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Devo7e work
- Xermalk
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quique65 wrote: Hello,
I've just installed Deviation on my 7E (last build posted by PB) and I've tested it with the Walkera SuperFP and Ladybird models. With both, after the binding, the TX and RX appear to constantly connect and disconnect. The led on the RX is blinking and impedes the flight. The same config on Devo10, with a build before the 7E code, works fine.
Please, can you ckeck it? Thank you.
Regards,
Enrique.
Check what Tx power your using, for me to reproduce that blinking i have to lower my tx power to below 10mw that is the standard devo 7E transmit power.
Edit, actually i just noticed it at 10 mw.
The 10 mW in Deviation is much lower then walkeras 10mW, as you go out of range within ~2m.
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- PhracturedBlue
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I'm seeing the same thing on mine. at '10mW' it can barely work over 5 ft. It is better at '100mW' but it does appear something is wrong with the power output. I'm not sure how it could be different than the other radios but I'll dig in some more
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- PhracturedBlue
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I'll investigate more
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- quique65
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- PhracturedBlue
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So it looks like the power needs to be set at 100mW or 150mW in Deviation in order to match the Devo7e's default range (which is probably actually only 10mW). I'm not set up to measure the actual output gain of the system, so the only way to verify for sure is to do a range test. It is still possible I'm missing something, but I've confirmed that the power-amp and transceiver do seem to be configured correctly.
You could probably short-out the diode to get full gain back, but it requires pulling the shield off which requires a really beefy soldering iron, and then some delicate soldering to short the pins
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- Xermalk
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PhracturedBlue wrote: Well, bad news I think. I removed the shield from the CYRF board, and took a look. There appears to be a diode between the transceiver chip and the power-amp on pin SWPA. I don't believe this diode is there on the other Devo modules. This results in the PASW having a voltage of 2.5V, whereas the threshold is documented as being 2.8V. The documentation is very slim, but it appears this may be a way of reducing the gain of the RDAT212. Additionally, I think the Devo7e runs the CYRF at max power all the time. This would correlate with having reduced gain on the power-amp.
So it looks like the power needs to be set at 100mW or 150mW in Deviation in order to match the Devo7e's default range (which is probably actually only 10mW). I'm not set up to measure the actual output gain of the system, so the only way to verify for sure is to do a range test. It is still possible I'm missing something, but I've confirmed that the power-amp and transceiver do seem to be configured correctly.
You could probably short-out the diode to get full gain back, but it requires pulling the shield off which requires a really beefy soldering iron, and then some delicate soldering to short the pins
Guessing a 50w 350c iron is out of the question. To bad for walkera now I'm forced to change tx when I go up to a 450/500 size. Will likly end up with a 9X.
Now I'm going to have to look into a antenna mod now as the range of the 7E just isn't enough to be comfortable with for a Master CP.
Iv almost lost my night kitted master 3 times now due to range limitation.
Wonder if the restricting diode is a result of deviation or its just the module manufacturer beeing a douche. Normally you would not hardware limit something if it means additional components.
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- SadSack
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Maybe easier to change than mod module...
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- Xermalk
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SadSack wrote: Would it be doable to swap module out for one used in 8s ?
Maybe easier to change than mod module...
If one is going that far one might as well just sell a 7e and get a devo 10. And get better stick, more buttons/switches and more power.
Though the size of the 7e makes it perfect for the sub 200 size helis.
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- PhracturedBlue
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I'll ask over at RCGroups, maybe someone there has experience with the RDAT212.
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- PhracturedBlue
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Yes it probably would be easier.SadSack wrote: Would it be doable to swap module out for one used in 8s ?
Maybe easier to change than mod module...
Butthe antenna is soldered onto the devo7e as opposed to using a standard plug. So you need to replace that too, and the 8S module doesn't come with the wire.
I'm still a bit confused. assuming they reduced the gain to ~10dBm, we still should get better than 5ft with the range set at '10mW' in deviation. It is still possible I'm missing something here.
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- Xermalk
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Btw while your poking around the insides, can you check what pins need soldering for the flysky module?
Ps could the 5 feet range be explained by a subpar antenna?
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- vlad_vy
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- PhracturedBlue
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That said, the only reason I think it is used to affect gain is:
(a) those words 'Tuning PA Gain' attached as a description to one resistor on a test circuit
(b) the spec for the SWPA says '>= 2.8V' and it is only seeing 2.54V
(c) SPI traces indicate that they do use max power settings on the CYRF chip all the time and it is believed that this is ~10mW
Nothing else in the document indicates you can control gain this way though, so I'm just guessing.
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- FDR
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- PhracturedBlue
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PA_BYPASS is enabled with SW_PA low and SW_TX high. but SW_PA and SW_TX are tied to the same pin. It may be that 2.5V isn't enough to trigger SW_PA but is enough fro SW_TX (they have different thresholds) which would give the behavior you describe without needing to assume SWTX somehow affects gain.
also, the SW_LNA an SW_RX are also tied together and do receive a full 3.3V
I didn't guess at this originally because if you are going to do that, why not just tie SW_PA low and directly drive SW_TX?
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- RandMental
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See below for the RF power perfomance of each Devo TX, this is obviously with the Devo software, limited to the requirements of the USA for this band/usage. (I don't know what that is). I post the links here, not the docs due to potential copyright violations outside the USA)
Interestingly the Dev08s has max 34mw output from the T212, and uses the antenna to "boost" the power to 80mW.
This might give you an idea of the designers' goal in limiting the 7e's power.
FCC RF Test reports for Devo TX range
Devo 7e
apps.fcc.gov/eas/GetApplicationAttachment.html?id=1759447
Devo8s
apps.fcc.gov/eas/GetApplicationAttachment.html?id=1630785
Devo10
apps.fcc.gov/eas/GetApplicationAttachment.html?id=1672921
Devo12
apps.fcc.gov/eas/GetApplicationAttachment.html?id=1502543
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- FDR
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They didn't want to change the PCB layout, so replaced the R1 with a diode to drop the voltage and so bypass the PA.
It's clearly a bad design, since there should be a pull up (or down) resistor after the diode...
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- FDR
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This way it is a HW 10mW version...
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- RandMental
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Devo 7e: MAX E Power 7.55dbm
Devo 10: MAX E Power 19.3dBm
Seems they purposely limited the power of the 7e.
Edit: Look at the Section 3.2 power measurement over frequency, with columns including the antenna gain. Clearly the Devo7e is aimed at the sub 10mW entry level market, thus the diode.
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- FDR
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