Connect RTK Facet to a Hi Target HDL-460A radio

[javierlq21]

Hello, I would like to know if there is a way to connect an HDL-460A external radio to an RTK Facet or RTK Express via the USB-C port, so I can use it as a Base.

HDL-460A External Radio | Hi-Target Surveying Instrument Co.Ltd

I was checking this link and I would like to know if it is possible to connect it this way or if it can be connected directly to the antenna

Output to an Embedded System - SparkFun RTK Product Manual

Thanks for your response

[TS-Russell]

Not easily…it looks like that radio uses a LEMO 5 pin and 12v serial (just guessing based on what’s in the datasheet) for serial connection…but if you made an adapter and stepped up the voltage you might be able to.

We generally recommend just using SiK Telemetry Radio V3 - 915MHz, 100mW - WRL-19032 - SparkFun Electronics and the data port on the facet…see here for more info

[javierlq21]

Hi, thanks for your reply, yes I have the LEMO 5-pin to USB-C cable and for power it would be with a 12V 36Ah battery. I have already requested the SparkFun Serial Basic Breakout - CH340C and USB-C to make the connection according to Output to an Embedded System - SparkFun RTK Product Manual
Let’s wait until the connection is made to see how it works

[toeknee]

I use a Satel 35W Easy Pro radio with my Facet base and Satel 1W Easy radio with my Facet rover.

I used the SparkFun MAX3232 breakout to convert the Facet TTL serial to RS-232 serial for the Satel radios. I put the MAX3232 in a tiny enclosure with a DB9 for the RS-232 and a JST for the Facet.

You should be able to find a LEMO to DB9 cable if you decide to take this route.

I’m interested to hear how your USB connection works. Doesn’t one of the devices be in USB Host mode? That page from the RTK Product Manual is specifically for connecting the Facet data port to a computer (and it’s usually a computer that implements the USB host.) It seems to me you are just connecting two USB peripherals with no host.

I don’t know where you’re going to use that 35W radio. In the USA I had to get a license to use mine.

[BlackManOps]

Well, you weren’t required to get a license to use it.

[toeknee]

@javierlq21 Here’s a link to a post in which I inquired about the Facet USB port for a radio and @sparky ’s answer.

Facet - use USB connector for telemetry radios?

Is it possible to use the Facet’s USB connector for the telemetry radio link for the base-rover RTCM data? The JST connectors and cables are fragile. The 4-pin to 6-pin JST cable is not a common item like a 6-pin to 6-pin JST cable. I’ve had to frankenstein a few, either in the field or when Sparkfun.com was out of stock. I’ve purchased different models of 900Mhz telemetry radios to use with my two Facets in a base-rover setup and the radio manufacturers all seem to make USB cables for their radios. See also https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_RT … /issues/13

I suppose one could build a small intermediate device to act as a USB host and to shuttle data between the Facet and the radio.

[amlago]

Sparkfun facet connection and radio CHC Dl8 28 w?

Eureka. After more than a year of research I achieved my goal. My idea was to use the Facet as a base and broadcast its corrections via professional radio, to receive them on a CHC i50 rover. I managed to go from TTL to RS232 with a converter and my problems were with prints in the converter. In the end, by trying a lot, I managed to define which port of the converter the Tx of the facet should be connected to. The power for the converter comes from the Facet and I have not noticed that the battery drains much faster. The second challenge was to splice cables and connectors that matched the CHC radio. In the end everything worked very well. I tell you that the radio and wiring for it were purchased on Aliexpress second-hand but like new. The TTL-RS232 converter was purchased here in my country Uruguay, since its value is very low. So I have a first-class base that can issue corrections via Wi-Fi through ntrip as originally used and now through a professional radio with a range …

[amlago]

Both Tony ( toeknee) and I spent a lot of time trying to improve the Facet and we both managed to connect high power radios to it.
Here is the link to the talks at the time about my CHC dl5 radio and what we had to do to convert the ttl signal to rs232.
Look at the images.
greetings
Angel

[javierlq21]

Thank you very much @toeknee, @amlago, @TS-Russell for your help, I am going to read the information you have provided me. I’m waiting for the serial to USB-C adapter to arrive, since I do have the LEMO 5 pin to USB-C cable. I am thinking of connecting through the radio port to the serial adapter and here connecting the USB-C cable to the external radio