Knowledge Base

Here’s where you can find walkthroughs and helpful articles on how to use Botlink products to their maximum ability. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, just use our chat feature in the bottom right-hand corner of the page, give us a call, or email support@botlink.com.

XRD2 FAQ

  • Any MAVLink capable drones or autopilots can be used with an XRD2 out of the box. Non-MAVLink drones require extra steps in configuration. Reach out with questions.

  • Nothing that you weren’t already following!

  • Yes! The XRD2 does work outside the US in supported countries. First things first, we’ll need to nail down the providers in your geographic area, determine the frequency bands available www.frequencycheck.com is a go-to reference site), and then find the compatible modem that integrates with the XRD2.

    We don’t have compatibility everywhere, but we’re solid in the Americas, Europe, and Australia, and we have decent coverage in Africa and Southeast Asia. We’re always developing the XRD, and that will lead to more frequency compatibility.

  • We get it, who hasn’t had a cellphone call drop because of loss of signal. This is something that could certainly happen while flying a drone of a cellular network, but there are a couple of reasons why it less likely than a cellphone losing signal. First, drones are in the sky (that sounds like the opening sentence of what’s about to be a failing dissertation on drone technology), and being elevated reduces ground signal interference, reducing the likelihood of a sudden loss of signal. Second, we ship the XRD with two sticky antennas that offer a great surface area than a traditional cellphone, as well as being able to mounted bi-directional.

    Beyond the stronger signal receiver of an XRD enabled drone, our software also relays real-time network strength, so you’ll always have full awareness of your communication network. Lastly, it’s important to note that the telemetry and communication packets we’re passing to the drone during flight are small, we’re talking bytes, so even in areas of very limited coverage we’re still able to maintain an active connection.

  • All communication between the XRD2, cloud services, and Relay App/SDK are encrypted using 128 or 256-bit TLS, and all connections are authenticated. These requirements are enforced by the Botlink cloud services, which operate as a bridge for all connections between XRDs and clients, ensuring that no unauthorized parties are able to connect to drones over the cellular network. Each XRD2 is registered to a specific organization, and only users in that organization are allowed to connect to and control a drone using that XRD2. The Botlink system does not store the contents of the C2 data (we don’t even see it as we utilize a P2P architecture ).

    We take security seriously, and that’s why the XRD is trusted by NASA, US Army, Naval Research Lab, Air Force, along with countless other private companies around the world. Below is an infographic on the XRD communication routing, and you can see there is two points of encryption, as well as two points of authentication in the route.  

  • Depends on the network signal strength. There isn’t a single answer to the question, but generally, with a decent signal, we see latency in the sub-100 milliseconds. While latency is asked about before flying with an XRD2, we’ve yet to have a customer who’s had issues once they’ve flown over LTE. Would we recommend using the XRD for FPV racing, probably not, but no ones ever asked…

    • Cyan BLINKING:

      • Modem enabled, not searching for a cellular network.

      • Verify SIM is correctly installed in the modem

    • Amber BLINKING:

      • Searching for cellular network.

      • Check antenna connections and placement, verify APN is correct, and verify the data plan is active.

    • Red BLINKING:

      • Register to cellular network

      • Verify APN is correct and data plan is active

    • Purple BLINKING:

      • Connecting to internet via cellular network

      • Verify APN is correct and data plan is active

    • Blue BLINKING:

      • Cellular connected to internet, no connection to Botlink services

      • Cell signal may be too weak for reliable internet connection. Check antenna placement and connections. Possible Botlink service issue. Conact Botlink support.

    • Blue STEADY:

      • Cellular connected to internet and Botlink services.

    • Green BLINKING:

      • Connecting to Wi-Fi

      • Verify Wi-Fi network name in config.toml is correct

    • Switching Between Red and Green:

      • Connecting to Wi-Fi failed.

      • Verify Wi-Fi network password in config.toml is correct.

    • Switching Between Green and Amber:

      • Connected to Wi-Fi but not to Botlink services.

      • Verify the Wi-Fi access point as a connection to the internet. If Wi-Fi access point does have a connection to the internet, there maybe a Botlink service issue, contact Botlink support for assistance.

    • Most of the time issues arise from not having the correct config.tomol file. If you are having any issues this is the first place to check to make sure everything is squared away. Some of these issues could include:

      • Everything needs to be lowercase unless it is a password to a wifi source that is case sensitive.

      • The words true and false must not have quotes around them

      • Anything after an equal sign that isn’t true or false must have quotes

      • Quotes must be simple quotes with no spaces between them and what they are containing

      • Network addresses are always considered to be “strings” which means you must put them in quotes.

  • Usually if you click “start” for video in Relay2 and you don’t get a video feed, more often than not, this is an issue with GStreamer. It is either not installed at all or there was an issue with installation and a fresh install could help with this issue.

