Finding lost RC planes using telemetry
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- If you've ever lost an RC plane then you may be interested in just how you can use one of the telemetry-equipped RC systems (such as the FrSky) to track down a missing model.
Sorry about the bad lighting in parts of this video -- the low winter sun makes it difficult, however, I hope you can see just how directional the stock whip antenna can be and how you can use the "null point" to locate the direction in which your model may be located.
If you've ever wondered whether you might need telemetry, perhaps this video will convince you.
Providing there's enough interest, I'll show you how to wire up the FrSky telemetry dashboard to work as a stand-alone model-finder for any model which has a matching FrSky receiver onboard. And remember, this trick will work with 72MHz and 433MHz RC systems, so long as you've put a cheap FrSky Telemetry receiver onboard as well.
Even if your model goes down many miles from the launch point, using a higher-gain antenna (such as the FrSky patch or a $20 yagi) may allow you to find it even from a great distance.
Hi Bruce I wanted to say thanks for taking the time to post these videos. I appreciate that you sometimes take a while to do your part twos but the quantity and quality of content you put out is awesome and always worth the wait! I would love to see a video on how to trim a clouds fly floater after it is assembled. I know this is basic stuff but I think a lot of beginners would appreciate it. Looking forward to you getting airborne again. You are a great ambassador for the hobby and NZ!
The simplest ideas are often the best, thanks for the tip Bruce.
Way to use your down time Bruce! A little gem of info. Can't count you out. Thanks again for not giving up, your tenacity and love of the hobby is a breath of fresh air!
Ah, there's no better a person than the one who is able to humble himself! I too apologize for judging you out of one statement you wrote. Im just saying that we should really be thankful to Bruce for OPENING all of these stuff for us. Certainly no one on this earth could deliver all promises made.
I certainly would not want Bruce to REDUCE the promises he makes. Why? Because we won't know what's need to be done. If he can't do it then I probably think somebody will out there might try it.
The best way for this way to move forward is to have people with mindsets that CONTRIBUTE and not just wait for spoon-fed info. And we certainly don't want knowledge-openers like Bruce to get discouraged of work. If you are hungry for more then don't wait. Contribute to the BOK (buddy of K :).
Watching in 2020, Bruce’s no bullshit videos are entertaining to watch even though stuff used in video is obsolete. Peace
Bruce:
This really worked with my Taranis in an 80 acre snake infested field today. I lost my MXP230. The Naze bord just filpped out for some reason and my view from my goggles looked like a knitting ball so I had no idea where it was. I drove my truck out there where I though it was and used the RSSI value to home in. Brush was chest high so finding it was sort of doubtful but it really worked. It took me to within a few feet. HooRah!
I totally agree with Bruce. I used this trick frsky to recover my scratch build when I lost it in my town where high rise build are. It landed up at the roof of a 6 floor building. Though I spend 3hrs walking around the estate.
Translation: Smart buggar = frightfully clever chap!
Now you had me loving much more my Taranis/telemetry system....
Hi Bruce, I lost my Alien 5" in the middle of 150 acres and having lost video signal for a few seconds I had no idea where... I had no signal on either my radio or my goggles so I went all over the property looking for signal. At the last moment, after an hour of looking I picked up a weak signal on my radio. Now I don't have any telemetry or anything so it was back to first principles. I thought I would try to use the dead spot on my video goggles to identify the line on which the model was. This seemed to give a pretty clear direction. Then I moved to another point and triangulated. It was not particularly accurate but after another 15 minutes I had narrowed it down to about a 150ft diameter circle. By continuous triangulation always looking for the poorest video picture I narrowed it down further. It pointed to a point 100ft vertically up a 1 in 3 slope... After a climb, I blipped the throttle and found my Alien almost at my feet under the gorse... I hope this is helpful to you and other disappointed FPV fliers. This of course relies on the battery staying in! But it just requires your normal video transmitter and receiver.
Funny thing, a friend and I used a similar idea to find a lost quad 2 days ago.
