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Stratus wanna-be (Stratux)

Stratux Housing Designs on Thingiverse

If you are building a Stratux system and planning on making the housings using 3D printing I have three different design on Thingiverse that you may want to look at. They are under Creative Commons - Attribution, so they are yours to use.

There are three different configurations and some variants as to the GPS and software defined radios (SDR) that are used. I have several of each design flying with friends locally for evaluation and so far they are performing well. The Thingiverse files include the bills of material (parts lists) but they are pdf (Thingiverse limits the file types that can be uploaded). If you would like the excel spreadsheets for the BOM just send me a PM. If there is a configuration you are looking for that is not here let me know and perhaps I can generate a design file for it.


Stratux Housing for DUAL NANO 2 SDR and Vk-172 USB GPS w and without FAN
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1378283

Stratux Housing for DUAL MINI 2 SDR and RY725A1I GPS or RY835DI GPS
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1378271

Stratux Housing for DUAL NANO 2 SDR and either RY725AI or RY835DI USB GPS
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1380211
 
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larosta said:
It you are building a Stratux system and planning on making the housings using 3D printing I have three different design on Thingiverse that you may want to look at. They are under Creative Commons - Attribution, so they are yours to use.

There are three different configurations and some variants as to the GPS and software defined radios (SDR) that are used. I have several of each design flying with friends locally for evaluation and so far they are performing well. The Thingiverse files include the bills of material (parts lists) but they are pdf (Thingiverse limits the file types that can be uploaded). If you would like the excel spreadsheets for the BOM just send me a PM. If there is a configuration you are looking for that is not here let me know and perhaps I can generate a design file for it.


Stratux Housing for DUAL NANO 2 SDR and Vk-172 USB GPS w and without FAN
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1378283

Stratux Housing for DUAL MINI 2 SDR and RY725A1I GPS or RY835DI GPS
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1378271

Stratux Housing for DUAL NANO 2 SDR and either RY725AI or RY835DI USB GPS
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1380211
Click to expand...

Is there a commercial source to get these made? I don't know a source of 3-D printing.

My device is working great but my pencil box with drilled holes could stand some improvement!

Thanks,
John
RV-8
 
3D Printing Resources

John,

There are several resources/services out there for having 3D printing done. The key is having a ready to print file, that is where the .stl files that you will find on sites like thingiverse come in. Some designers will also supply .stp files of the 3D models that most of the 3D printing houses can also use.


I ahve used 3dRapidParts.com for making parts for several years. They can be a bit more expensive but their parts are always first quality commercial grade.
http://www.3drapidparts.com/


Another resources is to use local folks that have machines and are outsource their services. I have clients that have used these services and have been very pleased. If the results are not what you want most of the suppliers (individual hobbyists in many cases) are willing to remake the parts until you are satisfied. Here are a couple of the clearing houses that should point you to a local resource:

3D Hubs
https://www.3dhubs.com/

If there are a few VAF folks that want some housings I might be persuaded to make some on my machines if the VAF'er wants to make a donation to Doug. PM me and perhaps we can get you covered.

larosta
 
I bought one of these on amazon. I houses the computer and a single radio receiver. A couple of short usb cables with a 90 degree male connection is used to connect the radio to the computer as well as moving the wireless antenna to the outside of the box. took a few hours of drilling vent holes to get it all together.

The power is supplied to it via a cable plugged into my 5V usb port in the plane.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012SYN4OO?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00

Doug
 
Take the cover off

You don't need a cable for the antenna, take off the plastic cover of one and both will fit directly into the board and case.
 
With the introduction of the quad core Pi3, how long 'till someone ports some android nav software directly to the Pi & adds a touch screen?
 
Stratux Updated Software with AHRS

I just noticed that the Stratux project has released their version 1.o software. This version appears to finally have implemented the AHRS functionally and should be compatible with the earlier hardware.


