SmartPort Sensors: Easy telemetry without a flight controller (Old School!)

[@Painless360]

For all of you pilots that have followed my many INAV and Arduplane installations into fixed wing - this probably won't be of any interest for you. But, if you are a fixed wing pilot that doesn't want things like flight controllers in your model then this is a reminder that you can easily add sensors and get key telemetry back to your radio using SmartPort sensors. It'll cost about the same as a FC and GPS that I've used in many other builds on the channel but there is no soldering, crimping or software to deal with. It's an easy way for other models that don't traditionally use FCs (i.e. boats, cars, gliders) to get critical data back to the pilot. This video is for everyone who doesn't want (or had the room for) things like INAV and Arduplane in their model. Happy flying!

[@interman7715]

Thanks mate btw do all these receivers and sensors work with Radiomaster tx16 ?

[@FlyPixVideos]

Funny - we were only talking yesterday about the days before flight controllers. #1 - spent more time flying and less time constantly updating / tuning. #2 It was more enjoyable - mainly the extra buzz from not having the fallback safety -the feeling when signal comes back is awesome :)

[@Painless360]

Once my plane is tuned I never tough the setting - just fly :)

[@NATGEOANDSTUFFPaulbrannan]

This wing looks an absolute beauty.

[@brianblogg645]

Hi Lee I use the FrSky Neuron ESC's they have all the telemetry built in. well worth a video :)

[@FL_Engineer]

Perfect timing as I just ordered my first Frsky RX (S6R) and have been going through your old videos.

[@MrSabram07]

I've been in the hobby just a couple of months, I had a couple of years. Great video

[@ChrisBalmforth]

As you say, old school but extremely valid for newer pilots. It made me think - why not bring it bang up-to-date by using a cheap flight controller board purely to provide full telemetry for pilots who don't want flight control? How cheap and simple could you make it, maybe just balance lead and SPort connections to the plane? Could you go as far as providing the full iNav lua script display which is so impressive on the Jumper, Radiomaster and X10 colour displays?

[@dingalarm]

I've felt the same way about using the built-in / plug in sensors on a flight controller with a Smartport enabled receiver. Much cheaper, and more compact than using separate Smartport sensors.

[@NATGEOANDSTUFFPaulbrannan]

Great stuff Lee.hope you are well buddy.same here lol windy rainy.im a builder so bit hard brick laying in this lol.stay safe my friend.if I was close id launch it for ya

[@ptaylor5014]

I have the FLYSKY version all daisy chained together and works fantastic.

[@MCsCreations]

That's actually pretty interesting! 😃 Thanks a lot, Lee! I'm going to search for those sensors! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@typxxilps]

I also have a current sensor and altimeter sensor from fr sky sealed ... somewhere in the box . Looks like I do not really need them anymore cause I use the matek flight controller.

[@fpvcrumudgeon4576]

Very interesting. I would presume this implies that the transmitter and receiver are actually transceivers? I've been wondering how a variometer works without a tx in the aircraft.

[@Painless360]

In modern systems they both transmit and receive. It's how you can see things like RSSI and telemetry on your radio.. Happy flying!

[@nektariosntikmpasanis1657]

Is there any impact on rf signal between tx-rx when adding more sensors due to more data exchange?

[@jwwfpv2942]

I fly LOS planes using a Tango 2 and the TBS CROSSFIRE 6CH PWM NANO RX. Do you know if you can get battery voltage to the radio using this setup? Would an frsky telemetry module work with a crossfire PWM nano rx? Love your channel and thought if anyone knows the answer to my question, it’s you. Thanks in advance.

[@Painless360]

TBS crossfire doesn't speak Frsky Smartport..

[@Asu01]

A video series on Frsky Fport would be nice, I heard they're releasing a bunch of stuff that are Fport bus capable like actuators and sensors.

[@Painless360]

If I get any of that stuff in - I will..

[@chrissofpv3017]

How strange Lee!..only last night I bought an FrSky MLVSS for my Volantex sr80,to get astern(as I hate the pistol grip tx,s,haha). and to connect up to my X9Dplus. Many thanks👍🍻🍻🍻🍻

[@Painless360]

:D Glad you found the video. You're exactly the type I pilot I made this for. Happy flying!

[@chrissofpv3017]

@@Painless360 👍🍻

[@RcAircraft]

Thank you, Just the thing i am looking for.

[@StrmsnesMedia]

Hi lee, do you know if it would be possible to connect Frsky's variometer/battery sensor to a Dragonlink micro Rx (telemetry receiver) and get working telemetry?

[@Painless360]

I don't. If you get it working, please let me know...

[@FourthWayRanch]

should there be F.Port data available from the plug on the back of a frsky tandem X20? There doesn't seem to be any bluetooth broadcast of telemetry data from the radio. frsky doesn't seem to want to give a straight answer on the issue. Doesn't look like many people are even trying to relay telemetry from a tandem X20 to a base station or telemetry app maybe

[@Painless360]

No idea, I've not had my hands on the X20. Best of luck!

[@vollpfosten5249]

Can we please get some flight footage of that beautiful AR Wing Pro?

[@Painless360]

There will be a full maiden video - stay tuned!

[@mytubehkjt]

Can the Radiomaster R88 use the FrSky Smart Port sensors? I'm trying to get it to work with the LiPo voltage sensor MLVSS and it won't discover the sensor..

[@Painless360]

I don't know, I've never tried that. Let me know if you get it working..

[@dakotasexton1942]

Help? I've been trying to use the voltage sensor upon discovering the sensor it will not show correct voltage the sensor just shows 0 volts in the radio can u point me in the right direction. I even had them send me a second sensor to make sure the sensor wasn't faulty

[@Painless360]

There isn't anything you need to do to get it to work. See my videos on it..

[@billrenfro7113]

Painless, I recently purchased a FRsky x20s and have one of my planes equipped with a smart port, GPS sensor, as well as the SmartPort RPM and temperature sensor. Both sensors read correctly in their default mode, which is meters for the GPS sensor and degrees centigrade for the temperature sensor. But when I change the sensors to imperial, feet and degrees, Fahrenheit, both sensors read incorrectly. I have searched the Internet, and can find no one else with this issue. I have also searched the manual and can see no place on the X20s where you can universally change the units. Is there something I am doing wrong.? I would really love your help on this issue. Also, I love all your videos.

[@Painless360]

Not sure, I've asked FrSky to help.. If I get an answer, I'll let you know.

[@billrenfro7113]

@@Painless360 thanks a bunch for your help. I have searched get hub for unresolved issues and could not find one related to this. It is surprising that no one else has had this issue. Hopefully a future update will resolve the problem. In the meantime, I will work with metric units. Thanks again for all your help and all your videos.

[@Painless360]

They have reproduced the same issue and confirmed it will be fixed in a firmware update... Happy flying

[@billrenfro7113]

@@Painless360 That is great to know. Thank you so much for taking the time to look into this. Happy flying.

[@SubratRed]

Sir please help me, for making 6 flight modes with pixhawk 2.4.8 with flysky th9x

[@Painless360]

No idea, best of luck!

[@SubratRed]

@@Painless360 planning to flash open tx in flysky th 9x. Hope that helps me config using your video

[@avsaase]

Now that we have the multiprotocol modules, are there any alternatives from other manufacturers than FrSky? I know FlySky offers some sensors, but are there others? The multimodule supports so many protocols I've never even heard off...

[@Painless360]

I'm sure there are but I have the Frsky stuff in my radio box.. Happy flying

[@JR-kk6ce]

I'm all for it if it keeps the final costs down. I sometimes look at my planes and wonder about what I'm doing basically sending up a $1,000 Styrofoam plane. The fun just isn't there for me when a plane gets that expensive.

[@Painless360]

Agreed. I use flight controllers a lot here for RTH and OSD but I know that many pilots just want the basics and to keep complexity and costs down so this one is for them :)

[@rebindfpv800]

You can get a fc for the cost of those overpriced sensors lol

[@DronePlayground]

👍👀🇭🇷