Using the frsky built in system and shielding the antenna with his body it beeped more (weaker signal) when it was well shielded which meant the model was behind him.
Naza RTH fail caused it to go land somewhere else. In amongst a big stand of trees about 2.5 km away in fact. It ended up with broken arms but props were intact so we figure it "landed" in the top of the trees and the naza shut it down. Then it fell.
I just did a test with my Qanum battery telemetry unit and it works too - even though it doesn't have the signal resolution of the FrySky.
Taking the antenna off the receiver (in my hand) allows me to home in after establishing the direction by pointing the antenna at the Tx on the model.
I fly with this system connected all the time so in the unfortunate event of crashing an expensive heli out of site or in the bush somewhere - at least I'll have some hope of finding it.
Thanks Bruce.. again!
Used that exact method to track down my crashed quad on a mountainside. Works great.
Good stuff. I've used this successfully to track down my downed fpv bonsai.
@RCModelReviews
G'day Bruce... Well done. Good clip..! As Sherlock would've said, "Elementical, m'deah What's on ; it may be tracked...!"
Um, I dunno if it's up your alley (?), but top o' my Scroll, atm, is "Renewable Powered Ultralight Rocket-Glider...". I dug out an Article from June 2001's Pacific Flyer, as a follow-up to the Review of Solar & Human- Powered Flight, the past 35 yrs.
Ciao !
Hi Bruce, I had the misfortune to loose an electric model Fournier a few weeks back ( elevator servo failure!) and found the model some 2 miles away using the RSSI on my Taranis Plus, walk towards it signal increased, to either side signal decreased simple ! in practise not quite that simple but found Fournier with Taranis and your help, Thanks Bruce.
I've used a similar technique (tracking with RSSI) with my old flysky transmitter many times(up to 1/2 mile or so away). What I did was to follow the RSSI until the signal was getting very strong and then turn on the "beeper" in the model.(trying to conserve battery power). I could always find it even in tall weeds with this method. If you're out of transmitter range(no rssi on screen) just drive or walk in the general direction until you get an rssi reading again. Another helpful idea is to put bright flashing leds on the craft, then look for it after dark.
What a fantastic idea!
I have also used the video goggles to track down my Hexacopter which crashed and still had the video transmitting....
I walked (ran... I was concerned :-) toward where I thought the vehicle crashed and saw through the Fat Shark video goggles that I was still receiving a video signal...
so I took off the antenna to narrow down the search and Behold I found the Hexacopter.....
I had accidentally crashed when a motor quit and as it was spiraling down I was confused as the video was fading so I turned off the transmitter (incorrectly) and hoped the Naza failsafe would send my Hex back to me....
What really happened was that my failsafe had not been reset since trading out Spektrum receivers and the poor thing crashed through the trees......
I just broke an arm to the motor and lost a battery...
Love your videos!
Would it work if your plane goes down behind a building or a hill? I use the TK 102-2GPS Tracker (demo on my youtube home page). It is also a compact design and self-contained with it's own battery. If my plane goes down, I just call the Tracker with my cell phone, and I instantly get GPS coordinates within 5 meters. Don't need a GPS device, just use a smartphone and Google Earth does the rest to give me a bird's eye view of exactly where it's at, be it behind a hill or mountain for that matter.
Is it easy to make a low voltage cut off circuit for the attached lipo because if I use it, I'm bound to forget to disconnect it after landing.
Will your set up work when the lost plane is in the woods? What do I need to buy and how do I hook it up. I am flying with Dx8 tx and AR631 rx. Thank you. Great videos!
I actually did the same thing two weeks ago to find my little flying wing which crashed in the middle of a wheat field after a dive (the lunch was ready and my mother gone mad xD)
Usually i try to hear the propeller noise but this time it was broken, so I did this exact thing and I found it in a minute! It works really well even at few meters!
A few years ago, it happened to me the same thing, but I was flying with 72MHz, and I found the plane only after the wheat has been cutted!
Great info., How do you use a yagi to help find the RSSI? Does the Yagi simply attach to the FrSky dashboard, sorry new to this fpv tech..
