Where to buy Revos and Sparky2s (unverified)
« on: May 20, 2021, 11:44:08 am »
I haven't verified any of these.  I just did the lookup for a friend and thought I would post here if anyone is looking for a Revo or Sparky 2.

Revos: This first one is USD $34 FREE shipping.  I just ordered and will report when I receive.  Porcupine also has OpLinks for $13+$20 shipping.  Expensive shipping, so get the free shipping items (Revo and Sparky 2).
http://www.porcupinerc.com/Openpilot-Revolution-REVO-32bit-F4-MCU-Based-Flight-Controller-Integrated-433Mhz-OPLink-Radio_p_1072.html

https://www.xt-xinte.com/Mini-Openpilot-CC3D-Revolution-Flight-Controller-for-DIY-FPV[…]-Nano-Mini-RC-Multicopter-Quadcopter-210-250-33-p134610.html
https://www.thanksbuyer.com/openpilot-revo-flight-controller-revolution-cc3d-upgraded-version-support-return-for-fpv-52374
https://www.geekbuying.com/item/OpenPilot-CC3D-Revolution-Revo-10DOF-STM32F4-Flight-Controller-Staight-Pin-355502.html

Remember that the Revo Minis don't have an OpLink, but an external one can be added.  That is called an OpLink Air.  OpLinks and OpLink Airs can also be found at these sites.

You can also still get Revo Mini and OpLink/Air/Ground on ebay.  Title on Revo case is more and more doubtful.   ::)  Fine print says it has F4 and baro and mag, so you can return it (they pay shipping) if it's not a Revo.

Sparky 2's:  The first one is only $40 FREE shipping and is the same seller I have bought from on eBay.  I HIGHLY recommend this black one which seems to be the original stock that TauLabs did.  I just ordered this one too and will report when I receive.
http://www.porcupinerc.com/Taulabs-Sparky-20-32bit-F4-MCU-Based-Flight-Controller-Integrated-433Mhz-Openlrsng-Receiver_p_1078.html

This Sparky2 only comes with a GPS.
https://www.thanksbuyer.com/sparky-2-0-flight-control-with-ublox-neo-7n-gps-and-2-6s-distribution-board-for-quadcopter-multicopter-42239

Ebay has Sparky2's but you have to search for:
Taulabs
(example, but it's white and $65)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124121158709?hash=item1ce6329435
« Last Edit: May 20, 2021, 09:44:11 pm by TheOtherCliff »

trust

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Re: Where to buy Revos and Sparky2s (unverified)
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2021, 01:38:29 am »
I have been buying mini REVOs (no onboard telemetry) and OPLINK Airs separately on ebay:
DIY Flight Revolution Openpilot F17008 Drone Racing for FPV Controller $47.31
https://www.ebay.com/itm/273662231202

This seller I've also purchased from also has the Revo's with the telemetry on board
Revo 32bit STM32 F4 Flight Controller $40.74
https://www.ebay.com/itm/233829376636
They did also have the mini REVOs but appear to be currently out of stock.



jdl

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Re: Where to buy Revos and Sparky2s (unverified)
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2021, 01:57:23 pm »
...

Revos: This first one is USD $34 FREE shipping.  I just ordered and will report when I receive.  Porcupine also has OpLinks for $13+$20 shipping.  Expensive shipping, so get the free shipping items (Revo and Sparky 2).
http://www.porcupinerc.com/Openpilot-Revolution-REVO-32bit-F4-MCU-Based-Flight-Controller-Integrated-433Mhz-OPLink-Radio_p_1072.html

....

I've bought few Revos from this seller, all of them work fine, came with different firmwares flashed (different "next"s). These FC look like the original Revolution boards and have an angled MMCX RF connector. They come without a plastic protective box, the servo connector pins are unsoldered (this is good!).

The only drawback is the the 433MHz coil antenna in the kit. It is utter rubbish, much worse than any 433MHz rubber duckie I've seen and tested. :)

Re: Where to buy Revos and Sparky2s (verified tested)
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2021, 10:18:41 am »
I ordered 2 Sparky2's and 2 Revos from PorcupineRC on May 20.  They were shipped (for free) the next day.  They arrived (USA Ga) on May 29.  Considering how far they came, this is good.

Executive summary: They are good/acceptable.  Revos have a bit (1.5 meters) of baro noise.  That is flyable as it gets smoothed out.  Widely varying firmware may imply that some are returns or of varying manufacture.  Comes with unsoldered straight and angle pins, but one of the four boards I bought didn't have enough pins.

They all came with unsoldered servo pins (both straight and angle).  One Revo came with a 5x3 set of angle servo pins (should be 6x3), but one Sparky2 came with 8x3, so I got enough, but that is sloppy.

Revos additionally come with 1 PWM Rx cable and 2 MainPort/FlexiPort cables, each Main/Flexi with 4 single pin connectors on the other end.

The Revos come with 90 degree angle MMCX (OpLink antenna) connectors.  I have had issues with the ring coming off of these, so I sometimes solder the ring to the block to avoid that.

Sparky2s additionally come with a 1x3 pin servo connector for the Rx connection (remember, no PWM Rx on Sparky2) three MainPort/FlexiPort cables, each with 4 single pin connectors on the other end, and one 6-pin TauLabs LED cable.

They all come with cheap coil style antennas with short coax and appropriate connector.

The Sparky2 power jumper (back of board close to Rx connector) is not connected, so you should put a solder blob on either the 3.3V or 5.0V receiver power option in order to give power to the 3 pin receiver connector.  3.3V is for Spektrum satellite Rxs so you very probably want 5.0V.

The Sparky2 OpLink RF filter appears to be correct (not just a jumper) (Revos don't have these).

Firmware on them:
One Revo had 15.09 on it.
One Revo had some unofficial (no match in git) 2018 version on it.
Both Sparky2's had a 20151123 TauLabs version on them.

Sparky2's I did Rescue, flashed bu_sparky2.opfw (bootloader UPDATER), booted it till LED stopped blinking (less that 30 seconds), then did Rescue again to flash normal firmware.  Done.  No problems.

Revo's I did Rescue to flash normal firmware.  Done.  No problems.

I will Erase Settings before I use these; just in case they are half full of unused settings from other firmware versions.

Both Revos had about 1.5m max of baro noise.  Not really great, but probably usable, and the capacitor fix is easy enough and would probably smooth it right out.

Both Sparky2's had about 0.75 max of baro noise.  We generally consider that to be "good".

The mag sensor bias seems to be a bit high but OK, but I was using the USB for power during testing.  If the high bias was due to USB connector magnetization, it was not consistent from board to board.  I may demagnetize these (with power off) before using them as some metal parts on the board might be slightly magnetized.

Standard 16.09 Complementary AttiEstAlgo inits correctly, and rotations seem smooth and accurate, so gyro sensors seem OK in this quick test.  They know which way is up and measure G's well in a quick Scope test, so accels seem OK.

The built in OpLinks all had the good "small X2" RFM22, but I did not test them as that requires soldering.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2021, 07:14:43 pm by TheOtherCliff »