Problem: Low range after WK-DEVO-S Upgrade of 7e

I recently installed the WK-DEVO-S-MOD Upgrade on my Devo 7e. I installed the module like described here:
www.hacksmods.com/2014/10/wk-devo-s-mod-module-for-devo7e

After the mod my radio works fine. It binds perfectly to my quad and controls it like it should. But my range is worse than with the original module.

When I measure the output I get around 0.3 mW. It should have been 100 or 150. I am running the latest stable build of Deviation and have edited hardware.ini with has_pa-cyrf6936 = 1.

When I removed the old module I had trouble with some of the pads, but managed to solder directly to the small dot leading through the PCB.

And because the radio finds the module and everything works like it should with binding and controlling all the channels my idea is that the soldering is OK. If one of the connections is bad I would guess that the radio would not work at all?

So my question is:
1. Can bad soldering of one of the connections cause OK binding etc but bad range? If so, which of the connections could lead to poor range if the connection is bad?

2. If the fact that the module binds and works means that the connections is OK. What can I do to improve the range?

what antenna are you using on the tx? how are you measuring the tx power?

Using a standard 2.4 Ghz whip. And measuring the power directly from the TX with the Immersion RC power meter.

...and watching my Eachine QX95 drop to the floor due to no signal at 5 m distance...

have you made sure the u.fl connector isn't damaged and is seated properly? have you checked the voltage that the module is receiving when it's transmitting? what all have you done to try and troubleshoot and what were the results? as there's obviously an issue somewhere, did you ever power the module without the antenna/rf meter connected?

What's the measured voltage you're supplying the new Devo module (please actually measure)?

I am sorry for the delay. Have been traveling so I haven't been in reach of the radio before now.

Thank you very much for all the information. This really helps when I now keep on debugging.

I have measured actual voltage and it is 5.5 Volts. I have not powered it without an antenna connected.

I went over and measured connection on all the cables and checked again for possible problems.

I also disconnected the antenna and checked the connectors. And I think I found the problem. When I measure connection in the center of the U.fl connector up to the antenna it seems like there is a bad connection.

Unfortunately I don't have a spare right now, but I testet by connecting an antenna that has an U.fl connector. I can not measure the direct power with that solution, but I can connect an antenna to my Immersion RC power meter and check if the signal reach the power meter.

And I now measure a huge difference.

So my conclusion so far is: there was a problem with the cable between the Ufl-connector and the SMA-connector. Meaning that the module probably have been powered up several times without a proper connection to the antenna. This could have damaged the module. But my tests so far with the antenna that I have here now, directly connected to the U.fl seems promising.

I'll do some more tests and check back here when I get hold of a new Ufl->SMA adapter so that I can measure the actual output power.

glad to hear you have found the issue bud, jfip powering the module with no antenna doesn't always damage the pa but it is a high possibility, though with the initial results you have it sounds like you've been one of the lucky ones, perhaps the connection, while bad, was still enough of an outlet to prevent damage.

i'd be glad if you post back once your new u.fl>sma arrives and you test the modules output again, and if I could ask a favour for the community in that could you test each rf chip at tx power settings of lets say 30mw,100mw and 150mw and post the results from the inversion meter it would be much appreciated

As soon as I get the connector I'll measure and publish the results.

I have now fixed the Devo with a new U.fl connector and a new SMA. So I could measure the actual output with my Immersion RF Power Meter. These are the results from my WK_DEVO_S-module:

Sel. output .	Measured output
100µW	0.06 mW
300µW	0.29 mW
1 mW	1.1 mW
3 mW	4.11 mW
10 mW	10.66 mW
30 mW	30.63 mW
100 mW	80 mW
150 mW	112 mW

I don't know if the lower output on the 100 and 150 mW settings are due to the fact that my module could have been damaged when used against the faulty U.fl-connector.

The measurement was done with the Devo set to DSM-output.

I have a new Devo 7e and a 4-in-one-module coming my way from Banggood. When I get that one up and running I'll measure the ouput there as well.

many thanks for the test results bud, it's much appreciated, i'm not sure if that kind of damage would only affect the higher output settings or not but it will be interesting to compare the results against the 4in1.

again many thanks for taking the time to test and post the results

eirikso wrote: I have now fixed the Devo with a new U.fl connector and a new SMA. So I could measure the actual output with my Immersion RF Power Meter. These are the results from my WK_DEVO_S-module:

Sel. output .	Measured output
100µW	0.06 mW
300µW	0.29 mW
1 mW	1.1 mW
3 mW	4.11 mW
10 mW	10.66 mW
30 mW	30.63 mW
100 mW	80 mW
150 mW	112 mW

I don't know if the lower output on the 100 and 150 mW settings are due to the fact that my module could have been damaged when used against the faulty U.fl-connector.

The measurement was done with the Devo set to DSM-output.

Download the RDAT212 documentation and you will see, you got more output at the sma connector as you should have expected normally.

If you convert mw to dBm you will see the difference for 100/80 and 150/112 is just 1 to 2dB which sounds pretty reasonable.

I have now measured the 4-in-1-module as well. Only DSM2 at this point:

1 mW = 0.91 mW
3 mW = 3.4 mW
10 mW = 9.06 mW
30 mW = 37.5 mW
100 mW = 90 mW
150 mW = 112 mW