OpenLRSng 100mW Range Test.

by rchacker | June 12, 2013 | (7) Posted in Projects

Marc achieves a much further range with the custom built vee antenna. Works out at over a kilometer including through trees and buildings. I am hoping that open air should be well over 10km.

This is using the OrangeRX OpenLRS receiver modules with one configured as the transmitter.

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COMMENTS

vk2dxn on June 12, 2013
Marc
With your range testing can you re orientate your tx antenna so that it resembles an inverted V, with the orientation that you have it in now will have a low angle of radiation (not good for things above you) your intended use (flight) you want a higher angle of radiation because your multirotor is above you
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rchacker on June 12, 2013
My Dad is VK3CQ, you know him?
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vk2dxn on June 12, 2013
No but I will keep an ear out. Cheers Marc

Paul
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rchacker on June 12, 2013
I read somewhere that this antenna has close to a spherical radiation pattern if the angle is right. I set the units to low power (1mW) and did some rotation while reading the RSSI values off the serial port. Seemed close enough to spherical for me.
I think the inverted vee that hams use is more directional because of the ground plane, also its inverted simply because its easy to put up that way.
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vk2dxn on June 12, 2013
Yes it will be omni directional but the angle of radiation is not ideal for your application (IMO)
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RoyBro on June 12, 2013
I'm happy to see someone review the OrangeRX OpenLRS system as it is about a third of the cost of the OpenLRS system tested in the shootout.

Thanks
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windfou on June 19, 2013
Hi marc , i want to buy the lrs system soon and do you think i can go around building and tree with the Nagoya NA771 for about a kilometer? even 500m meter is enougth for me
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zodrik on June 12, 2013
Hi Mark , I do use the same system,with telemetry sata back link an just 2 13 inch dipole antennas on bouth modules and I get 2km ground range between houses and tree,of course range test is somenthing can change from a place to another,in flight mode iI get 3,6 km beefore the alarm start beebing,now I order a nagoya antenna to see if there is a difference( sorry for my english).....hey can u please tell me what code/line and where have to change to make the alarm sound like yours?
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rchacker on June 12, 2013
Nagoya NA771 they are like $4 on ebay, might get one myself as a backup.
I am doing a video on the openLRSng code soon so might cover it then. Needs cleaning up but I might send it to Kari. try this:

Just change the three variablebuzzfreq lines.

uint32_t variablebuzzfreq = 2000; //declare at top

if (RF_Mode == Received) {
uint8_t rx_buf[4];
// got telemetry packet

lastTelemetry = micros();
RF_Mode = Receive;
spiSendAddress(0x7f); // Send the package read command
for (int16_t i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
rx_buf[i] = spiReadData();
}
//Serial.println(rx_buf[0]); // print rssi value
variablebuzzfreq = 2100 + (4 * rx_buf[0]);
}

uint32_t time = micros();

if ((time - lastSent) >= modem_params[bind_data.modem_params].interval) {
lastSent = time;

if (ppmAge < 8) {
uint8_t tx_buf[11];
ppmAge++;

if (lastTelemetry) {
if ((time - lastTelemetry) > modem_params[bind_data.modem_params].interval) {
// telemetry lost
buzzerOn(variablebuzzfreq);
lastTelemetry=0;
} else {
// telemetry link re-established
buzzerOff();
}
}



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zodrik on June 12, 2013
thanks a lot Marc...by the way I'll like to know what peoples from Ecuador think when they see you walking around speak to the camera and hold a radio....lol.....I'm italian and I moved to Quebec 3 years ago,and still got strange looking feeling when I carry around my stuff to the test in the street.....hey still thanks for the code
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windfou on June 19, 2013
so , zodrik bienvenue au québec!
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OpenLRSng 100mW Range Test.