MAVLink data displayed on OpenTX (9X/9XR/etc) radio screen via OpenLRS, plus telemetry pass-thru to PC

FYI, it is very easy to display convenient live MAVLink data on your (9X/9XR/etc) radio screen using OpenTx and OpenLRSng. You can also simultaneously pass the data to Mission Planner running on your PC via a USB FTDI cable (3v3).

I use a 9XR radio running OpenTX compiled with EXT=MAVLINK (or installed automatically using the Companion9X app by ticking MAVLINK extension), and the latest version of OpenLRSng (Gitsly branch). I use a cheap OrangeRX Tx module ($29) in the 9XR, and OrangeRx Rx module ($19) in the plane. This gives me 433MHz RC control over the plane, as well as a MAVLink-compatible serial link (57600 baud, 19200 datarate). No need for extra XBee/3DR/RFD radios.

With this cost-saving combination, I get MAVLink data displayed on my 9XR screen (mode, nav, link, batt, GPS, etc), and by plugging a FTDI cable between my Tx module and laptop, Mission Planner also gets live flight data - normal display of flight data, maps, etc.

The upside is low cost and only the 433MHz RF channel used (no extra modem transmitting other frequencies), which also gives power consumption, weight reduction, and possible range benefits (less RF near antennas as opposed to using a separate telemetry radio).

I just thought it was a setup worth mentioning for new and budget conscious DIY-ers, or those wanting a second, less hard-core setup, such as on a slope soarer.

The original setup discussions (parts out of date now) and procedure summary is here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1913501

Devices are here:
- OrangeRX LRS UHF Tx module 100mW (~$15): http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...095&aff=913237

- OrangeRX LRS UHF Tx module 1W (~$30): http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=43852&aff=913237

- OrangeRX LRS UHF Rx (~$15): http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...096&aff=913237
- Turnigy 9XR radio (~$50): http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...544&aff=913237

NOTE: for 9X/9XR you will need to make a few small mods to the module connector pins on the 9XR/Tx to enable bi-directional serial I/O.

Special thanks to Kha (OpenLRSng), Martin (Gitsly/OpenLRSng) and Rienk (OpenTX/MAVLink) to get this operational.

Rienk's dev thread: http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/mavlink-ardupilot-opentx-extension

Companion9X for radio firmware: http://www.open-tx.org/downloads.html

Martin's Gitsly/OpenLRSng firmware for Rx/Tx modules: https://github.com/gitsly/openLRSng

Content

What do we get?
OrangeRX Open LRS Transmitter 1W (JR)
OrangeRX Open LRS 433 9CH Receiver
What you need
Turnigy 9XR mod
Flashing Turnigy 9XR with OpenTX firmware
OrangeRX Open LRS Transmitter Mod
Flashing TX/RX (OpenLrsng - Glitsy branche)
Configuring TX/RX using Putty
Connecting to Mission Planner through FTDI
MinimOSD
Bluetooth
NFC Tags
Connecting to Tower
Antenna

http://www.myrcflight.com/open-lrs.html

AlbEagle

Hello Andrew,

I am in desperate need of help getting my 9XR & HobbyKing Orange RX LRS module working with MAVLink (No FRSky!).

So far I have soldered the 2 x 220 Ohm resistors to the main board of the 9XR as per:

However, there is a second posting on the various forums showing 4 x cables soldered to the main board. 2 x 220 Ohm & 2 x 500 Ohm as per:

Are the second set of wires with 500 Ohm resistors required for MAVLink, or is this for FRSky only?

As for the "HobbyKing ORX Open LRS TX" module, is it plug and play once the modification is done to the 9XR, or is this modification required?:

If the modification is required, my module has a different layout than the one above (Both are 433Mhz 100mw Hobbyking LRS TX's), see mine (below):

Thanks in advance and I look forward to your/anyone's input! :)

Replies

passatiji April 10, 2016 at 11:09am
Hi All,

I am a first timer in UHF and Open LRS. My hardware is Taranis+, Pixhawk (APM copter 3.3.3 Y6), Deluxe JR HawkEye TX and HawkEye 1W RX following these instructions I successfully achieved:
- Flashed both TX and RX with Gitsly code
- TX and RX are bind and fail-safe is working
  (even at this point I consider this a big success so thank you everyone)
- Serial Protocol in APM is set to Mavlink
- Serial Baud in APM is set to 19200
- Using FTDI cable connected directly to flight controller I can connect to Mission Planner (to test Serial settings)
Here is where I would appreciate any help:
- Connected flight controller Serial pins to 1W Receiver TX, RX and GND pins
- Connected FTDI cable to Transmitter RX, TX and GND pins
- Mission Planner can't pass "Getting parameters" dialogue
Looks like Mavlink data is not passed through or most likely I screwed up somewhere.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
LTMNO January 7, 2016 at 8:39am

Does anyone have this working with a 9x radio...
- passatiji > LTMNO April 10, 2016 at 11:15am
  
  Hi LTMNO,
  
  I am not at the point where I am ready to display Mavlink on the radio but was reading this thread and it seems to work for somebody else.
  
