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VTX Air Unit Software Guide

Table of contents

  1. VOXL SDK Support
    1. SDK Versions
  2. Use Cases
    1. ADB Access
    2. Using External Flight Controller MSP DP
      1. VOXL OSD Service
      2. Beta Flight for Rotor Riot F7
    3. Using VTX as Standard WiFi Modem
      1. WiFi Dongle Modes
      2. VTX WiFi Limitation
      3. Practical Implications

VOXL SDK Support

SDK Versions

VOXL SDK 1.6.X+ recommended (downloads).

Use Cases

ADB Access

The USBC port is a standard VOXL2 Mini USBC port, with ADB access as needed.

Using External Flight Controller MSP DP

VOXL OSD Service

Within the VTX, running on the VOXL2 Mini, is this SDK service for referenc:

https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/voxl-sdk/services/voxl-osd

Beta Flight for Rotor Riot F7

The UART for DVTX had a bug in the 4.5 beta flight firmware that we tested against, so we fixed it using the 4.5 maintenance branch. Here’s a docker project that can build the FW like we did:

https://gitlab.com/voxl-public/support/betaflight-build-docker

Using VTX as Standard WiFi Modem

The following procedure applies to VTX-enabled sUAS (e.g. D0013 Stinger) or the stand-alone (MVX-T0001).

WiFi Dongle Modes

When using an external USB WiFi dongle, two operation modes are supported:

  • Station Mode:
    The drone connects to a nearby WiFi access point (such as a router or mobile hotspot). This allows the drone to access the internet through the connected network.

  • SoftAP Mode:
    The drone creates its own WiFi access point (hotspot). Other devices (such as laptops, tablets, or ground control stations) can connect directly to the drone’s hotspot for communication.

VTX WiFi Limitation

If no external WiFi dongle is used and the VTX’s built-in radio is relied upon, there is an important limitation currently:

  • Station Mode is not available.
    The VTX cannot directly connect to an external WiFi network for internet access.

  • SoftAP Mode remains available.
    By running voxl-wifi and selecting the softap5 option, the VTX can still create its own hotspot. This allows ground devices to connect directly to the drone’s WiFi network for data transfer, but does not provide internet connectivity.

Practical Implications

  • Use a WiFi dongle if your application requires the drone to join an existing WiFi network and gain internet access.
  • Use the built-in VTX SoftAP mode (softap5) when you only need a direct peer-to-peer WiFi link between the drone and a controller device, without internet access.