Hi Lonn. My suggestion is that you get something very cheap like maybe the Syma X11 ($20 on Amazon), or the Hubsan x4, just to learn how to fly a quadcopter. After that, the Cheerson CX 20 looks like a good one, just make sure it's the open source version. http://m.banggood.com/Cheerson-CX20-Opensource-Version-AutoPathfinder-Quadcopter-RTF-p-932145.html . This has return to home and will connect to mission planner. However, if you plan on doing some of the cellular stuff on this website, it may not fit everything. Check out what this guy did.

DroneCell

Sinamics

My first experience with cellular telemetry was Droncell (Sim900) & (Sim900D) mounted in Hexacopter with APM 2.5 board. I used allot of time studying the AT commands needed for my connections. I actually got it to work with blind connections as you can see in this video.

http://youtu.be/pV4_WlfTPq0

Bellow is all AT commands needed for initialize Dronecell trough serial interface both UDP/TCP. (Personally i prefer UDP connection instead of TCP )

If you want to test AT commands from your computer, you can use free Terminal software and connect Dronecell to usb/ftdi converter

  "AT V1 E1 X1 S0=0"  // Set error response and do not pickup on ring
   "AT+CREG=2"         // Set various notice messages and parameters
   "AT+CMEE=2"
   "AT+CR=1"
   "AT+CRC=1"
   "AT+CSNS=4"
   "AT+CSMINS=1"
   "AT+CSCLK=0"
   "AT+CIURC=1"
   "AT+CGEREP=2"
   "AT+CIPMUX=0"
   "AT+CIPMODE=1"
   "AT+CIPCCFG=8,15,15,0"
   "AT+CMUX=0,0,4,127,10,3,30,10,2"
   "AT+CSTT=\"internet.public\"" //Set you APN
   "AT+CIICR"  //open GPRS
   "AT+CIFSR" // Get local IP address
   "AT+CIPSTART=\"UDP\",\"\",\"14550\""        //  Start the UDP server

If you want to set the Dronecell as TCP server you need to use bellow code

AT+CGATT?   //attached to GPRS ?
AT+IPR=57600
AT+IFC=2,2   //"it's better to use hardware flow control"
AT+CIPMODE=1  //Enable transparent mode
AT+CSTT="internet"  //set APN
AT+CIICR   //open GPRS
AT+CIFSR      // Get local IP address
AT+CIPSERVER=1,1234//Start the TCP server, listening port:1234

image 14177853385537c0a431175109460681.jpeg

Lonn

Hey everyone, I'm looking to invest a little money in my first multi-rotor, and want to try to find something that 1) Is good for a beginner 2) Is cheap to start out 3) Is durable 4) Is scalable. I want the basic components to be able to be used as I replace/upgrade parts to increase flight times, GPS capability, Video capability, etc., etc. Any suggestions are welcome!

Rodomovil

Hi Bernt, thank you very much for your answer. I´m planning to buy a raspberry pi B or B+ and a 3G modem (There aren´t 4G here in Argentina today). Wich omands secuence should I use for enaling USB modem? Is there any particular kind of modem I should ask for? Do you have a script for this? And finally, I´ve seen that everytime you post a test you have to load everything again on raspberri pi. I´m wondering if you can make a seuqence where you just start the raspberry pi and it starts the comands secuence more or less witout any operator intervention.

Thanks again. I´m very excited about your work, when I was almost dreaming with it you´ve already done it.

Best Regards
Rodolfo

Sinamics

Hi again Rodolfo
Yes i use script in my RPI for blind connections. You dont need to load RPI every time. When everything is properly configured, the board will automatically connect and start your telemetry stream or video.

Please create a new forum thread(easier to explain there), and i can give you my advice and my script`s.

Rodomovil

Another question, do you think the rasp pi A+ would have enough power to take the video compresion? Or I should go for a rasp pi b+?
Thanks in advance.
Rodolfo

Sinamics

I have been using RPI A+ for a long time. No issues..
So that wont be a problem.

Rodomovil

I took your advice and created the new forum here.

Ahmed_Elbacksawy

hi 🙂 ..... can you help me about how to connect it with APM from hardware connection ????

Sinamics

Hi Ahmed and welcome.
If you refer to Dronecell, you only need to connect Dronecell TX -> APM RX , and dronecell RX -> APM TX

image 10990950035665ad05be53c532625822.png

Ahmed_Elbacksawy

thanks alot ..... hope it work
as you see my projcet to use a drone cell with a main goal that to add away point -GPS point- by SMS

there is any advice or help that it make it easier for me

Sinamics

I`ve not done this myself, so i cant give you exact answer.
But i would have started with adding code for receive sms in APM.

This code is Copy pasted from another site. It should give youo an idea on how this works,
There are alot of Arduino code availible on internet for send / receive sms,

#include "SIM900.h"
#include 
#include "sms.h"

SMSGSM sms; 
char number[]="3921234567";
char message[180];
char pos;
char *p;
void setup()
{
 Serial.begin(9600);
 if (gsm.begin(2400))
   Serial.println("\nstatus=READY");
 else Serial.println("\nstatus=IDLE");
};

void loop() 
{
 pos=sms.IsSMSPresent(SMS_UNREAD);
 Serial.println((int)pos);
 if((int)pos>0&&(int)pos<=20){
   Serial.print("NUOVO MESSAGGIO, POS=");
   Serial.println((int)pos);
   message[0]='\0';
   sms.GetSMS((int)pos,number,message,180);
   p=strstr(message,"testpwd");
   if(p){
     Serial.println("PSWD OK");
     p=strstr(message,"LEDON");
     if(p){
       Serial.println("LED ON");
       digitalWrite(13,HIGH);
     
}else{
       p=strstr(message,"LEDOFF");
       if(p){
         Serial.println("LED OFF");
         digitalWrite(13,LOW);
       }
     }
   }
   sms.DeleteSMS((int)pos);
 }
 delay(5000);
};

And from there you will need to write a function in APM code to handle the cordinates received.
This would be the tricky part. But with little help from google, i think its doable.

Ahmed_Elbacksawy

can you give me example for this function to know exactly what i need ??

Ahmed_Elbacksawy

I tried very hard to building ArduPilot for APM2.x on Windows with Arduino from this link http://dev.ardupilot.com/wiki/building-ardupilot-with-arduino-windows/

but not working i use Win.7 ,some thing wrong and i cant know it

image 132555161156665afe59544531707570.jpeg

Sinamics

You need to use another APM version.
Download this source. https://github.com/diydrones/ardupilot/releases/tag/ArduPlane-3.2.1 and you should be fine.

image 12138018015666888ea9d7e495372760.png

Otherwise, you need to use Eclipse and Make.
http://dev.ardupilot.com/wiki/building-apm2-with-eclipse-on-windows/

Ahmed_Elbacksawy

haaaaaaay it help me alot laugh thanks pro yeswink ...... ididnt know that the problem in the APM version

if there are any problem in SITL Simulator too ???? it dosent work at my WIN

Sinamics

I`ve never tried SITL sim, so i cant help you.
But please post the soluition if you find any.

Ahmed_Elbacksawy

i will try .... but you didnt till my until now an xample for this function to know exactly what i need ??

Sinamics

I do not have any examples, as i never did this myself.
As said, this would be the tricky part and you will need to study the code to determine where and how you could implement this function in a good and safe manner.

Ahmed_Elbacksawy

i think it will be more easier if we use SITL

Sinamics

Agree, SITL will be a huge benefit for this project.