Botlink XRD User manual
Botlink XRD
Documentation Revision 2.7
Revision History
Customer Support
Product Description
Supported Airframe Types
Supported Message Protocols
Supported Manufacturers
Supported cellular carriers
Mechanical
Size, weight, and power
Ports
Antennas, modem, and SIM
Getting Started
1 Install the Botlink Relay software
2 Register your Botlink XRD
3 Configure the Botlink Relay software
Configuring UDP
Configuring TCP
Configuring Serial
[Optional] Configure GoPro Video Streaming
4 Configure your Ground Control Station
QGroundControl - TCP
QGroundControl - UDP
5 Install the Botlink XRD on your drone
5.1 Mounting the XRD
5.2 Connect the serial cable
5.3 Connect the power cable
5.4 Connect the antennas
6 Configure the Botlink XRD
6.1 Configuring the cellular service
6.2 Configuring the autopilot connection
With a configuration file
Without a configuration file (legacy)
6.3 [Optional] Configuring Video Streaming
6.4 [Optional] Configuring cell network metrics logging
1
7 Connect to your drone
7.1 [Optional] Start video streaming
Additional & optional tasks
WiFi Configuration
Determining the XRD Hardware ID
Determining Software Version
Software Updates
Force re-installation
Troubleshooting
XRD Remix status light diagnostic codes
Status Light
Network Light
Power Light
XRD Vanilla status light diagnostic codes
FCC Declaration of Conformity
2
Revision History
Version
Date
Notes
2.0
29 Oct 2018
Version 2.0 release
2.1
20 Mar 2019
Instructions for finding XRD ID
2.2
13 Apr 2019
Expected autopilot configuration
2.3
30 Jun 2019
Added sections on Wifi & Autopilot
configuration using config.toml; updated
status light section; added language about
beta support for Micropilot autopilots
2.4
24 Jul 2019
Add UART voltage information
2.5
16 Aug 2019
Update Quickstart
2.6
30 Oct 2019
FCC Declaration of Conformity; various
reorganizations
2.7
13 Mar 2020
Updated status light documentation; added
cell data logging documentation and video
documentation
Customer Support
Customer support is available 9 am - 5 pm, excluding weekends and holidays.
For phone support, dial +1 (701) 412-2988 and ask to speak to customer support.
3
Product Description
The Botlink XRD (eXtended Range Datalink) is a secure drop-in replacement for your existing
serial drone radio that allows you to control your drone using cellular networks from anywhere in
the world over the internet via a 128-bit AES encrypted and authenticated connection. About the
size of a deck of cards, and weighing about as much as a 60 watt lightbulb , the Botlink XRD
1
can be mounted on a variety of drones, from small quadcopters to large fixed-wing aircraft.
Botlink provides a variety of applications that enable you to continue using your existing ground
control software and workflow with the XRD, making it easy to incrementally adopt the Botlink
XRD for use with your drone fleet.
Supported Airframe Types
The Botlink XRD passes traffic from the autopilot to the ground control station, and therefore
supports any airframe type that the autopilot supports.
Supported Message Protocols
The Botlink XRD supports the following messaging protocols.
Protocol
Version
Notes
Mavlink
1
Example autopilots: Pixhawk,
Pixhawk 2, ArduPilotMega,
PixFalcon
2
Micropilot
Any
Beta
Supported Manufacturers
The Botlink XRD is broadly compatible with products from manufacturers that use the
Supported Message Protocols discussed in the previous section.
Consumer drones from DJI and other manufacturers which use proprietary communications
protocols are not supported.
1 Without enclosure or antennas
4
Supported cellular carriers
The Botlink XRD supports a variety of cellular carriers through the ability to swap modems & sim
cards. Carrier support includes, but is not limited to Verizon, AT&T, TMobile, Rogers, Telus,
Orange, and various other European carriers. For a list of supported modems and cellular
bands, see the Modem, Antennas, and SIM section
Mechanical
The Botlink XRD can be used either with an enclosure or without an enclosure. The enclosure
offers increased splash and dust resistance .
2
Size, weight, and power
Size & Weight
Power
Metric
Imperial
Input Voltage
5.5 - 30V
Weight, w/ enc:
36 grams
1.27 oz
Typical Power
1.5W
Weight, w/o enc:
61 grams
2.15 oz
Peak Power
10W + 2.5W per USB Port
Height:
22.1 mm
0.83 in
Operating Limits
Width:
64.7 mm
2.55 in
Temperature
0 to 40 C (32 to 104F)
Depth:
51.2 mm
2.02 in
Rel Humidity
0 - 85%
2 The Botlink XRD has not been tested for moisture or dust resistance using any industry
standards (i.e. IPX8).