The GPS receiver and sensor unit they are using is either the

RY836AI 10Hz USB GPS Glonass BeiDou antenna module pressure Compass Gyro sensors

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RY836AI-10H...516214?hash=item2a65430036:g:nSEAAOSwaG9XIsjD

or

RY835AI 10Hz USB GPS Glonass BeiDou antenna module pressure Compass Gyro sensors

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RY835AI-10H...ffa5127&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=182087516214


The software is here:

https://github.com/cyoung/stratux/releases/tag/v1.0r1

larosta
 
Dan Murry High Gain Stratuzx Antennas

I agree. I have tried several different antennas with the system and these are the most compact for the performance, Any antenna design is a set of tradeoffs for the price and support, Dan's seem to work pretty well in this application.

http://stratux.danmurray.net/
 
larosta said:
I just noticed that the Stratux project has released their version 1.o software. This version appears to finally have implemented the AHRS functionally ...
Click to expand...

The Statux code has reached a level of stability to be called "1.0" but I do not believe it has "support" for AHRS yet. When it is supported it is likely not to be supported on ForeFlight unless the EFB changes or publishes some of its proprietary protocol.


img_2314_cropped-320x427.jpg
For those building a basic Stratux, I saw a very nice solution where the owner built a tiny dipole directly onto a BNC connector - one 1/4 wave (?) element sticking up from the center pin and one 1/4 wave (?) element sticking down from the collar - attached to a suction cup. The Stratux was down on the right by the RV-8 gear tower. The suction cup was right above it on the side of the canopy.
 
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The GPS's that are on the Stratux main page are "Currently unavailable" on Amazon. Is there another place to get them or am I missing something?

edit: Nevermind, I think I found the answer.
 
Alternate GPS - RY725AI

You may want to look at the RY725AI as an alternative to the RY836AI. They are on e-bay for $17.50. I have compared several GPS receiver and these work pretty well for the price. They do not have the bro alt, rate gyros, accelerometers, or mag compass. Stratux does not officially support these right now, and Foreflight may not ever, so right now they are just wasting power.



RY725AI 10Hz UART USB interface GPS Glonass QZSS antenna module flash memory

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RY725AI-10H...403752?hash=item2a45f66ba8:g:Aw0AAOSwDk5Tw7TD



If you need a housing here is one that I designed that has the option of using either the RY725AI or RY835AI/RY836AI modules through the use of an adapter.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1378271


- larosta
 
Scrabo said:
Get the Dmurray high-gain antennas
Click to expand...

+1

I got a set of these and they are MUCH better than the one provided with the receivers. I simply placed my Pi box on the floor behind the passenger seat (wired up a USB power port back there) and bought two 3' antenna cables on ebay. I permanently mounted the antennas on a piece of 2024 and riveted it to the little horizontal gusset on the longeron just behind the passenger seat.

An easy and relatively hidden installation.

Larry
 
Larry, could you please post a picture of your install?

Thanks
(or send me one markab320 (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll post it.)
 
Snowflake said:
Has anyone modified the Stratux software to send traffic data to a Garmin GPS?
Click to expand...

I have asked and been told that is a tall order. The TIS-A format used by garmin is proprietary and not used by many other than Garmin. Apparently it can be done (Navworx has it) but it is not easy. The Statux development group had no interest in taking on the effort. It would require someone with knowledge to write the code.

Larry
 
Stratux

I built a unit for my RV-6 and had the case 3D printed from plans I got online and I love my box. It works very well I have less than $200 in my including the AHRS / GPS chip.... Anyone who needs help with building one just contact me.
 
b1driver said:
Awesome and simple all-in-one unit...but no AHRS. What USB option are people purchasing to add the AHRS capability?
Click to expand...

RY835AI off of eBay is the go to GPS / AHRS unit for a lot of Stratux builders. But the AHRS capability may never come about (I have been waiting for it for a year), it apparently is a very technically challenging capability. There is, however, a GPS attitude solution in beta testing that looks promising, so buying that chip would give you something, maybe more down the road.
 
New Stratux software v1.2r1

Available on the Stratux github:

https://github.com/cyoung/stratux/releases/tag/v1.2r1

GPS-based AHRS. Serial output. Bugfixes.

Changes since v1.0r1:

Serial output for CP2102 with a programmed EEPROM.
"Developer mode" webui menu.
UAT statistics display.
Change green LED meaning on RPi - was: filesystem write, now: Stratux running.

