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To make the ESP01 or other in that family work, you will need to reflash the FW (you cannot configure the standard FW to work as it doesn’t support a ‘pass through’ mode on the serial*
Download this image https://www.communistech.com/blog/files/esp8266/firmware-1.0.0.bin You will need to set Telem2 serial port on the Pixhawk to 921600 i.e. SERIAL2_BAUD = 921
Updated: there is a newer version https://www.communistech.com/blog/files/esp8266/firmware-1.0.11.bin available now.
You can do this by connecting using Mission Planner or APM Planner 2.0
MAV Pilot Settings are 192.168.4.1:14550 UDP
Try this one… https://pixhawk.org/peripherals/8266 I’ll get back with a more detail reply later today
Thanks for the report. I’ll look at adding a fix to that behaviour whenf no HOME point is reported by the autopilot. I can add you to the beta list so you get to test the sooner. I can use the email address you signed up to this form with with if you like?
One question would be, what should I default the home location to? I could either set it to 0,0 or report it as your current location? What would be your preference?
Sorry, I should say MAV Pilot will work with any WiFi module that states it is Pixhawk compatible.
You can connect the module directly to the autopilot and have about ~500m range (depending on conditions)
As i said before, i was thinking of using an iPad with OTG cable but realise that Wifi is more convenient.
It won’t work you need to have the Apple iAP decryption chip for that to work which requires going through Apples ‘Made for iDevice’ (MFI) program. The WiFI Bridge as documented on this site is the easiest solution to connect to a long range radio. (though using an ESP8266 instead of the XBee Module)
see https://www.communistech.com/blog/support/
The ESP8266 modules are better. the one you linked was a ESP8266-01 which requires a regulator to power it as its 3.3V. The deal extreme board I linked to has a regulator onboard and a switch to allow easy programming of new firmware. There is developments for better firmware here https://github.com/dogmaphobic/mavesp8266
As for interference from 2.4GHz WiFi and 2.4GHz RC Spread Spectrum radios. You are correct that they can interfere with each other and reduce range. The point is this only really happens when the antennas are close together. I have had no noticeable issues myself using MAVPilot and WiFi/Bridge and RC Control
Most interference issue with range and drones is caused onboard the drone, when you have 2 or more transmitting antennas in very close proximity. This causes the receiving stage of the radios to de-sensitize reducing range. By maximizing the distance between the antennas greatly improves the situation. If you are only using the WiFi to 915MHz bridge you also improve this as then you have only one 2.4GHz radio on the drone (RC Control)
That said people are working on WiFi control from the RC Transmitter. Which will be cool and solve the telemetry and control being then on the same frequency and technology. Then range can be extended with just better and directional antennas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-0GJ21oUO4
Hope that helps. 🙂
It should centre on home, there is a little black ‘compass icon’ in the lower left of the screen that will centre the map on the vehicle/home. If it centers of the west coast of Africa, it means your drone thinks that’s home and will return there on RTL.
Can you post a screen shot?
Those modules work, and I have two here on my desk that I tested MAV Pilot with. That said they use TCP connection which is ok if you are using the device as a bridge to a long range radio. But if you are using the radio onboard, it’s better to use the ESP8266 with firmware that supports UDP connections, as they are much more reliable.
The units I recommend are the AdaFruit Huzzah
The Serial WiFi 1.0 from Deal Extreme
You could also got for an ESP8266-01, but you’ll need to find 3v3 power to run it. (The above suggestions have built in voltage regulators for 5V or 3.7V
You will need a FDTI cable to reprogram the FW to enable UDPSteve send me an email and I help you out, if you still need to get this setup. (bill at communistech com)
It just really expensive to create a device that connects to the Lighting connector for small developer. Connecting using WIFi incurs minimal latency compared with the telemetry ground module.
You can use this ESP8266 module from AdadFruit module which is only $10 or even this ESP8266 module from Deal Extreme for $7
I was going to update my Support pages to show how to connect them as a bridge or directly to the autopilot. I just have been very busy.
I just had a couple of the ESP8266 modules arrive. I have had this ESP-07 module (from DealExtreme
I have been playing around with different configurations. At the moment it’s been TCP only, and I’d like it to be UDP
I also had a Pixhawk WiFi Model from HobbyKing working. I wouldn’t recommend it as I cannot reconfigure the SSID or password. So if you have two nearby, it’s going to cause a access point switch and loss of connection.I’ll try and get a basic summary of what I did to get the ESP-07 working and modes. The configuration will be the same as the ESP-01 (but it requires different wiring setup)
