Dorsal Q433RT Docs
The Dorsal Q433RT module is designed to host the QIACHIP "RX480E" & "TX118SA-4" 433.92Mhz "Decoding Receiver Module" and "Coding Transmitter Module" for experimenting with the Flipper Zero's Sub-GHz feature. These modules plug directly into the Dorsal Q433RT board and the entire Dorsal Q433RT daughterboard assembly plugs directly into the Dolphin's breadboard area. Be sure to line up the +5V and GND pins to the leftmost 4 pin header at the bottom of the breadboard area. The Dolphin's breadboard area provides power and ground and breaks out the data lines of the TX and RX. The Dorsal Q433RT board provides four pushbuttons for the transmitter and four LED indicators for the receiver. The D0-D3 pins of both the TX and RX are brought out to the breadboard area for interfacing to the Flipper Zero GPIO pins. A GPIO pin or pins could be used instead of using the pushbuttons to transmit a code to the receiver. GPIO pins can also be used to interface to the receiver data pins to read the received code, the same as that displayed on the LEDs. During my limited testing I found that the Flipper couldn’t pull down the transmitter data lines far enough to get it to transmit, I didn’t play with it farther than that. There’s probably a way to get around this with a little experimenting. The pushbuttons provide a direct ground to the respective data lines on the transmitter.
The included antennas aren't needed for local testing on the Dolphin board but will be needed if one decides to use the modules remote from each other. There is a solder pad for the transmitter antenna but it can’t be used because it radiates too much into the PC board and causes erratic behavior. This happens if the transmitter is plugged into the Dorsal Q433RT board without either cutting off pin 1 (antenna pin), bending it so it doesn’t enter the header, or cutting the trace from pin one to the antenna pad. If cutting the trace it needs to be cut as close to pin one of the header as possible. This trace and the antenna pad will be removed in future versions. I recommend cutting the trace. This isn’t completely unique to the Dorsal Q433RT board; if you use a regular breadboard with the transmitter module antenna pin inserted, it also causes erratic behavior. If you want to use the RX and TX remote from each other then you can remove pin 1 from the right angle header on the transmitter and solder the antenna directly into the pin one pad. I’m not sure how QIACHIP intended the transmitter antenna to be used, they should have dedicated a pad to it as they did with the receiver. See photos of how I soldered the antenna to the transmitter.
With the TX & RX modules removed from the Dorsal Q433RT the pushbuttons and LEDs can be used for general purpose on the breadboard area. Keep in mind that the pushbuttons all provide a direct GND. The LED’s cathodes are all tied to ground and the LED’s anodes each have a 10K resistor.
While developing the Dorsal Q433RT board I got sidetracked by playing with it. It was fun to have a Sub-GHz transmitter and receiver right there local to the Flipper Zero and not be using some existing clunky remote from my garage door or whatever. Sending different coded 433Mhz signals and sniffing them with the Flipper Zero revealed a lot of information and provided understanding that I had no idea would be revealed. I don't want to give it all away because it was so enjoyable for me to discover the things I did, so I will leave that to new users to discover. One fun thing I did was to push a bunch of buttons in a pattern to light the LEDs on the receiver side while recording it on the Flipper Zero, and then I emulated it. That's just a bit of the fun. One transmitter and one receiver are included. You may consider getting at least one more transmitter because the receiver can learn up to three and on the Flipper Zero you can see how the address field changes with different transmitters. Or, for the more advanced, you could change the address field of a captured signal and have the Flipper emulate as many transmitters as you want. At this time we only have one TX and RX available per kit, but you can find the modules on the internet.
The very basic operation of the Dorsal Q433RT board is, "you push a TX button and the corresponding RX LED lights up (data line goes high)". But the configurations that the QIACHIP receiver provides takes it farther than that. The receiver has three modes; momentary, toggle, and interlocked.
The instructions say that when you delete all data in the RX by pressing the button 8 times, the LED will flash 7 times. The ones I have only flash 5 times but still do the deletion.
