Discussions

APM 2.5 with APM Planner and 3d Radio issues

Posted by Sandy Sound on July 13, 2014 at 5:26am

I am a Newb to flying and to APM and so far have had no joy with my APM2.5 and APM Planner and 3d Radio (MAVLINK).

I am using a Taranis TX, X8R RX, 3dR APM 2.5 with APM Plane V3.0.3 firmware, UBlox GPS, V1 3dR Radio Telemetry, 3dR Battery Sensor, HXT900 servo's, Turnigy Plush 40A, Turnigy D2826/6 2200KV Motor, Turnigy 2.2 Nano-Tech 45-90C battery, Bixler 2 airframe and a MBP running latest OS and APM Planner V2.0.12.

I have had the hardware for quite sometime, and tried unsuccessfully in the past to get it all up and running but now I actually have some time I can dedicate to getting this project in the sky!

With the 3d Radios, I can't get them to connect. I can connect to the APM via USB, but not through the Radios. The Remote Radio connected to the APM shows a solid green and flickering red light, indicating it has signal and is transmitting data, but the Local Radio is just flashing Green. I have tried resetting to factory defaults but as these are V1 Radio's, I can only reset the Local radio so I have had to order the USB-FTDI cable to try and reset the Remote one. I have ordered it and am waiting for that to arrive. I also ordered the external Magnetometer ;)

Following the instructions to factory reset the easy way has not worked for me.

I have installed the FTDI driver and can see the port in APM Planner, but when I connect there is no data or information in APM Planner like when I connect through usb...

With APM Planner, I can connect with usb, but the Flight modes change by themselves. Its totally random and weird. It changes to Flight Modes like RTL and Circle all by itself... Even if the Taranis RX/TX is connected!

With the APM 2.5, after going through the setup procedures - calibrating radio input (I have an issue here where the yaw left/right is reversed, but switching the reverse check box does nothing), assigning modes and configuring sensors but when I disconnect from APM Planner and remove the usb from the apm and power up from the battery I don't have control. Sometimes the throttle works, but most times not. Sometimes I can control everything except the elevator. APM has power, all the sensors have power... As far as I am aware the Outputs are powered from the battery through the ESC so I am at a loss as to what to do next to troubleshoot 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and so sorry if I have made an obvious mistake!

Cheers,

Sandy 

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Replies

  • Sandy Sound January 14, 2015 at 12:12pm

    I actually resolved the issues I was having in another thread. Thanks for the direction but I doubt they will be of more use than this forum.

  • Sandy Sound January 14, 2015 at 11:52am

    I'm sorry, how does that help me?

  • Sandy Sound July 25, 2014 at 7:50am

    So I am having a great time with the bixler - but now I want to sort the radio issue I am having.

    It seems the Air Radio is not happy. I am having the same problem as these guys:

    http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/help-failed-to-enter-command-mode...

    So I will now contact 3dr and see what they say.

    • Sandy Sound > Sandy Sound July 30, 2014 at 9:44am

      I have been in touch with 3dr and troubleshooted with them and now the result is that the radio is no longer communicating with the computer which means the firmware must be corrupt and 3dr do not do offer a repair service :(

      I will have to shell out another 50 bucks and buy a new one.

      The good news is version 2 is compatible with the version 1 that I have so I just need the air module.

      • Martin Poller > Sandy Sound July 30, 2014 at 10:57am

        Hi Sandy,

        Did you read through the radio wiki, here

        Before you you ditch the bricked air module, towards the very end there are instructions on how to force the module into bootloader mode so that you can upload new firmware, have a play, it might work :-) 

        • Sandy Sound > Martin Poller January 13, 2015 at 6:00am

          Thanks Martin, I ordered the 433MHz to play with and have just gotten round to trying the to fix the "bricked" 915MHz.

          I jumped the CTS and GND together, and forced it into boot loader then updated the firmware.

          I powered down, removed the jumper and powered up again and I still get the "Failed to enter command mode".

          Sigh. Just another bricked unit I guess. I do wonder how it happened?! So I don't do it again!

          I will have to order another module if I want to use 915MHz.

  • GLEN BROCKHURST July 13, 2014 at 9:58pm

    Hi Sandy this may or not help but change your mode channel cable to 8, this is the channel mine was on when i got my apm

    cheers Glen

    • Sandy Sound > GLEN BROCKHURST July 13, 2014 at 11:17pm

      Argh Thanks Glen - totally missed that - what an easy fix! Thanks man! Thats got my flight modes and Taranis control sorted! It's also stopped jittering.

      I feel a bit special but at least it was an easy fix and I can now fly this thing!

      I'll work on the radio issues later, for now i want to go outside! Right after my Taranis Battery charges... Sigh ha ha ha!

  • Martin Poller July 13, 2014 at 6:49am

    Hi Sandy,

    Take things one step at a time, first to get the firmware uploaded and establish the radio control, there should be no random changing of flight modes and you should be able to get the controls all working the correct way and not reversed.

    Do this before you try and get your radio telemetry working.

    You could also try using Mission Planner rather than APM planner, as Mission Planner is more mature. 

    If you can't get a stable radio control set up with firmware 3.0.3 try uploading firmware 3.0.1 and see if this works.

    Cheers Martin.

    • Sandy Sound > Martin Poller July 13, 2014 at 7:19am

      Hi Martin, 

      Thanks for your help.

      I have reinstalled the firmware several times, and each time it says it is successful but when connecting via usb it straight away changes modes by itself - I haven't even turned on the Taranis at this point but it drops straight into Circle mode...

      I know the Taranis is fine as I have used it to fly the bixler without the APM - its the only way I can get this thing in the sky :/

      Proper weird eh?

      I can't seem to get hold of the installer file for Mission Planner, the link is to a .msi file which my mac (or myself) doesn't know what to do with... I tried to open it in Crossover but no luck...

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