RangeLink UHF LRS Manual v1.3

RangeLink Manual –v1.3

RangeLink UHF Long Range R/C Control System

Thank you for purchasing the RangeLink Long Range System.In order to achieve full potential and safe operation of this product, please carefully read this manual prior touse.

Warnings:1. Make sure that you can use this system legally. RangeLink Transmitter in the UHF ISM band, in most

countries; You can use it legally if you have a HAM license.

2. Although this system can give you around 10km-40km range with proper installation and usage, we strongly

recommend that you fly in at a safe range and altitude that you are comfortable with.

3. In order to get the best experience with this system, some knowledge about basic electronics and RF

are required.

RangeLink Manual –v1.3RL（RangeLink）is a system specially designed for FPV and UAV use, RL operates on the ISM band 431Mhz-435Mhz. RL features robust FHSSpolicy, making it hard to be interfered, you can even operate a 60W 433Mhz radio side by side with the rangelink system. Normally you canachieve ranges that are 4-20 times of the normal pcm/ppm RC radio, so you don’t need to worry about your rc link.We know what a real FPV/UAV flier needs:1: RSSI function: Receiver's signal strength pins that can be connected to your osd for inflight signal indications.2: PPM output: For some OSDs with PPM input function, the receiver can output all channels with 1 cable, minimizing your wiring.3: Power switch: The power switch that can be switched during your flight in a second, can make your flight much safer. With the powerswitch, you can switch to high power mode immediately when you get into failsafe, which means that you can fly without any return tohome systems, and when you get into failsafe, you can just pull the switch and control of the plane will be back immediately; What's more,the RangeLink has a micro-power mode built in, so you can do the pre-flight range test easily. You also will not need a small and easily aeasily lost dummy load.4: 12 channels pwm singal output: As a FPV/UAV flier, You will never think your radio has enough channels for your different usage.5: Strongly filtered: Fully tested with different frequency bands of video transmitters, Rangelink also has a better power design for boththe Tx and Rx module.6: High sensitivity: -115dBm, the highest in the market, this means that our 500mw RangeLink system can give the same or even morerange than the other 1w and 2w UHF systems (yes, this is the truth. We have done the tests many times). So you will need less power formore range.7: Compatibility: RangeLink will work with any 4-12 channel radio in the market, no matter if the PPM signal is positive or negative.


Features/Specification:1. Robust FHSS Link2. UHF ISM Band 433MHZ(431-435MHZ).3. Two ways RF power switch Low power(200mW)/High power(500mW).4. Headertracker input, adding head-tracker compatibility to most radios.5. PPM input, ensures compatibility with 3.3v thru 12.0v PPM levels.6. Single pushbutton enters range test mode or failsafe settings mode.7. Flexible binding functions, supports multimaster mode.8. TTL UART for firmware upgrades.9. RangeLink Transmitter Built-in LPF(900-1300MHZ rejection Loss over 45dB,2.4GHZ band rejection Loss over 40dB).10.RangeLink Receiver Built-in SAW band pass filter.11.Failsafe can be turned off, very useful for MK Failsafe detector.12.RangeLink Transmitter: 7-13 VDC, 80×64×24mm , 125ga) High power mode 500mW 12V@180mAb) Low power mode 200mW 12V@120mAc) Micro power mode < 1mW [email protected] Receiver 4.8-6 VDC (Recommends 5V), 40×26×12mm, 18ga) 12CH PWM Outputb) RSSI Buffered 0-3.2Vc) PPM Signal Outputd) Sensitivity: -115dBm


Appearance：

Antenna: 433MHZ Whip Antenna.LED: Status indicator.Mode: Push button failsafe settings, enter binding mode etc.Two Ways Switch: RF Power Out selector 200mW/500mW.


TTL232 Port:GND Signal Ground.TXD Transmit Data.RXD Receive Data.HT Port:TPPM Header tracker signal input (LEVEL 3.3v-12v).PPM R/C Radio PPM Signal output.(Internal directly connect to R/C port PPM pin)V+ Power source for header tracker. (Internal directly connect to R/C port V+ pin)GND Power/Signal Ground.R/C Port:GND Power/Signal GroundPPM R/C Radio PPM Signal Input.(LEVEL 3.3v-12v)V+ Power for RangeLink Transmitter Module.(Range 7v-13v)GND Power/Signal Ground


R/C Port Cable

HT Port Cable


RangeLink ReceiverLED: Status indicator.SG,TX,RX: TTL UR.PPM: PPM Signal Out.RSSI: RSSI Signal Out.01-12Pin: 12Channels PWM Servo Signal Out.


