[MoonBase]

Hi. I'm super excited about LibrePilot. It's off to a great start supporting CC3D and soon Sparky2! You very quickly won me over.

I'm currently running a CC3D board and OP 15.02.02 on an Indy 250 FPV from Rctimer. I've got it tuned pretty well. Can I use these same settings with LP? Any thing I should worry about/look forward to?

[xpantz]

Hi MoonBase. 

You can copy your settings and enter them in Librepilot and see how it goes.  For the most part things are the same but stuff has changed inside so, I wouldn't try to import the OP UAV file into Librepilot.

[MoonBase]

Sounds good, thanks. I'll try to report back the results.

[backyard]

I made the OP to LP switch on both a CC3D (ST 360) and Revo (TBS Discovery clone) and successfully maidened them yesterday.  Using the F450 profile on both.  Flash was straight forward and I didn't notice any difference in performance...I still flew them like a jerky noob!!

I have many years experience with fixed wings and hopefully adequate flying skills for the multi's.  My goal is to learn enough of the setup/programming/tuning to use these quads for FPV AV and then move to a smaller platform and try racing/acro. 

90% of my aircraft are scratch-built and I thought "open" was the way to go.  I also recently started a transition to Taranis and Open TX.  Between learning multi's, controllers and their open firmware, FPV in all of its varieties, and a new open TX my brain occasionally avalanches and I'm buried. 

While on vacation I flew my friend's Phantom.  It is of course VERY easy to fly and seems to be a perfect learning tool to build a confident skill base.  It would be great to get a breakthrough-boost.  Is there a setup that I can copy to my Revo (and yet to be purchased GPS) that will get me close to emulating the stable and friendly behavior of the Phantom?

This forum has already been very helpful (and gentle) and I appreciate all the advice.

[TheOtherCliff]

You need two flight modes:

Attitude mode is self leveling but does not use the GPS.  You need to get it flying in this mode before adding GPS flight modes.  You can be doing that while your GPS is in the mail.

Velocity Roam is the GPS mode that you want to start with.  The default settings will probably feel very sensitive compared to Phantom.

Take off in Attitude mode and switch to Velocity Roam mode.

There is a lot of really neat stuff like auto takeoff/land, waypoint flight, automatic return to base, OSD/FPV, but start small and add one thing at a time.

You remind me that I have started a thread about this, and I need to work on it more.  Later it can be moved to the wiki.  There is a whole book that can be said and should be read to learn about things you can do, choosing models and parts according to what you want to do, building, wiring, safety, flying, things that can go wrong...

Wiki
https://librepilot.atlassian.net/wiki/display/LPDOC/Welcome

[backyard]

Thanks Cliff.  I'll try that and look forward to reading your thread.

Can you recommend a GPS/source?  I know the V9 is not available.

[TheOtherCliff]

I have bought 4 GPS/mag's from eBay, from Neo6 at $14 to Neo8 at $22 (shipped) and fly two of them.

Our next release is scheduled to include I2C Aux Mag support, so you can even use the mag on them.  I fly with eBay GPS's and use the I2C Aux Mag regularly.

Our next release _may_ have support for the Tau Labs Sparky2 FC which has more ports and thus more options to connect things in addition to GPS and I2C mag.

OP doesn't support Aux Mag (except on the OP GPSV9), so keep that in mind if using OP is important to you.  LP supports the OP GPS/mag as well as the cheap eBay GPS/mag. 

Ublox of course.  NMEA support is not working in OP or LP right now.  I am a little torn as to whether to recommend a Neo7 or Neo8 GPS.  In bad GPS conditions (multipath conditions, like indoors or close to buildings) the Neo8 has a jump problem where the GPS can jump e.g. from 8 sats to 0 and back to 8 in one second (not a problem in itself).  The problem is that the sat count looks fine before this happens and the coordinates jump by 10 to 200 meters (typical) when that happens.  My testing in these conditions says that the Neo7 may drift that much, but shows a low sat count when that happens and doesn't jump.

So the Neo7 may be safer in places you shouldn't be flying, and the Neo8 may do better (allow you to fly at all) in places like city concrete canyons (where you probably shouldn't be flying either).

Here are two that you will have to solder connectors on (and connectors and heatshrink).

Here is an example of a good GPS that I have bought and tested.  A Neo8 for $22 shipped!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251997592219

A Neo7 for $19 shipped
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRIUS-NEO-GPS-MAG-V2-NEO-7M-GPS-Module-w-Compass-for-APM-Pixhawk-PX4-Flight-2Y-/281807047893

Here are some standard Flexi/Main connectors.  20 for $6 shipped.  That's enough to last a while.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251979895512

Here is some tiny heat shrink tubing to help you make nice cables (get the 1mm size for the tiny wires, also maybe 3mm - 4mm to hold 2-4 wires in a bundle).  1M for $1 shipped.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311263739481

Here is an example of one that may already be plug and play for $9 more.

Recently it seems that sellers are starting to sell GPS/mag with OP connectors, so no soldering required, but USD $9 more expensive.  As far as I know, no one has bought one yet, but these might be exactly what we need.  This one appears to be a Neo8 with two OP connectors (JST-SH 1.0mm), one connector for GPS and one for mag, just like we need for I2C Aux Mag enhancement.  Should be plug and play, but as long as it has OP connectors, even if the pins are wrong you can move the pins around without soldering.  USD $31 (shipped).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEO-M8N-M8N-8N-GPS-W-Compass-for-CC3D-Revolution-Flight-Controller-Better-7N-/121784646204

[backyard]

WOW!  Thanks Cliff.  You rock!

