RC Quick Tips: Finding your lost model (RSSI method)

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[@guyfuller1808]

Hey Painless, just wanted to tell you that this worked for me about three weeks ago. I was flying FPV with a 200mw transmitter on my plane when one of the people sitting next to me turned on his transmitter at 500mw and blasted my single. Before I could get him to turn it off I tried to go LOS and lost sight of my plane. I was just using a Stabilizer in the plane without GPS so of course no RTH. I cut the power and let it go in. To my surprise, I still had an RSSI single. I remembered this video you made and went to the sensors screen and started tracking the model down. After about a mile and a half walk into the desert, I was reading in the high 80's and low 90's so I thought I'd try and hear the motor. Sure enough, I could hear it about 100 feet away and found it stuck in a Cholla cactus. Retrieving it was accomplished with a large stick that I found, No damage other than full of cactus quilts that I removed at home. Thanks for this video It save a lost plane.

[@DavieRooker]

I used this very method (twice!) just last week to find an out of control tail heavy flying wing. I thought I had an idea where it went down, but I was totally wrong. The RSSI trick helped steer me in the right direction.

[@PsychLrd]

Thanks! Really useful! Buzzer silenced and only this help me find copter!

[@100SteveB]

Before i had any RSSI capabilities i used a similar method with my fpv set up to locate my drone a couple of times. I live on a farm, and the land around me is very much like you describe in this video. A couple of time the drone went down into a planted field - corn, all about 4 foot high. I lost all video signal after it went down, but i discovered that whilst walking around the perimeter of the field (damned stinging nettles and brambles!) that i would get a faint video signal at various points around the edge. I soon discovered that by walking in a certain direction the signal would start to get stronger, eventually getting to an area where the signal was very good with a clear picture. But i still could not pin point the model.I then removed the antenna from my fpv receiver, doing that finally got me to within a 20 radius - which was enough to find the model. Even now i do not have RSSI on my main transmitter, but i do have it on my diversity rx, which certainly makes it even easier to find the model. But now i have a bleeper on the model that automatically sounds once the craft as not moved for 30 seconds.

[@Painless360]

Beepers are worth their weight in gold in instances like that. Sadly few fixed wing models have then ;) Happy flying!

[@Jazzynet100]

GPS child tracker 20 grams and £30 with a £5 SIM when you need it. I find that works very well as I can ask the tracker it's location. Power is good for about 3 days.. cheap, light and precise.

[@kartupelputato889]

Great job. Another improvement, if you have the antenna connected with SMA/RP-SMA and have higher gain antennas, use the highest gain antenna you have. This way the accuracy is even higher.

[@kartupelputato889]

Do you have the special edition Taranis with RP-SMA? If not, the procedure is very controversial (watch Joshua Bardwell's latest videos about "taranis antenna mod", and if you're up to the task - Mr. Steele's antenna mod video. I've been using several different 2.4 GHz antennas from amazon (cheapest 5dBi and 6dBi I could find, they're made for 2.4GHz wifi) with very good results, although I've heard that there are supposedly specific antennas for Taranis. I personally don't believe that, because if the antenna is made for 2.4 GHz, it should work the same regardless if it's WIFI or Frsky. The only thing you'd have to worry when flying is these dead zones (the higher the gain, the bigger those deadzones are).

[@Ullf_M]

It works very well, used it last night after a landing in a field of pasta (wheat)

[@stuartbailey1632]

Have used a similar method for finding crashed racing quads by using the RSSI display and patch antenna on the goggles to home in on the quad.

[@wdavie27]

sorry to see you had a nasty crash my friend that's a costly and painful new build for you lee it's sad to see I hope you had plenty of fun up until your disappointment

[@Painless360]

+William Davie indeed, I've got a new plane to replace it. Its part and parcel of the hobby, usually a bit of hot glue and patience and it's flying again. This little guy was too far gone.. Video of the replacement model coming soon!

[@wdavie27]

+Painless360 hiya lee yes my friend but it's still very sad to see my friend after watching and following all your help videos I just felt so sad to happen to someone like you lee as you do so so much to help everyone in this hobby and people who are taking a big interest in the hobby I can't can't help feeling the pain for you lee and it just shows anything can happen and yes lee I'm sure you will have your new plane built very soon and I hope it all goes good for you and yes I will be watching and hitting the like button as always when I see your new build on my play list all the best to you lee ;-) ;-) but there's no point in saying that lee your the man lol happydays

[@wdavie27]

+Painless360 that's good to hear lee but I just felt very sad to see this happened to you my friend but it shows anything can happen to even the best and most experienced rc hobbyists that help and do so much for the hobby but good luck with your new build and wish everything goes well and smoothly lee I'm sure it will happydays

[@RCdiy]

In response to a thread on openrcforums "Setting the 4-in-1 module UID equal to that of the OpenTX transmitter" I did a proof of concept - You could increase dB variation by using aluminum foil shaped in a half cylinder shape with antenna at the center of the cylinder... a pop can and scissors would also work....

