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Version: 4.x

Hardware

TL;DR​

To get started, you'll need a Raspberry Pi and a MAVLink flight controller. For local testing within your home network, a WiFi or Ethernet connection is sufficient - no modem is required. However, once you're ready for actual flight operations, you'll need a modem. We recommend using a HiLink (Plug and Play) type modem for the best experience.

For manual drone control during flight, we recommend connecting a USB gamepad to Mission Planner using its joystick integration feature.

See additional details below.

Flight Controllers​

All MAVLink-based flight controller boards are supported, including both PX4 and Ardupilot systems.

The Ardupilot project continuously adds support for new flight controllers. You can find the complete list of supported flight controllers at http://ardupilot.org/plane/docs/common-autopilots.html.

Here are some of our supported boards:

  • Pixhawk
  • APMx
  • Cube
  • Matek
  • Navio+
  • Navio2

Connection Methods​

There is two ways to connect the FC to Raspberry PI, either using USB (preferred) or GPIO There is no diffrence in performance but the USB connection is easier and more elegant.

USB​

  • Connect a micro USB cable between the FC and RPI as shown in the picture bellow.
USB cross-sectional

Use a USB cable with large cross-sectional area to minimize the voltage drop supplied to Fligth Controller.

'Usb'

GPIO​

  • Its very imporant to connect tx, rx and ground if you want to use GPIO, and not only tx & rx.
warning

RPI cannot be powered by FC telem port. Make sure you use proper power source for rpi.

'Gpio'

Supported Raspberry Pi boards​

  • Pi0w
  • PI 2
  • Pi 3
  • Pi 4
Pi0w

Pi0w runs fine with UAVcast-Pro, however the CPU usage will be between 50 > 100%. Some functionalities has been disabled to reduce the CPU load!

If you intend to use other programs with UAVcast-Pro then Pi3 or 4 version is recommended.

##Power supply It's important that Raspberry Pi gets voltage between 4.8 and 5.3v. If you use LTE modem, make sure you are not overloading the USB port per. design.

Read the modem specification / datasheet and make sure the modem is not consuming more than MAX output defined in the table below.

USB Camera

If you use USB camera, make sure you include the camera consumption as well.

https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/raspberry-pi.html#typical-power-requirements

  • Limited by PSU referes the value from the (Recommended PSU current capacity). Make sure you use a proper power supply that are able to deliver above this value.

    'pi power table'

If you need to add external power, please see instructions bellow. This is one solution, where we attach the power directly to the USB +/- pins, and one wire to the RPI fuse. The latter will make sure RPI is booting automatically when powered.

note

Make sure you connect the modem to correct USB port where external power supply is connected.

'raspberry power supply'

Modem​

UAVcast uses modem manager and network manager to control the LTE connection. Check out this page to find supported modems, Supported modem

###Recommended Huawei HiLink modems by Countries

note

Please send a mail to support@uavmatrix.com or open a new PR on github if you know of other working Huawei modems in your country!

