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3D Robotics

Adding 3DR radio telemetry to the Quanum Nova APM-powered copter

Posted by Chris Anderson on June 14, 2014 at 9:30pm

3689600537?profile=originalI just got a Quanum Nova, which is a fantastic APM-powered copter that in many way outperforms the DJI Phantom for less than $300.  Although it's capable of full autonomy, just like any other ArduCopter, the one thing it's missing for easy field mission planning and DroidPlanner compatibility is telemetry. 

In this great tutorial, Jean-Louis Naudin shows how to add that:

Here an explanation for connecting the real time telemetry to the CX-20 or to the Quanum Nova

The telemetry port is located on the I/O board of the APM (the second board at the bottom and pluged to the main CPU board) where all the I/O plug are connected. The telemetry port is fully compatible with all the telemetry transmitter (3DR and all the compatible boards) and also with the Bluetooth boards commonly used with the APM boards.

alt text

Below the pinout which shows the telemetry port I/O (back to the I/O board).

Note from the comments: depending on which radio you're using, you may have to reverse the TX and RX lines. Dmitry in the comments reports: "You must connect RX from the radio to TX on the APM! And vice versa for Radio TX. So I've changed green and yellow wires and it works!"

 alt text

sold 4 cables on the telemetry ports alt textthen protect the connections with hot glue alt text

Check the functioning alt text

The 4 pins telemetry plug is installed on the back of the fuselage alt text

Check the connection (at 57600 baud) with the mission planner or the Droid Planner 2 alt textalt text

Then, you may enjoy to use the telemetry... alt text

NEXT CHAPTER: Full autonomous mission with the Cheerson CX 20

 

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Comments

  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson August 21, 2014 at 12:25pm

    Dmitry, I've edited the post above to include your comment. Thanks!

  • Dmitry August 21, 2014 at 11:43am

    Seems it's all about new ver MP or something else...

  • Dmitry August 21, 2014 at 11:42am

    Wow.

    PLS fix this post cause I've killed about 3 hrs to fix my 3rd 915mhz telemetry.

    The issue was that you must connect RX from the radio to TX on the APM! And vice versa for Radio TX.

    So I've changed green and yellow wires and it works!

  • Tobi Wolf August 12, 2014 at 3:01am

    Thanks a lot Jeff.

    That was the solution!!! You made my day!!! :-)

    Tobi

  • Jeff Colhoun August 11, 2014 at 11:52am

    I had the same issue.  You have to solder directly to some tiny pins on the board. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2112759&highlig...

     Make sure tx is going to rx and vice versa.

  • Tobi Wolf August 11, 2014 at 6:29am

    Hi,

    I hope someone can help me to get my 3DR Radio work with my Quanum Nova. I tried everything I found in the web, but with no success.

    - updated Firmware on both radios

    - set baud rate on 57600

    - selected right com-port

    - LEDs solid green

    - connected tx to rx

    - no USB connected, APM powered with ESC

    - radios connected, can change settings on both via mission planner

    But when I click on connect it does not connect via MavLink (Time out)

    I think it must be a problem between APM an Air radio connection. I did the soldering as shown above. I messured the voltage between 5V, RX, TX... they show different voltages, so I think I did the soldering right.

    Can anyone else please messure the voltage an each Pin? Just to compare the output.

    Maybe there are different types of 3DR radios? Do I need a special one for the Quanum Nova Board (APM 2.5.2)??? I bought a radio for ATM 2.5 / 2.6

    Hope someone can help me...

    Thanks a lot.

    Tobi

  • Charles Linquist July 1, 2014 at 5:16am

    Wow!  Just what I needed.  If only the person at HK's chat line had pointed me to this video, It would have solved a lot of hassle. 

    Thanks!

  • Jeff Colhoun June 30, 2014 at 11:53pm

    Check this video out.  If it doesnt answer your questions please be more specific and we can help.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnhXSI2sTa0&feature=youtu.be

  • Charles Linquist June 30, 2014 at 6:57pm

    I need some help - hopefully someone that has experience with this machine.  I bought one from HK without a radio.

    See my earlier post in the "uncategorized" section. 

  • Rolf Stefani June 26, 2014 at 4:54am
    This method didn't work for me. On my QNova from HK. I used the method described by sloth2005 on RCgroups discussion.

    My Bluetooth works with droid planner 2.0... See my post http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=28753951&postcoun...
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