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Flysky FS-A8S FS A8S
#1
Hello everyone,

thanks to Banggood (big thanks to Sandra) for sending the sample for testing.

Flysky FS-A8S:
https://goo.gl/arquLG

Receiver Antenna:
https://goo.gl/erJdmv

this is first part of at least 3 posts
  • (initial this one), 
  • Konrads (deepdive - how to break it, or make it even lighter),
  • range testing
Basic information:
  • What you get in the package, RX, connection cable (+,-,Sbus), separate pin for PPM signal
  • dimentiones (in thermal coat) 20.42 x 14.42 x 5.84 mm (including the plastic port) in inches.... 0.80 x 0.56 x 0.22
  • Weight 1.69 g (with antenna, without the connecting cable) - let's see how far Konrad will slim it down...
  • Antena IPEX port - checked - compatibile with replacement antennas for FRsky - they come in packs of 10 so have fun
  • Additional plastic tube on the active part of the antenna will protect it better
Manual:
http://img.banggood.com/file/products/20...929%20.pdf

Pros:
  • Size
  • Size
  • Size
  • Weight
  • PPM/Ibus/Sbus
  • easy changable antenna (mounted replacement antenna in under 2 minutes ) - originally covered in shrinkwrap so more protection... i wanted to test how fast you can change it. - link to replacements above
Cons:
  • Active part of the antenna should be around 31 mm to reflect 2.4 ghz - mine has 23.23 mm (beside test sample, i've ordered 6 of those RX, length is consistent across the batch. - this might impact the range of the RX - will provide more info after it is airborne :Smile  )
    on photo you see 2 original antennas and one replacement, length is different.
  • Cable quality (pcv cables not silicone ones)
    sbus/ibus plugPPM plug
  • Bind process is different* due to next point...
  • Lack of any telemetry (no visibility on the TX that RX is bound)
* Bind process:
1. try if the rx is working correctly (power up via 5v), poweroff
2. powerup the transmitter in Bind mode
3. hold bind button pressed, powerup, red led should blink like crazy
4. when the bind is completed the red led will blink (like 1 every half to 1 second) now you need to finish the binding on TX (untill now my flysky FS-I6 did this automatically, so i haven't needed to do this manually). Now your led on RX should be solid red.
5. power off the tx... led should start blinking
6. power on, go to rx settings configure failsafe and other communication methods (ppm/ibus etc)

on my flysky FS-i6 there is no information that the bind was succesfull nor any information from RX!
[Image: y3m7HCFZpWiKSU2aj0YYptGkEtesVsqm3aWDukam...pmode=none] 

How to connect to Naze rev 6 (had on bench)
PPM
[Image: y3m5ZZZZc4KZz1i0KR_zeRPDzn15i3dxVFsqXHjR...pmode=none]
Ibus
[Image: y3mE7gDoEgqqFtXWxodhIKQ1CfgM2mELOqCSWh86...pmode=none]
Incomming photos:

with bigger brother
[Image: y3mRA5lPKoxml_qetRYbjAwVgM91dcsabNE8Uaid...pmode=none]

Whole gallery can be found here:
https://1drv.ms/a/s!AtkSCJr3AfQ-g6UIx5RdDa7H8Eqp2w

if any questions shoot Smile
as asked by Sandra added google links





there is some setting that allows me to have max 5 pictures... for more please look in the gallery
All the best
Grzesiek (Grisha/ Greg)

Curently flyable: Nox 5, Minimalist 112
Bench / in progres: fixing Nox 3,  Scrap
thinking about building: 450


[-] The following 3 users Like Grisha0's post:
  • FlighHigh, sirdude, Oscar
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#2
I’ve seen some myths about those RXs not having a failsafe feature. Debunked:

Flysky A8S DOES HAVE FAILSAFE Smile

It just seems to work differently than older AFHDS A2 receivers. Old ones had failsafe settings set on transmitter - every channel could be set to a certain % value. I guess what A8S does is it stops sending signals, like Frsky RXs do (or sends invalid signal, I don’t know). That causes FC to go into a proper failsafe mode, confirmed by an icon in configurator:
[Image: lmV7x4ol.jpg]

When I turn off the TX, red status led placed on RX starts to blink. It "knows" you are playing with fire ;p

Little comparison with a few other components, from left: Flysky ia6b case, naze32, FVT Littlebee 20A, Flysky A8S, it’s tiny Big Grin

[Image: LX05Lsbl.jpg]

And my temporary testing rig:
[Image: jyFSeXQl.jpg]

As Grisha wrote earlier - I played with making it even smaller than it is after unpacking. I used my soldering station with a regulated hot air gun to desolder the component that irritates me the most on all hardware - the picoblade/micro jst socket and soldered tiny wires to tiny pads with a tiny iron tip.

[Image: 2Fd0wMul.jpg]

Dimensions that changed after the “mod”:
Thinkness: 3.83mm at thickest point (bind button)
Weight: 0.99g no antenna, 1.33g with stock antenna, can still shave some weight by removing bind button and antenna socket.

