RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au Table of contents Revision History ............................1 Features ..........................2 Applications ..........................2 Typical Application Diagram ....................2 Description ..........................2 Package Contents ........................2 Getting to know the product ....................3 Getting Started ..........................5 Quick start ..........................
1.Introduction 1.1 Features 1.4 Description • The RFD Tx Pole is a rugged data and control Long range using RFD900x telemetry modem system for long term outdoor deployment. • WiFi host or client Providing long range connection through RFD •...
1.6 Getting to know the product Figure 2 - TX Pole product parts description Table 1 - TX Module Description Description /Note WiFi Antenna Female RPSMA antenna connector. Connect an antenna matched to the Port 2.4 GHz ISM band. For antenna recommendations go to section 4.
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RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au Table 2 – Main connector pinout PINOUT PIN Name I/O Description OPTO_OUT_PWR_P Output optocoupler, drain Ground ESP_RX0 ESP receive serial 0 +V_PLUG Device external supply with priority over internal battery. OPTO_OUT_PWR_N O Output optocoupler, source...
RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au 2 Getting Started 2.1 Quick start The Tx Pole has two communication links that require configuration before operation: WiFi and 900 MHz telemetry. The easiest way to set up your TX Pole for its initial use is through the ‘First Run Wizard' as explained in this section.
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RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au Figure 2 - Configuration homepage. Click on ‘Go to First Run Wizard!’ button to access the wizard on figure 8 which will guide you through the steps to get your module ready to use.
RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au To complete the wizard, the remote modem on the aircraft should be powered up, have the same firmware version and be bound to the Tx Pole. If the remote RFD900x modem is the one supplied along the Tx Pole, both devices are ready to proceed.
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RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au The WiFi settings of figure 4 are described in table 5: Table 5 - WiFi Settings Description Parameter Description This sets the module to act as an access point (default) or as a station on an existing WiFi mode access point, such as a home network.
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RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au b) Tx Pole as a station To use the TX Pole on an existing WiFi network to provide telemetry data to a GCS while still allowing access to the internet, for example to download maps, there are a couple of possible implementations.
Table 6 - RFD900x parameters. For further information regarding the internal modem on which the Tx Pole is based on, refer to the RFD900x Peer to Peer Firmware and RFDesign Modem 900x Datasheet documents using the links in section...
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RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au Opportunistic resend allows the node to resend packets if it has spare bandwidth 915000 927000 902000 MIN_FREQ /868000 /869000 /868000 Min frequency in KHz 928000 928000 903000 MAX_FREQ /869000 /870000 /869000 Max frequency in KHz...
RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au The settings described in table 6 can be set up on the Tx Pole and on any modem it may be bond to by using the browser interface. The Tx Pole will appear as local and the aircraft modem as remote.
RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au After flashing the ‘spiffs.bin’ file and power-cycling the device, the firmware on the RFD900x modem inside the module will be automatically updated if required. Figure 7 - Update page 2.5 Vehicle Modem If the vehicle modem to be used is the one supplied with the Tx Pole, unless changed by the user, it will have a compatible firmware version and it will be bound to the modem in the Tx Pole.
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RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au To configure the modem using the RFD900 tools, download and install the software using the links on section 6 if it is not installed on your computer yet. Launch the program and the configuration interface of figure 8 should pop-up.
RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au the browser interface. This only works while the modem in the vehicle and TX Pole are linked as indicated by a solid green LED. 3 Applications 3.1 Ground Control Station Figure 9 - Typical Application Diagram.
Figure 11 - Tower configuration on Android. 4 Antenna Recommendation The RFD Tx Pole has three antenna connectors: one for the WiFi and two for the 900 MHz communication link. Any antenna with a male RPSMA fitting and matched to the 2.4 GHz and to the 902-928MHz ISM band respectively can be used, however the ones supplied along with the Tx Pole and shown in figure 12 are recommended for almost every application.
Any of the two 900 MHz antennas can be left unmounted if antenna diversity is not to be used. For further detail about the diversity options that the modem inside Tx Pole provide, refer to the RFDesign Modem 900x Datasheet, the link of which can be found in section 6 of this document: 5 Technical Specifications 5.1 Power Consumption...
RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au Transmit Power 0 to 30dBm in 1dBm steps Receiver Sensitivity >121dBm Table 9 - Features Configuration Method AT Commands, APM Planner, Customized Configuration Tool Frequency Band 902 MHz – 928 MHz Interference Immunity FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum)
RFD Tx Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au 5.5 Physical Dimensions The TX Pole physical dimensions in mm are presented below: 44.5 11.5 6.00 48.0 Ø6.50 Figure 13 - TX Pole physical dimensions. 16.0 *Units in mm. Ø6.50 51.5 22.3 18.5 Figure 13 - TX Pole physical dimensions.
RFD TX Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au 7.1 HRN-01-A - Desktop Harness (1.5m) Table 14 – Main connector pinout Table 15 – Main connector pinout PINOUT Name Description Name Not connected Not connected TXP_RX0 TXPOLE receive serial 0 Connector TBD +V_PLUG...
RFD TX Pole User Manual www.rfdesign.com.au 7.2 HRN-01-B – External Mast Harness (5m) Table 16 – Main connector pinout Table 17 – Main connector pinout PINOUT Name Description PINOUT Name Not connected Ground Not connected +V_PLUG Device external supply with priority +V_PLUG over internal battery.
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