Bluetooth on Radiomaster TX16S

Do you want to follow in real time on a map where your model is flying ?

Do you want to add wireless trainer capability to your Radiomaster TX16s ?

You can do it with a bluetooth module. Now, this module can even be internal, mounted on a dedicated footprint of the radiomaster TX16s mainboard.

This instructable describes how to add internal bluetooth module on a Radiomaster TX16S.

You'll need basic soldering skills and equipment.

I found starting point information on openrcforums.

The remaining has been gathered through datasheets, github projects, ...

Radiomaster TX16S

RF-BM-S02 module

ARDUINO Uno

FTDI USB to USART module

PC Computer with internet access (probably also possible with different computer flavors)

Soldering iron

Faith

We'll use CCloader github project for this step.

Download CCloader archive from here.

The Zip file contains the folders :

- Arduino > Contains the arduino project

- Bin > We'll not use the content

- Source Code > We'll not use the content

- Windows > Contains the windows executable

Unzip and Open the arduino project with arduino SW, then flash it to your arduino uno board.

CCLoader project help shows a diagram on the wiring where "DC" means Debug Clock, and "DD" Debug Data.

The CC2540 datasheet indicated these correspond to ports P21 and P22 on the bluetooth module.

Wire as follows :

- module pin 1 : GND to arduino GND

- module pin 2 : VCC to arduino 3.3V (CC2540 is not 5V tolerant)

- module pin 3 : P22 ( DC) to arduino D5 GPIO port

- module pin 4 : P21 (DD) to arduino D6 GPIO port

- module pin 5 : RES to arduino D4 GPIO port

Note : I used an SOIC clamp to make things easy. If you don't own one, you can solder the wires directly on the board. I had to remove the spring on my clamp in order to open it wider than designed to.

You'll need to download from internet the bootloader binary to be loaded.

You can find it in a Bluetooth.zip file provided by Kilrah on openrcforums : here

It is the SBL_CC254xF256_UART0_ALT1.bin file.

Open a command window in the CCLoader/Windows directory.

Then type the command :

CCLoader_x86_64.exe [COM PORT] [BIN File] [opt]

where :

- [COM PORT] is the COM port your arduino is connected to (you can see this in your arduino application)

- [BIN File] is the path to the SBL_CC254xF256_UART0_ALT1.bin file

- [opt] = 0

You should get a Success message.

You'll need a "FTDI" USB to USART tool.

It must be 3.3V capable, since the CC2540 chip is not 5V tolerant.

Connect :

- module pin 1 : GND to FTDI GND

- module pin 2 : VCC to FTDI 3.3V (CC2540 is not 5V tolerant)

- module pin 16 : P03 to FTDI RX pin

- module pin 17 : P02 to FTDI TX pin

Note : I used an SOIC clamp to make things easy. If you don't own one, you can solder the wires directly on the board. I had to remove the spring on my clamp in order to open it wider than designed to.

Download and install SerialBoot Tool from TI website.

Select the COM port of your plugged FTDI.

Select the blemodule.bin file from Bluetooth.zip archive you already downloaded.

Burn untill you get the success message.

Open the Radiomaster TX16s Radio.

4 screws on the back + 2 on the top... remove the side handles... and don't forget to open slowly to unplug the speakers.

Look on the net if you have never done it, plenty of material, plenty of youtube videos.

The pads for the bluetooth module are easylly found..

You can unplug and keep the vibrating motor wires away with some scoth tape.

Solder one pad, ensure the module is square and well aligned, then solder the rest of the pads.

Cleanup with isopropil alcohol and a toothbrush, to remove burned flux.

Wire back the vibrating motor, speakers, close the radio with screws.

Make sure you flashed an OPENTX firmware with the bluetooth option activated

In the System settings, activate bluetooth, set a name for it in lowercase (seems important, I did not try otherwise).

For information, make sure your telemetry Viewer application on your android terminal is at least 1.8.6.

You can select the Beta tester option in Google Play store for that, if necessary. At the moment latest stable version seem to be 1.7.0.

Now, leave the computer, the shop, and go have fun outside, you geek !!