Skip to content

Midi Edition

Jump to bottom
Linar Yusupov edited this page Oct 26, 2023 · 39 revisions


Midi Edition is a successor of SoftRF Mini Edition.

It is supposed to require minimal skills from a builder to begin with and gives an opportunity to evaluate if the SoftRF technology is appropriate for your needs.

The Midi is based upon third-party's hardware - Heltec Wireless Tracker board, which is available for direct purchase from manufacturer at more or less reasonable price (20+ USD).

                

Wireless Tracker is:

  • a multipurpose ,
  • DIY-friendly ,
  • low power ,
  • lightweight

- LoRaWAN GNSS assets tracker board.

The Wireless Tracker is an example of cutting edge technology. It contains:

  • Espressif ESP32-S3FN8 SoC ;
  • Semtech SX1262 Long Range Low Power RF Transceiver ;
  • UniCore UC6580 L1 + L5/L2 bands GNSS receiver; it supports GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo, NAVIC, QZSS ;
  • 0.96" 160x80 SPI TFT display

Compatibility 1

Type Protocol FLARM OGN tracker PilotAware Skytraxx SoftRF
Radio FLARM AIR V6

 

OGNTP

 

P3I

 

FANET+

Data FLARM NMEA

  Garmin GDL90

 

Dump1090  

1 - it is necessary for a reader to distinguish the difference between statement "compatible" and statement "fully compatible".
     SoftRF implements only a reasonable minimum of the protocols specs. No "bells and whistles" so far.

Midi vs Mini

This is a picture of Mini and Midi Editions, side by side.


One can see that the new Edition is a little bit bigger than the Mini, that's why it's name is Midi.


Edition Mini Midi
First appearance 2020 2023
SoC Cypress PSoC 4100S Espressif ESP32-S3
Flash memory 128 KB 8 MB
SRAM 16 KB 512 KB
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth external LE (HM-10) 5 LE
sub-1GHz radio SX1262 SX1262
Battery ext. Li-Ion ext. Li-Ion
GNSS GK9501 or AT6558 UC6580
Display built-in 0.96" OLED built-in 0.96" TFT
USB 2.0 FS
Client/Host
Air pressure sensor external BMP280 external BMP280

Use cases

Same that the SoftRF Mini Edition has.

Disclaimer

SoftRF firmware for Midi Edition is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

In general a lot of Chinese DIY electronics manufacturers are known to behave this way:

  • sometimes they may not apply necessary Q.C. before releasing of a product from factory ;
  • they may arbitrary change schematics and electronic components from one batch to the next one ;
  • they may terminate manufacturing of a board just few month after initial production.

Author of SoftRF firmware:

  • will reject any hardware related claims associated with Heltec Wireless Tracker development kit. Ask for support from seller or manufacturer ;
  • reserves the right to suspend or terminate support of Heltec Wireless Tracker in the firmware at any time.

For the time being ( August '23 ) there were no critical hardware issues reported for current version of the Wireless Tracker kit. However things my change over the time...
If you have issues with bringing up your new Heltec Wireless Tracker or just not happy with the board - be prepared to execute your Purchase Protection plan.

Bill of materials

Required

Number Part Qty Picture Source
1 Heltec
Wireless Tracker 2 		1 AliExpress 1 2 3
Amazon

2 - 868 MHz variant is applicable for these world regions: EU, RU, NZ, SA, IN ;
     915 MHz - US, CA, AU, KR, IL ;
     433 MHz - CN .

Recommended

Number Part Qty Picture Source
2 SMA female to uFL adapter 1 AliExpress
3 868 MHz SMA dipole antenna 3 1 AliExpress
4 Antenna
868 MHz 4 		1 EBay
AliExpress 1 2
5 602248 560mAh Li-Po battery with JST 1.25mm 2pin connector 1 AliExpress

3 - 868 MHz variant is applicable for these world regions: EU, RU, NZ, SA, IN ;
     915 MHz - US, CA, AU, KR, IL ;
     433 MHz - CN .


Quick start

TBD

Settings

Description of Web UI settings is located here.

Enclosure


STL files of this enclosure are available on Thingiverse.

Additional information on Wireless Tracker board

  1. Heltec product info
  2. Schematics: V0.3  ,  V0.5  

Hardware

SoftRF

SkyView

Flight Recorder

Adapters

Software

Firmware

Tools

Protocols

Clone this wiki locally