RangeLink Receiver (RX) . RangeLink Complete Set.


Installation：Basically, any 4-12 channel radio can work with this system; you just need to find the PPM signal from the radio.You can get the PPM signal from the trainer ports for Futaba（Non-JR）seriesRadios. Since the trainer port of JR radios only output 4-channel PPM signal, so we need to find the PPM output from other places, normally we can getthe PPM signal from the pins of the RF connector.You can get all the definitions of the trainer port for most of the popular radios here:http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX/tx2tx/english/tx2txgb3.htm .For the radios, that have removable RF modules, you can get the PPM signal from the pin of the RF connector. As bellow：JR9X2 (Imax 9x, Turnigy 9x)

http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX/tx2tx/english/tx2txgb3.htm


Futaba 9C, 10C(TDF8, TDF9)WARNING：when your radio is Futaba, you should connect a 10k resistor between the+v and PPM signal if u want to get the PPM signal from there, the trainer port is not needed.


How to use：First make sure that your radio is set to PPM mode.Before binding ,you should confirm that the PPM signal from the Radio is correct.Power up the RangeLink Transmitter, then first beep ends , if Rangelink Transmitter LED is blinking rapidly then the PPM signal is good. If LED is solidon, or off, it shows that the PPM signal has an issue.1. Binding Normal

when the Rangelink Transmitter is on power-off mode, and the two ways switch is on the low-power place, press the MODE button and power on theRangeLink Transmitter, after first beep, release the MODE button. The LED will flash every second, which shows the RangeLink Transmitter has enteredthe binding mode. Put RangeLink Receiver Close to RangeLink Transmitter then power on the RangeLink Receiver(with antenna),the LED of the Rx willbe light up solid, which shows the binding has been completed.Turn the Tx and Rx power off. Power both on again and you are good to go!

Advancewhen the Ranglink Transmitter is on power-off mode, and the two ways switch is on the low-power place, press the MODE button and power on theRangeLink Transmitter, after second beep(---Power up--first beep---10-20secs later--second beep--), release the MODE button. The LED will flashevery second, which shows the RangeLink Transmitter has entered the binding mode. Put RangeLink Receiver Close to RangeLink Transmitter thenpower on the RangeLink Receiver(with antenna),the LED of the Rx will be light up solid, which shows the binding has been completed.

Note Advance binding will assign new ID and recal OSC. so if you make RL enter Advance binding u should bind all other Receiver(rx).Recommend that when you use your RangeLink LRS for the first time, Please use advanced binding!!!

2. Failsafe settingWhen the RL Transmitter and RL Receiver module are working(TX LED,RX LED both blinking rapidly), press and hold the MODE button for about3-5 seconds until the LED is off, when TX LED back blinking, RX LED will flash slow 3times it shows the Rx will remember the positions of all thechannels of the radios.BTW:binding will cancel(reset) Failsafe signal out.(Works like FM rx)... this feature use for MK failsafe detector (with new MK firmware);


3. Micro modeWhen the RLTransmitter module is on power-off mode, and the 2-postion switch is on the high-power place, press the Mode button and power onthe RL Transmitter module, release the Mode button. You will hear the built in buzzer in RLTransmitter module every 1 seconds, which means theRLTransmitter module has entered the micro mode, you can now do a range test. If you can still get solid control over a range of 20-70m, then youcan re-power the Tx for a normal long range flight.4. Header trackerif your headertracker works fine with futaba radio, it will also work fine with RangeLink, Just like X1000,SkyEye GeoMag etc.Channel Map:RC Radio (Pan and Tilt) Total4ch (5-6ch) 6ch5ch (6-7ch) 7ch6ch (7-8ch) 8ch7ch (7-8ch) 8ch8ch (7-8ch) 8ch9ch (8-9ch) 9ch10ch (9-10ch) 10ch11ch (10-11ch) 11ch12ch (11-12ch) 12ch


Port define:----------HT-------------TPPM <-------headertracker signal outPPM -------> (=R/C PPM)radio ppm signal out for headertracker ,some headertracker need it for sync, some no need ,like X1000V+ ------> (=R/C V+ )for headertracker power supplyGND -------> (=R/C GND)headertracker ground5. Multimaster Mode

how to configure your rangelink Transmitter for multimaster mode:

