Help needed: Deviation and telemetry equipment

To all experts:

I need some help and recommendations with regard to deviation running on Walkera Devo 12S to start using telemtry equipment for RC helicopters.

It would be great if you can answer my questions:

1) Is it generally possible to use Walkera WK-CTL01-D telemtry modules incl. Walkera receiver with full Deviation support?




2) Walkera is offering sensor solutions for temperature, voltage, rpm and GPS. Does any of you have a recommendation for a suitable current sensing module (approx. 0..50 amp)?

3) Have you even got a better recommendation for any kind of Deviation compatible telemetry equipment not causing a budget explosion? (IISI e. g. is well known). I like to at least monitor and log LIPO current, LIPO cell voltage, motor or rotor rpm, GPS and one or two temperatures.

Thanks a lot for any kind of help.
Johannes

@ FDR:

Thanks a lot for your reply and the helpful information!

I will order a bundle telemetry module plus GPS sensor to start playing a bit.

May I ask some additional questions? As background: I got a lot of experience in micro electronics - so it wont be any problem for me to assemble hall effect current sensors or any other kind of converter to 0..+5V input signal range.

1) The by far most relevant parameter of interest is consumed battery capacity (main current x time). Is there any chance in deviation to get such figure on the main display e. g. by using a timebased integration of the 0..+5V spare input as equivalent to 0..50A?
Even better would be the possibility to add alarm thresholds.

2) There is a great telemetry system in the market (IISI / Switzerland) just for the basic functions operating RC helis. It allows monitoring of battery capacity, battery overall voltage and battery cell voltage - everything combined with configurable thresholds and acoustic alarms. In addition you can configure a trigger condition such as main current > x amps.
Are there any plans or opportunities to add similar functionality in future deviation releases? In my opinion they would further increase usability and "unique selling points" of deviation.

3) To me it appears relatively simple implementing a kind of data logging functionallity based on already given modules.
It would e. g. mean to once define a simple loggng table (channel names, sample rates, scaling, trigger condition). During operation the software would store a ASCII (or similar) file with all received telemetry data - especially parameters of interest such as GPS, speed, rpm,...
Is it imaginable to go for such feature in future deviation releases?

Thanks a lot for all your help,
Johannes

Now that PB is close to finishing work on the Universal module (if not finished) he may start looking at FRSky compatibility. (MAY, I have no idea what he's up to... )

I've been able to bind my D8 frsky receiver. At this point there is no telemetry in deviation for FRSky, but, FRSky does have a current sensor, among many other sensors. They are generally pretty affordable.

I have a Spektrum TM1100 module and I do get telemetry back from that, but there are some weird readings. (Altitude continually increases even though there is not ALT sensor connected. And my voltage readings "flicker") There is a new spektrum current sensor coming out, but I haven't seen a price for those yet.

Walkera telemetry has been very reliable for me so far. The only thing I don't like is that just to get the basic RX and Flight pack voltage, you have to buy a module. Not tooooo much of a pain, but if all you want is RX and 1 external pack voltage, then it's over kill. (FRSky and Futaga have those built into the RX, no module required)

I use my walkera telemetry for ESC temp, flight back voltage, RX voltage and Rotor Head RPM.