Arduino-based Radio Control on the Cheap

Other Hardware Robotics
1

Hello all,

I'm a relative beginner with Arduino and an absolute novice at interfacing radios. My goal is an RC system that sends serial data from a USB radio to a remote radio interfaced with an Arduino. I'd like to do this as cheaply as possible. Data rates need to support packets once every 50 ms or so. Full-duplex is desired since I'd like to implement telemetry at a later date. Radiated power or frequency aren't huge issues, but I'd like it to be 100 mW or more.

My first thought was XTend or Xbee, since the support from Digi is good as well as an active community, but the prices are a little more than I'm willing to fork up for this project. My next thought was this system from 3DRobotics: http://store.3drobotics.com/products/3dr-radio-telemetry-kit-915-mhz for $86.

Does anyone have any experience with the 3DR system or any other reliable and cheap systems like it?

P.S. Amateur radio is fair game; I have my ticket.

2

Chinese portables are cheap, So are the RFM12B radio's (0 DBM) and there is one more an RFM23 that will put out 20 DBM. At lower data rates they become reasonably sensitive > -107 DBM RX... @ 100Kbaud
and there are also the old Icom IC01'a and IC03'S ? (220 MHz), I bought a handful of the old Icom radio's a few years back for about $60.00 or thereabouts, All need electrolytics but those are cheap
$3.30 here :*Radial Electrolytic Capacitor (CPOL, 0.22UF-470UF, 12Kinds x 10PCs) – ElectroDragon
and these will work for RFM22's Here, for $6.57 : SI4432 Wireless Transceiver (433M,1.5KM Range) – ElectroDragon Note that there isa a minor differencce in GPIO0 and GPIO1 but the information is in the RRFM22B library header file, It's a one line change.
Just in case, Here is a nice GPS for $22.14, I own an older version and I really like it, The U-Blox PC software works well with it, all you need is an FTDI adaptor.
Yes, I do know where to buy good ones, the ones I use are these but they are $9.95 : http://www.oddwires.com/ftdi-ft232rl-usb-to-serial-adapter-module-usb-to-rs232-for-arduino/
Although these should work as well for $5.95 : http://www.oddwires.com/cp2102-low-cost-usb-to-serial-adapter-module-usb-to-rs232-for-arduino/
Some idea's and some good places to buy parts too. (WA7EMS, being renewed)

Doc

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FWIW, 3drobotics is using the HopeRF HM-TRP module in that radio.

http://www.hoperf.com/rf/fsk/HM-TRP.htm