Did I order the correct module?

Hi all, about a 1 week experience of even hearing about the Devo 7E & Deviation... so learning as I go as I'm chomping at the bit to get going with it!

So, my Devo 7E arrived today, a day early! Now trying to stockpile everything else needed for flying at least the following:

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Cheerson CX-10
Hubsan X4 H107L

Syma X5C-1 : ordered but not yet delivered
JJRC JJ-1000 : ordered but not yet delivered

Lastly, Latrax Alias, but think I remember reading somewhere that I won't be able to use the Devo 7E with the Alias? The stock controller works fine so no biggie if the Devo won't work, but it would be nice...
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This is the module I ordered a few days ago from Hong Kong (before reading the module installation doc/PDF):

A7105-500m 2.4G Wireless Transceiver Antenna / nRF24L01 + CC2500/SI4432/CC2530
www.ebay.com/itm/261417337765

Quoted from that eBay page is the following description:

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Features:
1. A7105 RFIC
2. Distance at open area: 500 meters
3. ouput: 17dBm
4. current:120mA
5. receiving sensitivity: -102dBm@250Kbps
6. receiving current: 23mA
Note: each transceiver can receive and transmit, You need at least a pair of transceivers to work.

Package list:
1 * A7105 Wireless Transceiver
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...so after reading the following in the ModuleInstallation doc:

Be very careful when purchasing modules from aliexpress or ebay. The vendors love
to use search-optimized titles which will often list multiple chip names in the title
despite only supporting one of the listed chips.

A7105 Module

The A7105 module is necessary to support the Flysky protocol (also used by WLToys
V911, V9x9, and Xeida 9938) and the Hubsan X4 protocol.
It is possible to scavenge this module from a WLToys transmitter, or to purchase it
standalone.

Does this module include the A7105 component for the Hubsans or not? I'm not sure which model this module will support...

Are there cables available to plug in the modules or strictly solder? (I'm not great with soldering yet but do have a decent iron: Hakko FX888D)

Anything else I need to get/do while everything is apart? I'm not in a crazy hurry with this but am anxious to see what it will do!

EDIT: forgot to ask about the Devo 7E battery... instead of the AA batteries, what LiPo size/brand would you recommend?

Thanks for your patience and any direction,
Bob

This A7105-D03 will support Hubsan x4.........but not the quads you ordered.
For these you need a nRF24L01+ module..

IMO a LiPO is not a good option for a Devo but if you insist I think you should be good with just a 2S pack. I use eneloops in the stock carrier and I charge then in the radio with a 9v wall wart.

You will have to solder the modules in. There are some ready-made cables, but those still require soldering to the transmitter.

Personally, I use the HobbyKing LSD AA NiMD batteries in my Devo transmitters, so I can just charge them in place. These days, LiFePo4 packs are probably the best option for Tx packs, especially if you already have a charger.

Cereal_Killer wrote: IMO a LiPO is not a good option for a Devo but if you insist I think you should be good with just a 2S pack. I use eneloops in the stock carrier and I charge then in the radio with a 9v wall wart.

In my opinion the best way to go.
Easy to use( charging), long-lasting( 2400mAh), inexpensive and does not require excessive modding of the case.
Otherwise there is not much space for a lipo pack at the 7e......

aMax wrote: This A7105-D03 will support Hubsan x4.........but not the quads you ordered.
For these you need a nRF24L01+ module..

Ok, thanks... ordered this one last night from BG not wanting to wait for the slow boat:

Walkera WK-DEVO-S-MOD Upgrade Module DEVO 8 12 To DEVO 8S 12S
www.banggood.com/Walkera-WK-DEVO-S-MOD-U...L01115667338201407SA

Hope the pinouts are easy to figure. Got it based on a comment on that page that said:

Devo 7e range increased with this modul and SKU066860 + SKU130519 I was able to reach 1,5 km range.

Saw that someone gave him a thumbs down for that, I dunno... we'll see.

Also ordered the Pigtail Cable he mentioned, but they were out of the 5dB Module Antenna , gonna have to find that at Amazon or somewhere else?

mwm wrote: You will have to solder the modules in. There are some ready-made cables, but those still require soldering to the transmitter.

Personally, I use the HobbyKing LSD AA NiMD batteries in my Devo transmitters, so I can just charge them in place. These days, LiFePo4 packs are probably the best option for Tx packs, especially if you already have a charger.

