OK - So here I'm going to try to detail my experiences with the Quanum Nova - it's a tale of misinformation and stupidity on my behalf :-)
I should explain I'm a total newbie at RC flight though have tinkered with junk robotics, PIC, STAMP etc for years, and I like doing things from basics, understanding what makes things go.
1/ The purchase - I went for the Nova P'n'F ( I now regret this choice bitterly ) as I already had a Hobbyking 6 channel RC and a spare TX. I subsequently went to install this as per the Youtube video from HK - I only had to watch it about 15 times before I got the idea.
2/ The first disappointment - It did nothing and aon chatting to a Hobbyking "expert" I was told "get the Nova RX and TX" - so I dully did this and followed the instructions once more - by the way -
When My RX arrived - it was a 2 arial version and looked nothing like the pic in Hobbyking - no instructions, no information - that's when I had to work it out for myself. Hobbyking said it was the wrong piece, but actually it's not -
what you really need to know is in this diagram I made myself - featured above
At this point a quick indoor test flight worked well in my conservatory enough until I took out the light by accident, and the wife banned further indoor experimentation
3/ Now to install the camera gimbals ! - as I had little info to go on - I stuffed up the first time and so fried my RX (connecting +ve and -ve the wrong way round can do that ! ). I cursed and replaced the TX.
4/ where I am now - the RX works OK - I can move a servo using the TX, but that's about it :
1/ the GPS green LED refuses to light
2/ When I connect to Mission planner - says it can't find mavlink
3/ The rotors will not unlock after being held in the bottom right as it did before and it does this ....
What I assume is I've either fried my GPS, or my Flight controller or both - the F/C still supplies 5v to the GPS but that's all I can check.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh4VXwAo9Pc
5/ The big questions
a) I'm wondering - can I replace the expensive (and unavailable) flight controller with another APM 2.6/2.6 flight controller (the sales blurb says Quanum and Cx-20 are based on this ) - ardupilot for GPS is 1/2 the price on ebay.
b) Can I use another generic GPS that's 2.5 compatible - if so what ?? - again HK what nearly £50 UK for theirs and ebay says I can get one for around £11 - what's the difference ?
c) if I can use a generic F/C - how do I replicate the wiring in the diagram I've posted in 2/ and will it provide the same outputs to the LEDS which tell you what's going on in the Quadcopter ?
Replies