I also tested working voltage. Product page states 4-8.4V. Having 1S micro builds in mind, I also checked low end of operating voltage - it was still 100% operational when fed 3.4V from my bench PSU. 

[Image: 0X4fTaZl.jpg]

It’s pretty easy to just solder on a short copper wire to act as an antenna for micro quad use. There’s a pretty convenient pad/cutout for such an occasion, it can be actually even used without desoldering the IPEX socket:

[Image: 3pmIiO1l.jpg]
Good news is, this lab rat is still alive and kicking Big Grin We are planning to run some range tests on our units in a few different antenna configurations Smile
Find me on Youtube and Instagram. I currently fly: DRC Aura, NOX5R, Minimalist 112 and drive a scrap RC car
[-] The following 3 users Like KonradS's post:
  • FlighHigh, sirdude, Oscar
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#3
Review finished, range tests will appear after the weekend (assuming at least one day without rain...)

Some results have been achieved.... for this micro rx im really surprised...

over 300 m on stock antena... when flown in clear field without obstructions
over 200 m with obstructions

awaiting movies to upload Smile

ill be switching rest of the RX from IA6b to this one... as i find it more responsive and a lot smaller, without sacrificing much range.

All the best
Grzesiek (Grisha/ Greg)

Curently flyable: Nox 5, Minimalist 112
Bench / in progres: fixing Nox 3,  Scrap
thinking about building: 450


[-] The following 1 user Likes Grisha0's post:
  • Oscar
Reply
#4
I created this account just to add to this discussion, as I just received my FS-A8S in the mail a couple of days ago and couldn't find many resources for info on this RX. I suppose it must be relatively new.

I have it installed and configured working with a Naze32 rev 6 and initial testing looks good. I still haven't taken it out to actually fly yet.

I would like to also confirm that this little RX does indeed have failsafe mode, but only if you use it in ibus mode. Maybe sbus too, but I didn't try it. I first tried it in PPM mode and it didn't work. It just held last signal when TX was cut off or RX lost power, and Cleanflight never indicated failsafe mode, even though the status light on the FS-A8S did begin to blink when TX was cut off.

So I switched it to use ibus. I had to hook it up a little differently to the FC and change the config in Cleanflight to use ibus, then had to rebind it. After that the failsafe worked great. I guess it's better this way anyway, as I've read that ibus is better than PPM.
Reply
#5
Ibus is faster and better than PPM,
i don't understand why you had to rebind the receiver (once binded to tx you should be good) i've swapped ppm and ibus few times without rebinding it.

as for the ppm failsafe - let me try it out Smile
All the best
Grzesiek (Grisha/ Greg)

Curently flyable: Nox 5, Minimalist 112
Bench / in progres: fixing Nox 3,  Scrap
thinking about building: 450


Reply
#6
I don't know why I had to rebind either. All I know is I couldn't get it to work before re-binding. Maybe I was doing something wrong before re-binding and did something else simultaneously that cleared the issue. Either way, it works now.
Reply
#7
Hi guys,

Does someone know how to put the receiver constantly into SBUS mode?

Its a pain in the ass to always change mode at every powercycle.

Thanks!
Reply
#8
(01-Dec-2016, 01:34 PM)zedexes Wrote: Hi guys,

Does someone know how to put the receiver constantly into SBUS mode?

Its a pain in the ass to always change mode at every powercycle.

Thanks!

That will be rtough to abswer for me and grisha as our transmitters (fs i6) lack the option to make that switch at all.
Find me on Youtube and Instagram. I currently fly: DRC Aura, NOX5R, Minimalist 112 and drive a scrap RC car
Reply
#9
(21-Nov-2016, 07:24 AM)lazyslacker Wrote: I created this account just to add to this discussion, as I just received my FS-A8S in the mail a couple of days ago and couldn't find many resources for info on this RX. I suppose it must be relatively new.

I have it installed and configured working with a Naze32 rev 6 and initial testing looks good. I still haven't taken it out to actually fly yet.

I would like to also confirm that this little RX does indeed have failsafe mode, but only if you use it in ibus mode. Maybe sbus too, but I didn't try it. I first tried it in PPM mode and it didn't work. It just held last signal when TX was cut off or RX lost power, and Cleanflight never indicated failsafe mode, even though the status light on the FS-A8S did begin to blink when TX was cut off.

So I switched it to use ibus. I had to hook it up a little differently to the FC and change the config in Cleanflight to use ibus, then had to rebind it. After that the failsafe worked great. I guess it's better this way anyway, as I've read that ibus is better than PPM.