The Dorsal Q433RT board also breaks out the receiver's D0-D3 pins along with +5V and GND on a 6-pin header. This header can be used to interface driver boards to drive relays, etc. I have a ULN2003A module that came with a sensor kit and I used that to drive relays during testing. I also hooked it to the little stepper motor that it came with the driver board. The stepper barely moves with button presses (small steps) but it does move. One would have to press buttons, in sequence, really fast to get the stepper to rotate a full turn. Perhaps one could record and emulate those button presses and play them back in a loop. I haven’t tried it yet. Maybe it could be done with the GPIO pins but may be limited by how fast the transmitter and receiver can send and receive messages. These type stepper driver boards and steppers can be found really cheap on the Internet. Search "ULN2003A".
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A note about returning items
- If the Dorsal Q433RT board has a defect then it will be replaced free of charge if it is shipped back and verified to be defective. The QIACHIP modules will be considered on a case by case basis and may need to be sent back for evaluation.
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CHINESE INSTRUCTIONS for operation of the transmitter and receiver
Introduction of working mode:
- Press the learning button on the module 1 time. After the remote controller learns, it enters the jog mode;
- Press the learning button on the module twice, and the remote controller will enter the self-locking mode after learning;
- Press the learning button on the module 3 times, and the remote controller will enter the interlock mode after learning;
- Press the learning button on the module 4 times. After the remote control learns,
Enter two-way self-locking + two-way jog mode;
- Press the learning button on the module 5 times. After the remote control learns,
Enter two-way jog + two-way interlock mode;
- Press the learning button on the module 6 times. After the remote control learns,
Enter two-way self-locking + two-way interlocking mode;
- Press the learning button on the module 7 times. After the remote control learns,
Enter two-way interlock + two-way interlock mode;
Explanation of the purpose of this LED output signal:
When any button of the remote control is pressed, the receiving end decodes and decodes correctly, the LED will output a high-level signal 1. When the remote control button is released, the LED output will become 0.
That is: it will be output only when the reception is valid and decoded correctly.
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Operating Introduction
Clearing the code :
Push the learning button on the receivers for 8 times , the codes will be cleaned .
After clearning the code, all the remote control cannot work any more.
Learning the code :(momentary)
Push the learning key on the receiver once time , it comes into momentary setting mode .
Wait for a moment , the LED will be off , it comes into learning state .
Push the remote button , LED indicator on the receiver board will flash then come off .
After 3 seconds, the LED indicator will be on again , learning successfully .
Learning the code : ( Toggle )
Push the learning key on the receiver twice time , it comes into toggle setting mode
Wait for a moment , the LED will be off , it comes into learning state .
Push the remote button,LED indicator on the receiver board will flash then come off.
After 3 seconds , the LED indicator will be on again , learning successfully .
Learning the code :( Latching )
Note: When you choose for latching mode , in order to learn more remote control , you need to learn two different button , the first time learnt is for "ON", the second time learnt for "OFF".
For example : button A = ON , button B = OFF
Push the learning key on the receiver triple time , it comes into latching mode .
Wait for a moment , the LED indicator on the receiver board will flash then come off.
Push the remote button A .
LED flash for 5 times .
Push the remote button B .
Led flash for 5 times .
After 3 seconds , the LED indicator will be on again , learning successfully.
A = ON , B = OFF .
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Antenna selection Description
General application mode
For general application mode ,the antenna can directly adopt the general specifications from the market;
The specific information as follows:
The antenna's core of conductor diameter(including the Antenna skin): 1.0mm,(except the Antenna skin): 0.5mm ;
The wire length of weld end: 17.5mm, the wire length of antenna terminal: 9.5mm;
The diameter of antenna winding (including the Antenna skin):5mm;
The turn number of winding: 15 turns
The general application mode cannot satisfy if you need farther communication distance, so the special enhancement mode can receive farther communication distance, and the specific information as follows:
The antenna's core of conductor diameter (including the Antenna skin): 1.0mm; (except the Antenna skin): 0.35mm
The wire length of weld end: 12mm
The diameter of antenna winding (except the Antenna skin):3.0mm;
The turn number of winding: 26 turns; The length of the winding: 36m
The diagrammatic drawing: