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 to
use.
Warnings:
1. Make sure that you can use this systemlegally. RangeLink Transmitter in the UHF ISMband, in most
countries; Youcan use it legally if you have a HAMlicense.
2. Although this systemcan 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 v1.3
RLRangeLink is asystemspecially designed for FPVand UAVuse, RL operatesontheISMband 431Mhz-435Mhz. RLfeatures robust FHSS
policy, makingit hardto beinterfered, you can even operate a60W433Mhzradio sidebysidewith the rangelink system. Normally you can
achieveranges that are4-20timesof thenormal pcm/ ppmRCradio, so you dont need to worry about your rc link.
We know what a real FPV/UAV flier needs:
1: RSSI function: Receiver's signal strengthpins that can be connected to your osd for inflight signal indications.
2: PPM output: For someOSDs with PPM input function, the receiver can output all channels with 1 cable, minimizing your wiring.
3: Power switch: The power switch that can beswitched during your flight in asecond, can make your flight much safer. With the power
switch, youcan switch to high power mode immediately whenyouget into failsafe, which meansthat youcan fly without anyreturn to
home systems, andwhenyouget into failsafe, you can just pull the switchandcontrol of the plane will bebackimmediately; What's more,
theRangeLinkhas amicro-power mode built in, soyoucan do the pre-flight range test easily. You also will not need a small and easily a
easily lost dummy load.
4: 12 channels pwm singal output: As a FPV/ UAV flier, Youwill never think your radio has enough channels for your different usage.
5: Strongly filtered: Fully tested withdifferent frequencybands of video transmitters, Rangelink also hasa better power design for both
the Tx and Rx module.
6: High sensitivity: -115dBm, the highest in the market, thismeansthat our 500mwRangeLinksystem can give the same or even more
rangethan theother 1wand 2w UHF systems (yes, this is the truth. We have done the tests many times). So you will need less power for
more range.
7: Compatibility: RangeLinkwill work with any 4-12 channel radio in the market, no matter if the PPM signal is positive or negative.
RangeLink Manual v1.3
Features/Specification:
1.Robust FHSSLink
2.UHF ISM Band 433MHZ(431-435MHZ).
3.Two ways RF power switchLow power(200mW)/ High power(500mW).
4.Headertracker input, adding head-tracker compatibility to most radios.
5.PPM input, ensures compatibility with 3.3v thru12.0v PPM levels.
6.Singlepushbuttonentersrange test mode or failsafe settings mode.
7.Flexiblebindingfunctions, supportsmultimaster mode.
8.TTL UART for firmware upgrades.
9.RangeLinkTransmitter 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, veryuseful for MK Failsafe detector.
12.RangeLinkTransmitter: 7-13VDC, 806424mm , 125g
a) Highpower mode 500mW 12V@180mA
b) Lowpower mode 200mW 12V@120mA
c) Micropower mode <1mW 12V@50mA
13.RangeLinkReceiver 4.8-6VDC(Recommends5V), 402612mm, 18g
a) 12CH PWM Output
b) RSSI Buffered 0-3.2V
c) PPMSignal Output
d) Sensitivity: -115dBm
RangeLink Manual v1.3
Appearance
Antenna: 433MHZ WhipAntenna.
LED: Status indicator.
Mode: Push button failsafesettings, enter binding mode etc.
Two Ways Switch: RF Power Out selector 200mW/ 500mW.
RangeLink Manual v1.3
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 Ground
PPM R/ C Radio PPM Signal Input.(LEVEL 3.3v-12v)
V+ Power for RangeLink Transmitter Module.(Range 7v-13v)
GND Power/ Signal Ground
RangeLink Manual v1.3
R/ C Port Cable
HT Port Cable
RangeLink Manual v1.3
RangeLink Receiver
LED: Status indicator.
SG,TX,RX: TTL UR.
PPM: PPM Signal Out.
RSSI: RSSI Signal Out.
01-12Pin: 12Channels PWM Servo Signal Out.
RangeLink Manual v1.3
RangeLink Receiver (RX) . RangeLink Complete Set.
RangeLink Manual v1.3
Installation
Basically, any 4-12channel radio canwork withthis system; you just need tofindthePPMsignal fromtheradio.
Youcan get thePPMsignal fromthetrainer ports for FutabaNon-JRseries
Radios. Sincethetrainer port of JRradiosonlyoutput 4-channel PPMsignal, soweneed tofind thePPMoutput fromother places, normally wecanget
thePPMsignal fromthe pins oftheRF connector.
You can get all thedefinitions ofthetrainer port for most of thepopular radios here:
http:/ / users.belgacom.net/ TX2TX/ tx2tx/ english/ tx2txgb3.htm.
For theradios, that have removable RF modules, youcan get thePPMsignal fromthepin of theRF connector.As bellow
JR9X2(Imax9x, Turnigy 9x)
RangeLink Manual v1.3
Futaba 9C, 10C(TDF8, TDF9)
WARNINGwhen your radio is Futaba, youshould connect a10kresistor between the
+vandPPMsignal if uwant to get thePPMsignal fromthere, thetrainer port isnot needed.
RangeLink Manual v1.3
RangeLink Manual v1.3
How to use
First makesurethat your radio isset to PPMmode.
Before binding ,you should confirm that the PPM signal from theRadiois correct.
Power up the RangeLinkTransmitter, then first beep ends , if Rangelink Transmitter LED is blinking rapidlythen thePPM signal is good. If LED is solid
on, 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 the
RangeLink Transmitter, after first beep, release the MODE button. The LED will flash every second, which shows the RangeLink Transmitter has entered
the binding mode. Put RangeLink Receiver Close to RangeLink Transmitter then power on the RangeLink Receiver(with antenna),the LED of the Rx will
be 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!
Advance
when 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 the
RangeLink Transmitter, after second beep(---Power up--first beep---10-20secs later--second beep--), release the MODE button. The LED will flash
every second, which shows the RangeLink Transmitter has entered the binding mode. Put RangeLink Receiver Close to RangeLink Transmitter then
power 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 setting
WhentheRL
Transmitter
and RL Receiver module are working(TX LED,RX LED both blinking rapidly), press and hold the MODE button for about
3-5 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 the
channels of the radios.
BTW:binding will cancel(reset) Failsafe signal out.(Works like FMrx)... this featureusefor MK failsafe detector (with newMK firmware);
RangeLink Manual v1.3
3. Micro mode
WhentheRLTransmitter moduleis onpower-off mode, and the2-postionswitch isonthehigh-power place, press theModebuttonand power on
theRL Transmitter module, releasetheModebutton. You will hear thebuilt in buzzer inRLTransmitter moduleevery1seconds, which means the
RLTransmitter modulehas enteredthemicromode, you can nowdo arangetest. If youcanstill get solid control over arangeof 20-70m, then you
canre-power theTxfor anormal longrangeflight.
4. Header tracker
if your headertracker works fine with futaba radio, it will alsowork fine withRangeLink, Just likeX1000,SkyEye GeoMag etc.
Channel Map:
RCRadio (Pan and Tilt) Total
4ch (5-6ch) 6ch
5ch (6-7ch) 7ch
6ch (7-8ch) 8ch
7ch (7-8ch) 8ch
8ch (7-8ch) 8ch
9ch (8-9ch) 9ch
10ch (9-10ch) 10ch
11ch (10-11ch) 11ch
12ch (11-12ch) 12ch
RangeLink Manual v1.3
Port define:
----------HT-------------
TPPM <-------headertracker signal out
PPM ------->(=R/ C PPM)radio ppm signal out for headertracker ,some headertracker need it for sync, some no need ,like X1000
V+ ------>(=R/ C V+)for headertracker power supply
GND ------->(=R/ C GND)headertracker ground
5. 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
RangeLink Manual v1.3
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 Bs control.
RangeLink Manual v1.3
6. How to set up in your plane
This is veryimportant, therearelots of electronics that will cause interferencein astandard FPVplane, youshould keeptheRangeLink Receiver
way fromthevideoTx ,cameras, and other electronics. An easyway tocheckif youput theRangeLink Receiver in aright placeisbelow:
Configure theRangeLink Transmitter into micropower mode, check if thereisany differenceinrangeif u power onother devices and power
off them. Normally thecameras arethemainresourceof therangekiller, if when you power up one specific device and the range is
significantly shorter, you shouldkeepthe RL Receiver asfar away fromthemas possibleand not sharethe samepower between them. Another
wayto doyour first pre-flight checkisto do agroundtest with all thedevicespower on, inmicro power mode, youcan normally goto 20-70m,in low
power mode youcan goto about 400-1200montheground inacity.
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 SMAconnector.
2. Normally thelow-power mode(200mw) can giveyouenoughrangefor your flight, sowerecommendthat youalwaysusethelow-power
modeto fly,andwhen youfind anysigns that you maylosecontrol, you canthenswitch it tohigh-power modeand youget afull control back,
this is averysafestrategy. However, both thehigh-power andlow-power modedoes not consume a lot of power, normallyit is thesameor less
than your normal radio'spower draw.
3. Inorder to get thebest experiencewith this system, youneedto makesurethat theRangeLinkReceiver modulehas cleanandstablepower. If
you usesomebigservos or usetoomany servos (morethan 4), its highly recommendedthat you power theRangeLinkReceiver and all theservos
usingastand aloneUBECwith clean 5Voutput. Thereisaswitch-moderegulator built intheRangeLinkTransmitter module, youcan power the
RangeLinkTransmitter modulewith awidevolt range7-13V,if thepower totheRangeLinkTransmitter moduleis gettinglowor getting high, youcan
hear thewarningbuzzer.
RangeLink Manual v1.3
4. Although theRxhas been heavily filtered, we strongly recommendyouinstall
theRxas far as possiblewiththevideo transmitters andsomecameras with bad power design(suchas theKT&Ccams, gopro, etc).
Do not over tighten the antenna on the Transmitter, this can cause the
SMA connector on the transmitter to strip its threads, loosen, break, or
wear out very quickly over time. Screw on the RangeLink transmitter
antenna until it stops turning. Do NOT tighten it down !!! Once the
antenna is snug, the connection is fully made, tightening the antenna any
more will NOT increase performance !!!
Please remove the antenna often unless you have to!!!
Enjoy Long Range FPV flying without worries of Range Limitations!!!