It didn't actually occur to me why FrSky developed their new ACCESS protocol but I think Bruce's theory has probably hit the nail squarely on the head.

It might also explain some of the rumours doing the rounds that if you update an existing receiver (i.e. an R-XSR) with the new ACCESS firmware, you then supposedly can't flash it back to non-ACCESS firmware due to a new bootloader having been installed that prevents older firmware being re-flashed. Which means you would then effectively be locked into only being able to use ACCESS with that receiver.

I just watched this video, and being the newb that I am to all of this, I basically got the feeling that if a user wants to use a Frsky radio then said user will be restricted to using only Frsky products with said radio. No third party anything.

I'm using the qx7 and already wanting to get rid of it and get a T16 so I can utilize crossfire without having to mod the qx7. I'm hoping upgrades will start to come out for the T16 at some point though.

(16-May-2019, 04:42 PM)J_tillman Wrote: I just watched this video, and being the newb that I am to all of this, I basically got the feeling that if a user wants to use a Frsky radio then said user will be restricted to using only Frsky products with said radio. No third party anything.

I'm using the qx7 and already wanting to get rid of it and get a T16 so I can utilize crossfire without having to mod the qx7. I'm hopring upgrades will start to come out for the T16 at some point though.

I think once hall effect gimbals appear for the T16 then FrSky can probably consider themselves a dead man walking unless they can come up with something truly innovating. I guess only time will tell.

(16-May-2019, 05:14 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: I think once hall effect gimbals appear for the T16 then FrSky can probably consider themselves a dead man walking unless they can come up with something truly innovating. I guess only time will tell.

I don't think you'll ever see the "demise" of FRSky.  There will always be those (me included) that are comfortable with their Taranis radio and don't want to jump ship

(16-May-2019, 06:01 PM)RENOV8R Wrote: I don't think you'll ever see the "demise" of FRSky.  There will always be those (me included) that are comfortable with their Taranis radio and don't want to jump ship

I don't disagree. I'm more than happy with my X9D+ as well and don't plan on jumping ship either. Certainly not any time soon. Plus there is a TON of support already out there for the FrSky equipment.

But I think if FrSky carry on the way they are with the Jumper anti-competition conflict nonsense, and trying to close off shared use of their receivers with other transmitters/modules by implementing this new encrypted ACCESS protocol in order to do that,  then they are likely going to lose potential custom from people who are new to the RC hobby.

I really hope they can sort out all the mess and get back on track with what they do best.

Well for what it's worth, I was going to get the Pro and give my Xlite to my wife for tiny whooping. I even found someone a short drive away willing to sell me his just arrived pro for 200 even. I'm holding off though and decided to just get my wife a Jumper T12 instead. So I am boycotting without even trying LOL.

Like I've said before, maybe if Frsky spent more time addressing compatibility at rollout than carpet spamming retailers into bullying Jumper out of business, I would be enjoying the Pro and my wife the Xlite.

And, really, had they just released OpenTX 2.3 with Pro firmware capable of running multi protocol modules (read: complete backward compatibility), then this would be a totally different story. What's more is they practically own OpenTX now. Jumper didn't do "JumperTX" for their health I'm pretty sure about that LOL.

Frsky will continue to be around. But if they keep this up, they will surely not dominate the market. Nothing is ever too big to fail. Especially with the FPV community, where things move very fast. You get a bunch of reviewers giving negative comments, new blood to the the hobby will be looking the other way.

I had the same opinion and Bruce as soon as I read about ACCESS ( or should that be blocking ACCESS? Also a common tactic to name your new thing the opposite of what it really does).  FrSky has been doing everything it can to be anticompetitive lately.  Making crossfire modules not work with the qx7, changing the module bay on the xlite and now the ACCESS protocol and the don't sell jumper radios memo.  It all points to a company that is trying to lock in their customers before it is too late because they have nothing better to offer.

I seriously hope everyone in our hobby reads about this and at least takes it into consideration when buying radios and receivers.

Anyway, just my two cents.

I see his point of view, and I agree that we need to be skeptical about their intentions given the way they have acted recently, but he's incorrect in that his old receivers will be able to change their firmware to ACCESS once FrSky gets around to releasing it (they have said they would). They have also said it will have less latency, longer range, (both of which could be bullshit) and be capable of binding multiple radios to the same receiver. I think it also might have button free binding too, but I'm not sure about that.

Bottom line is it isn't just "encryption" or obfuscation like he is suggesting. If you can flash your receiver firmware in either direction I'd definitely give it a try, but I don't think at this point I'd get anything that only supported ACCESS (especially since it is unproven, and not supported yet on anything existing), so his main point remains true IMHO.

I will say that if they release ACCESS for the Taranis without the ability to use the legacy protocols, or if they make it so you can't flash back your older receivers to fport/sbus once you flash them to ACCESS like one person suggested they would, then I'll join the bandwagon. Until then I'll remain hopeful that they are making real improvements to the protocol, but not hopeful enough to suggest anyone should buy this radio.