I have lost mine on a wind turbine :) its there for weeks now. never thought it was on top of it, was searching the ground for days until I flew over it with a second quadcopter and analysed the footage...
I would really like to see the detail of the telemetry receiver arrangement you used. You just skimmed over it without pulling it apart and show how the parts including the antenna go together
Hi Bruce- could you not get better accuracy using the Frsky 2.4Ghz patch antenna for more directional accuracy- so when pointing the patch at the frsky RX/lost model the signal maximizes (rather than minimizes) but would it not be more accurate than using a whip antenna? Thanks for your great videos- would be interested in seeing how to do this without involving the whole TX..
My son lost his FPV X5 by flying too far downwind. We searched for ages over a wide area until we spoke to a man at a nearby farmhouse who said he heard a bang while sitting inside. We got the ladder out and found it on his carport roof. It was a long way from the position it was in when video was lost due to the strong wind.
Didn't I read about this idea on your own RC Model Reviews forums about a year ago?
Yes I did under the heading :
RSSI as lost plane finder
Cmon Bruce!! Wonna see some reviews!! Orange LRS? Cheap OSD?
Bruce please do a DIY video for this. Excellent idea!!
A beeper or sound based location module is much cheaper and I think works much better. With in a couple kilometers or less that is...
Ooo! That's a very interesting piece of info. Even though I've just started flying, I'm completely getting into gliding, and have been wondering about models getting away in a thermal or something like that. So this is the perfect solution. :¬)
Hi Bruce, That is a great idea for model recovery!! My friend lost an electric glider on Saturday and it was with great difficulty and many hours searching plus a phone call from a farmer FAAAR away that he got it back today!!! Your unit would have helped greatly, please show us, thanks !!
Hi Bruce , Could you use this with the aid of a compass and a map and get two direction lines ,then cross piont this on the map too get an approx position, what range
could you expect to find aplane with that yagi, as this may help to drive your car to a near by piont before you start looking
alwaying for yr next vidio
Geoff
I have an IX12 can I set it up to do that?
Great information I was wondering about this subject myself 😃
Did you ever do a video on how to set up just a dashboard to determine location of receiver? Also would it work to use just a simple combo of the YAGi antenna to find it?
what do you set your rssi alarm for?... i have mine set to 45 and 43. alot of people colud use the info. thanks
did I miss something? I thought the Quanum 2.4ghz remote battery monitor did the same thing? a very small TX for the model, runs off and monitors main battery voltage, at other end, with a clip-on self-powered RX with LCD shows the battery volts on all cells remotely. Could this not do the same job?
Steve
That sounds cool and thanks for the link of details and code
is the "FrSky" a "Flysky" are they the same thing? the taranis is a Frsky. their is a difference in the name. are they made by the same company? are they compatible?
Hey Bruce, Would it be possible to post a link to the small two-way telemetry Rx and cheaper LCD from FrSky that will work in this application. Thx.
great stuff Bruce, this has come in very handy for me a couple of times!! Just wondering if you have managed to upgrade the firmware on the frsky DHT-u module? im still having trouble with the gnd, tx, and rx pins on the side.
anyway mate, glad you are still pushing out some videos - hopefully you got the donation i sent ya a couple of weeks back!!
See the rssi as lost model finder debate in the RCmodelreviews forums last year for more information
hi bruce on your review channel could you post links to the webs sites you buy stuff from for people like me who are trying to get started ps enjoying your channel ive learnt alot and now ready to start cheers
What a useful bloke you've turned out to be sir!
Do you know anything about wiring the X4R and Tarannis to a BeastX using Sbus?
I can't find a diagram anywhere of that setup.
What a good idea! This is great!
Trying to track down a smaller model in higher grass/brush/etc. Remember you can set your radio to low power for range test mode and get even closer.
