Recommendation please!

[Johnny]

Hey,

I currently fly a quad using a 35Mhz radio system...which being 35MHz has a silly long wire antenna.
I was looking at the openLRS 433Mhz systems and seen you can flash them using arduino to 439Mhz (legal).

I also have a Futaba Field Force 6 radio...I think I need to get a Turnigy 9x radio so I can fit the modules, is this correct?

Also where is cheapest to get the modules?

Thanks!

[bigMouse]

that 439 should read 459, problem is that the radio wasn't designed for that frequency, so although it can be programmed to operate at any frequency, the output would range from abysmal to non-existent.


The practical options would be an old legal uk uhf tx/rx set (obsolete now!).

Ignore the law and use 433mHz. for this you have a choice, the most common being rangeLink, ezUHF, and openLRS.

use legal 2.4g at 100mW (ie all over the counter 2.4 radios in the uk) which has reasonable range although basically los.

[Johnny]

Thanks. I heard that 433Mhz can be problematic due to it being used by armature radio. Is 433Mhz used by many in the UK and is it reliable in your experience? (I will be flying in the suburbs/countryside).

I also noticed there were two power options on the OpenLRS (the orangeLRS). 1W and 100mW. Which is the "better" option? I will only be flying maybe 1km max but would like some signal penetration (note the wanting to avoid 2.4GHz).

[bigMouse]

Yes 433 is the amateur 70cm band, think they are allowed to transmit up to 400W, although in practice I believe its not a very heavily used band and generally only use low'ish power equipment!

Our 433 r/c system is frequency hopping which makes it partially immune to other users, although it could be swamped if you were unlucky enough! But I guess ALL r/c runs those risks!

To be honest, all rf frequencies are prone to interference, actual range can vary, depending on how brave you are! as a guide 35mHz great for say 1~3 km, 2.4g great for say 1~3 (generally considered more line-of-sight). Can easily get boosters for 2.4g but other flyers won't appreciate it!

433mHz middle-of-the-road penetration, Nice short antennas (compared to 35mHz) Nice feature is that most have a switchable higher power which can be used to regain control if losing signal, for whatever reason. Rx can employ a decent compact dipole antenna. and yes 200mW should be good for 17km+

[Johnny]

Great stuff. So with the 100mW shown here I can easily expect a reliable signal 2km away?

http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/store/__40032__OrangeRX_Open_LRS_433MHz_Transmitter_100mW_compatible_with_Futaba_radio_.html
http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/store/__27096__OrangeRx_Open_LRS_433MHz_9Ch_Receiver.html

Also, is that tx compatible with my Futaba FF6 or will I need a new RC?

[bigMouse]

Your link shows the rx! That antenna ok'ish but would benefit from a simple dipole

Didn't mention but it helps if you have simple programming experience to program these, if your not used to it, it is easy to learn, endless help on the net...


Here is the tx module:
http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/store/__27095__OrangeRx_Open_LRS_433MHz_TX_Module_JR_Turnigy_compatible_.html

Never used this one! (I used the originals that were designed to fit the futaba sets) hk says it is (JR)/turnigy compatible so maybe it is ok for the futaba set! Don't think your ff6 has a plug-in module facility though, need a ff8 or ff9. ff9 is good and probably the better choice, can find on ebay going for about £100 ish (only need the tx) and a hell of a lot better build quality than the 9x

100mW should get you 12km but to be safe it would be good use some telemetry feed back of received signal strength if your going more than 2~3 km

[bigMouse]

just looking at that tx module, no it won't fit futaba radios, pin header in the wrong place...

[Johnny]

So a turnigy 9x with this tx would work?

http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/store/__27095__OrangeRx_Open_LRS_433MHz_TX_Module_JR_Turnigy_compatible_.html

[bigMouse]

yes it says it fits turnigy on the advert!

Again the supplied antenna for the tx looks a piece of crap, need to replace that!

[Johnny]

Ah great. Sorry to be a bit anal about the exact matching. I have been stung with the "compatible" before in other hobbies of mine and just wanted to be sure there were no quirks.

Yeah, looking at either making dipole 433Mhz antennae or buying some if there is a cheap resource for them somewhere!

[gavnthat]

Hi, I use one of those modules in a Turnigy 9x and 9xr pro except it is the 1W module, I get great penetration with mine cant really comment on the range as it is a mini quad and the furthest out I have been is about 700 metres but I regularly fly behind buildings and lots of trees with good rssi , you should check out openlrsng firmware that can be flashed onto these it makes them perform a lot better and easier to setup with the chrome app.
bigmouse is right about the antenna's though I got shocking range with mine at first until I changed them, I now use an rmilec antenna on the transmitter which you can get for about £6 from hobbyking and a diy monopole on the reciever, the difference was night and day when I changed the antenna's. Cant put links because the Hobbyking site is playing up but Ill do it later. You should easily get the range you are after with this system for the price you cant beat it.

[bigMouse]

yea you cant beat that system on price!
One of the original Rx's I used was just an unprotected pcb board! Once dumped the uav in the sea (habit of mine!), was in there about 10 minutes in 5 ft of salt water (connected). Washed it off in fresh water and survived for another 12 month's regular use until I dunked it again! This time it was buggered though!

[bigMouse]

Found some pics of the old Rx.

This was after soaking in fresh water and drying out, see all solder turned kind of old waterpipe lead colour.
Gold plated pins turned grey, plating gone!

Miracle it went on flying for another year...

[gavnthat]

I'm impressed that still worked especially after being in saltwater !

[Johnny]

Well all the radio stuff (433mhz rx tx and turnigy 9x) is on its way . Somehow an acro 32 naze ended up in the basket as well . Heard they are meant to be a lot of fun. Hopefully a little  better than the kk2.0 and i am tempted to put a gps moduke on it once its up in the air.