5
Ports
The Botlink XRD include 2 Micro-USB B ports, 1 UART port, 1 power port, 1 I2C port, and 1
power port.
Power
Remote Switch
3
UART (3.3V)
P/N 43645-0200
P/N DF13-3S-1.25C
P/N DF13-6S-1.25C
Pin
Description
Pin
Description
Pin
Description
1
Positive
1
3.3 V
1
No Connect
2
Ground
2
LED
2
XRD RX
3
Press Detect
3
XRD TX
4
XRD RTS
5
XRD CTS
6
Ground
I2C
4
P/N DF13-4S-1.25C
Pin
Description
1
5 Volts
2
SCL
3
SDA
4
Ground
3 Not currently used
4 Not currently used
6
Antennas, modem, and SIM
The Botlink XRD modem, antennas, and SIM are field-swappable. Enclosure removal is
required to swap the modem or SIM. Please contact Botlink prior to swapping your modem to
ensure that the firmware supports the modem you are attempting to use.
Antennas
Name
Type
Part Number
Taoglas TG.30.8113 - A, ll/ GPS/Wifi Antenna
Rigid
TG.30.8113
Taoglas FXUB66.01.0305C
Flex
FXUB66.01.0305C
Modems
Name
4G Bands
3G Bands
Carriers Supported
NL-SW-LTE-TSVG
B4, B13
None
Verizon
NL-SW-LTE-TNAG
NL-SW-LTE-TNAG-B
B2, B5, B4, B17
B2, B5
AT&T, TMobile
NL-SW-LTE-TEUG
B3, B7, B20
B1, B5, B8
Various European
NL-SW-LTE-QBG96
B1, B2 B3, B4,B5, B8,
B12, B13, B18,B19,
B20, B26, B28, B39
None
2G fallback on
GSM850,GSM900,DC
S1800,PCS1900
Verizon, TMobile,
AT&T, Sprint,
Telus,
Various European
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Getting Started
Getting started with the Botlink XRD is quick and easy. You’ll only need a computer with an
internet connection to create a Botlink account, register your XRD, and install some software,
and a work area with a flat surface that you use to install the Botlink XRD hardware on your
drone.
1 Install the Botlink Relay software
The first step to using your Botlink XRD is installing the Botlink Relay software. The Botlink
Relay software enables you to connect your ground control station to your Botlink
XRD-equipped drone without any modifications. The Botlink Relay software is available for Mac
and PC.
Download links are listed below.
OS
Version
Link
Windows
32 Bit
https://botlink-relay-artifacts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/archive/B
otlink-Relay-win32-ia32-v1-4-0-beta-2.zip
64 Bit
https://botlink-relay-artifacts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/archive/B
otlink-Relay-win32-x64-v1-4-0-beta-2.zip
Mac
64 Bit
https://botlink-relay-artifacts.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/archive/B
otlink-Relay-darwin-x64-v1-4-0-beta-2.zip
2 Register your Botlink XRD
Once the Botlink Relay software is installed, you’re ready to register your Botlink XRD to your
account. To register your XRD, you’ll need to know the Hardware ID of your unit. This should
have been provided to you as part of your order documentation. If it wasn’t, or you can’t find the
information, see the “Determining the XRD Hardware ID” section below.
To register your Botlink XRD
1. Open the Botlink XRD Tray App
2. Enter your username and password
3. Click “Login”
4. Switch to the tab
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5. Click “Register an XRD” and input the Hardware ID for the XRD.
3 Configure the Botlink Relay software
In order to use your existing ground control station and other software applications with the
Botlink XRD, you’ll need to tell the Botlink Relay software how your software will communicate --
using TCP, UDP, or Serial .
5
Configuring the Botlink Relay Software is simple.
Configuring UDP
1. Open the Botlink XRD Tray App
2. Enter your username and password
3. Click “Login”
4. Select the UDP Connection method
5. Enter a port
a. The “Listen” port will receive data from the Ground Control Software
b. The “Write Port” will transmit data to the Ground Control Software
6. Select a Botlink XRD to connect to
7. Click the start button
Configuring TCP
1. Open the Botlink XRD Tray App
2. Enter your username and password
3. Click “Login”
4. Select the TCP Connection method
5. Enter a port
6. Select a Botlink XRD to connect to
7. Click the start button
Configuring Serial
1. Open the Botlink XRD Tray App
2. Enter your username and password
3. Click “Login”
4. Select the Serial Connection method
5 Serial support only available on Windows
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