Master 1,(RangeLink Transmitter)

Master 2,(RangeLink Transmitter)

Slave 1,(RangeLink Receiver)

The following steps will guide you on the steps required for setting up multimaster mode. When you want Master 1 and 2 to enter multimaster mode,

and control Slave 1:

1. Power up Master 1 and Make Master 1 enter advance binding mode.

2. Power up Master 2.

3. connect the ttl232 port as follow:

Master 1 (advance binding mode) Master 2

TXD -----------------------------------------------> RXD

RXD -----------------------------------------------> TXD


GND -----------------------------------------------> GND

4. Then you will hear a beep on Master 2,it will mean that the multimaster setting complete.

5. Turn off Master 2, and binding your Slave 1 with Master 1;

6. Try Master 1, Master 2, Power up will beep 3 times, check if they are working in multimaster mode;

Note: To cancel the multimaster mode , just make Transmitter enter advance binding mode.

Warning: R/C Radio all channels func must match together:

master 1- radio: CH1= ELEV ,CH2 = AILE, CH3 = THRO ,CH4 = RUDD...

master 2- radio: CH1= ELEV ,CH2 = AILE, CH3 = THRO ,CH4 = RUDD...

It is recommended to use the same type radio for this special application!!!!

Please DO NOT turn on RangeLink Transmitters more than one at same time!!! It may make your plane goes to crazy...

Testing for Safe Multimaster Application

1. Fully tested on the ground, make sure that all channel functions match together.

2. Recommended to have a FPV plane with a autopilot control system with return to home function.

3. Start flying from point A, and land the plane at point B (make sure that Point B can get video)

4. When Transmitter A turns off the rc radio, the plane will then enter autopilot mode, and when Transmitter B can see that the plane entered

autopilot mode ,then he can turn on the RC radio ,now the receiver will safely swith to Transmitter B’s control.


6. How to set up in your planeThis is very important, there are lots of electronics that will cause interference in a standard FPV plane, you should keep the RangeLink Receiverw a y from the video Tx ,cameras, and other electronics. An easy way to check if you put the RangeLink Receiver in a right place is below:Configure the RangeLink Transmitter into micro power mode, check if there is any difference in range if u power on other devices and poweroff them. Normally the cameras are the main resource of the range killer, if when you power up one specific device and the range issignificantly shorter, you should keep the RL Receiver as far away from them as possible and not share the same power between them. Anotherway to do your first pre-flight check is to do a ground test with all the devices power on, in micro power mode, you can normally go to 20-70m, in lowpower mode you can go to about 400-1200m on the ground in a city .Caution：1. Never turn on the Tx module without an proper antenna, or you may damage the Tx module. DO NOT rotate your antenna too tight, it

will not help with improving the range, but might break the SMA connector.2. Normally the low-power mode (200 mw) can give you enough range for your flight, so we recommend that you always use the low-powermode to fly, andwhen you find any signs that you may lose control, you can then switch it to high-power mode and you get a full control back,this is a very safe strategy. However, both the high-power and low-power mode does not consume a lot of power, normally it is the same or lessthan your normal radio's power draw.3. In order to get the best experience with this system, you need to make sure that the RangeLink Receiver module has clean and stable power. Ifyou use some big servos or use too many servos (more than 4), its highly recommended that you power the RangeLink Receiver and all the servosusing a stand alone UBEC with clean 5V output. There is a switch-mode regulator built in the RangeLinkTransmitter module, you can power theRangeLinkTransmitter module with a wide volt range 7-13V, if the power to the RangeLinkTransmitter module is getting low or getting high, you canhear the warning buzzer.


4. Although the Rx has been heavily filtered, we strongly recommend you installthe Rx as far as possible with the video transmitters and some cameras with bad power design(such as the KT&C cams, gopro, etc).Do not over tighten the antenna on the Transmitter, this can cause theSMA connector on the transmitter to strip its threads, loosen, break, orwear out very quickly over time. Screw on the RangeLink transmitterantenna until it stops turning. Do NOT tighten it down !!! Once theantenna is snug, the connection is fully made, tightening the antenna anymore will NOT increase performance !!!

Please remove the antenna often unless you have to!!!

Enjoy Long Range FPV flying without worries of Range Limitations!!!

RangeLink UHF LRS Manual v1.3

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