So I've got a pair of Digi XT09-SI 9 Xtend modules. I'm trying to get them communicating with a base station and an APM in a plane. I first tried the default baud rate, 57600, and range-testing the radios by jumpering RX and TX on the remote end and echoing data back to myself. I got 99% success rate on that. I then tried interfacing to the telemetry port on the oilpan with my FDTI adaptor (an arduino duemilanove with no firmware) at 57600. Again, great success.
The problems started when I tried to communicate via the radios. I could sometimes get all the way through reading the parameters, but only rarely, before the connection dropped out and "Not a 1280... Not a 2560" was written to console. I've dropped the baud rate down to 9600 in the modules and on SERIAL3_BAUD in the APM firmware and now I can maintain a connection indefinitely, but there are still many dropped packets. I am about 50% successful in downloading a set of 22 waypoints without it bombing out with the error (displayed in a popup dialog box, not the console):
Error : System.Exception: Timeout on read - setWP
at ArdupilotMega.MAVLink.setWP(...
at ArdupilotMega.GCSViews.FlightPlanner.<BUT_write_Click >b__7()
Screenshot of waypoint download attempt:
http://www.tjhowse.com/hackerspace/uav/errorlog.png
Screenshot of idle operation:
http://www.tjhowse.com/hackerspace/uav/errorlog2.png
.tlog file from today's testing.
http://www.tjhowse.com/hackerspace/uav/errorlog.zip
I've reduced the TX power to 100mW from the default 1W. 100mW should still be ample to reach the other end of my house, though it's no better or worse than when it's in the room with me. I've also updated the firmware on the telemetry modules to the latest.
Anyone got any ideas?
Replies
Has anyone found an resolution for this issue? I'm planning a build using the APM 2.0 with the Xtend modules.
I have followed the evidence, but at 80 meters, I have lost signal. I can not find the cause I've tried different settings but without success. if anyone experienced this issue, would appreciate the help ...
I tested this configuration and seems to work 9XTEND 9600/115K HOPPING (DIGIMESH) 206E version, to 115200, 1 watt.
note that 1 watt external power is required 5v 750 mah
Have you tried any speed higher than the 57600? - It could be a buffer problem. The problem people have with the XSC (Extended Range) XBees is that they top out at 9600. I ran my 9Xtend radios at 115200, using the 9XTEND-PKG 9600/115K HOPPING radio firmware - but I must say that I have not tried it with any of the current generation GCS, I was only using it for telemetry to a data logger. I have since then switched to a pair of microhard ehternet radios that I am attempting to get working. You were likely never getting the 1W of power out of the radios- they require 730mA at 5V to push out the 1W. I ended up creating my own power board based on Sparkfun's breakout board to give the radio a clean and separate power supply (running off of the same battery but with its own 5V1A LDO Power Regulator.) Since we are not using flow control, you need to make sure the DI (Data In) and DO (Data Out) buffers don't overflow. Make absolutely certain that the BD and BR (baud and rf data rates) are the SAME (BD set to 7 and BR set to 1) If this is not the case you will get dropouts because when the buffer gets to a certain size a request (stop sending) is passed between the radios. These radios really prefer to be run with flow control turned on, and that is why most people are having an issue. The default setting is BD / BR set to 3 and 1 which works fine for small bursts of data, but matching them to 7 and 1 works MUCH better for the longer streams we want to exchange. Give that a shot and let me know how it goes. Feel free to PM me if you need more help.
It should also be noted that the radios range test fine. 2000 successes, 16 fails. 99.2%, using the range test utility in X-CTU.
Which firmware does everyone use on their XT09-SIs? I've got the choice of:
9XTEND 115K HOPPING (DIGIMESH - AUSTRALIA)
9XTEND 115K HOPPING (DIGIMESH)
9XTEND 9600/115K HOPPING (DIGIMESH)
9XTEND AUSTRALIA
9XTEND-PKG 9600/115K HOPPING
I've tried them all, with varying levels of failure. Which do people generally use?
Hi tjhowse , I also I have a pair of XT09, and supporting evidence; been doing and work well at close range, but when I go more than 10 meters is no loss of signal (the XT09 are configured with power 1watts and 57000 bps) .. and could not find the solution.
which pins are you using for the connection of the XT09?
Yes; I have no personal experience with this myself, I have had some non-standard ArduPilot Digi gear on order for a month, but it is not here yet. But I have read about this problem with the extended range and also with series 2 modules.
What I understand from the reading is that maybe these other modules do not handle streaming data well. The use case that they were built for is more like brief bursts. And the APM knows nothing about the radios and how best to send data.
I have a lot of questions about this, and there are a lot of things I do not understand about it, but that is all I know. It might help you to find out more information, and maybe that will either help you find someone that knows the truth, or learn enough to investigate (and solve?) it yourself, maybe.
Digi tells me the modules I bought will ship on 10/10/2011 ;) So I can feel your pain (different modules) soon, I hope...