Hello guys,

I´m using a naze rev 5 , Turnigy Tgy-I6 and a Fs-A8s Receiver .The failsafe dosen´t work in ppm mode.    :Sad Sad

Regards
Reply
#10
Hello everyone, i hope i can find some help here... sry for my english, i just want to ask you guys if its possible to connect an turnigy on/off switch receiver to this FS A8S receiver to control leds on the radio. i dont have any of these material but i am about to order everything to build my quad, thats why i am interested to know if that is possible. i dont see any channel pins on the FS A8S like on the FS i6B but maybe there are solder possibilities and i cant find any pictures on the internet. Tank you very much for your time! Happy Flying
Reply
#11
(14-Nov-2016, 10:00 PM)KonradS Wrote: I’ve seen some myths about those RXs not having a failsafe feature. Debunked:

Flysky A8S DOES HAVE FAILSAFE Smile

It just seems to work differently than older AFHDS A2 receivers. Old ones had failsafe settings set on transmitter - every channel could be set to a certain % value. I guess what A8S does is it stops sending signals, like Frsky RXs do (or sends invalid signal, I don’t know). That causes FC to go into a proper failsafe mode, confirmed by an icon in configurator:
[Image: lmV7x4ol.jpg]

When I turn off the TX, red status led placed on RX starts to blink. It "knows" you are playing with fire ;p

Little comparison with a few other components, from left: Flysky ia6b case, naze32, FVT Littlebee 20A, Flysky A8S, it’s tiny Big Grin

[Image: LX05Lsbl.jpg]

And my temporary testing rig:
[Image: jyFSeXQl.jpg]

As Grisha wrote earlier - I played with making it even smaller than it is after unpacking. I used my soldering station with a regulated hot air gun to desolder the component that irritates me the most on all hardware - the picoblade/micro jst socket and soldered tiny wires to tiny pads with a tiny iron tip.

[Image: 2Fd0wMul.jpg]

Dimensions that changed after the “mod”:
Thinkness: 3.83mm at thickest point (bind button)
Weight: 0.99g no antenna, 1.33g with stock antenna, can still shave some weight by removing bind button and antenna socket.

I also tested working voltage. Product page states 4-8.4V. Having 1S micro builds in mind, I also checked low end of operating voltage - it was still 100% operational when fed 3.4V from my bench PSU. 

[Image: 0X4fTaZl.jpg]

It’s pretty easy to just solder on a short copper wire to act as an antenna for micro quad use. There’s a pretty convenient pad/cutout for such an occasion, it can be actually even used without desoldering the IPEX socket:

[Image: 3pmIiO1l.jpg]
Good news is, this lab rat is still alive and kicking Big Grin We are planning to run some range tests on our units in a few different antenna configurations Smile

Hello everyone, i hope i can find some help here... sry for my english, i just want to ask you guys if its possible to connect an turnigy on/off switch receiver to this FS A8S receiver to control leds on the radio. i dont have any of these material but i am about to order everything to build my quad, thats why i am interested to know if that is possible. i dont see any channel pins on the FS A8S like on the FS i6B but maybe there are solder possibilities and i cant find any pictures on the internet. Tank you very much for your time! Happy Flying
Reply
#12
This is a PPM/Ibus only rx. What you may try is to connect some addressable LEDs to your flight controller http://www.banggood.com/search/ws2812b.html
Find me on Youtube and Instagram. I currently fly: DRC Aura, NOX5R, Minimalist 112 and drive a scrap RC car
Reply
#13
(31-Mar-2017, 10:57 PM)KonradS Wrote: This is a PPM/Ibus only rx. What you may try is to connect some addressable LEDs to your flight controller http://www.banggood.com/search/ws2812b.html

thx for your answer, i saw this possibility and it looks nice but i just want to be able to switch the leds on and off with my radio. Is it possible if i connect some ws2812b leds to my fc?
maybe i just buy a 6ch radio and receiver cuz i am about to build a fpv race quad with a f3 fc acro 6dof and i think 6 ch are enough just to be able to fly gyro, acro and to switch leds on and off... for the beginning... or not?
Reply
#14
depends what you want to achieve, if you want a disco quad, then you can program your leds via FC, and have On/off in a switch on radio, still controlled via FC.

if you want to have orientation leds, then you can mount them "forever" on the standoffs, secondly those are much cheaper leds as they don't require any addressing.

is it possible to connect 2812b to fc = 100% yes
All the best
Grzesiek (Grisha/ Greg)

Curently flyable: Nox 5, Minimalist 112
Bench / in progres: fixing Nox 3,  Scrap
thinking about building: 450


[-] The following 1 user Likes Grisha0's post:
  • FlighHigh
Reply
#15
(01-Apr-2017, 08:03 AM)Grisha0 Wrote: depends what you want to achieve, if you want a disco quad, then you can program your leds via FC, and have On/off in a switch on radio, still controlled via FC.

if you want to have orientation leds, then you can mount them "forever" on the standoffs, secondly those are much cheaper leds as they don't require any addressing.

is it possible to connect 2812b to fc = 100% yes

I want some simple leds for Orientation but i want to switch them on and off with my Radio Smile but with the fs-a8s seems not possible to add an on/off switch on it.
Reply


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