Px4 FrSky Telemetry Setup with Pixhawk2 and X8R Receiver

robwaat · April 12, 2018, 4:39pm

Hi,

I’m trying to set up a FrSky telemetry link using the DIY method with the MAX3232 chip breakout board from eBay as per the instructions in the GitHub page linked to by the FrSky Telemetry Docs.

I’ve soldered together the cable as shown in the photos and circuit diagram below and connected it between my receiver’s S.Port and my flight controller’s telem2 port, set the SYS_COMPANION parameter to ‘Frsky Telemetry’ in QGroundControl and used my transmitter to search for sensors but I can only find the RSSI and RxBt sensors from within the receiver itself. All the sensor feeds from within the Pixhawk seem to be missing.

Really, I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if I’ve missed something like a parameter that should be set or made any other obvious errors that would make everything work as intended?

Thanks,
Robert.

Setup details:
Flight Controller: Pixhawk 2 “Cube”
Firmware: PX4 v1.7.3 stable release
Transmitter: Taranis Q X7S
Transmitter Firmware: OpenTX v2.2.0
Receiver: Frsky X8R
Ground Control Software: QGroundControl v3.3.1

Circuit Diagram:

Photo of Components:

(Note that I’ve purposely omitted the Vcc cable on the receiver side after reading the GitHub thread related to setting this up on a Pixracer. I’ve checked with a multi-meter and the two V+ pins are electrically connected so this shouldn’t be a problem, power being supplied to the chip from the pixhawk end and to the receiver by its connection to the RCIN port on the Pixhawk.)

bkueng · April 16, 2018, 7:32am

Hi
You can test with frsky_telemetry status to see if the Pixhawk detects the SPORT.
I think you need additional logic, as shown here: http://ardupilot.org/copter/_images/Telemetry_FrSky_Pixhawk-SPORT.jpg (the SPC cable). I’m not quite sure what it does though.

robwaat · April 18, 2018, 7:03am

Thanks for the reply.

I think the SPC cable is basically just a diode and connection between the RS232 side Tx and Rx pins, so this should be similar to what I did.

I also found a link to something similar someone had made in the last few days to work with ardupilot, and I see the px4 devs are talking about improving the documentation so I’ll keep trying and post back here if I figure out what I was doing wrong.

Much appreciated on the tip for checking status with the frsky_telemetry command, though!

bkueng · April 18, 2018, 6:09pm

I see. Yes, let me know how it goes, so we can improve the docs.
Good luck!

Rumikcopter · April 18, 2018, 10:06pm

Should you not also set SERIAL2_PROTOCOL to 10 for passthrough?

Mike

bkueng · April 20, 2018, 7:51am

@Rumikcopter SERIAL2_PROTOCOL is not a PX4 parameter. Are you using APM?

Rumikcopter · April 21, 2018, 10:29pm

Sorry, I’m more familiar with APM hence my uncertainty in my earlier post.
Mike

FaboNo · November 9, 2018, 2:17pm

@robwaat I am trying to connect an X8R to a pixHawk2.1 (cube) like you. I am a bit puzzled because I saw different wirngs on the net. I tried first to connect SBUS to RCin but it does not work and I cannot find out why? Do you have an explanation on your side? Does it mean that the only way is to connect SPort to a Serial (Telem 1 or 2)?
Regards

KJBB · November 9, 2018, 4:10pm

Just throwing in a thought. Are you connecting to the Smart Port? When you say S port is that the SBus? I use a Pixracer and RCin comes from the SBus on an X8R without issues. Amazing - everything in on one wire!
I am curently struggling with the FrSKY special port on the Pixracer under QGC -have been for some long time. The FrSKY port, I read should have Tx and Rx wired together and then taken to the Smart Port (half duplex comms)

I do not see any FRSKY parameter or even SERIAL parameter in my bang up to date firmware!!
Any mising parameters has to be a “fault” of the firmware I am sure. I’m even buying another Pixracer just to see if I updated and overwrote parameters on first use (on TWO Pixracers!) So be aware that the firmware may be a work in progress at any time.

Christopher_Milner · November 10, 2018, 10:33pm

I don’t see any FRSKY parameters in my firmware 1.8.1 in QGroundControl either. Did you figure this out??

KJBB · November 10, 2018, 11:35pm

I’m waiting for another Pixracer in the next couple of weeks. I found one at a good price, even though I don’t really need one! That shows how frustrated I have been.
This way I get to check BEFORE updating any firmware whether I see an FrSky parameter. If not, I can complain to the vendor. But if it’s OK, then I’m on a different path: check what firmware is present and see if I can load this into my curernt Pixracers, if I can locate it.
Will post an outcome when it arrives.This is a add in (butt-in?) to your discussion. I have a discussion running under the title “Pixracer Has No FRSKY or SERIAL Parameter Listed in QGC”

robwaat · November 12, 2018, 10:01am

To be honest I never actually figured this out.

I managed to hook up a companion computer running mavros and have it report the telemetry to QGC via wifi, so the need for the controller feed just wasn’t there.

That said, shortly afterwards, I did find a post on a facebook group that seemed to have some success (see attached images). I never tried it myself, however.

Hope that’s of some use.

Christopher_Milner · November 12, 2018, 5:53pm

I am pretty sure that these parameters (which are in the online documentation) are not available in 1.8.0 or 1.8.1 Firmware. I believe they were a post-1.8 change. Perhaps they will be included in 1.9. So I doubt you will see them even if you purchase another flight controller.

Naruto · December 12, 2018, 1:50pm

I have similar problem. I wanted to make this type cable by myself. bought all kinds of RS232 to TTL module using SP3232EEN or MAX3232 chip. they both do not work. we have test it by a oscilloscope, the wave is not correct. I think it should be easy. at last I give up and bought a cable from below link.
it works fine.

dposea · January 20, 2019, 2:25pm

The max232 does work. But it must be wired correctly with all connections on the top side of the board. I found out the hard way that the connection on the bottom are different, even though they look like an ESC where you can solfer power either way.

Sal_Calderon · March 26, 2019, 4:18am

If you want to use Frsky telemetry and yaapu script in px4 you must use mavlink to passthru and teensy 3.2.

rollys · March 30, 2019, 1:14pm

The Yaapu LUA for PX4 stack is now available in beta. You have to use a Teensy as @Sal_Calderon mentions. I have it working a the X9D+ and Q X7 and so far so good. Sample graphics below.

Good luck.

sq-meng · April 23, 2019, 5:01am

You saved my day mate, no way I could have realized this by myself. I soldered stuff on bottom first and it didn’t work, after reading your comment and reworking, boom telemetry.

I also put two 1N4007 diodes on the +5V wire to MAX3232 board to drop the voltage a little, as I remember reading somewhere else that feeding it with 5V somehow fries the chip over time. I don’t know if it makes sense but it doesn’t seem to do harm anyway.

I don’t know if the ground is isolated in the MAX3232 chip between both sides, if not, there is a ground loop (FC - MAX3232 - RX - FC). I’d just keep the ground wires and keep wires close to each other for now.

dposea · May 12, 2019, 10:31pm

Somebody had to tell me too. Even reading the docs for the board I would still swear the bottom is the same,