Fake Pixhawk 2.4.8 from Bangood - not working as expected - PIXHAWK

I just received my new -Fake- Pixhawk from Bangood today and this is what I did:

1: plugged in the buzzer, arming button and GPS/compass unit and plugged it in the USB port of my PC to check it out in MissionPlanner (1.3.3)

It seemed to work perfectly: GPS even acquired a lock indoors, external compass was pointing in the right direction, and the Artificial horizon showed it rock stable on the table. So all good here..

2: I did NOT check FW version (mistake) and proceeded to install Arduplane 3.5.2 (latest) as I want to use this in a fixed wing conventional plane.

3: Followed instructions and rebooted the Pixhawk.. It boot fine and talks with MissionPlanner but

-Artificial horizon is 'all over the place' showing constant movement in all directions

-GPS lock still good

-External compass no longer registering

-Unable to calibrate

-Displaying various error codes

4: Tried older Arduplane versions working down incrementally to 3.2.2; getting same results

5: Installed APM Copter 3.3.3 Quad and operation seems normal

6: Reinstalled Arduplane 3.5.2 but still defective as in step 3...

7: Removed GPS/Compass module and operation seems normal...

My thoughts: I think the hardware is fine but the firmware is not fully compatible with this new 2.4.8 version. This is my first time working with Pixhawk. Any help would be appreciated.

I'm finding very little information on the 2.4.8 Pixhawk except for Chinese sellers praising its features...

and This post on RCGroups which is of little help

Here's what I got:

Pixhawk 2.4.8 from Bangood

GPS and Compass unit

Thank you

2.4.8 is someone's upgrade of the current unit and unauthorized... However, I believe the artificial upgrade was to fix an issue or to upgrade

the voltage rail...

Jani Hirvinen said:

Just to clarify to you all. Pixhawk and APM version numbers coming from China...

There are NO Pixhawk 2.4.8 and also there are NO APM2.8 existing. Pixhawk is trademark owned by PX4 group and latest Pixhawk that they have released is with version number of 2.4.6. I have also seen a lot discussion about APM2.8 boards. Same thing. Last version that ArduPilot group has released is APM2.6

All other/higher versions on Pixhawks or APM are unknown copies from China market that are using illegally Pixhawk/APM name. Developer team does not have any ideas what modifications these boards have. They may or may not work.. Today/tomorrow, next week who knows.. So please be careful.

If manufacturer changes name like HK did for PX4Pilot, we are fine with that and that's how it should be. But they also need to release design files for the changes. Not that many manufacturer does that or have you seen any files for example from Bangood??

Replies

Charles C Spencer III August 4, 2016 at 7:24am

Most problems are not from the units build, they are from bad counterfeit chips or maybe mpu6000's may be sold as bad from the factory?

Jani Hirvinen said:

They are all "fakes", that's the problem with china companies. You never know what version you actually get. Some companies sell version 2.4.6 but you might get 2.4.3, 2.4.4, 2.4.5 or something else. You just cannot tell.

Also you cannot tell that are they using original components or copy components, even big companies like SparkFUN etc can get screwed sometimes on china market. Here is a good example of Atmega328 report from SFE.

Yes often those bangood and others are working fine up to some limit, they may have copy ICs on board, ICs that have failed 100% tests on factory or something else.

I just looked BG MiniOSD which is my and Sandro's work. They sell those 7.99 usd each. I cannot even buy MAX7456 Video chips with that price and they sell whole board with price of single IC and on top of that there is Atmed328 cpu, regulators, pcbs, assembly work and so on.... How is this even possible?!? Often by using china made copy ICs etc or other lower quality components.
Charles C Spencer III August 4, 2016 at 7:21am

2.4.8 is someone's upgrade of the current unit and unauthorized... However, I believe the artificial upgrade was to fix an issue or to upgrade

the voltage rail...

Jani Hirvinen said:

Just to clarify to you all. Pixhawk and APM version numbers coming from China...

There are NO Pixhawk 2.4.8 and also there are NO APM2.8 existing. Pixhawk is trademark owned by PX4 group and latest Pixhawk that they have released is with version number of 2.4.6. I have also seen a lot discussion about APM2.8 boards. Same thing. Last version that ArduPilot group has released is APM2.6

All other/higher versions on Pixhawks or APM are unknown copies from China market that are using illegally Pixhawk/APM name. Developer team does not have any ideas what modifications these boards have. They may or may not work.. Today/tomorrow, next week who knows.. So please be careful.

If manufacturer changes name like HK did for PX4Pilot, we are fine with that and that's how it should be. But they also need to release design files for the changes. Not that many manufacturer does that or have you seen any files for example from Bangood??
Developer

Jani Hirvinen April 25, 2016 at 11:30pm

Just to clarify to you all. Pixhawk and APM version numbers coming from China...