Minor changes since v1.1b1:

Command line utilities managing ssid/Wi-Fi settings.
Reduced GDL90 traffic report size to 35 targets per message.
Fan control PWM script improvements.
Click to expand...
 
Building dual band Stratux from kit on Amazon

Easy peasy.
One thing isn't clear though. Neither of the nano receivers provided have any indication of the frequency they are tuned for. Can't tell which one should be connected the appropriate antenna.
Or am I missing something?

Powered up unit and viewed output through wireless connection on my laptop, all sitting on the dining room table. All seems good on 1090 but no indication of signal reception on 978.

screed%20dump%20status_zpslfpgg0pi.jpg


When powered up, one of the receivers has a blue LED illuminated, the other is is white with a green caste. Don't know if this means anything. No mention of how to distinguish in the instructions. Am I missing something?

Hope someone has a clue to this. All help appreciated.
 
Check on either side of the metal USB portion of the SDR, mine were labeled in sharpie there.

Failing that, you can boot up with only one plugged in, and at the command prompt type:

Code: 
service stratux stop
rtl_eeprom -d 0

If your SDRs were purchased pre-programmed, the response to the above command should include a line marked "serial number," and the serial number strong should contain the number either 978 or 1090.
 
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Nope

jwyatt said:
Check on either side of the metal USB portion of the SDR, mine were labeled in sharpie there.

Failing that, you can boot up with only one plugged in, and at the command prompt type:

Code: 
service stratux stop
rtl_eeprom -d 0

If your SDRs were purchased pre-programmed, the response to the above command should include a line marked "serial number," and the serial number strong should contain the number either 978 or 1090.
Click to expand...

No id of any kind. No monitor either. Can this be done when connected wirelessly to laptop?
 
Just bought the DMurray antennas for my stratux. Is the NooElec dongle that the old antenna plugged into not used with these antennas. Looks like they plug right into the case.or is my raspberry an older version that won't work with these antennas?
 
JimS said:
Just bought the DMurray antennas for my stratux. Is the NooElec dongle that the old antenna plugged into not used with these antennas. Looks like they plug right into the case.or is my raspberry an older version that won't work with these antennas?
Click to expand...

Antennas should have SMC connectors and they plug into your SDRs (like the Nooelec) They do not get plugged into the Pi. Did your antennas also come with small square devices that have an SMC plus a USB connector? If so, those are new SDRs that replace the Nooelec.

Larry
 
DaleB said:
Yes, and you can configure the two radios for specific bands. You will need something like PuTTY or a similar SSH program on your laptop (www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html) to connect to the Raspberry Pi. Then you follow these directions.
Click to expand...

If your antennas are tuned for individual frequencies, like the Dmurray units, you'll want to take this step. Otherwise stratux will assign the frequency and you'll only have a 50/50 shot that they match the antenna.

Larry
 
lr172 said:
If your antennas are tuned for individual frequencies, like the Dmurray units, you'll want to take this step. Otherwise stratux will assign the frequency and you'll only have a 50/50 shot that they match the antenna.
Click to expand...
Interesting... My SDR's were marked 1090 and 978, as were the antennas. I have always used them with the corresponding antennas, but haven't done the naming step in the previous link... I thought as they were marked for the frequencies, that they would be somehow labelled internally (software) such that the Stratux would know what to do.

Does the script write something to the SDR that "brands" it with the frequency, or does the script just set something on the PI that says "when this serial number of SDR is plugged in make it this frequency?"
 
The process sets the SDR receiver so that when it's plugged in, the Stratux software can tell whether it's designated for 978 or 1090. If you bought a pair of receivers and antennas that are marked for the bands, the seller should have already set them up for you.
 
DaleB said:
The process sets the SDR receiver so that when it's plugged in, the Stratux software can tell whether it's designated for 978 or 1090. If you bought a pair of receivers and antennas that are marked for the bands, the seller should have already set them up for you.
Click to expand...

Correct. The frequency designation is stored on the SDR, not in the Stratux s/w. When you follow the instructions, it writes the detail to the eprom on the SDR and stratux reads this on startup. I am sure if they were labelled, someone did this step.
 
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