¶ Setup RFD868+ radio
¶ Requirements
- RFD868+ radio
- USB to serial adapter for RFD868+ radio
- Laptop with minicom or RFDDesign setup tool
¶ INFO
QGroundcontrol doesn't have permission to access the serial port, even if the user is part of 'dialout' group? Remove package brltty with: 'sudo apt remove brltty'. This is a ubuntu problem.
¶ Connect Radio
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- install a jumper between pin 4 and 6
- Connect the modem to the computer
- using the provided USB-Serial adapter
- OR: using the pin description above for your USB-Serial adapter
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¶ Configure
- Connect to the modem using a serial console on your computer
- Baudrate: 57600
sudo minicom -D /dev/ttyUSB0 -b 57600
- Get into configuration mode
- During startup press "+++"
- "OK" should appear to be able to change the configuration
- More info can be found in https://www.hs-augsburg.de/homes/beckmanf/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=searchwing-rf-antenne
- Check for firmware Version 1.91 (28-05-2022) with command "ATI". Firmware files and tools are found here: http://files.rfdesign.com.au/
- Change parameters
- The correct parameter setups are very important, see wiki
¶ RFD868+
¶ For EU setup
| Command | Hint |
|---|---|
| AT&F | factory reset parameters |
| ATS4=20 | (PLANE) set txpower to 20dbm/100mW |
| ATS4=30 | (GROUNDSTATION) set txpower to 30dbm/1000mW |
| ATS6=1 | set data protocol type to MAVLINK |
| ATS8=869400 | set min freq |
| ATS9=869650 | set max freq |
| ATS10=1 | set channel number to 1 |
| ATS11=10 | set duty cycle to 10 |
| ATS14=1 | enable use of RCS/CTS |
| AT&W | write current changes to EEPROM |
| ATZ | reboot |
| ATI5 | check if changed values are set |
Should look like this:
Welcome to minicom 2.8
OPTIONS: I18n
Port /dev/ttyUSB0, 18:18:18
Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys
OK
AT&F
OK
ATS4=20
OK
ATS6=1
OK
ATS14=1
OK
AT&W
OK
ATZ�OK
ATI5
S0:FORMAT=26
S1:SERIAL_SPEED=57
S2:AIR_SPEED=64
S3:NETID=25
S4:TXPOWER=20
S5:ECC=0
S6:MAVLINK=1
S7:OPPRESEND=0
S8:MIN_FREQ=868000
S9:MAX_FREQ=869000
S10:NUM_CHANNELS=10
S11:DUTY_CYCLE=100
S12:LBT_RSSI=0
S13:MANCHESTER=0
S14:RTSCTS=1
S15:MAX_WINDOW=131
S16:ENCRYPTION_LEVEL=0
¶ Offshore setup
| Command | Hint |
|---|---|
| AT&F | factory reset parameters |
| ATS4=20 | (PLANE) set txpower to 20dbm/100mW |
| ATS4=30 | (GROUNDSTATION) set txpower to 30dbm/1000mW |
| ATS6=1 | set data protocol type to MAVLINK |
| ATS8=865000 | set min freq |
| ATS9=870000 | set max freq |
| ATS10=10 | set channel number to 1 |
| ATS11=100 | set duty cycle to 10 |
| ATS14=1 | enable use of RCS/CTS |
| AT&W | write current changes to EEPROM |
| ATZ | reboot |
| ATI5 | check if changed values are set |
Welcome to minicom 2.8
OPTIONS: I18n
Compiled on Jan 9 2021, 12:42:45.
Port /dev/ttyUSB0, 17:06:08
Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys
OK
AT&F
OK
ATS4=20
OK
ATS6=1
OK
ATS8=865000
OK
ATS9=870000
OK
ATS10=10
OK
ATS11=100
OK
ATS14=1
OK
AT&W
OK
ATZOK
ATI5
S0:FORMAT=26
S1:SERIAL_SPEED=57
S2:AIR_SPEED=64
S3:NETID=25
S4:TXPOWER=20
S5:ECC=0
S6:MAVLINK=1
S7:OPPRESEND=0
S8:MIN_FREQ=865000
S9:MAX_FREQ=870000
S10:NUM_CHANNELS=10
S11:DUTY_CYCLE=100
S12:LBT_RSSI=0
S13:MANCHESTER=0
S14:RTSCTS=1
S15:MAX_WINDOW=131
S16:ENCRYPTION_LEVEL=0
¶ RFD868x
ATI5
S0:FORMAT=63
S1:SERIAL_SPEED=57
S2:AIR_SPEED=64
S3:NETID=25
S4:TXPOWER=20
S5:ECC=0
S6:MAVLINK=1
S7:OPPRESEND=0
S8:MIN_FREQ=865000
S9:MAX_FREQ=870000
S10:NUM_CHANNELS=8
S11:DUTY_CYCLE=100
S12:LBT_RSSI=0
S13:RTSCTS=1
S14:MAX_WINDOW=131
S15:ENCRYPTION_LEVEL=0
S16:GPI1_1R/CIN=0
S17:GPO1_1R/COUT=0
S18:GPO1_1SBUSIN=0
S19:GPO1_1SBUSOUT=0
S20:ANT_MODE=0
S21:GPO1_3STATLED=0
S22:GPO1_0TXEN485=0
S23:RATE/FREQBAND=0
S24:GPI1_2AUXIN=0
S25:GPO1_3AUXOUT=0
S26:AIR_FRAMELEN=120
S27:RSSI_IN_DBM=0
S28:FSFRAMELOSS=50
S29:AUXSER_SPEED=57
R0:TARGET_RSSI_dBm=0
R1:HYSTERESIS_RSSI_dBm=5
¶ Firmware update on Linux
Download the firmware:
wget https://files.rfdesign.com.au/Files/firmware/RFDSiK%20V1.91%20rfd900p.ihx
Download the `uploader.py` script from the open source SiK firmware:
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ArduPilot/SiK/master/Firmware/tools/uploader.py
Install pymavlink and pyserial:
pip install pymavlink pyserial
Flash/upload the firmware to a connected device:
python uploader.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 RFDSiK\ V1.91\ rfd900p.ihx