RangeLink Manual –v1.4
RangeLink UHF Long Range R/C Control System Thank you for purchasing the RangeLink Long Range System. In order to achieve full potential and safe operation of this product, please carefully read this manual prior to use.
Warnings: 1. Make sure that you can use this system legally. RangeLink Transmitter in the UHF ISM band, in most countries; You can use it legally if you have HAM license. 2. Although this system can give you around 10km-40km range with proper installation and usage, we strongly recommend th a t you fly in at safe range and altitude that you are comfortable with. 3. In order to get the best experience with this system, some knowledge about basic electronics and RF are required.
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
RL RangeLink is system specially designed for FPV and UAV use, RL operates on the ISM band 431Mhz-435Mhz. RL features robust FHSS policy, making it hard to be interfered, you can even operate 60W 433Mhz radio side by side with the rangelink system. Normally you can achieve ranges that are 4-20 times of the normal pcm/ppm RC radio, so you don’t need to worry about your rc link.
We know what real FPV/UAV flier needs: Receiver's signal strength pins that can be connected to your osd for inflight signal indications. 1: RSSI function New firmware tx v1.27/rx v1.24, rf rssi or link quality indicator selectable. 2: PPM output For some OSDs with PPM input function, the receiver can output all channels with cable, minimizing your wiring. 3: Power switch The power switch that can be switched during your flight in second, can make your flight much safer. With the power switch, you can switch to high power mode immediately when you get into failsafe, which means that you can fly without any return to home systems, and when you get into failsafe, you can just pull the switch and control of the plane will be back immediately; What's more, the RangeLink has micro-power mode built in, so you can do the pre-flight range test easily. You also will not need small and easily easily lost dummy load. 4: 12 channels pwm singal output As FPV/UAV flier, You will never think your radio has enough channels for your different usage. 5: Strongly filtered Fully tested with different frequency bands of video transmitters, Rangelink also has better power design for both the Tx and Rx module. 6: High sensitivity -115dBm, the highest in the market, this means that our 500mw RangeLink system can give the same or even more range than the other 1w and 2w UHF systems (yes, this is the truth. We have done the tests many times). So you will need less power for more range. 7: Compatibility RangeLink will work with any 4-12 channel radio in the market, no matter if the PPM signal is positive or negative.
Include some futaba radio 12ch mode like12FG/12Z/14MZ,but only works at teach mode the center ppm pulse duration 1.5ms New firmware tx v1.27/ rx v1.24 New tx units has level buffer,so it will work all type radio,will works fine with all JR radios.
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
Features/Specification 1. Robust FHSS Link 2. UHF ISM Band 433MHZ(431-435MHZ). 3. Two ways RF power switch Low power(200mW)/High power(500mW). 4. Headertracker input, adding head-tracker compatibility to most radios. 5. PPM input, ensures compatibility with 3.3v thru 12.0v PPM levels.(New units support all level type ppm signal) 6. Single pushbutton enters range test mode or failsafe settings mode. 7. Flexible binding functions, supports multimaster mode. 8. TTL UART for firmware upgrades. 9. RangeLink Transmitter Built-in LPF(900-1300MHZ rejection Loss over 45dB,2.4GHZ band rejection Loss over 40dB). 10.RangeLink Receiver Built-in SAW band pass filter. 11.Failsafe can be turned off, very useful for MK Failsafe detector. 12.RangeLink Transmitter 7-13 VDC, 80×64×24mm 125g a) High power mode
500mW
12V@180mA
b) Low power mode
200mW
12V@120mA
1mW
12V@50mA
c) Micro power mode
13.RangeLink Receiver 4.8-6 VDC (Recommends 5V), 40×26×12mm, 18g a) 12CH PWM Output b) RSSI Buffered 0-3.2V c) PPM Signal Output d) Sensitivity: -115dBm
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
Appearance
Antenna LED Mode Two Ways Switch
433MHZ Whip Antenna. Status indicator. Push button failsafe settings, enter binding mode etc. RF Power Out selector 200mW/500mW.
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
TTL232 Port GND Signal Ground. TXD Transmit Data RXD Receive Data. HT Port TPPM PPM V+ GND
Header tracker signal input (LEVEL 3.3v-12v). R/C Radio PPM Signal output.(Internal directly connect to R/C port PPM pin) Power source for header tracker. (Internal directly connect to R/C port V+ pin) Power/Signal Ground.
R/C Port GND PPM V+ GND
Power/Signal Ground R/C Radio PPM Signal Input.(LEVEL 3.3v-12v) Power for RangeLink Transmitter Module.(Range 7v-13v) Power/Signal Ground
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
R/C Port Cable
HT Port Cable
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
RangeLink Receiver LED Status indicator. SG,TX,RX TTL UR. PPM PPM Signal Out. RSSI RSSI Signal Out. 01-12Pin 12Channels PWM Servo Signal Out.
