CC2500 power issue (formerly 'I need a Rx...')

In need of a new receiver with at least 8 Channels, telemetry and good range I'd like your opinion:

Should I buy one of the new OrangeRx DSMX 9 Ch. (r920x) or 12 Ch. (r1220x) Modules?
Both have Telemetry and a reasonable price and I can use PPM along with PWM afaiu.

Or simply add an CC2500 Module to my Devo and use one of those FrSky ACCST Models D8R-II or D8R-XP with 8 Channels and also telemetry.

And finally, there is the Walkera Rx703a with 8 Channels, however without telemetry.

I almost ordered the OrangeRx, but looking at the specs, they give a range of less than 1km for the DSMX models compared to those FrSky with a specified range of 1.5-2.5km.

Which one should I get? What is your real world experience?

(Still) No as my answer to your intension!
Get a genuine Spektrum AR8000 or AR9020 (or AR9310). The latter has 3 satellites.The first 1 sat.


OrangeRX have no FlightLog (Fades, FrameLosses, Holds) like Spektrum receivers have.
UPDATE: With regard to feedback on German forums the new OrangeRX including telemetry do have FlightLog as well as despite this is NOT mentioned on their homepage. First tests of a German forum member have been quite bad (endless of FrameLosses). This was using a dual diversity sender DX18. Let's see what the tests next months of following users will bring (e.g normal TX with only one antenna)....they need to prove first that the OrangeRX can handle receiving + telemetry sending in parallel with no conflicts.

LemonRX only seem to have some very basic range indicator too (one field rating 80-100 for good range) according to their description.


For FrSky CC2500:
It would have to have a power amplier and good antenna so you get a good range.
I am not sure what the status is for those modules if they work at the same range and as good as the internal CYRF module?!?
I would be interested too to use FrSky receivers with INCLUDED telemetry myself.

Also I am not sure if that is a good concept to fly bigger stuff far distance with self-soldered antennas and additional HF modules?!?

How expensive are your planes? Wouldn't it make maybe more sense to wait for the universalTX board or get a 2nd Taranis with the appropriate HF module?

Just my 2Cents

Thomas

Who has no FlightLog? D8R Rx?

I trust my soldering skills, so I will go for the CC2500 module most likely. In case I ever get a taranis,
I can use it with my then already existing Rx.

I had the same thought. Because I already own a Teranis I went for the CC2500.
Getting the module to work is not difficult but need some soldering skill. In the Devo 7e it is easer then in the Devo 10 because there is not that much room that is easily accessible.

I found that the module was getting quite hot and was using almost 3 times the power then the teranis and the build in module (360ma for the CC250 and 140ma for the Teranis and build in module)
I did not a full range test but for the short range the RSSI values were comparable with the Teranis.
I finally removed the CC2500 because of the current draw and I needed the A7105 and the NRF24L01 more to fly my Hubsan and the CX10.

It's verified that the new OrangeRx x20 modules don't do have any kind of RSSI data? Wow, that sucks.

What power were you running your CC2500 at? Possibly it runs at less than full power in the Taranis?

And to the OP: If you can do CPPM, you might consider the D4R-II to save a few bucks and grams.

Thomas:
Which CC2500 module have you installed? Where did you buy it? eBay? Banggood?
Did you set it to 150mW?

@mwm:
I want to use it with a NAZA but need some extra ports, so I want to connect the Naza with one cable and CPPM for Ports 1-7 and would like to have at least 2 additional pwm ports. That D4R would be great, if you could configure the pwm ports to individual channels.

I used the CC2500 from Banggood ( www.banggood.com/CC2500-PA-LNA-Romote-Wi...F24L01-p-922595.html ). Running normally at 100mw but found that it did not make a big difference, 10mw was about 300mA and 100mw 360mA.
I could me my module ? I could not say I only have one.

My radio is a Devo-10. I am running two other modules in it now, both also from Bandgood, the run very well, not much current.

