RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

Mikael

Thanks for the link to your webpage.

The hardware for the simple version (without RSSI) doesn't look too difficult to assemble and I reckon I could put it together on a bit of veroboard.

However the software bit is way beyond me and I will have to speak to our club genius. If there were problems with oscillator speed etc then I would be lost!

One, probably daft, question. What is the component ISP?

Peter




<br type="_moz" />

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

Yes, it usually is the programming that scares off people.
But it is just a matter of finding someone with an AVR programmer. The actual programming only takes a moment.

The ISP component is just a plug. Usually a pinheader with 2x3 pins. ISP stands for "In System Programming", and the pin layout is the standard Atmel uses on all their AVR programmers. It is only needed if you plan on programming the AVR while it is mounted on the board. I need that as I use a surface mounted AVR that is permanently soldered to the board, but if you use a regular through-hole chip, you could just solder a socket on the board, and insert the AVR into that.

Mikael

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

Since my last posting I have had the AR9300 and Telemetry module returned from Horizon Hobbies who found nothing wrong with either. Actually they reported slightly low range on the telemetry module and replaced it with another????

I then purchased the dongle for my i-touch so that I could monitor and save the the flight log data. Also I installed the AR9300 in another. non carbon glider.

Using the graphing function in STi has revealed some interesting facts.

If I plot Flight Log it shows fades, frame losses and holds against time for each aerial. I am not getting any holds and quite few frame losses in this model even up to 1700ft altitude. However the fadegraph line for each aerial gradually climbs punctuated by some sharp spikes. Loooking at the values for these spikes shows figures in the thousands BUT once the spike is passed the fade value reverts to the cumulative low figure of say 100 to 150 for each aerial.

Could it be that these spikes are in fact spurious results from the telemetry rather than actual fades at the Rx.

Perhaps it is the postioning of the telemetry aerial on top of the fuselage which is degrading the signal?

Anyway I am acquiring the components to build Mikaels little device to investigate further.

Peter

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

Those spikes are places where the TM1000 is having trouble talking to the transmitter due to only having a single antenna.

It doesn't indicate problems with the remotes, but is telling you the TM1000 is having difficulties.

If you were to plot them on GPS, you would likely see they are where you are turning the aircraft into a direction that minimizes the TM1000's range.

Andy

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

Thanks Andy - that is what I suspected.

I have now reinstalled the gear in my Alpina adding a second satellite Rx and exiting the TM1000 aerial under the fuz.

Testing will have to wait for better weather.

Peter

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

I'm getting a time scale error - that's how I'd describe it - when viewing stored .TLM files from my DX18 on my iPad. The data values (voltage, acceleration, etc.) seem right, but the time scale shows about 55 seconds elapsed from a flight that was about 8 minutes. I've done this twice. I believe I have the latest DX18 firmware and the latest iPad Spektrum viewer. Is anyone else seeing this time scale error?

I've been searching the web for this problem and this thread was about the closest I could get.

And, come on Spektrum, how about a rudimentary data converter to make the files importable to spreadsheets? You don't have to write a fancy user interface or anything like that. Just a utility that converts the data to a text file that could be imported. I'm sure a lot of us would like to have that.

Thanks for any help or ideas on the time scale thing.

-Jeff<br type="_moz" />

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

The time line scale issue has been reported.

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

Thank you very much for the quick reply. I'm surprised I didn't find anything when searching, but I suppose I chose the wrong keywords.

I sure like having the main battery pack monitoring and alarms for the nicer, more expensive aircraft. All the rest of this data stuff is icing on the cake.

I recently made a circuit to watch two battery packs and send the lower of the two voltages to the TM1000 voltage probe. I've bench tested it, but it hasn't flown yet. I wonder if there's a discussion group somewhere with people who could use such a thing. For me, it's a B-17 with two separate flight packs for the inboard/outboard motors, and of course I wanted to be warned about whichever pack was dropping faster than the other.

If there's enough interest I might make some PC boards and bag up some parts kits so people could build them.

-Jeff<br type="_moz" />

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

Most setups I've seen had both packs combined then the ESCs connected off of both of them ensuring both power setup have equal amount of power.

But sounds cool what you have done.

As for not finding the info from searching, I know this from another forum that for me is much more active then here but that's not always a good thing.

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

Putting the packs in parallel like that does have some advantages I think. One down side I can think of is if one pack's going to fail it could take the other one with it, depending on the failure mode.
On the other hand, maybe if a LiPo is going to fail by shorting internally it would go up in flames and then it wouldn't matter what the other pack is doing...http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...ular_smile.gif

Anyway, on this HobbyKing B-17 I think I like the separate inboard/outboard power split. I was surprised to see them Y-connect all four BEC's in parallel, but it works. I suppose they're linear, instead of switching, and they're not bothered by each other.

-Jeff<br type="_moz" />

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

That's most likely the reason why it's working.

Switching BEC would fight each other until something would fail.

The seperate system is good as long as its setup like you mentioned, inboard and outboard.

If it were left wing and right wing would hate to see one completely side of motors shut off.

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

I think this will help. It displays all telemetry data in graph or table view, including GPS which can also be viewed in google earth.
It's the best I have seen and makes me wonder why Spektrum have not done anything like this for the masses that use PC.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1818261

RE: Spektrum DX18 telemetry data download
 

See that blue shirt in his avatar? That means he's a Team Horizon member. He and I shared quite a few e-mails before he announced his product.

Andy