I’m trying to get my first quadcopter flying and have connected:
paired Turnigy 9x8C v2 receiver (battery powered) - PPM Encoder (powered by PX4) - PX4 (usb powered)
However, I don’t see any reaction in the apm planner on stick changes.
The turnigy 9x has been configured to send PPM. DC-voltage measurement on the receiver (9x8C v2) channels shows changes according to stick changes + led of receiver is steadily on.
The LED of the PPM Encoder is flashing rapidly (conveying the message that its inputs are not OK?).
Anyone an idea what I’m doing wrong?
The 3DR PPM Encoder documentation talks about “PWM inputs to PPM SUM output” but the turnigy 9X only has the option to select between PPM and PCM. Which of the two should be used? We use the same setup as in planner.ardupilot.com/wiki/commo … r-systems/ under “Using the 3DR 8 channel PPM sum encoder in a system”.
@lauwerin
If your receiver has the capability to output a PPM serial stream to the Pixhawk then you do not need a PPM encoder.
However, if your Turnigy 9x8C v2 receiver cannot output a PPM serial stream to the Pixhawk then you need to use the PPM encoder to convert the PWM output of the receiver servo channels to a PPM signal that the Pixhawk can use.
The output of the Turnigy transmitter should be whatever is required to communicate with the Turnigy 9x8C v2 receiver.
Regards,
TCIII GM
The Turnigy 9X8C v2 has for every channel a PPM output but no PPM Sum output. That’s why we try to use a PPM Encoder board. However something is not working since we see no response on the apm software. The question is: does the PPM Encoder work when you apply it with 8 parallel PPM inputs while the documentation indicates 8 parallel PWM inputs. Nevertheless we see on: planner.ardupilot.com/wiki/commo … r-systems/ our exact setup, so we expect it to be able to work. What do we do wrong?
@lauwerin,
The receiver servo outputs must be PWM (not PPM or PCM) to work with the PPM encoder. The PPM encoder takes the receiver servo output PWM signals and converts them to a serial PPM signal that can be used by the Pixhawk.
Regards,
TCIII GM
I’m new to all this, haven’t even got flying yet. I’m confused about the ppm encoder. How do I know if I need one? I’ve been setting up the electronics with an Arducopter and I was able to calibrate the ESCs, the motors respond. The transmitter is on ppm. Is there an encoder built in to the board or can the electronics work without the encoder? If so, why do you need a decoder?
I am facing the same problem as lauwerin. I don’t see any radio signals of my radio in the mission planner. And it’s somehow confusing, that you’re saying, that the 9x8cv2 doesn’t work with the ppm encoder but on the wiki page, ardupilot is exactly using that one for their setup.
So what is it now? Is it possible to use the 9x8cv2 or not?
and if not, what receiver is able to connect to the pixhawk and receiving signals from a Turnigy 9x Tx?
My setup is using the 3drobotics genuine ppm encoder and also the battery is hooked up to the system during radio calibration.
My concern is also that 3DR charge more than double the price for a “pixhawk ready” controller RX / TX that is exactly the same as the Turnigy but with different branding.
I am sure it is an honest oversight but it does leave a bad taste in the mouth especially as it takes 3DR over a week to ship direct and Hobbyking send from China in much less time.
If anyone actually figures out why a perfectly good PPM 2.4ghz system faila on MP or APM then please let me know. Hewre goes another 200 dollars ffs
Fixed it…
I also have a turnigy setup with the same problems everyone else has. The receiver doesn’t light up at all. Probably not enough power. Voltage into the encoder is approximately 4.5 volts. Voltage into the receiver is only about 1.0. Volts.
I made a mod to the harness and jumped the ground and power connector around the encoder board. I think the receiver draws more current than the encoder can supply.