[@RavenFPV]

I was looking at the ATtiny chip to work on a countdown sketch from 7 mins. enough to give a 1 battery flight time & set off a beeper in case of loss. Already lost 2 drones in the past 6 months & it's like losing a pet. I have resorted to DVR for now so I can at least playback flight footage if it literally goes south.

[@L363ND3RY]

Raven FPV check out DroneKeeper mini. It's a $25 accelerometer with internal battery that beeps if no input from accelerometer after 30 seconds.

[@RavenFPV]

I have seen that. but to make one yourself from the attiny & bleeper etc is a lot less. Plus i'm in the UK & USA post always stings you with import charges.

[@oxVirtuexo]

Damn, unlucky Lee mate. Have a question, the Discover Sensor option, I don't think I have it, is it only available on a certain Firmware? I'm not on the latest Taranis FW.

[@Painless360]

+Legacy Of A Legend it's on OpenTX 2.1 and later..

[@oxVirtuexo]

Painless360 thank you very much mate

[@jahatton]

Hi, I really need this for where I fly! But how do you actually set the Taranis up to do this? I followed the video through and tried to discover new sensors but got none. I copied what you had on your screen by adding RSSI, RxBt and A2 sensor but what am I missing? Thanks

[@Painless360]

The cheap little receivers don't offer telemetry. You don't mention the Rx you're using so I suspect that is the issue...

[@jahatton]

@@Painless360 Sorry, I have the XM+ D16

[@jahatton]

I also flashed updated firmware for RSSI but I still can't get any new sensors when using Discover New Sensors.

[@scottmarshall6766]

EDIT - This is answered in "Crossfire Questions Part II" @ 10:55 - I should have known you had it covered. Thanks! I've been using this method so long, that I've grown pretty dependent on it, it's very reliable and gets me within buzzer range of a downed quad /plane quickly. I'm considering getting into a Crossfire setup for my quads and wonder if it can be used for tracking as well as the 2.4ghz Frsky system. From what I understand, it can display RSSI, Link quality, or both, so I expect you could set up a "Track" page in 'Display'. My concern is that Crossfire works so well (I hear it rarely drops below 98% RSSI) that there will be little effect in swinging the dipole 'on end' with the model. Does anyone use their Crossfire with this method, and can you explain your setup and results? Thanks!

[@EnuffsEnuff318]

After losing a $800 setup, I bit the bullet and got a Marco Polo. A little pricey, but most of my models are $1k or better and the little module works under it's own power for 2 weeks.

[@Painless360]

+EnuffsEnuff318 when a model is worth that it's worth every penny! Happy flying!

[@vankata4981]

can i check last cordinates from drone at taranis x9d plus ?

[@Painless360]

You can save telemetry but I've not seen a good solution for reading the last known set easily from the radio in the event of a crash.. Happy flying

[@wam7484]

I assume this probably won't work with radios containing two antennas at right angle (diversity). I'm hoping that the new SkyID will send lat/long to my telemetry enabled Spektrum TX. Enter those coordinates into Google Maps on a cell phone and should be able to walk right to it. But I don't want to buy one until I get confirmation that that will work.

[@Painless360]

A lot of radios with dual antennas allow you to select just one for things like this.... Happy flying

[@MicroRCFiend]

I think i'm ill. I keep seeing planes I really like the look of! Also found a new method if you know roughly where you crashed - get close enough to get some FPV video on goggles then take off both antennas and walk small grids. Not perfect but decent if you're too stupid to add a buzzer and then play in the woods with your bro :) Now i'm thinking take a linear antenna to make that searching step even easier.

[@Painless360]

+MicroRCFiend I've found a few by watching the playback. This should get you close if the battery is still connected without anything other than your radio.. Happy flying

[@MicroRCFiend]

Yeah my VRD2 do support that but my bro was using my old quannums. Wouldn't say no to RSSI though, well useful.

[@McFul618]

Hello, I just have to translate with google and write me slowly. Beautiful video as usual, I'm very much confident, the problem for me is to translate everything in italy, thank you so much. I've seen your extra model on hobbyking, how do you fly? What have you mounted on? If it is not a problem, can you put a list of components? Thanks for your dedication and courtesy.

[@Painless360]

+Guido La vespa sorry, I don't understand. Feel free to post in your native language and I'll figure it out..

[@snapslarsson]

What id that second antenna for? And where do I get one

[@pipfpv7489]

It's probably a module for the taranis so the radio is able to work with a different brands receiver protocol

[@Painless360]

+Mats Larsson it's a module in the JR style bay at the back of the radio. See all about it and what it can do in the video on it in the Taranis series on the channel.. Happy flying

[@nevinleiby]

What are ppl doing now that crossfire is out?

[@Painless360]

Same process.. the signal is the weakest at the 'tip' of the antenna. See my Crossfire series..

[@anthonywitham2305]

First Comment. Ouch that hurt!