Pixhawk RC Not Active Please Help, Won't Recognize RC Signal, Motor Spins Connected Direct to X8R

Posted by Craig P. on April 30, 2015 at 6:42am

Hello again,

As I've yet to get much a response on previous post regarding a pixhawk which has the error code "Radio control not active", however it is most certainly active. as I can connect a motor to the 3 pin slot on my X8R and can sing the motor effectively.

Not to sound negative, but I'm really at my wits end with this pixhawk and its trouble some lack of response for an rc signal. I have this particular pixhawk in my X8 I require for mapping in the near future and it simply refuses to recognize an rc signal.  I have tested my frsky ppm encoder with no avail n'or will my 3dr ppm encoder. It did work previous to this with both the frsky sbus-ppm encoder as well as the 3dr ppm encoder.

I travelled with the auto pilot and upon attempting flight back in December after flashing the latest firmware at the time, it then would no longer recognize a signal? Its kinda disappointing considering my other pixhawks have worked perfectly out of box with the same exact setup without the need for any encoders but simply direct from sbus. 

I would hate to have it just sit on a shelf after the amount that Ive invested into getting it to work (ppm encoders, plus cost of all electronics such as gps ect...) and it hasn't ever worked properly. 

If any one would have advice on how to maybe test what may be occurring that would cause the pixhawk not to pick up a signal would be very very much appreciated, or perhaps anyone who may know how to trouble shoot the autopilot themselves (maybe an individuals in the toronto area?), as I require this particular drone in order to complete my research and would not want to spend to much more.

Thanks in advance for any advice, suggestions or feedback it is very appreciated!

Craig P. 

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Replies

    • FerrosonicFPV > Craig P. September 9, 2015 at 10:26am

      This is rediculous,

      nowhere online can I find a pic or video that shows successful setup of FS/Turnigy receiver with the Pixhawk. Further, the majority of people who comment, do not give enough details about what they are doing in order for their post to be helpful.

      Throwing in the towel is the only way to win with 3DR. They are trying to establish a monopoly and have not cleaned up their user support in the slightest.

      I'm sick of this issue and paying more money for more problems.

    • 3qs7z40lxxok2 > FerrosonicFPV September 9, 2015 at 3:08pm

      how have you got the rx powered and is the any thing else plug into the rx ?

    • FerrosonicFPV > 3qs7z40lxxok2 September 9, 2015 at 3:22pm

      Gimbal controls are plugged into ch7 and ch8 which also provide power from the Gimbal as none will come through the converter. Ch1 - 6 are plugged in as instructed in videos, signal wire in the correct location.

      The converter powers up and blinks correctly for the PWM, or so it would seem. 1 sec seems more like 1.5 secs.

      I have tried all compilations regarding the PPM, SBUS, and RC input port locations.

      Without the Gimbal being plugged in, the RX does not power on nor does the PPM converter. The gimbal was simply a coincidence of power availability as all the ESC power lines are sealed inside the tube arms now.

      If you can tell me what the actual issue is that 'people' have with the PPM converters - PixHawk, I can probably finish my own diagnosis. 

      My APM has worked great, everything else on the PixHawk seems to be ok.

      I have disabled the RC failsafe in MissionPlanner, my Hex arms up just fine, but wont try to fly without Rotors. 'Motor tests' dont produce any result either.

      Everything was working just fine before with the APM. Only different parts are the PixHawk and matching Power Module.

      I had no trouble with the OpenPilot and APM boards. PixHawk should be just as easy, but their insistence on a PPM signal input insane. 

      I suspect their is some kind of proprietary adjustment they have programmed into the 3DR PPM encoder and PixHawk that is preventing my signal from getting through.

      Anything helps

      Thanks

    • 3qs7z40lxxok2 > FerrosonicFPV September 9, 2015 at 4:34pm

      i have see  a burnt out ppm side of the pixhawk the bloke had a gimble powed off Rx  it was ok till he put a camera in it then it was drawing to much current let out the smoke

      What type PPM converter are you using it should power on the rx off the pixhawk ppm port if its not i look into that

      the only thing that should be powed off the pixhawk ppm port is the rx and the PPM converter

      have tested to see it there's power on ppm port pixhawk

    • FerrosonicFPV > 3qs7z40lxxok2 September 9, 2015 at 5:59pm

      No, I did not test the voltage on those pins.The gimbal is simply powering the RX and converter by default. 

      I'll send a pic of my connection.

      The converter is a red chip off eBay. Pins are all along one side of the chip.

  • Phil Gamito May 9, 2015 at 9:22pm

    Hey Craig,

    I have an X8R with SBUS output, bound with an Frsky Taranis X9D Plus.

    One: Are your channels for the vehicle in this order?

    1: Aileron (Roll)

    2: Elevator (Pitch)

    3: Throttle

    4: Rudder (Yaw)

    Two: During the binding process, have you gone through the correct binding procedure to enable SBUS for the correct channels? (1-8 or 1-16, not 9-16)

    Three: Is the servo cable between your RX and FC connected to the correct port? This is the SECOND EDIT: FIRST set of pins in from the left side if you're looking directly at the cutout for the outputs.

    Four: Is your servo cable in the correct orientation? Signal is the bottom pin on the flight controller. On the X8R, Sbus signal is the innermost on the SBUS output.

    • Mike > Phil Gamito September 24, 2015 at 12:39am

      SBUS is always enabled and always Ch 1-16. The binding process you refer to determines how the PWM outputs to the normal pins are allocated.

    • Craig P. > Phil Gamito May 10, 2015 at 6:28am

      Hi Phil, thanks  for your response,

      sorry I did not respond sooner,

      This is actually my 3rd drone build (4th if one were to consider to mods to my Iris+), so I have other pixhawk's I use to compare in different drones also, and by plugging the exact same setup into a different pixhawk i get signal instantly.

      I finally contact 3DR again (I had contacted them in the first few months of getting it but they claimed to not know if sbus from an X8R worked), and after explaining all the methods I tested:

      1) Using a lipo, Powering solely of usb, Using converters & encoders,

      2) Flashing Firmware from plane back to copter,

      3) Even reformatted the sd card, I tested voltage between the positive and negative RC IN pins and get 4.70 off usb power,

      4) And with the X8R throttle on I get 2.18-2.68  on signal / negative RC IN pins,

      5) Tried plugging an esc direct into 3 channel on X8R n throttle controls motor, 

      the engineer at 3DR this time said I've basically done all trouble shooting he can think of, without further testing the board for faults, so I'm waiting to hear back to see if there is anyway I may do this,

      Hopefully I can find a solution, as it would be disappointing to have a pixhawk thats never worked and never will.

      Craig P. 

    • Phil Gamito > Craig P. May 10, 2015 at 2:48pm

      That's horribly disappointing dude. I'm sorry for your troubles.

      I read some of your later replies, and it doesn't seem like this is a foreign setup to you, and I hope 3DR supports you well.

      If they don't, maybe just buy the HKPilot 32 from HobbyKing, you'll get the same support for less money :p

    • Craig P. > Phil Gamito May 11, 2015 at 6:09am

      Thanks, I'm hoping they can come up with a solid solution, they've usually been pretty good in the past, only issue I've had really with any 3DR product is this one pixhawk, everything else (Y6B, Quad, X8, Iris+) has worked great so far.

      I did think about trying another autopilot, since it was in my X8 that is use for mapping  which I may need soon, but with the potential pixhawk 2 release in the near future, I'm definitely considering holding off also...It's a tough call....

      Craig P.

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