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
RangeLink Receiver (RX)
RangeLink Complete Set.
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
Installation Basically, any 4-12 channel radio can work with this system; you just need to find the PPM signal from the radio. You can get the PPM signal from the trainer ports for Futaba Non-JR series Radios. Since the trainer port of JR radios only output 4-channel PPM signa(New Some JR radios ppm out configurable, can be out all channel.)l, so we need to find the PPM output from other places, normally we can get the PPM signal from the pins of the RF connector. You can get all the definitions of the trainer port for most of the popular radios here: http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX/tx2tx/english/tx2txgb3.htm . For the radios, that have removable RF modules, you can get the PPM signal from the pin of the RF connector. As bellow JR9X2 (Imax 9x, Turnigy 9x)
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
Futaba 9C, 10C(TDF8, TDF9) WARNING when your radio is Futaba, you should connect 10k resistor between the +v and PPM signal if want to get the PPM signal from there, the trainer port is not needed. (New TX Units no need solder the resister between v+ and ppm, it already include
pull up resister internal
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
How to use First make sure that your radio is set to PPM mode. Before binding ,you should confirm that the PPM signal from the Radio is correct. Power up the RangeLink Transmitter, then first beep ends if Rangelink Transmitter LED is blinking rapidly then the PPM signal is good. If LED is solid on, or off, it shows that the PPM signal has an issue.
1. Binding Normal when the Rangelink Transmitter is on power-off mode, and the two ways switch is on the low-power place, press the MODE button and power on the RangeLink Transmitter, after first beep, release the MODE button. The LED will flash every second, which shows the RangeLink Transmitter has entered the binding mode. Put RangeLink Receiver Close to RangeLink Transmitter then power on the RangeLink Receiver(with antenna),the LED of the Rx will be light up solid, which shows the binding has been completed.Turn the Tx and Rx power off. Power both on again and you are good to go! Advanced when the Ranglink Transmitter is on power-off mode, and the two ways switch is on the low-power place, press the MODE button and power on the RangeLink Transmitter, after second beep(---Power up--first beep---10-20secs later--second beep--), release the MODE button. The LED will flash every second, which shows the RangeLink Transmitter has entered the binding mode. Put RangeLink Receiver Close to RangeLink Transmitter then power on the RangeLink Receiver(with antenna),the LED of the Rx will be light up solid, which shows the binding has been completed. Note: 1. Advanced binding will assign new ID and recal OSC. so if you make RL enter Advance binding u should bind all other Receiver(rx). Recommend that when you use your RangeLink LRS for the first time, Please use advanced binding!!! 2. Advanced binding,With new firmware (TX V1.27/RX V1.24),the between first beep and the second beep, the two ways switch definition rssi pin out: Swith to High power mode = rssi pin out link quality indicator; otherwise rssi pin show rf rssi.
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
2. Failsafe setting When the RL Transmitter and RL Receiver module are working(TX LED,RX LED both blinking rapidly), press and hold the MODE button for about 3-5 seconds until the LED is off, when TX LED back blinking, RX LED will flash slow 3times it shows the Rx will remember the positions of all the channels of the radios. BTW:binding will cancel(reset) Failsafe signal out.(Works like FM rx)... this feature use for MK failsafe detector (with new MK firmware);
3. Micro power mode When the RL Transmitter module is on power-off mode, and the 2-postion switch is on the high-power place, press the Mode button and power on the RL Transmitter module, release the Mode button. You will hear the built in buzzer in RL Transmitter module every seconds, which means the RL Transmitter module has entered the micro mode. “How to get your units reference range” Make your tx unit enter micro power mode;the rx unit connect it to Battery(4.8v) and Single Servo ONLY, and do ground range testing, and then the result is your units reference range. For instance you got 5m and then enter failsafe mode., that 5m is your units reference range. This mode is an idea for debugging your FPV plane install, bad install it will reduce the reference range. Like the Noisy Gopro too close to the rx unit etc.
