Option 1- Bluetooth
Frsky Bluetooth Trainer
Last updated
Frsky Bluetooth Trainer
Last updated
You can use this Head Tracker directly with radios that support a Bluetooth Trainer Module. There are 3 choices in Bluetooth modules that will work with the Head Tracker.
Note: Option 3 - Bridged also transmits over Bluetooth but doesn't connect to the radio using the same interface. It uses PPM or SBUS. Please see Option 3 - Bridged for more information.
This is FrSky's latest Bluetooth module. It is shipped with their new radios. It is based on the Texas Instruments CC2650. (As best we can tell, the part number is laser etched off)
This is the older version of the Bluetooth module available. It is based on the Texas Instruments CC2540 IC.
To overcome the requirement to buy a FrSky module I have started this side project as well. It uses an easy to find and cheap ESP module to work with the existing Bluetooth interface. There are future plans for it as well. It is still a work in progress but will work for the Head Tracker at the time of this writing.
To use any of the above modules you will need the Bluetooth option compiled into your radios firmware. You can check if you have the Bluetooth option already by going to the Radio Hardware Page, if you see a Bluetooth entry you already have it enabled.
To enable Bluetooth in OpenTX you need to select the Bluetooth option in companion and flash the new firmware.
To enable Bluetooth in EdgeTX you will need to compile it with the -DBLUETOOTH=y option.
There are pre-compiled versions available as well for some releases. 2.7.1 Firmware - https://files.portabledev.xyz/d/f83d44a185ea4895ac97/ 2.8.4 Firmware - https://github.com/pfeerick/lang-firmwares/releases/tag/v2.8.4 You will want to find the one that matches your radio with Bluetooth listed as an option. You can flash this firmware with many methods. There are lots of how-to videos out there for this and probably the best way to visually see how it's done. You can program them in DFU or via the Bootloader. My favorite is via a web browser with EdgeTx Buddy https://buddy.edgetx.org/ If using this method you will choose local file with one chosen from above.
In the GUI under the Bluetooth Tab, select Wireless Transmitter (Head). Also see Bluetooth in the GUI documentation for extra information. Make a note of the Address shown here (It will be used below)
First you need to enable Bluetooth as a Trainer. Long press System button. Then go to Hardware tab.
The color Open/EdgeTX screens are very similar setup.
The Name field will set what the Bluetooth module is advertising as. It is not important what it is set to.
A button will appear below Master/Bluetooth that shows [Discover] click this button to find all the Bluetooth devices. Pick the Nano 33 BLE from the list using the address noted from above. The Blue light on the Nano 33 BLE will come on when a connection has been made.
If you only see [Init] below Master/Bluetooth the Bluetooth module wasn't discovered.
