Software Installation

Contents

Mission Planner set-up

  • Connect your APM via micro USB cable.
  • Install Mission Planner from here.
  • Select the APM COM port and connect at 115200 bauds for ULRS 1.X, or 57600 for ULRS 2.X

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  • If not already done, install APM firmware.

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  • Connect.

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  • Go to full parameter list.

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  • Click Find 2013-11-13 12_02_36-Mission Planner 1.2.80 build 1.1.5016.13386
  • Search for ‘serial’.

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  • Change SERIAL1_BAUD to 19 (for 19200 bauds telemetry)
    • (Pixhawk users, please check this page)
    • Notice that SERIAL1 = UART0, SERIAL2 = UART1, etc
  • Write params 2013-11-13 12_05_49-Mission Planner 1.2.80 build 1.1.5016.13386
  • Configure your radio.
  • Configure your flight modes (for example use a 3-way switch, and choose manual, FBWA and RTL modes)

Firmware setup

You’ll first install ULRS CC (Ultimate LRS Control Center), which is the ULRS administration tool that allows to :

  • download and flash the latest firmware
  • configure the parameters such as the channels to use
  • check in real time the system status

Installation instructions for ULRS 2.X

Video instructions

Download

Click to download the latest ULRS CC :

Flash firmware to the module

  1. Connect an OrangeRX module via FTDI cable.
  2. Select the appropriate COM port.
  3. The Ultimate LRS Control Center main screen appears.
  4. Click on the ‘firmware upgrade’ tab.
  5. Click on the ‘Upgrade firmware’ button.
  6. The firmware gets uploaded. The HK 1W and 100 mW modules are supported.
  7. You may have to restart the ULRS CC (bug)

Set parameters

  1. In ULRS CC, click on ‘connect’
  2. Click on the ‘modify parameters button’ which is on bottom of the initial status screen. (In previous versions it was a separate tab)
  3. Double-click on several channels.
  4. Choose a bindcode.
  5. Click on ‘Save parameters’
  6. The popup will close when the parameters are correctly saved.
  7. Close and restart the application to do the same for the other module. (This will be simplified in the future.)

You’re done !

Congratulations !

Remarks

Disclaimer

I’ll add a complete disclaimer, but basically it’s an experimental system and you have to understand that you use this system at your own risks and under your own responsibility, you’ve got to ensure to comply with all regulations applicable in your country. Don’t do anything forbidden, stupid or dangerous.

In particular, for now it’s possible to select frequencies which are outside of the ISM bands, and the power can be too high for several countries. The OrangeRX modules have a CE certification provided by HobbyKing, but no FCC certification.

Serial speed

Remember that Mission Planner must be connected at 57600 bauds, but APM must be configured for 19200 bauds (SERIAL1 = 19)

WinAVR

WinAVR is required, normally ULRS CC will provide you with a download link if it’s not installed yet. It expects to find it in its default installation folder c:\WinAVR-20100110.

LEDs meaning

On each module, one LED means ‘receiving’ and the other means ‘transmitting’. If everything works fine, all LEDs will blink. The blinking is always at the same rate, which if chosen for good visibility. It doesn’t correspond to packets transmitted, which would be too fast to clearly see the blinking.

The fact that one LED is marked ‘warning’ can be confusing, but having one LED for transmit and one LED for receive allows to debug faster any communication issue. For example if the RX module is broken for any reason, you’ll see only one LED lit on the TX module because it won’t receive any data from the RX module.

FAQ

Have a look at the FAQ, it provides many tips on how to improve your range.

Binding

Notice no binding is needed, it just works out of the box.

RSSI

RSSI is available either as analog signal or as a servo value on any channel.

Please check this page for more information.

Connecting the TX to a computer

If you need more that just the length of your FTDI cable, you can use a long cable to connect the TX to the computer.

You can also consider using Bluetooth as described here.

For example if you have the computer in the car, and want to run a few steps TX in hand to lauch the plane.Two options :

  1. Connect a 5 meters USB cable to the computer, and have the FTDI adapter near the TX. 5 meter is the maximum as per USB specifications, else you’ll have to insert an USB hub before going another 5 meters.
  2. or you have the FTDI adapter on the computer, and have a long serial cable. I’ve used 20 meters cable without issues.

About APM and telemetry

IMPORTANT : disconnect the USB cable from APM when using telemetry (when it’s connected, APM will default to 115200 bauds and we’re using the same port for telemetry)

Project origin and history

Know more about the project history here.

Using 16 channels

ULRS provides a 16 channels PPM signal, but you can also use an external module to have the 16 servo signals : link.

adafruit-diagram

ULRS pinout

Always useful during installation… click to enlarge :

orangerx-pinout

14 comments

  1. RPLA says:

    What equipment is required for the software installation, and how is the APM (ArduPilot Mega) connected during the process?
    Greting Telkom University

    • admin says:

      An USB to serial adapter, during this process the APM isn’t connected, as the microcontroller has only one serial port.

  2. Artem says:

    Hi,
    Trying to launch CC(2.36) on win10. After main window appears, mouse turns to loading icon and stays so forever. Unable to use CC.
    Tried another PC with win10, works fine, was able to flash fw (wolfbox uhf rx), but it doesnt react on “change params” button as all.

    • admin says:

      Something you can try is deactivate the bluetooth, it should prevent the freezing at start up. Else join the rcgroups thread here :

  3. Rui Marcelino says:

    I’m trying to config the UltimateLRS in version 2.36 but I’m having a issue with it.
    I’ve successfully flash the OrangeRX TX module, but when I’m try to update the parameters the program freezes while is “waiting for a valid version packet” and TX led in FTDI keeps flashing. Can this be solved? or there is another way to change Channels and bindcode?

  4. Ron says:

    Unable to Run Ultimate LRS Control center. Maybe related to recent windows 10 update, when I double Ultimate lrs 2.0 it opens the ultimate lrs control center launcher checks for latest version, then nothing happens. It used to run fine for last 1 year suddenly this happened.

    • admin says:

      Every version has a due date, I’ve deployed the new version this morning. It’s autoupdating so just run as you did and it will work.

  5. Henry Hung says:

    Hi, I have down loaded the ULRS CC on my windows 7, it works, but I can adjust the size of the window, and it only shows a partial of the total window.
    Any suggestion to this?

    • admin says:

      Hello, notice that Windows 7 isn’t supported anymore by Microsoft, so the best advice is to upgrade it. Apart from this the window size is fixed, until now no user complained about what you describe so maybe try on another computer, or on another screen, or change the screen resolution and see if it improves.

  6. Ken Guo says:

    Hi,

    Thank you for your fantastic firmware Ulrs! a nice efficient system.But I can’t use it now. I can’t set the parameters.Because when ULRS CC (2.35a)is opened, it will prompt:This beta version was only valid for a determined period.I want to know what causes this and how can I continue to use this ULRS CC.

    I really want your help. Thank you again
    Regards,
    Ken Guo

  7. Balaji says:

    I wanna use FLYTRON M3 Module with ulrs 2.x

    is it possible, because i read wolfbox and flytron shares the same schematics

    pls help.

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