There are NO Pixhawk 2.4.8 and also there are NO APM2.8 existing. Pixhawk is trademark owned by PX4 group and latest Pixhawk that they have released is with version number of 2.4.6. I have also seen a lot discussion about APM2.8 boards. Same thing. Last version that ArduPilot group has released is APM2.6

All other/higher versions on Pixhawks or APM are unknown copies from China market that are using illegally Pixhawk/APM name. Developer team does not have any ideas what modifications these boards have. They may or may not work.. Today/tomorrow, next week who knows.. So please be careful.

If manufacturer changes name like HK did for PX4Pilot, we are fine with that and that's how it should be. But they also need to release design files for the changes. Not that many manufacturer does that or have you seen any files for example from Bangood??
- Simon L. > Jani Hirvinen April 26, 2016 at 4:51am
  
  Would you enlighten us on this subject: how to identify real vs fake because sellers like Bangood sells a few different versions of Pixhawk :
  
  2.4.8
  
  2.4.6
  
  2.4.6 'final release'
  
  2.4.5
  
  miropix 2.4.6
- Developer
  
  Jani Hirvinen > Simon L. April 26, 2016 at 9:55pm
  
  They are all "fakes", that's the problem with china companies. You never know what version you actually get. Some companies sell version 2.4.6 but you might get 2.4.3, 2.4.4, 2.4.5 or something else. You just cannot tell.
  
  Also you cannot tell that are they using original components or copy components, even big companies like SparkFUN etc can get screwed sometimes on china market. Here is a good example of Atmega328 report from SFE.
  
  Yes often those bangood and others are working fine up to some limit, they may have copy ICs on board, ICs that have failed 100% tests on factory or something else.
  
  I just looked BG MiniOSD which is my and Sandro's work. They sell those 7.99 usd each. I cannot even buy MAX7456 Video chips with that price and they sell whole board with price of single IC and on top of that there is Atmed328 cpu, regulators, pcbs, assembly work and so on.... How is this even possible?!? Often by using china made copy ICs etc or other lower quality components.
  
  ATmega Slugs
  
  SparkFun gets counterfeit parts, buys nitric acid and a microscope, finds lack of silicon.
- Simon L. > Jani Hirvinen April 27, 2016 at 4:11am
  
  3dr Pixhawk
  
  So 3dr's version is the only real licensed controller that's supposed to wear the name Pixhawk?
  
  At 199usd its pretty steep.. Can you suggest any other Clone like Pixhack etc..? and where to get them at a reasonable price?
- Cala > Simon L. April 27, 2016 at 5:33am
  
  I'm waiting a pixracer, it's 99 USS and support developers, It's a PX4 board and can use the two MB, don't have the 1mb limit that the general copies or old pixhawk have. http://www.auav.co/product-p/xr-v1.htm here you can follow development http://diydrones.com/forum/topics/pixracer-with-ardupilot?commentId...
- Cala > Cala April 27, 2016 at 6:26am
  
  Yes, Pixhawk is a trade mark but the board is open source so is legal to sell similar boards with another name like HKpilot, Rc Timer, etc. but as I wrote, not speak good about sellers that uses the name Pixhawk, shure bad quality if they don't use their oun name. I prefer to choose, if possible, boards that are supporting developers because without them, the board is unusable for me, 3DR is not supporting anymore, they are migrating to RTF like Solo.
  
  Here you have more boards : http://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-autopilots.html#common-auto...
  
  Pixhawk 2 is comming from developer group but no price and details yet. http://diydrones.com/group/pixhawk-2/forum/topics/what-is-pixhawk-2...
  
  Autopilot Hardware Options — Copter documentation
Simon L. April 25, 2016 at 5:54pm

I got it working coreectly on the workbench but I only have 1 minor issue bugging me: The plane doesn't really point North when its indicating so on the HUD: its pointing about -20degrees.. I tried setting declination manually from website data and auto but the result is the same.. will this have adverse effects in flight?

Also are the any other 'semi-obvious' things I should lookout for like keeping the compasses aligned together for testing I know its a vague question but I can sure benefit from your great experiences.. You guys have been really helpfull up to now.. I did read alot on Arduplane but I obviously have much to learn still

Can someone ponit me to a guide of all the blips, beeps, boops and flashy flashy lights.
- Cala > Simon L. April 25, 2016 at 6:05pm
  
  Nice news that your controller works Simon, yes, it's important that the plane point correct for auto modes and RTL. You have to recalibrate compass, pereferible outdoors far from any metal objects like buildings, etc.

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