360mA results in approx. 1W or more power. This sounds way too much for me?! If this was common, somebody should have noticed before.
I can't remember reading anything about this current/heat issue over in the FrSky compatibility thread:
www.deviationtx.com/forum/protocol-devel...patibility?start=340

@ThomasDB:
Did it consume so much current even if not in use?

@mwm:
Have you measured the current of your cc2500 module?

ThomasDB wrote: I
I did not a full range test but for the short range the RSSI values were comparable with the Teranis.
I finally removed the CC2500 because of the current draw and I needed the A7105 and the NRF24L01 more to fly my Hubsan and the CX10.

Please post a link to this CC2500 module.

Sorry, already there....

I guess he's referring to this one:

http://www.banggood.com/CC2500-PA-LNA-Romote-Wireless-Module-CC2500-SI4432-NRF24L01-p-922595.html

I was asking because this 17dBm module is rated at 150 mA and the Skyartec one, a 22dBm module, pulls 300mA at full output power.

Is it this one then?
www.skyartec.com/ProductShow.asp?ArticleID=1977

And can you reduce output power and current consumption with appropriate settings in the hardware.ini?

@aMax:
Have you measured the current by yourself?
According to this post: www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=31917449&postcount=2
It does not consume over 200mA, even on the highes setting...

Nice finding...
Since I do not have a Skyartec 2500 module, I took these values from the listed specs at BG.
This comsumption did prevent me from ordering one, because the regulator on my 7e would not survive this for a long time.
As I can remenber, it' s a peak 300mA device.

EDIT: At RCgroups they are talking about the CC2530....so it might be a different design.
I don't know this at the moment, must collect some informations first.

Well, they have two different modules at BG:

The cheaper one without shielding with a maximum Output Power of +22dBm 200mW
Specified Emission Current <300mA
http://www.banggood.com/CC2500-PCBA-2_4GHz-Wireless-Transceiver-Module-p-922598.html

which looks similar but not exactly the same as the skyartec I found:
www.skyartec.com/ProductShow.asp?ArticleID=1977

This one with shielding is specified with max. 150mA and 17 to 20dBm
http://www.banggood.com/CC2500-PA-LNA-Romote-Wireless-Module-CC2500-SI4432-NRF24L01-p-922595.html

I was only measuring the total current from the TX including the modules.
Devo 10 at 8V measuring the current in:

Without any modules active it is 140 mA
With the stock module at 100mW = 200mA
With the NRF24L01 100mW 140mA
With A7105 at 100mw 170 mA

I don't have the CC2500 active so I can't do any more test but I am building the DIY TX from rcgroups.com .
With that setup, I can do more testing. I will share you my finding when I have this one running.

belowtheradar wrote: 360mA results in approx. 1W or more power. This sounds way too much for me?! If this was common, somebody should have noticed before.
I can't remember reading anything about this current/heat issue over in the FrSky compatibility thread:
www.deviationtx.com/forum/protocol-devel...patibility?start=340

I have measured the CC2500 from BG CC2500 Module
It draws ~165mA at peak with outputpower 150mW , when a CC2500 Protocol is used, If a other Protocol is used it consume Zero!

Do you have access to a rf powermeter? I think, they screwed up the description and it should be -20dBm to +17dBm....,
.. the range is given with 800m at open area. So 50mW might be right.
Btw, the original module from Frsky ( DFT, DHT , DJT) is advertised with 60mW.

Edit:
And all this could make the difference to a 22+dBm capable module.

aMax wrote: Do you have access to rf powermeter? I think, they srewed up the description and it should be -20dBm to +17dBm....,
.. the range is given with 800m at open area. So 50mW might be right.
Btw, the original module from Frsky ( DFT, DHT , DJT) is advertised with 60mW.

Edit:
And all this could make the difference to a 22+dBm capable module.

No, I have no RF Powermeter. I mean I set it to 150mW Outputpower.
The Module get warm but not hot after a few minutes