Hobbyking has done it again and have gone that step further.
500mw telemetry modules for amp/px4 and pixhawk is a reality.
Features:
• Interchangeable air and ground 433MHz modules
• Micro-USB port
• 6-position Molex connector
• 500 mW maximum output power (adjustable)
• -117 dBm receive sensitivity
• SMA connector
• 2-way full-duplex communication through adaptive TDM
• UART interface
• Transparent serial link
• MAVLink protocol framing
• Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)
• Configurable duty cycle
• Error correction corrects up to 25% of bit errors
• Open-source SIK firmware
• Configurable through *Mission Planner and *APM Planner
Specs:
Supply voltage: 3.7-6 VDC (from USB or Molex connector)
Transmit current: 500 mA at 27 dBm
Receive current: 25 mA
Serial interface: 3.3 V UART
Included
Two radio modules with antennas
Micro-USB cable
Android OTG adapter cable
6-wire Pixhawk connector cable
6-to-5-position APM and PX4 connector cable
Self-adhesive patch
Comments
LoRa generally is very low data rate, but it should achieve much longer range at those data rates than any FSK modem due to using spread spectrum. You can do higher data rates with LoRa, and I would like to see a comparison between LoRa and FSK at the higher data rates to see if there is any advantage in that range.
@forbe.law,
LoRa achieves the range by using extremely low data rates.
3DR radios would probably have a similar range at such low data rates.
DRF4432F27 is a front end module with SPI port. It need external MCU to drive the module. There are many kinds of UART module integrated MCU inside. Such as RF4432D27 with shield coverd.
Nowadays, The LoRa module RF1276 is popular in the ISM band communication field. RF1276 has amazing performance about the range test, up to 8km at 100mW output power.
I received my radios from ReadyToFlyQuads, and these units definitely have a HM-TRP like module on them, but they are not HM-TRP modules. As you can see in the picture, the modules are similar, but they have an additional power FET for amplification. They also have the same footprint as the HM-TRP modules. The only identification that I can see is the label "MLSC02 V0.1". I cannot find this module available anywhere.
I don't think these should be advertised as having an HM-TRP module, since they clearly are not, but I would like to find out where the modules come from.
That would also imply that they are falsely implying that this is based on HM-TRP modules. I would think HopeRF would not be happy about that.
That would make sense as far as the 500 mW of power, but that's an SPI module, so they must have an external 8051 MCU to control it.
Hi. Someone (skelator) on the HK product page claims that this modem is based on the following RF module:
http://www.dorji.com/docs/data/DRF4431F27_DRF4432F27.pdf
Similar to the older Si4431, but with higher output power (27dB/500mW).
Here is the mini OSD/Telemetry modem from HK.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__74651__Micro_HKPilot_Tel...
I ordered a set from ReadyToFlyQuads, which has the unknown module on it. I also emailed HopeRf with a link to the picture, asking if this really is a 500mW HM-TRP, and they replied that it is not their module, and a 500mW HM-TRP does not exist.
It looks like some of the models probably have a HM-TRP with an external PA, but the RTFQ model appears to be a module with the PA built in. If that is the case, I'm curious where the module came from, and they shouldn't be advertising it as an HM-TRP.
I would love to see pictures of the internals of any of these units of anyone has ordered them from other places.
I have one of these antenna but am yet to try it (I probably should):
(PCB Yagi)
I also have the stock cheapie antenna the telemetry came with, and these too (perhaps it's time for me to perform a range test experiement):
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