3DR telemetry no longer supported by 3DR....options?

I have been using the 915mhz telemetry v2 units with my Pixhawk for a while now. One of them is not giving the range that it used to and I need a replacement.

I varified the range with the use of my Fighting Walrus iDrone Link and one unit is getting about 100m range while the other is getting good signal to where my hexacopter is just a spec in the distance.

Problem 1:

I can not get hold of Fighting Walrus any more. They have not answered my emails since about October of 2015. I am assuming they are no longer active? (also no updates to their iOS app for almost a year)

Problem 2:

3DR are no longer making their 900 or 433 telemetry units. (verified vie an email to them)

"Hello Justin,

Thank you for contacting 3DRobotics customer service.

We apologize for the inconvenience. Unfortunately, we do not have the Telemetry available anymore since they have been discontinued, both the 915 and 433."

I am using a Nexus 7 v2 Tablet with the Tower App (great app by the way)

Question:

Other than the $250 long range 900mhz kits (I don't need/am not allowed to use super long range) or $10 knock 3DR off kits from China (gamble as to whether you get a good one/no warranty), what options are there that are "PnP" ?

I am using a Taranis Plus TX with x8r RX and could use that telemetry but then there is no way to load missions in the field.

Thanks for input

Replies

- - - Yun Tak(YT) lee > Craig Anderson January 25, 2016 at 12:57pm
      
      Hello Craig,
      
      I have the 3dr Iris+ and Cheerson CX20 APM
      
      The kits I found from ebay and Banggood or Gearbest work for the Cheerson, but not the Iris.
      
      It seems the header are different.
      
      My question is, will HK kit work with the Iris radio controller which I believe is a frSky controller. https://www.fruugo.us/frsky-24ghz-telemetry-djt-module-jrflysky-acc...
      - Aussie in AZ > Yun Tak(YT) lee January 26, 2016 at 4:46am
        
        Compatibility issues and guess work. Precisely the point of my thread.
        
        J
Roger Monongo January 25, 2016 at 7:39am

Have you tried making your own antenna?
I've made a pair of dipole antenna from a coaxial cable for my 433MHz radios, using IBCrazy's instructions, and at 1000km my telemetry signal is solid 99%.
Simple solution for big problems.
Ith the 915MHz antenna you just need to make the dipole shorter, instead of 35cm for the half wave length, you just need 15cm.
The 3DR radio is by default set to work with 100mW and using a dipole improves greatly the quality and range of the signal, but if you need even more range, you can buy a signal booster to transmit with over 1W.

By now the chinese produce much cheaper radios with the same quality of 3DR, so with that competition 3DR must have decided that it wasn't worth selling separated radios anymore.

There's just a problem. If the chinese just copy, and 3DR develops, who will develop now the Radio v3?
Yun Tak(YT) lee January 24, 2016 at 2:37pm

you can still get the telemetry clone from ebay, just change the tx that comes with the clone.
- Aussie in AZ > Yun Tak(YT) lee January 26, 2016 at 4:44am
  
  When you say "clone" do mean cheap knock-off? This is what I want to avoid
  
  J
Distributor

Felix Meissner January 24, 2016 at 12:04pm

for anybody looking for the original 3DR modules - we still got some 3DR 433 telemetry modules in stock at http://www.uav-store.de/

uav-store.de

This domain may be for sale!
- Vesselin Goranov > Felix Meissner January 25, 2016 at 3:01am
  
  I had look, but no any 3DR telemetry modules there... Will send you a message!
Developer

Jani Hirvinen January 23, 2016 at 6:54pm

Or if you want hassle free fully assembled sets. You can get those from jDrones store. We are Seppo's original distributor but our telemetry systems are not just telemetry modems, they are whole set with cabling, casing, adapters and filtering electronics.

http://store.jdrones.com/jD_RD900Plus_Telemetry_Bundle_p/rf900set02...

We also have older SiK modems but for reliability we prefer RFD kits.

jD-RF900Plus Longrange

Long range telemetry set for all your UAV and UAS needs
Seppo January 23, 2016 at 3:29pm

One option available that is relatively inexpensive is the RFD900u modems:

http://store.rfdesign.com.au/rfd-900u-radio-modem/

A pair of these is around $98 USD with the current exchange rate!

Good thing is these have filtering, low noise receive LNA and diversity antennas and are smaller than the 3DR modules!

The current version of the RFD900+ is available in a bundle:

http://store.rfdesign.com.au/rfd900p-modem-bundle/

With the current exchange rate, $229.95 AUD is around $161 USD.

Hope it helps with some options!

RFD 900u Radio Modem

RFDesign designs and manufactures the Antennas, RF Electronics and the RFD900 radio modem
- 100KM
  
  DavidJames > Seppo January 30, 2016 at 12:17pm
  
  Seppo, Thanks for pointing out the rfd-900u radio modem. That looks like an excellent radio modem. The antenna cables are reasonably priced too. They will provide a lot of flexibility in locating the dual antennas.
  
  I can hardly wait to try one out.

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3DR telemetry no longer supported by 3DR....options?

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