4. Header tracker if your headertracker works fine with futaba radio, it will also work fine with RangeLink, Just like X1000,SkyEye GeoMag etc. Channel Map:
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
RC Radio
(Pan and Tilt
Total
4ch
(5-6ch)
6ch
5ch
(6-7ch)
7ch
6ch
(7-8ch)
8ch
7ch
(7-8ch)
8ch
8ch
(7-8ch)
8ch
9ch
(8-9ch)
9ch
10ch
(9-10ch)
10ch
11ch
(10-11ch)
11ch
12ch
(11-12ch)
12ch
Port define: ----------HT------------TPPM
(=R/C PPM)radio ppm signal out for headertracker ,some headertracker need it for sync, some no need ,like X1000
V+
------> (=R/C V+ )for headertracker power supply
GND
-------> (=R/C GND)headertracker ground
5. Multimaster Mode how to configure your rangelink Transmitter for multimaster mode: Master 1,(RangeLink Transmitter)
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
Master 2,(RangeLink Transmitter) Slave 1,(RangeLink Receiver) The following steps will guide you on the steps required for setting up multimaster mode. When you want Master 1 and 2 to enter multimaster mode, and control Slave 1: 1.
Power up Master 1 and Make Master 1 enter advance binding mode.
2.
Power up Master 2.
3.
connect the ttl232 port as follow: Master 1 (advance binding mode)
Master 2
TXD -----------------------------------------------> RXD RXD -----------------------------------------------> TXD GND -----------------------------------------------> GND 4.
Then you will hear a beep on Master 2,it will mean that the multimaster setting complete.
5.
Turn off Master 2, and binding your Slave 1 with Master 1;
6.
Try Master 1, Master 2, Power up will beep 3 times, check if they are working in multimaster mode;
Note: To cancel the multimaster mode , just make Transmitter enter advance binding mode. Warning: R/C Radio all channels func must match together: master 1- radio: CH1= ELEV ,CH2 = AILE, CH3 = THRO ,CH4 = RUDD... master 2- radio: CH1= ELEV ,CH2 = AILE, CH3 = THRO ,CH4 = RUDD...
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
It is recommended to use the same type radio for this special application!!!! Please DO NOT turn on RangeLink Transmitters more than one at same time!!! It may make your plane goes to crazy...
Testing for Safe Multimaster Application 1. Fully tested on the ground, make sure that all channel functions match together. 2. Recommended to have a FPV plane with a autopilot control system with return to home function. 3. Start flying from point A, and land the plane at point B (make sure that Point B can get video) 4. When Transmitter A turns off the rc radio, the plane will then enter autopilot mode, and when Transmitter B can see that the plane entered autopilot mode ,then he can turn on the RC radio ,now the receiver will safely swith to Transmitter B’s control.
6. How to set up in your plane This is very important, there are lots of electronics that will cause interference in standard FPV plane, you should keep the RangeLink Receiver w a y from the video Tx ,cameras, and other electronics. An easy way to check if you put the RangeLink Receiver in right place is below: Configure the RangeLink Transmitter into micro power mode, check if there is any difference in range if
power on other devices and power
off them. Normally the cameras are the main resource of the range killer, if when you power up one specific device and the range is significantly shorter, you should keep the RL Receiver as far away from them as possible and not share the same power between them. Another way to do your first pre-flight check is to do ground test with all the devices power on, in micro power mode, you can normally go to 20-70m, in low power mode you can go to about 400-1200m on the ground in city
Caution 1. Never turn on the Tx module without an proper antenna, or you may damage the Tx module. DO NOT rotate your antenna too tight, it
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
will not help with improving the range, but might break the SMA connector. 2. Normally the low-power mode (200 mw) can give you enough range for your flight, so we recommend that you always use the low-power mode to fly, and when you find any signs that you may lose control, you can then switch it to high-power mode and you get full control back, this is very safe strategy. However, both the high-power and low-power mode does not consume lot of power, normally it is the same or less than your normal radio's power draw.
3.
In order to get the best experience with this system, you need to make sure that the RangeLink Receiver module has clean and stable power. If
you use some big servos or use too many servos (more than 4), its highly recommended that you power the RangeLink Receiver and all the servos using stand alone UBEC with clean 5V output. There is switch-mode regulator built in the RangeLink Transmitter module, you can power the RangeLink Transmitter module with wide volt range 7-13V, if the power to the RangeLink Transmitter module is getting low or getting high, you can hear the warning buzzer.
4. Although the Rx has been heavily filtered, we strongly recommend you install the Rx as far as possible with the video transmitters and some cameras with bad power design(such as the KT&C cams, gopro, etc).
Do not over tighten the antenna on the Transmitter, this can cause the SMA connector on the transmitter to strip its threads, loosen, break, or wear out very quickly over time. Screw on the RangeLink transmitter antenna until it stops turning. Do NOT tighten it down !!! Once the antenna is snug, the connection is fully made, tightening the antenna any more will NOT increase performance !!!
RangeLink Manual –v1.4
Please remove the antenna often unless you have to!!! Enjoy Long Range FPV flying without worries of Range Limitations!!!
