Spektrum Telemetry Feed

[In-Flight]

I was unable to find the answer to this in a search so I thought I would ask.

I'm curious if any development has been done on using MultiWii to send telemetry data to a Spektrum TM1000 via its X-BUS port.
This would be a great way to send existing sensor data to Spektrum transmitters without the need to buy all of the additional (duplicate) sensors that Spektrum sells.

[Hamburger]

Not been done yet I think.
Whi h recei ers do support this? Do you need a spe ial tx or tx module to receive and process that telemetdy data?

[timecop]

Obviosuly only works with spektrum gear, TM7000 receiver and DX18 or wahtever (maybe some lower cost one too, but wahtever)

[Hamburger]

do you have any usable info besides stating the obvious facts that Spektrum keeps the protocol specs closed as always and their top of the line tx has support for their telemetry?
What could help in getting closer to answering the initial question is stuff like is the xbus protocol known by now - so we could modify MWii to feed telemetry info into it? What gadgets (official from Spektrum or otherwise) do exist to receive&process that telemetry info on the pilot side, is that wireless protocol known, any known interfaces to get at that data somehow?

[In-Flight]

I think the lowest transmitter Spektrum offers that can receive telemetry is the DX8 (lots of people use it). No need for the DX18.
I think the TM1000 comes packaged with most mid to high end Spektrum receivers.
The TM1100 doesn't have an X-BUS port so I don't think that particular unit would be an option.

I'm no programmer, so I couldn't be much help. Just thought I would reach out and see if anyone has looked into developing support for it.
Here are some of the sensors offered. I think the most useful for quads would be the GPS that will feed latitude, longitude, ground speed and altitude info. They also have an altimeter. Both of those devices would be duplicate on many setups as people already have GPS and baro. (however the GPS altitude would be more accurate)
http://www.spektrumrc.com/Air/Telemetry.aspx
http://www.horizonhobby.com/browse/prod ... y-10001025

[timecop]

XBus stuff is just I2C.
There's been a few posts on rcg dissecting it and the protocol between various sensors. I think they use some fixed range of I2C addresses, so the micro would have to be an I2C slave that can be queried by the receiver. Would need too many #ifdefs on tarduino pro mini.

[Hamburger]

you meaning to say you need a stinking 32bitter to punch at a 7bit i2c address?

[timecop]

I challenge you to write a software I2C slave on tarduino (NOT using I2C peripheral) that will properly work at let's say 200kHz.
I've got one on 72MHz Cortex M3 and it needs overclocking to 128MHz to not miss timing.

[Hamburger]

so you prefer to use inappropriate hardware, I will not follow you on that route.
Why using stinkin 32bitter would effect number of #ifdef required you failed to point out.
Anyway, good info that xbus is i2c.
My excuses to the original poster for getting so far off topic; seems Spektrum Telemetry is not going to happen without some extra hardware. From the list of available sensors it looks like the list of possible data types is quite limited. Maybe the protocol allows for other telemetry data, maybe not. The receiving end would likely require a modification to interpret those as well.
That's it for me.

[timecop]

Oh, I got an idea.
We should use attiny/atmega8/atmega168/whatever as I2C slave and then talk to the main FC via I2C for telemetry data
perfect! It's gonna be like triple core tarduino.

[Tvixen]

Could be a great idea to implement for MEGA boards.

A TM1000 cost around 75$(in DenmarK) and it can as deafult (out of the box) messure voltage and temperature. (Its in the DX8 box when u buy the big box)
U can buy sensors for RPM, GPS, Airspeed, Temp, Amp, Volt, Altimeter,Gforce, Variometer, Capasity senson for LiPo batt.

Telemetri data on iPhones/iPads with speech and vibe + free software in AppStore.

+1

/Tvixen

[Breiti]

hi,

i have a spektrum GPS sensor that connects to the TM1000 telemetry. because of the additional modules the number
of boards on my quadrocopter becomes too much. it's verity interesting to connect the tm1000 x-bus to a FC board
i2c ... any news regarding this ?

regards stefan

[Shogun]

here is some information about the x-bus data formats:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1726960

[PeeBee]

Hi all, I have a Dx7s and TM1000 and SPektrum GPS. I have written code for my home brewed FC which reads the GPS data via the Leonardo's I2C (yes, x-bus is just Sputum-proprietary-speak for I2C).

The GPS module is a slave, the Leonardo must be the master. This means the I2C pins are used. The GPS module is 'hard wired' to respond to address 16 and 17.

I would like to transfer my code into MultiWii, and just spent a little time looking through the GPS code. Its not too clear how to proceed... any pointers?

Code: Select all

#pragma pack(push,1)
struct DegreeI2CStruct
{
  uint16_t minfrac;  // To get sec, /100 * 60
  uint8_t min;
  uint8_t deg;
};

struct SpektrumGPS16Struct
{
  // Added to log by TM1000 uint32_t timestamp;
  uint16_t type; // 00 16
  uint16_t altitude;
  DegreeI2CStruct lat;
  DegreeI2CStruct lon;
  uint16_t cog;
  uint8_t unknown; 
  uint8_t bits; // N/S and W/E indicator in low two bits, abs(longitude) > 100 in bit 3
} 
SpektrumGPS16;

struct SpektrumGPS17Struct
{
  // Added by TM1000 uint32_t timestamp;
  uint16_t type; // 17
  uint16_t speed;
  TimeUTCStruct timeBCD;
  uint8_t sats;
  uint8_t altitude1000;
  uint8_t unused[6]; 
} 
SpektrumGPS17;
#pragma pack(pop)

[Plüschi]

I think everyone with DIY capabilities has opted out on unreliable, messed up and overpriced spektrum gear. Put your efforts where the community is, not in a brand for the tards.

[PeeBee]

Yes, as have I... but I have this equipment lying around, so would rather use it than discard it. And the code is there and working, so why not?

Also, its a bit satisfying to have reverse engineered the 'x-bus' protocol, despite Sputum's best efforts to obfuscate it!

Why not offer a lower cost path to those who would likely to emerge from their 'tard' phase, as you so compassionately put it!

What I am asking for is a pointer towards understanding how a new GPS sensor would be added to the code.