!' and read the comments.

[@thepredator1943]

Hi Mark, love your videos even though a bit to high tech for me ( Im only a welder) UK joke.. Just to say thanks for the link to Gruvin9x been in touch with Bryan,great guy very helpful and obliging ,my gear is winging its way to NZ as I write. Thanks again and best regards keep em coming

[@SuperJumpy07]

Telemetry back link reduces range.. also the standard antennas are crap.. Having two antennas next to each other like that does not help either.. even if the other one isn't connected to anything. I have FrSky as well... to be honest in clear line of sight.. not much range difference.. but the OpenLRS really comes into its own in urban areas and around objects. Get a sander antenna on the RX and a SRH -771 Diamond 1/2 wave on the TX.

[@08ds]

If your only using one channel and looking for smooth movement while loosing packets, wouldn't it be MUCH smoother than if you were using more channels? Great video by the way...

[@WoWserverDown66]

I was waiting fir a Wild animal to Attack...Could review the self defence properties of you TX ;o)

[@octane81]

good job!

[@zodrik81]

thanks man

[@ovnilab]

Wow, is that Hawaii or Jurassic Park? :)

[@christophertelford]

...mostly

[@Rchacker]

Ecuador.