  Hope this helps you too.
AlbEagle October 13, 2015 at 7:12am
A step by step tutorial on my website

Content
What do we get?

OrangeRX Open LRS Transmitter 1W (JR)

OrangeRX Open LRS 433 9CH Receiver

What you need

Turnigy 9XR mod

Flashing Turnigy 9XR with OpenTX firmware

OrangeRX Open LRS Transmitter Mod

Flashing TX/RX (OpenLrsng - Glitsy branche)

Configuring TX/RX using Putty

Connecting to Mission Planner through FTDI

MinimOSD

Bluetooth

NFC Tags

Connecting to Tower

Antenna

http://www.myrcflight.com/open-lrs.html

AlbEagle
- AlbEagle > AlbEagle November 13, 2015 at 5:39am
  
  Website changed to:
  
  http://rcworld.tk/
  
  AlbEagle
  - Marc MERLIN > AlbEagle November 29, 2015 at 11:36am
    
    AlbEagle, could you confirm that your instructions will work with normal OpenLRS modules (hawkeye, DTF-UHF) since I am not interested in buying any Orange stuff, it's low quality and I don't want to support bad chinese clones when there are quality modules that are designed properly to start with (and save on the board cutting and soldering you have to do on the Orange modules).
    
    For an example of nice module: http://marc.merlins.org/perso/rc/post_2015-11-14_Brotronics-Brovers...
    
    Marc's Blog: rc - Brotronics Broversity RX, the Missing Manual
    - AlbEagle > Marc MERLIN November 29, 2015 at 3:08pm
      
      Hi there Marc Merlin
      
      Thank you for your nice words. The reason i created the website was the problem finding all the mods i needed in one place. So i thought it was a good idea to document the work as i go along. Because i haven't actually changed the original firmware (all the appreciations go to the authors :), the mods should work for other types of modules too. I have used the original "OpenTX" firmware, original "OpenLRSng - Glitsy fork" and changed the baudrate of the minimosd to 19200. I have created the website just to help myself and others, so i paid about 24 usd for 1 yea for both hosing and domain and i wanted to keep it going but the second year they charged me over $150 so i had to delete it and found a free hosting and domain, so no worries, it won't disapear again ;). I still have to add info for google to find it.
      
      Best regards
      
      AlbEagle
      - Marc MERLIN > AlbEagle November 30, 2015 at 8:15am
        
        Glad you found free hosting. For the next time, this is something you can host for free on Google Plus, or Blogger, or I've even seen some people use a Google Doc (WYSIWYG, no html and syncing required), and post the link to the doc. Either of them will be free forever from a provider that won't disappear tomorrow :)
        
        I did that once, see the Google Doc here: http://marc.merlins.org/perso/rc/2015-05.html#Cularis-7-Channel-Gli...
        
        and yes, I write such docs myself too, I know how long they take, so thanks again :)
        
        Marc's Public Blog - Rc - May 2015
  - Marc MERLIN > AlbEagle November 29, 2015 at 11:04am
    
    Actually the real URL seems to be http://flyingforfun.weebly.com/open-lrs.html
    
    This is an awesome page that isn't being indexed by google somehow, and yet everyone interested should be able to see it.
    
    I was also very distraught when after having seen it once, it took me over an hour to find this post, and finally the new link to the page.
    
    Just in case it disappears again, I've mirrored it here:
    
    http://marc.merlins.org/mirrors/flyingforfun.weebly.com/open-lrs.html
    
    Again, awesome work, thanks for posting.
Pyr8 September 16, 2015 at 10:32pm

Hello Andrew,

I am in desperate need of help getting my 9XR & HobbyKing Orange RX LRS module working with MAVLink (No FRSky!).

So far I have soldered the 2 x 220 Ohm resistors to the main board of the 9XR as per:

However, there is a second posting on the various forums showing 4 x cables soldered to the main board. 2 x 220 Ohm & 2 x 500 Ohm as per:

Are the second set of wires with 500 Ohm resistors required for MAVLink, or is this for FRSky only?

As for the "HobbyKing ORX Open LRS TX" module, is it plug and play once the modification is done to the 9XR, or is this modification required?:

If the modification is required, my module has a different layout than the one above (Both are 433Mhz 100mw Hobbyking LRS TX's), see mine (below):

Thanks in advance and I look forward to your/anyone's input! :)

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