CountryCarrierRecommended ModemRecommended APN
AustraliaTelstraE3372h-153 E3372h-607telstra.wap telstra.internet
Austriabob A1 Telekom AustriaE3372h-153 E3372h-607bob.at
BulgariaVivacomE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet.vivacom.bg
Czech RepublicO2E3372h-153 E3372h-607internet
Czech RepublicVodafoneE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet
FranceBouyguesE3372h-153 E3372h-607mmsbouygtel.com
FranceOrangeE3372h-153 E3372h-607orange.fr / orange
FranceSFRE3372h-153 E3372h-607websfr
GermanyT-MobileE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet.t-d1.de
GermanyO2E3372h-153 E3372h-607internet
GermanyVodafoneE3372h-153 E3372h-607web.vodafone.de
GreeceCosmoteE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet
GreeceWIND HellasE3372h-153 E3372h-607gint.b-online.gr
HungaryMagyar TelekomE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet.telekom
ItalyIliadE3372h-153 E3372h-607iliad
ItalyTIME3372h-153 E3372h-607ibox.tim.it
ItalyVodafoneE3372h-153 E3372h-607web.omnitel.it
LatviaTele2E3372h-153 E3372h-607mobileinternet.tele2.lv
MalaysiaDiGiE3372h-153 E3372h-607diginet
NetherlandsT-MobileE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet
NorwayTelenorE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet.public / internet
PolandOrangeE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet
PortugalVodafoneE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet.vodafone.pt
SingaporeSingtelE3372h-153 E3372h-607e-ideas
SingaporeStarHubE3372h-153 E3372h-607shwap
SpainMovistarE3372h-153 E3372h-607movistar.es
SpainYoigoE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet
SwedenHalebopE3372h-153 E3372h-607halebop.telia.se
SwedenTele2E3372h-153 E3372h-6074G.tele2.se
SwedenTelenorE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet.telenor.se
SwedenTeliaE3372h-153 E3372h-607online.telia.se
SwitzerlandSaltE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet
SwitzerlandSunriseE3372h-153 E3372h-607internet
SwitzerlandSwisscomE3372h-153 E3372h-607gprs.swisscom.ch
SwitzerlandSwisscomE3372h-153 E3372h-607corporate.swisscom.ch APN User: testprofil and APN Password: temporary
TurkeyTurkcellE3372h-153 E3372h-607mgb / internet
UKEEE3372h-153 E3372h-607everywhere
USAAT&TE3372h-510various
USASprintNo infoNo Info
USAT-MobileE3372h-510 E3276s-505 MS2372h-517fast.t-mobile.com, epc.tmobile.com
USAVerizonE3372h-510vzwinternet
Modem LED Status
  • Green, flashing twice every 2s: The USB-Modem is powered on.
  • Green, flashing once every 0.2s: The software of the USB-Modem is being upgraded.
  • Green, flashing once every 2s: The USB-Modem is registering with a 2G network.
  • Blue, flashing once every 2s: The USB-Modem is registering with a 3G network.
  • Cyan, flashing once every 2s: The USB-Modem is registering with a 4G network.
  • Green, solid: The USB-Modem is connected to a 2G network.
  • Blue, solid: The USB-Modem is connected to a 3G network.
  • Cyan, solid: The USB-Modem is connected to a 4G network.

HiLink or Stick modems

Some Huawei USB modems have a mode called "HiLink" which provides for "driverless" installation on Windows, Macintosh and Linux computers. These modems usually have the HiLink logo marked on the outside, or have letter H in the model name. Example E3372H. All modems in the table above is HiLink!

Stick modems is a regular modem where you need to send AT commands to establish a cell connection. UAVcast has all the connection stuff you need integrate a stick modem.

HiLink Advantages

The big advantages being that the connection time is very fast and hassle free. A HiLink modem uses a web browser to access the modem settings.

It acts more or less like a plug and play modem, you don't need to configure any parameters in UAVcast-Pro or Raspberry Pi.

HiLink Disadvantages

Hilink modems does not support Port Forwarding out of the box. You certainly almost every-time need to flash new firmware to access the Port Forwarding menu in the modem web interface.

However, if you use VPN connection then HiLink is a perfect choice as VPN does't not require any port forwarding.

Camera​

There are several cameras that works with UAVcast-Pro,

  • PiCam

  • Logitech C920

  • Logitech C615

  • GoPro. (Can be used with HDMI to CSI converter). This allows users to record and view live stream simultaneously.

    'UAVcast-Pro and GoPro'

  • Supported GoPro cams:

    • HERO7 Black
    • HERO (2018)
    • HERO6 Black
    • HERO5 Black
    • HERO4 (Black and Silver Editions)
    • HERO3+ (Black and Silver Editions)
    • HERO3 (White, Silver, and Black Editions)
    • HERO2)
      • GoPro example video from one of our users.

  • Other cameras may also work. search for (camera type) and gStreamer.

Mission Planner and QGroundControl supports video stream by default on port 5600.