SoftRF version mb167

[Moshe Braner]

Finally fixed the 2-year-old problem with connecting to the BMP180 baro sensor chip.  The BMP280 is a better sensor, but now those with a BMP180 already installed can use it within this version of SoftRF.  Also, booting SoftRF on a device with NO baro sensor is now a few seconds faster.

[Tero Koskela]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working with a T-Beam SoftRF (version MB167) setup including an OLED display and a BMP280 barometric sensor. I’m looking for a suitable enclosure for this board, ideally something that fits reasonably well and offers good protection. I haven’t been able to find anything off-the-shelf that accommodates the T-Beam together with the display and sensor.

Does anyone here have:

• Recommendations for enclosures that have worked with this kind of setup?

• Custom 3D printable designs or links to models that already fit the board, display and BMP280?

• Advice on mounting the BMP280 (which needs air access) inside a case without compromising weather resistance or RF performance?

Any pointers, links or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Tero 🇫🇮

[Moshe Braner]

There are many 3D printing plans for a case for a T-Beam, if you search on thingverse for example you will find some.  Some people like a more compact case, some have other desires.  I took one from there and modified (online using tinkercad) to further add room for extras, such as your BMP280 board, or in my case often a 12V-5V converter, a TTL-RS232 serial converter, an SD card adapter, and even the ADS-B receiver module.  If you do not use an 18650 battery cell (only use external power) there is some room behind the middle of the board.  But if you do use the battery the case really needs to be bigger to have space for such extra modules.  You can find the case designs I used here:

    https://github.com/moshe-braner/SoftRF/tree/master/case

(in that folder - not the subfolders, which are case designs that Linar included in his github repo as of 2022 - maybe he has additional ones now?)

For a photo of a T-Beam inside such a case, with the ADS-B receiver module hidden inside, and an external GPS module on top, see my "home page":  https://github.com/moshe-braner/SoftRF

The OLED I solder to pins in the T-Beam holes, same as the version you can buy from LilyGo that has it already soldered.  Like this:

    https://github.com/moshe-braner/SoftRF/blob/master/software/firmware/documentation/T-beam_OLED_attached.jpg

Regarding the BMP280, as long as there are holes in the case (and there will be many) it will get the ambient pressure OK.  Some people mount it on pins, like the OLED,  but down on pins 2 and 13.  There is a "5V" pin next to those which can be used to power it, although I'd rather use 3.3V.  Caution: do not connect it to pin 2 via a hard pin that is hard to de-solder, use a wire with a loop you can cut.  If you ever have to re-flash the T-Beam via USB, you will have to be able to disconnect pin 2 first.

BTW, it is better to start a new thread if your message has a different topic.  :-)

On Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 6:24:56 PM UTC-4 teac...@gmail.com wrote:

Hi everyone,

[Tero Koskela]

Thanks again for the case link in the root of the directory, that was very helpful! I didn’t notice it at first. I had already printed the v5 case earlier, but in that one the display position was not quite correct. I’ll print the newer model and try it out. :)

I’m also interested in the GNS5892R ADS-B receiver module. Could someone tell me a bit more about this module? It seems like a very useful addition when flying, especially if it can receive the standard transponder ADS-B broadcasts and then forward the data to my navigation app (SkyDemon) so I can see nearby traffic on the tablet display.

Questions:
Which pins should the GNS5892R be connected to on the T-Beam?
Is there a particular version or supplier of the module that is recommended?

Thanks!

  🇫🇮  

[R. van Twisk]

Tero,

Not sure where you are flying from, but since you mentioned SKyDemon (I use that to) I was thinking Europe..In my area (NL) I noticed that most aircraft I am interested in don't cary ADSB-Out, so the use case for me to use the GNS5892R was limited. Most aircraft in the circuits or between 00 and 3000ft use a mode-c transponder so you don't get positional information from the GNS5892R. 

Since risk is highest around the circuits and low level I am using a mobile connection to get MLAT data and feed that to SkyDemon of myself and any passengers (BlueTooth or GDL90).

So, check out the area where you are flying to see what they use...

Happy Landings!

Ries

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[Tero Koskela]

  I fly here in central Finland, and this area is mostly a sparsely used airfield/wilderness-airstrip region. I myself fly with transponder code 7000 all the time, so I don’t appear on services like Flightradar because I’m not make flight information from it. At home I have an OGN receiver, and my airplane shows up on Flightradar much faster when I switch this MB167 TTGO on. There isn’t much air traffic here, it’s good if one or, at best, two aircraft are in the air at the same time :). But I’m trying to spread this great device to my friends.  

https://live.glidernet.org/#c=64.17892,24.65520&z=7&m=0&s=1&l=r

[Moshe Braner]

For information on how to connect the GNS5892R, and much else, please see my 2 documentation files.  They are not long and are plain text files, but include many important details.  (Even the case design link!)

The GNS5892R does not receive mode-C transponder signals at all.  It does receive mode-S but of course it cannot tell you where those aircraft are, just that there is a strong signal.  (FLARM gives a similar warning for mode-C, but not the GNS5892).

Of course the GNS5892 gives you precise position data for aircraft that have a mode-S transponder that also transmits ADS-B 1090ES.  That's the main purpose.  For USA users: it does not receive ADS-B on UAT978, but does receive such traffic data if it is mirrored on 1090 as ADS-R or TIS-B.

[Tero Koskela]

Okay, it seems that for now it’s probably not worth spending time installing that unit. Our old transponder is only transmitting Mode A/C anyway. I printed new enclosures for both designs, and we’ll soon see how they fit, but they already look significantly better than the previous version.

There they coming

Looking much better