"T-Boom" project (T-Beam + SkyView + ADS-B +++)

[Marco Zonca]

After 1 year using T-Echo now is time for me to try the T-Beam.
T-Beam looks interesting because of its possibilities to have more options so I am looking forward to put many things together for a more complete handheld instrument.

Here it is a draft of the "T-Boom" project, mainly a T-Beam with remote antenna, an additional PCB connecting peripherals, many peripherals and its container 3D printed:

Of course I am showing here the draft to collect ideas from you!

[Moshe Braner]

Yes the T-Beam makes it a lot easier to connect multiple peripherals.  The OLED display is very small and dim and thus not useful in flight (although quite useful when turning on or off, and for testing).  If you could connect some other type of display - ideally (in my view) an e-paper display larger than the one in the T-Echo - that would be better.  In that case there may not be a need for the separate processor in that AMOLED board, since the software for that display can be built into SoftRF itself.  The T-Beam would support, for example, an SPI interface to a display, which may be faster than the I2C interface used for the OLED display.

Another approach would be to use the new "T5 E-Paper S3 Pro" board from LilyGo which includes a large e-paper display along with GNSS and LORA, although it is not easy to attach additional peripherals to (such as audio output).

https://lilygo.cc/products/t5-e-paper-s3-pro

[Marco Zonca]

These are good ideas Moshe but I will work only on hardware components let you continue with your very good software.

[Marco Zonca]

The project is proceeding very well. I have to say the T-Beam is good, just the original GPS looks to be lazy (never seen more than 9 satellites yet) comparing to T-Echo (sometimes even 18 satellites seen if I remember well).

The additional PCB connecting all peripherals is working (below it is an overview of it), I have still things to do with the 3D printing containing everything. On the way I added the BMP280 pressure sensor board and an high brightness 3mm LED as "strobe" for personal visual alarms.

Ones ready I will publish the details.

[Moshe Braner]

Great work Marco!  Yes the GPS on the T-Beam has poor performance, although it works well enough in the air.  The main reason for the poor performance is the tiny antenna.  If you replace it with a 25x25mm antenna (available with a U/FL connector) it work much better.  Or, attach an "external" GPS module, I've used the "VK2828" type with integrated 25x25mm antenna, and it works well.

[Vlad Belayev]

Ah well done, good work, Marco. 
I didn't realise you are developing own PCB, seems a good way. So does it combine T22- T_beam and T-Display?

Indeed, the T-Beam GPS is a bit death, I get 12 satellites, but fix time soo slow. Its OK when flying.
The best GPS chip in my view is built in Seeed SenseCap T1000E, its Mediatek AG3335. Most times it sees 38 satellites, acquires fix in seconds and works indoors. More importantly, the heading updates within seconds after just one step in a different direction. Also , if you are moving in a straight line, there is no Heading jitter, which I can't say the same about T-Beam's Quectel L76K.
If I was building an add-on PCB for the T-Display AMOLED, I would include that GPS and a LR1110 radio chip, which is another great performer. And of coarse GNS5892.
But that's something for the future.

[Marco Zonca]

The project has been published here: https://www.hackster.io/marcozonca/lilygo-t-beam-with-softrf-lora-ogn-and-ads-b-aviation-4aa0d0