Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

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Rob Thomson
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Thu Nov 14, 2013 4:52 pm

Annoyed.

Spent the afternoon wiring the system up.

Everything was working. Even flashed the arduino nano maybe 5 times. Then... Dead.

The nano no longer wants to talk :(

I has another of the same batch do it a week or so back - so something not right.

Anyway. 4 new boards ordered. Bit of luck it will all work.

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by jhsa » Thu Nov 14, 2013 5:00 pm

Burn the bootloader
Maybe that will bring it back to life.

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by kaos » Thu Nov 14, 2013 5:14 pm

I think the atmega is sentimental. I am working on a pro mini project, it does not want to talk either. :( Have not the time to try another one yet. I ordered 3.
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by tilmanb » Thu Nov 14, 2013 5:16 pm

If you think the soldering is dodgy, I can give it a try to reflow it for you. I've got the proper heat gun.
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Thu Nov 14, 2013 5:16 pm

At least I know not just me!

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Thu Nov 14, 2013 5:17 pm

tilmanb wrote:If you think the soldering is dodgy, I can give it a try to reflow it for you. I've got the proper heat gun.
I have one too :)

But it does not work even when fully disconnected from then system.

Any chance you have one? I could get it from you tomorrow?

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by tilmanb » Thu Nov 14, 2013 5:22 pm

I have two. All soldered up in a vario.
I can give you my Arduino UNO too, if size does not matter too much.
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Thu Nov 14, 2013 5:37 pm

Nah. Don't take any apart.

My replacements will arrive Saturday.



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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Fri Nov 15, 2013 7:59 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWNy5Kx ... ata_player

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by kaos » Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:09 pm

that is interesting. why the left right stay put not tilting with the vertical two?
and the small clover/planar skew is for video relay to monitor?
did you make those helicals yourself?
Looks like you use 5 RC305 vRx. I thought you were using modules?
Last edited by kaos on Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:15 pm

Left right don't move for no reason other than space.

The chassis was smaller than I anticipated.

So made then choice to not move them.

In reality - makes no difference. On my prototype, it still tracks even when above you.

The clover is the diversity on to main feed.

So a 3 or 5 turn in the middle, + clover backup. I need to move it off the tilt system. Just not had time / cables yet :)

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by kaos » Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:27 pm

make a stand up/extension box then a larger plate you can put all antenna on the same surface for pan and tilt?
in reality - makes no difference"
what about at long distance when signal is much weaker, that is where tracker is really needed? This is a question, not criticism. ;)
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:31 pm

How high do you intend to fly?

Remember long distance is away from you. The beam gets wide the further you go. Assuming distance is further away, you will always track.

For the horizontal to miss track, you would have to be directly above you, and at least a 400m up.

At that point, the tilt will be vertical, and you will still have a signal :)

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by kaos » Fri Nov 15, 2013 10:24 pm

Got cha!
I want to fly as high/far as 4 min one way will get me and my radio signal can reach. ;) 4 min fly on a prop /jet can get me a long way I guess. ;)
Let's see, on a average 60mph plane, 4-5 min would get me ~5 miles radius, I guess. ;) I have not fly > 150m on FPV yet. But I see how fast 150 m pass by on a slow v959. ;)

what happened to those vRX modules instead of the full vRx boxes? another change of plan?
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:31 am

Yup.

I want to get this up an running asap, so took the simple route of the are built receivers.

Have another plan for the modules. :)



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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Mon Nov 18, 2013 1:08 pm

Annoyed.

Got 3 new nanos.

Same problem!

Time to test drivers!

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Mon Nov 18, 2013 6:31 pm

Double annoyed.

Two of my receivers went pop.

No idea why - but must have a short!

Going to shelf the project for a month until I can order some new ones!

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by jhsa » Mon Nov 18, 2013 7:16 pm

sorry to read that Rob :(

Are you sure you're not feeding them with too much voltage?
By the way, you're not the only one having things going pop as you say..
2 days ago my computer literally exploded while I was on the flight sim with my son. at the same time my wife's computer and my step son's iPhone that was on charge also went.. still trying to find out what happened. Possibly some kind of power surge, don't know :(
I could save my data as the HD is still working though. But the rest of the PC is toasted..

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Mon Nov 18, 2013 7:23 pm

Nope.

12v. Exactly as per spec.

Just annoying - was so close to being finished!

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by kaos » Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:04 am

sorry to hear that. yep, when that happens that drove me crazy. that happened to me when I set up my FPV on V959 the 1st time burn out my 50.00 cam. and I still don't know for sure what happened, whether I shorted it or else.
You'll make it. ;)
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Tue Nov 19, 2013 1:23 pm

Result.

Pulled everything apart, and found the issue.

I had snagged a power lead on a screw, and turn the insulation. Result was a short.

The good news is that I have established for sure that only one RX was nuked. The main video feed.

So... All up. I may get this working soon!

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Tue Nov 19, 2013 6:14 pm

Ok.

re-cabled the whole thing.

Things are looking much better now. My test arduino sketches are working, so now just the proper coding to sort tomorrow.

Feeling MUCH happier :-)
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by jhsa » Tue Nov 19, 2013 6:37 pm

You should.. On your birthday :mrgreen:

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by kaos » Tue Nov 19, 2013 7:15 pm

Rob Thomson wrote: Pulled everything apart, and found the issue.
I had snagged a power lead on a screw, and turn the insulation. Result was a short.
That is a real 'screw' up, literally! :mrgreen:
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:48 pm

It works!

Basic code functions with tracking a model.

Just cleanup to do.

Tomorrow's job.

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by kaos » Wed Nov 20, 2013 5:12 am

Great. Once it is cleaned up, I want to see a vid how you calibrate/test the tilt. :mrgreen:
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Wed Nov 20, 2013 7:29 am

Nothing special.

Calibration is automatic, and takes only a second to complete.

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by hageha » Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:15 am

What do you think to integrate such a thing?
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1298192
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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by Rob Thomson » Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:04 pm

Certainly easy to do.

But no huge benefit for the person flying!

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Re: Open RSSI Antenna Tracker

Post by hageha » Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:34 pm

before the flight. "is the grounstation battery o.k.?"
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