Discussions

ArduStation vs Ground Station??

Posted by Cooper on February 13, 2010 at 9:04pm

i all. i am a newbie name is cooper. and i just recieved everything in the mail today but after looking at the instructions to the ArduStation, i really didn't see why it was recommended over using the Xbee usb adaptor w/ the GROUND CONTROL STATION software. The display on the ArduStation is just numerical values, and the data on ground control station is graphically illustrated. so i dont get it. i need to know the plane's orientation at all times, and it would seem alot more cumbersome to be constantly trying to decipher numerical values. beside that, it needs it own power supply. and the laptop already has it.

it it preferred because you can connect it up to other hardwire (i saw some made a tracking antenna with it). or is it recommended because it can be used alone, as well as also connecting to the GROUND CONTROL STATION on my laptop.

if anyone can shed some light on this for me, i would greatly appreciate it.

thanks alot.
and good luck with all of your projects.

cooper

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Replies

Cooper February 14, 2010 at 7:50pm

thanks chris. thanks gary:). i'll try it out. but does it still have the ability to connect to the computer to use simultaneously with the laptop (ground control station)?

does using the arduStation mean, i don't need the Xbee USB adapter board? sorry, the instructions wren't clear. it states

"If you have 2.4Ghz RC gear, you should use 900Mhz Xbee modules. In that case, we use this Xbee Pro with the wire antenna for the aircraft, and this Xbee Pro with a SMA antenna connector (and a good 900Mhz antenna) on the ground, with the same adapter boards as above. Alternatively, you can use our all-in-one ArduStation hardware on the ground and dispense with the adaptor and laptop entirely on that side."

does this mean i need both, adafruit adapter board (for the plane), and the Xbee USB adapter board for the ArduStation?

thanks guys,
Moderator

Gary Mortimer February 13, 2010 at 9:28pm

Well once you get to this point you will discover what a pain dragging a tracking antenna and laptop around is!! I sometimes fly at three or four locations a day. The laptop wastes time.

Numerical values are fine in fact I know that presentation of data is something Sarel is into and hopefully it will get even simpler to allow smaller displays still.
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson February 13, 2010 at 9:27pm

Not everyone wants to take their laptop to the field, and laptop screens are hard to read in the sun.