Hey Bruce, I know this is an old video, but when you introduce us to a new product it would be good to tell us what it's called, or even put a link in the description so we know where to get it. thanks and by for now mike
Could you please hide it and get barry to try to find it for a proper test if a layman could use it?
how come that the signal is lower when pointing direct at the model? As when you had the receiver and the transmitter very close (in the beginning of the video) the signal was very high value around 100db.. can't seem to get it
+Johnny TSC Because the tip of the antenna is least sensitive point (smaller receiving surface) so with the lowest signal on the screen it has to point at the model. If you turn the receiver a bigger part of the antenna receives the signal and thus a bigger signal on the screen. If you are closer to the model the signal must be stronger (so not as accurate) but you will know roughly where it must be.
Thanks.. I know now the lower the number the better the signal :) thanks anyway much appreciated!
very good idea thanks, and keep up the good work with the videos
Great channel and great reviews. But please finish your other projects before this new one :-)
What is the FPV Underground. Thanks for this insight thumbsup.
If you do not know whether the model is in front or behind then walk from the first line to the left or to the right and find a new line. A place where they intersect is the right place.
I have tried this tracker and that tracker but RSSI helped me find my drone many times. This idea came to me through this video. Thanks.! My version i keep the antenna folded and I sweep for the strongest signal. Turning 180 degrees weakens the signal because it can't go through me very well. In fact I just used it Today to find one lost in a wooded area which sported a new camera that I didn't want to loose of course. When I was close I activated the beeper. What ideas do you have for thorn bushes Haha. Just saying thanks!!!
I did this before, lost the plane in looong thick grass and using my modded T9X I walked straight to the model
Great idea, but for me the problem is that this is V2, buti have the old V1.1. I know there is a firmware update available but the feedbacks r mostly negative, people having trouble making it operative. Thak You for the idea .
could of done with this yesterday when my quad came down i a huge corn field. What a nightmare took hours of crawling on my hands and knees through 8 foot corn. i gave up in the end and starting walking back to the car and what a stroke of luck, I found it. Never fly over a corn field !!!
I used my patch Goggle antennas, but that 's not as accurate. Will need to upgrade my receivers
I successfully found my plane and copter by pointing 5.8 GHz video rx cloverleaf antenna holding it near my chest to make it soft of directional. Now I also have directional helical antenna, it might be useful.
But video range is limited, so I had to know roughly where I had crashed. Also battery of video tx will be drained in some time.
King of crash now the wings a bedded in the underground. Next video could be on taxi to and frow.
grea idea. But one critique if i may. When making videos please hold the subject in this case the Tx, stable and move it sloowly. when you make a video you can discern whats happening but a thrid party just sees a bouncing video.
i used the rssi from my 5.8 video transmitter to find my tricopter ; )
Yes, do a DYI without the Tx.
nice
you can see as Bruce wave's it around there are 2 ant's 90 degrees apart...
the 100mw tx and yagi??
Maybe if you have an old iPhone you could stick it inside the plane and use the Find my iPhone app to locate your plane. Ok, maybe not :)
could have tilted the antenna :)
one thing you dont see, is i have given Bruce respect for over a year.
and what do you know if i have payed him or not...
its only one thing you are right about me MrLimitlessME, and that is i should have kept my thoughts for myself...
I come with critic to Bruce..You start a war with me?? and on top of that you call me stupid..hahaha, sorry world !
This is every hobbyist's nightmare.
Get one of hk new durafly retro planes
I could use this to find my Car Keys!
I Love your Video's, and I think that you are a Very Delightfull Man. I love to hear your Opinions and You are as much as I know you are a 99.9% Hunest :) Oh well Ok 100% :). I am a Iranian Programmer and i love to help others who can help me :) If you one day would want your own RCMODELSREVIEW HOMESITE (Special, with many new things ) Just give me a Nick( isnt that how they say in us), and I promess to build you one, as long as you promess you will be your self....:)anyways, Love ur Video's
I am sorry for what i wrote. i take it all back!
I know im the fool. Sorry.
I lost a Quad flyimg fpv, I found it by the video link 2 hr later ....
This guy is a crank, posts for clicks. Little to no value.