    • TCP ports are bi-directional. The Botlink Relay app opens a TCP port and QGroundControl or similar connects to it. Only 1 port is needed:

    • Configure a connection in QGroundControl using the the same port

    • “Host Address” should be 127.0.0.1 unless Botlink Relay is on a different computer

    • Start the connection in Botlink Relay

    • Choose “Connect” in QGroundControl

  • UDP ports are unidirectional. One port is required for QGroundControl -> Relay communication and another port is required for Relay -> QGroundControl communication. 

    BUT QGroundControl will generally figure out the second port on its own.

    ALSO BUT If Botlink Relay listens on UDP 14550, then QGroundControl will automatically connect.

  • This is a known bug. It happens if you disconnect from QGroundControl before stopping Botlink Relay.

    This is caused because some program (including Botlink Relay itself, due to the above bug) has the port open already.

    Close and re-open Botlink Relay

XRD2 Articles

XRD First Time Setup - A Walkthrough going over your first time set up with the Botlink XRD.

Connecting FLiR Cameras to an XRD2 - This article goes over how to connect and use a FLiR camera with the Botlink XRD2.

How to Set Up an Xbox Controller for a Pixhawk Autopilot And Fly Using Botlink's XRD2 - A guide for how to manually fly a drone via controller over the XRD2 system

XRD2 Video Resources

Uploading Flight Images to InSites - This guide will walkthrough how to upload images to InSites and processing the images.

Map Types in InSites - This guide will go over the different types of maps you can select when uploading images to Botlink InSites.

Exporting Maps in InSites - This guide goes over the different ways in which you can export maps in InSites.

Using the InSites Imagery Tools - This article will go over how to use the different imagery tools that InSites offers users.

InSites Inventory Management - This guide will go over the different ways in which a user can manage their inventory within InSites.

Different Volume Calculations - This article goes over the different volume calculation types that InSites offers and when they are most applicable to you.

Finding Density of a Stockpile - This walkthrough will go over how to find the density of your own materials within your inventory.

Finding Negative (Fill) Volumes - This article goes over the way in which you determine fill volumes for your stockpiles using InSites’ tools.

Setting Up Default Units - This guide will go over how to set up default units for known materials within your inventory.

Creating Custom Units - This guide goes over how to create custom units within InSites to use elsewhere.

Managing Your Data With Botlink - An article going over how to manage your flights and inventory within InSites.

Using InSites Chat Feature - A guide to how to use the InSites chat feature in order to get answers from a Botlink Employee quickly.

Setting Up With Botlink - This article goes over the basic first time set up to make sure you have the best success with the Botlink Capture app.

Integrating with Procore - This guide goes over how to integrate Procore with Botlink’s InSites services.

  • Capture is a safe, simple, and secure solution to controlling your drone and processing data collected using InSites.

  • Capture is currently operable anywhere for flight control and data processing.

  • Botlink Capture is compatible with DJI’s lineup that uses the Lightbridge. This includes the Phantom 3 Pro, Phantom 4 Pro, Inspire 1 Pro, Inspire 1 V2.0, Mavic Pro and the Matrice. We will continue to add more airframes once they have been fully tested by our team.

InSites Video Resources

Capture FAQ

Connect DJI Drone to Capture - This walkthrough goes over how to connect a DJI drone to Botlink’s Capture App.

Downloading Botlink Capture - This article goes over downloading Botlink Capture as well as first time set up.

Conducting Flights with Capture - This walkthrough goes over creating and conducting flights with the Capture app.

Installing Capture on DJI Controllers - This walkthrough goes over how to sideload Botlink Capture onto a DJI controller.

Planning Flights with Capture - This walkthrough goes over how to plan flights with the Botlink Capture app.

Saving Maptiles for Offline Use - This guide shows how you can save map tiles in order to use Capture offline or without cell service.

How to Activate a DJI Aircraft - This walkthrough goes over how to activate your DJI aircraft and verify the firmware is up to date.

Capture Video Resources

Botlink With Fixed Wing Drones - This article goes over compatibility with fixed wing drones with Botlink Capture.

Compatible Drones - This guide shows how you can tell which drones are compatible with Botlink Capture.

Upgrading a DJI Aircraft - This guide will go over how to upgrade older DJI aircraft.

Updating a DJI Transmitter - This walkthrough goes over how to update your DJI transmitter.

Conduct Mission Overviews - This article goes over how you can go over MavLINK made missions using Botlink Capture.

Fixed Wing Flights - A guide to go over how to conduct fixed wing flights with Botlink Capture.

Connecting your Camera to Capture - This walkthrough goes over how to connect your camera to Botlink Capture.

Connecting Your Drone to Botlink - This article will go over how to connect a drone to Botlink Capture.

Capture Settings - This guide goes over common settings that users may want to change in Botlink Capture.

Parameter Editing - This is a guide showing how you can edit parameters with Botlink’s Capture app.

Profiles, Connections, and Cameras - An article going over different features that Botlink offers with Capture.

Adding New Drones to Botlink - This article goes over how to add new drones to Botlink Capture.

Using an Xbox Controller with Botlink - This article goes over how one can use an Xbox controller with Mission Planner.

Botlink InSites Mapping Software

Botlink Capture - Flight App

Compatible Drone Information

Botlink for MAVLink Drones