New Android Tablet for DroidPlanner 3 (Tower)

I got a new Android tablet. I'm all for using what you have laying around, but the old one was barely adequate. I got tired of fighting against my old (circa 2012) budget Android tablet. So now, I have more processing power and memory and can finally run the latest version of DroidPlanner (v3 - Tower). It apparently has higher system requirements than DroidPlanner-v1.

Here is a pic of my new Dragon Touch M8 Android tablet installed on my Taranis.

• It has a better processor (quad core) and more memory (1gb ram) to allow DroidPlanner-3/Tower to even run in the first place. I was limited to DP-1 with the iView-760tpc. The M8 is running Android v4.4.2 (KitKat)
• The M8 has a better 8" IPS-tech screen, while the iView-760tpc had only a TFT-tech LCD. It is brighter and higher-resolution.
• The M8 has GPS, Bluetooth, and FM-Radio ... while the iView-760tpc did not.
• The M8 has a better battery (longer run time).
• The M8 has a fully-functional USB-port with OTG support.
• The M8 charges from the micro-USB port which actually turned out to be a good thing. Now, I can more easily use a standard "power-bank battery" at flying-field if needed.

Lots of new features in Droid Planner-3 (Tower).

• Really, too many to describe. You just have to install it and see for yourself.
• RSSI to measure signal strength between 915mhz Telemetry radios.

DroidPlanner has worked fine since the first time I tried it on the M8. I did NOT need to install or use USB Host Check App from TaurusLabs to get it OTG-support to work. I am still using this mount.

EDIT 12-10-2017

Looks like it's made by TabletExpress. I successfully re-flashed to Android Lollipop v5.0. Seems to run smoother and have better App Compatibility now. All the devices (including the "special devices" like GPS and FM-Radio) still work. USB-OTG still works. For some reason, haptic feedback seems to have changed a bit (but no big deal).

A completely new thing for me to try on it is OTG-UVC , but I could not seem to get it to work. I tried pretty hard and one dev said this tablet's chipset just can't do it for some reason.
 

DroidPlanner (GCS) on Android tablet

I lucked out and just managed to get IceCreamSandwich 4.x installed on my old (circa 2012 with GingerBread 2.x) Chinese Android 7" tablet (iView 760TPC). It is dual-core with 512mb RAM, and supports USB Host Mode (for 3G cell dongles, etc.). The tablet came with a little OTG USB adapter cable that allows you to plug in normal-sized USB flash drives (while I don't use it much, it goes work). The tablet's native USB port is Mini (not Micro) so I can't use the OTG cable supplied with HK 3DR v2 Telemetry radios. Therefore, for now, I will use the iView OTG cable, and the normal USB cable that I use with the radio on the laptop.

At first, DroidPlanner didn't seem to work (radio lights weren't flashing quite right, and DroidPlanner would not Connect). I checked the page at DroidPlanner GitHub, and it mentioned trying the USB Host Check app. Sure enough, the checks all failed (which I thought was strange ... since old OTG USB Adapter was already working for Flash drives). I went ahead and clicked the "Fix It" button and rebooted. I still had the 915mhz radio connected. After it booted up, it detected the radio and ICS asked me if I wanted to use it with DroidPlanner. This was a sure sign that things were looking better. Sure enough, after starting DroidPlanner, it connected with no problems. HUD is working nicely.

I was then getting a "Unfortunately, TTS has stopped" (crashed) on every startup. I clicked OK, and the app worked fine. The error went away completely after the Google Play Store offered a "TTS Update" and I let it install. Now, TTS (Speech Prompts) work fine in DroidPlanner.



I used this mount from HobbyKing. I also upgraded to this 5inch USB Mini-Micro male OTG cable for a much cleaner look.

Edit: In March 2015, I upgraded to a better Android tablet.

Troubleshooting:

USB-OTG cables are asymmetrical (only properly communicate when connected in proper direction). It has more to do with internal wiring than connectors that might be soldered on each end. USB-OTG port should at least work with USB flash drives or "wired" computer direct-connected storage (as a starting point).

DroidPlanner (even DP v1) requires ICS v4.x or higher on Android device. Test with DP v1 first (it has smaller memory and lower resource footprint). If that works, you can uninstall it and try a higher version. DP v2 and v3 might crash or malfunction if your device is not up-to running them. DP v3 (Tower) might require a dual-core or better and 1gb ram (depending on what background apps you are running).

With the Nova's main LiPo battery connected, get Nova working with 915mhz v2 radios in MissionPlanner for Windows first. This checks telemetry radios (important step) and Nova. Always properly Disconnect MP with button (before disconnecting physical cable). Leave radio on Nova, but move laptop's radio to Android device, now using USB-OTG cable.

To verify the your Android device even has a functioning USB port, I like to first test it with a flash-memory device.

You can really only have one version (either v1, 2, or 3) installed at a time (to avoid conflicts). Be sure radio-dongle and/or USB-OTG cable is disconnected at first. Install Droid Planner and reboot device. After full boot, connect radio (it should be detected). Select radio as Default device for DP. Start DP and try to connect.

If radio is not detected, run USB Host Check App from TaurusLabs. If device abilities fail, click Fix button and run Check again. After Connect, move quad and see if Hud responds (this will check basic communications). Forum member Jester1964 reports that they had to enable "USB Debugging" in Developer options before it would work for them.