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Using the WiFly RN-XV from Roving Networks

Posted by Bill Bonney on March 1, 2013 at 10:00am

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Hi

following on from this post by Chris A.  http://www.diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/connecting-to-apm-2-5-via-bluetooth?xg_source=activity

I have been using the WiFly RN-XV module from Roving Networks as a telemetry link to the APM 2.5. I have been using the XtremeBee adapter from 3DR to connect it to the APM.

I have to say this unit is amazing at it can be configured in so many different ways. It's a mini, no micro-router. It's great. (I know it's short range, but if you fly within a small area as many do it's not an issue, long range FPV enthusiasts look away now ;-) )

Due to it's flexibility the WiFly can be somewhat daunting to configure. I am going to list out some standard configs to help people get started.

This is the simplest configuration and is great at home when you have an available WiFi network. Good for testing, and leaves your computer able to connect to the internet.

To configure the WiFly connect it using an FTDI cable to  your computer. (I'm using a Mac so this will be Unix flavour, for windows you can use, mmm been along time, is Hyperterminal still there?)

The default baud is 9600, to connect i run Terminal and the command

screen /dev/cu.usbserial-AM01RMWT 9600

type $$$ to enter setup mode.

Option: Infrastructure TCP

  1. factory R
  2. set uart baudrate 57600
  3. set wlan ssid YOUR_SSID
  4. set wlan phrase PASSOWRD
  5. set ip flags 0x6 (means TCP connection closed on disconnect)
  6. set uart baudrate 57600
  7. save infratcp (save it with a name, so easily switch configs with load later)
  8. save
  9. reboot

Now you should be able to connect using Mission Planner TCP option to assigned IP address port 2000

Option: Soft AP

You can also set the Wi-Fly up as a micro-router In this mode device connect to the device

  1. set ftp address 0
  2. set ftp filename wifly-EZX-AP.img
  3. set dns name rn.microchip.com
  4. ftp update
  5. factory R
  6. set uart baudrate 57600
  7. save
  8. reboot
  9. set ip address 10.0.0.1
  10. set ip net 255.255.255.0
  11. set ip gateway 10.0.0.1
  12. set wlan channel 11
  13. set wlan APMNetwork
  14. save softap
  15. save
  16. reboot

You can simply connect to the APMNetwork to 10.0.0.1:2000 to connect to the APM

There are other modes as well, like UDP, ADHOC etc... I haven't used them yet, but I can post configurations as needed.

Hope this helps :-)

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Comments

  • Mike l Boyle January 2, 2015 at 11:40pm
    For windows user you can try Tera term program to set the rn-xv up
    It's open source here is a link
    http://ttssh2.sourceforge.jp/index.html.en
    I was able to communicate with it but I haven't changed any sets on it
    It's like learning a new language :)
  • Rana March 27, 2013 at 11:50am

    Thanks Bill, I am getting telemetry on my Android 4.03 T-Pad IS709C from APM via Wi-Fly. The Wify is hooked up wirelessly on to my home internet Wifi router;

    ?ui=2&ik=0f0f775e70&view=att&th=13dacedea41cece2&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=1430683273256763392-local0&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P9pBl3ZKGRPkvcE4pTGUq2a&sadet=1364410223678&sads=wP5BPrCYbpw_zR_w_7MHPGktskI

  • Developer
    Bill Bonney March 27, 2013 at 11:34am
    It's not a typo. The gateway is the device that know how to route packets not on the current subnet. This is a private close subnet, so there is no where to route packets in anycase. If you had a computer or another router connected that had a connection to another network, you could set the gateway to be that device to route packets not on your subnet to them. That device would need routing information to the other network.
  • Rana March 27, 2013 at 8:17am

    Bill, in the configuration of Soft AP, you have shown in your blog post, is having IP and the gateway same "10.0.0.1"

    I hope its typo error !

  • Rana March 25, 2013 at 6:56am

    APM with Wi-Fly in Adhoc network mode.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCRmZbli0Bw

    @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
    @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
    25.03.2013

    get everything
    WiFly Ver 2.30, 10-26-2011 on RN-171
    Beacon=100
    Probe=60
    Reboot=0
    OPEN=*OPEN*
    CLOSE=*CLOS*
    REMOTE=*HELLO*
    FlushSize=450
    MatchChar=0
    FlushTimer=10
    IdleTimer=0
    CmdChar=$
    IF=DOWN
    DHCP=AUTOIP
    IP=169.254.1.1:2000
    NM=255.255.255.0
    GW=0.0.0.0
    HOST=0.0.0.0:2000
    PROTO=TCP,
    MTU=1524
    FLAGS=0x7
    TCPMODE=0x0
    BACKUP=0.0.0.0
    DNS=0.0.0.0
    Name=server1
    Backup=backup2
    FTP=208.109.78.34:21
    File=wifly-EZX.img
    User=roving
    Pass=Pass123
    Dir=public
    Timeout=40
    FTP_mode=0x0
    SSID=WiFly-GSX-46
    Chan=1
    ExtAnt=0
    Join=0
    Auth=OPEN
    Mask=0x1fff
    Rate=0, 1 Mb
    Linkmon=0
    Passphrase=hobbyking
    TxPower=12
    SleepTmr=0
    WakeTmr=0
    Trigger=0x1
    Autoconn=0
    IoFunc=0x0
    IoMask=0x21f0
    IoValu=0x0
    DebugReg=0x0
    PrintLvl=0x1
    TimeEna=0
    TIMEADR=129.6.15.28:123
    Zone=7
    Baudrate=57600
    Flow=0x0
    Mode=0x0
    JoinTmr=1000
    Replace=0x24
    DeviceId=WiFly-EZX
    Password=
    Format=0x0
    Signal=0
    Average=5
    BCAST=255.255.255.255:55555
    Interval=0x7
    Sensor=0x0
    SensePwr=0x0
    <2.30>

  • c j g March 3, 2013 at 2:34am

    ... @Bill, sorry. Beeing European, nowadays android is much more used in tech-related communities, so the question was just in this mind. But i 've the feeling, soon you could answer my question yourself ;)

  • Developer
    Bill Bonney March 1, 2013 at 11:39pm
    Somebody send me an Android device and I will test ;-) it will work however if AndroPilot can make TCP connections. Kevin's done some good work there, I'm not sure if that is a feature implemented yet, but it shouldn't be hard.
  • c j g March 1, 2013 at 11:18pm

    Thanks for sharing. Could you test Andropilot gs as well? Best c.

  • Dmitry Che March 1, 2013 at 10:33pm

    Thank you very much!!!

  • Rana March 1, 2013 at 4:56pm

    Thanks Bill, quite useful documents for all. Long back, I had downloaded all the relevant docs from this link.

This reply was deleted.