3D Robotics

New product! The 3DR Radio Telemetry System

Hi everyone, I'm very happy to announce something that 3D Robotics has been working on since late last year in cooperation with a few very talented developers. Today we are announcing the 3DR Radio telemetry system, an open-source alternative to XBee telemetry set-ups, with superior performance, great range and a much lower price (half the price of the equivalent Xbee kit).

This is a 2-way, half-duplex wireless communication system with a standard TTL UART interface, based on HopeRF's HM-TRP data link modules, and custom firmware that improves upon the module's original features and performance.

The SiK firmware includes a bootloader that permits radio firmware updates over the serial interface, and radio firmware with configurable parameters. Updates and configuration are fully supported in the APM Mission Planner (press control-A to bring up the window below), and also possible through AT commands.

From the wiki:

  • light weight (under 4 grams without antenna)
  • available in 900MHz or 433MHz variants
  • receiver sensitivity to -121 dBm
  • transmit power up to 20dBm (100mW)
  • transparent serial link
  • air data rates up to 250kbps
  • MAVLink protocol framing and status reporting
  • frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)
  • adaptive time division multiplexing (TDM)
  • support for LBT and AFA
  • configurable duty cycle
  • builtin error correcting code (can correct up to 25% data bit errors)
  • demonstrated range of several kilometres with a small omni antenna
  • can be used with a bi-directional amplifier for even more range
  • open source firmware
  • AT commands for radio configuration
  • RT commands for remote radio configuration
  • adaptive flow control when used with APM
  • based on HM-TRP radio modules, with Si1000 8051 micro-controller and Si4432 radio module
Support for different countries and regions is documented in the wiki:
Of course, the list will keep growing, and you can help by providing links on the forums to relevant information on the applicable regulations. This is a DIY radio device, so please check your local rules carefully!

Each kit consists of an 'air' and 'ground' variant, with an FTDI-style 6-pin header and USB type-A connector, respectively. Also included are two RP-SMA antennas, APM telemetry cable, and a USB type-A extension cable for placement flexibility.

Kit price is $74.99:

Individual radios are $35.99 (USB) and $31.99 (pins):

Kits and radios are available for purchase today, and they will start shipping next week.


Coming soon: a 3DR Radio XBee footprint adapter for both frequencies, compatible with our USB XBee adapter and Sparkfun's XBee Explorer boards.


We will also be releasing a version of the radios on both frequencies with an Xbee-compatible footprint, so you already have Xbee adapters, you can use them. 


We hope you enjoy using these radios as much as we have during development, the simpler hardware and configuration tools compared to XBee provide a much smoother experience. We look forward to hearing your comments!

Huge thanks to the developers who made this happen: Team leaders Andrew Tridgell and Mike Smith along with Michael Oborne, Seppo Saario, Marco Robustini and others. 

Views: 23919

Comment by Alonso Rodriguez on May 26, 2012 at 3:12pm

Are there instructions somewhere that shows you how to use the 3DR radios with APM Planner. I can get the radios' configuration in AMP Planner but how do I get telemetry? Also, what is the lattest firmware for the radio?  I have SiK 1.5 on HM-TRP. One more question, can the 3DR radio and the miniOSD be used at the same time?


3D Robotics Comment by Chris Anderson on May 26, 2012 at 8:36pm

Alonso: All the instructions are in the manual. Once they're set up and you've set the Mission Planner to 57k baud, press connect and it should connect and start displaying live telemetry data. 

The latest firmware is 1.5. You can use both the 3DR radios and MinimOSD at the same time with a Y-cable. Instructions are in the manual here. 

Comment by travisneedham on August 15, 2012 at 8:00pm

So help me understand... this description says it is a HALF-duplex, BASED on HopeRF's HM-TRP data link modules, but the description on the purchase page says it is a FULL-duplex USING HopeRF's HM-TRP data link modules.  Which is it?  I am asking because I am thinking about getting this from e-bay, but I don't want to get the wrong thing.  Thanks!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/F02548-Dual-TTL-3DRobotics-3DR-Radio-Teleme...


3D Robotics Comment by Sam Kelly on August 15, 2012 at 8:51pm

@travisneedham, the factory firmware on the HM-TRP modules does half-duplex, the custom SiK firmware we ship the radios with does full-duplex.

Comment by marcelo on September 10, 2012 at 4:20am

Hello, can anyone tell me if i can take appart, the plastic covering the TX telemetry antenna 900mhz, to save weight, and suggest propper indications about how to do it?

Comment by Veikko Vierola on September 11, 2012 at 4:47am

I don't know how to take the cover off without destroying the cover. I looked at one of my wlan antennas that looks the same and it seems to be quite tough made. BTW the 433MHz frequency wave lenght is about 70cm. Would a 70 cm whip antenna give better distance results or is the 3DR radio optimized for 1/4 lenght antennas?

Comment by StamusContra on January 5, 2013 at 7:02pm

Hey guys, I lost one of the antennas to my 915mhz telemetry kit. Does anyone know if I need to purchase the antenna from 3dr or could pick up another antenna locally (radioshack or computer hardware store etc)?


3D Robotics Comment by Chris Anderson on January 5, 2013 at 7:07pm

Any 900Mhz antenna with a RP-SMA connector will work. 

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