[iceman]

thanks for that list Cliff!! (perfect timing since i'm about to buy some more gear) .. do you have a revo you recommend?

ice

[TheOtherCliff]

My only clone experience is with a Revo clone a friend got from thanksbuyer.com
Search for Openpiolot (note misspelling, I think they do that on purpose) on thanksbuyer.com

I consider that the Revo/OpLink/PDB combo they have is a pretty good deal.  You can get GPS's cheaper, and their GPS doesn't have a mag connector.  LP will have external mag support for cheap GPS's that have a mag in the next LP release.

It had a solder short in the MainPort connection (MainPort didn't work till I fixed it).  The OpLink he got with it had what looked like an unsoldered filter capacitor.  Worked fine both before and after I fixed it.  I wrote a review on thanksbuyer mentioning the problems and that I did fix it, but they never posted the review (months ago now), so thanksbuyer is not exactly honest, but then, I don't know of a single overseas seller that does display less than good reviews (and leave them displayed).

The people that I know that have bought clones have got them working.  I have heard of people giving up though.

All the clone Revos have vertical pins which I don't like.  I buy these pins and replace them, but it is a preference thing.  To remove the vertical pins, take the plastic base off them and unsolder one pin at a time.  Only if you are pretty good at soldering.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321801383175

Self protection rules seem to be:
- Pay with PayPal (or a credit card will probably do if it has buyer protection)
- Don't modify it till tested.  Unsoldered ESC pins would be a gray area.  You can say that you couldn't test it till they were soldered.
- Don't mount it or use it till tested.
- Look at it with a strong magnifier (I use a jeweler's loupe) before powering it up.  Look for solder bridges in particular.  Also misaligned components that may be mis-soldered.  Be aware though that some misalignments are done on purpose.
- Test all functionality as soon as you get it.
- Expect problems with some purchases and smile if there is no problem.
- Maybe don't even get a cheap clone unless you can do some troubleshooting / repair.
- It seems that only clone Revos are available.
- It's more about seller reputation and protecting yourself.

[backyard]

Finally received the GPS from here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRIUS-NEO-GPS-MAG-V2-NEO-7M-GPS-Module-w-Compass-for-APM-Pixhawk-PX4-Flight-2Y-/281807047893

I will change to a smaller 4 pin connector but the GPS lead colors don't match the wiki info I have.  Does anyone have a solution to the "which colors go where"?

Also I assume the connector with the red and white leads is for the mag which is not usable with the existing firmware.  Is that is correct?

[SciFiyNZ]

You need two flight modes:

Attitude mode is self leveling but does not use the GPS.  You need to get it flying in this mode before adding GPS flight modes.  You can be doing that while your GPS is in the mail.

Velocity Roam is the GPS mode that you want to start with.  The default settings will probably feel very sensitive compared to Phantom.

Take off in Attitude mode and switch to Velocity Roam mode.

There is a lot of really neat stuff like auto takeoff/land, waypoint flight, automatic return to base, OSD/FPV, but start small and add one thing at a time.

You remind me that I have started a thread about this, and I need to work on it more.  Later it can be moved to the wiki.  There is a whole book that can be said and should be read to learn about things you can do, choosing models and parts according to what you want to do, building, wiring, safety, flying, things that can go wrong...

I would be keen also to know about the modes.  I am new too quads and am having difficulty with the jargon used in the wiki setup page. It is not easy to understand how each mode is obtained and even too know the mode one is currently in unless you are experienced.  Would be a great help.

[TheOtherCliff]

Finally received the GPS from here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRIUS-NEO-GPS-MAG-V2-NEO-7M-GPS-Module-w-Compass-for-APM-Pixhawk-PX4-Flight-2Y-/281807047893

I will change to a smaller 4 pin connector but the GPS lead colors don't match the wiki info I have.  Does anyone have a solution to the "which colors go where"?

Also I assume the connector with the red and white leads is for the mag which is not usable with the existing firmware.  Is that is correct?

I have two of those, but the wires are now hidden inside some heat shrink.  You need to research the 5 pin APM plug for GPS (very similar to 6 pin).  That 5 pin connector has 4 wires.  It is the GPS.  Black and red are ground and power and are the important ones and connect to black and red on the OP connector.  For the other two, tx connects to rx and rx connects to tx.  If you get them wrong, just carefully lift tiny flap on connector and swap the remaining two wires.

For the 2 wire connector, you need to research the APM/Pixhawk I2C/mag connector.  SCL connects to SCL and SDA to SDA.

[TheOtherCliff]

I would be keen also to know about the modes.  I am new too quads and am having difficulty with the jargon used in the wiki setup page. It is not easy to understand how each mode is obtained and even too know the mode one is currently in unless you are experienced.  Would be a great help.

I have gotten lazy and not finished it yet, but this post may help you with some basics in understanding Rate mode and Attitude mode.
https://forum.librepilot.org/index.php?topic=15.msg38#msg38

[AngusCox]

The change from OP to LP was Flawless!!!
Thanks LibrePilot team for al the hard work. We will be waiting for new and greater versions!