Data Link Wiring

The Microhard Data Link is not for sale anymore.

This page contains the relevant documentation for existing Microhard Data Links deployed in the field.

The Skynode Evaluation Kit includes the Microhard Communication Kit, which is used to provide a data connection between Skynode and Auterion Mission Control in flight.

Microhard communication modules are recommended because they provide a secure, high data rate, long range communication link that can be used to transport command, video and telemetry information from a vehicle to the ground station.

• Do not power up the Microhard radios without first attaching the antennas

• Do not remove the antennas unless absolutely necessary. The connectors are fragile and only rated for 5 mating cycles

• Do not use the Microhard radios in parallel with any other 2.4GHz Radio Controls to avoid interference

Microhard Wiring & Configuration

The communication kit comes with a pair of similar module for both the air (vehicle) and ground sides. The radios need to be appropriately wired and configured for their respective role. Once this is done, they can be paired and connected using Auterion Mission Control.

If the radio module itself, not the bag it comes in, has a label reading AIR or GROUND, your radios have been pre-configured at the factory and no manual steps are required. If this is not the case or you need to recover your radio from a faulty configuration, consult the additional information on Microhard Configuration for Pairing.

Air Unit Wiring

What you will need for this step

• Data Link Module, AIR UNIT
• Skynode Enterprise

• Cable _RADIO ETH AIR (_JST GH 4-pin twisted pair Ethernet)

• Auterion POWER MODULE to power Skynode and the radio
• Cable RADIO PWR AIR to power the air unit

• Cable PWR SKND 5V to connect the power module to Skynode

• Cable PWR ADAPTER XT60 or a battery to supply the power module

Wiring

1. Get the Microhard radio from the AIR unit bag and attach the antennas. In the bag you should also find the RADIO PWR AIR cable, the ethernet cable RADIO ETH AIR.

2. Use the RADIO PWR AIR cable to connect the AIR UNIT to the POWER MODULE.

   • Supply between 6.5-30V to the XT60 connector. Attach either of:

     • Wall power supply and the barrel connector, or

     • 2S-6S LiPo battery

3. Connect the Skynode Ethernet port (J7) and the Microhard Ethernet port (J2) using the RADIO ETH AIR cable.

   

The complete wiring for the Microhard data and power connections is shown below. The Microhard's LEDs should light up once Skynode is powered on. The red LED on Skynode blinks if the radio is not discovered. It takes about 60-75 seconds for the Microhard module to be detected.

Ground Unit Wiring

What you will need for this step:

• Data Link Module, GROUND UNIT
• Laptop or computer with AMC installed
• 1x Cable RADIO ETH GROUND (JST GH 4-pin to RJ45 male Ethernet)

• 1x _POWER SUPPLY (_AC/DC power supply, 24V, 36W)

• 1x Auterion POWER MODULE

Wiring

1. Get the Data Link Module from the GROUND unit bag and attach the antennas. In this bag you should also find the cable RADIO PWR GROUND and the cable RADIO ETH GROUND.

2. Apply power to the GROUND UNIT using the cable RADIO PWR GROUND

   • Supply between 6.5-30V to the XT60 connector. Attach either of:

     • Wall power supply and the barrel connector (to be found in Power Modules bag), or

     • 2S-6S LiPo battery

3. Connect the Data Link Ethernet port (J2) to your laptop or computer's Ethernet port.

   If the ground station does not have an Ethernet port you will need to use the ETHERNET TO USB ADAPTER included in the evaluation kit.

Pairing

Skynode Evaluation Kits shipped after March 2021 include already paired Data Link modules. No further pairing steps are required. Simply connect the Microhard radios as described above and Auterion Mission Control will detect the radio link. It takes about 60-75 seconds for the connection to establish itself. This delay includes boot time of the Microhard radio module itself.

Please refer to the pairing page in the "Advanced Configuration" section if you wish to pair the same radios again, pair to a different vehicle, pair to a Skynav, pair because you received your Evaluation Kit prior to March 2021, or recover from a faulty configuration.