Thanks for the LiFePo4 pack idea, might well just go that route, at least for now, nice n simple. Probably should have mentioned that I only have a 1S charger: Hitec X4 Micro AC/DC 1 Cell LiPo Charger... now...

EDIT: Ok, just checked on those LiFePo4... looks like my charger isn't up to that, plan B... looked at your first recommendation - HobbyKing LSD batteries ... I have this charger for my flashlight(s), looks like I ought to be good with these then right?

Antenna ... looks like the same one at HobbyKing that was mentioned before from BG? Ought to work just fine right?

Thanks again...

grnd flyr wrote: looked at your first recommendation - HobbyKing LSD batteries ... I have this charger for my flashlight(s), looks like I ought to be good with these then right?

Yup, those are what I use. That charger should work, but the point of using these (same kind of battery as the eneloops that CK uses, just cheap chinese versions) is that you can just plug an AC adapter into your Tx and they'll charge. IIIRC, anything between 6 and 12 volts will work on a 7E.

grnd flyr wrote: Antenna ... looks like the same one at HobbyKing that was mentioned before from BG? Ought to work just fine right?

You might need an adapter to get the polarity right. One version has a pin on the female connector, the other on the male.

grnd flyr wrote: Ok, thanks... ordered this one last night from BG not wanting to wait for the slow boat:
Walkera WK-DEVO-S-MOD Upgrade Module DEVO 8 12 To DEVO 8S 12S
www.banggood.com/Walkera-WK-DEVO-S-MOD-U...L01115667338201407SA
Hope the pinouts are easy to figure. Got it based on a comment on that page that said:

There's not really much point in using this module in a 7E. It's already got a CYRF module, but the range has been purposely cut down so it doesn't take sales away from their more expensive Tx's. That can be fixed with the "diode mod". This would also fix it, but it's not a drop-in replacement - it takes some work to put in. People do that since you can't get a replacement module meant for the 7E.

I don't believe you get any extra range with the module vs. the range.

mwm wrote: There's not really much point in using this module in a 7E. It's already got a CYRF module, but the range has been purposely cut down so it doesn't take sales away from their more expensive Tx's. That can be fixed with the "diode mod". This would also fix it, but it's not a drop-in replacement - it takes some work to put in. People do that since you can't get a replacement module meant for the 7E.

I don't believe you get any extra range with the module vs. the range.

Ok, thanks mwm, think I understand that you're warning me that there is no "better" range increase by using the WK-Devo-S-MOD Module vs the stock module that's in the 7E. Basically a safety net in not having to deal with/risk from soldering/bridging the tiny diode, my frame of reference:

WK-Devo-S-MOD Module for Devo 7e
www.hacksmods.com/2014/10/wk-devo-s-mod-module-for-devo7e/

The WK-Devo-S-MOD Module does include the CYRF module/component right? The pic at BG shows pins:



After doublesided tape mounting into place, is there a plug available that I could simply plug into the upgrade module? Seems it would be simpler to connect the other two modules into a plug that would connect to the upgrade module? Learning as I go...

The blog post is about using the Devo 6/8/10/12 CYRF module in a Devo 7E. The module is not designed for the 7E, but for the non-entry-level Tx's. Those have sockets, and the module just plugs in.

As far as I know, no one makes a cable for this, and there's no socket to plug into on the 7E. It's Walkera's entry-level Tx, and was designed to a price point. Makes it cheap, which is why it's so popular. Well, that and deviationTx making it easy to support mods.

I'm thinking you might have been happier with the 6S: it's basically a fully-upgraded 7E, so all you have to add are modules. I sold my 7E (lots of makers buying Tx's to use with drones, even where I am) and bought a 6S, and the only time I've regretted it was briefly after the 3x2 switch mod was announced.

You may well be right on the 6S, but for now... was looking for an inexpensive entry level controller that was better than what came with the quads. Like(d) that it is tweakable and supported by the community. Think I'm still at less than a month into flying, but having a hoot with it.

Before I progress much further controller-wise, there's a knee mill in my garage that needs to be reassembled when the painting is done. A bit ahead of myself in my thinking maybe, but making a nice fast FPV quad where I would need a nicer controller is my loose game plan...