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SoftIce edited this page May 10, 2019 · 27 revisions

Instruction Video

4G/LTE Softmod Instruction Youtube Video - Part 1 4G/LTE Softmod Instruction Youtube Video - Part 2
Instruction Video - Part 1 Instruction Video - Part 2

Sigue Paso a Paso los pasos del video tutorial en Español: Parte 1 (Pasos previos) - Parte 2 (Instalando el Mod) - Parte 3 (Preparación)

Thanks Gus and Ivan for compiling the videos! ☺️

Need help?

UAVPAL Slack Workspace

Instructions too technical? Having trouble installing the softmod? We have a great and very active community on Slack, come join us!

Hardware

Get the hardware needed (see Hardware under Requirements)

Modem, Antennas and USB cable

Identify the Huawei E3372 4G/LTE USB modem's firmware by plugging it into a PC first:

  • If a web browser automatically starts and opens http://192.168.8.1 or http://192.168.0.1, you have a Hi-Link (firmware 22.x) modem.
  • If nothing happens or the "Mobile Partner" application starts, you have a "Stick-Mode" (firmware 21.x) modem and can safely ignore the following section.

For Hi-Link modems (firmware 22.x) only:

  • Go to Settings → Dial-up → Profile Management: set your mobile network operator's APN correctly (if unsure, consult your mobile provider or try this list)
  • Leave all other settings to default
  • If you are getting an Internet connection via the 4G/LTE modem on your PC, you should be all set.

The USB cable needs to be plugged into the modem and the Micro USB port behind the Bebop 2 (just below the battery). To fix the modem on top of the battery, you can use some foam double-sided tape or Velcro picture hanging strips (to be able to easily attach and remove the modem on multiple batteries).

Modem plugged into Bebop 2

Web Accounts

Glympse

→ Optional, if you want GPS real-time location tracking using Glympse App (see FAQ on why you should use Glympse)

Create a free Glympse Developer account at https://developer.glympse.com/account/create

  • Complete the form using a valid e-mail address.
  • Once verification e-mail is sent, click the "Verify Sign-up" link inside.
  • You will see "Your account has now been verified. Welcome aboard!"
  • Click "MY ACCOUNT" on top right and the "My Apps"
  • Click "New Application (+)"
    • Application Name: uavpal softmod
    • Platform: Web API
    • OS: Other
  • Click "Create"
  • You should see the newly generated API Key now (20 characters), note it down as we need it later.

Get the Glympse App for your mobile phone.

Pushbullet

→ Optional, if you decide not to use Push Notifications, you won't need this.
When using Glympse, the Bebop 2 will send you a Glympse link once it's connected to a 4G/LTE network. This link can either be sent from your Bebop 2 via SMS (charges might apply) and/or a Push Notification (this is where Pushbullet comes into play). Pushbullet is also used to send notifications whenever a microSD card is inserted or removed.

Create a free Pushbullet account at https://www.pushbullet.com

  • Sign in using an existing Google or Facebook account.
  • Click "Settings"
  • Click "Account"
  • Click "Create Access Token"
  • You should see the newly generated Access Token now (34 characters), note it down as we need it later.

Get the Pushbullet App for your mobile phone and sign in with the same account.

ZeroTier

→ Required to establish a bi-directional connection between Skycontroller 2 and Bebop 2, regardless of network topology

Create a free ZeroTier account at: https://my.zerotier.com

  • Click "Create an Account"
  • Fill in a valid e-mail address and chose a password.
  • Click "Create an Account"
  • Go to "Networks" on top
  • Click "Create" to create a new network
  • Click the newly created network
  • You should see the newly generated Network ID on top (16 characters), note it down as we need it later.

Software

You need a PC for the initial setup (to load the softmod to the Bebop 2 and Skycontroller 2). These instructions should work on the latest OS versions of Windows, macOS and GNU/Linux.

  • Download .zip archive of the latest softmod scripts and binaries
  • Unzip contents (the extraction process automatically creates a new folder "beboptwo4g-master" or "beboptwo4g-x.y", where by x.y is the release version number)
  • Use a text editor (e.g. Windows Notepad or macOS TextEdit) to modify the following configuration files. For each of the files, read the description inside the file and replace the first line's example with your own setting.
    • bebop2/uavpal/conf/glympse_apikey (only required for GPS tracking via Glympse)
    • bebop2/uavpal/conf/phonenumber (only required for GPS tracking via Glympse and/or microSD card insertion/removal notifications)
    • bebop2/uavpal/conf/pushbullet (only required for GPS tracking via Glympse and/or microSD card insertion/removal notifications)
    • bebop2/uavpal/conf/apn (check this list if unsure)
    • bebop2/uavpal/conf/zt_networkid
    • skycontroller2/uavpal/conf/wpa
    • skycontroller2/uavpal/conf/ssid
    • skycontroller2/uavpal/conf/zt_networkid
  • Ensure Bebop 2 and Skycontroller 2 are on the latest Parrot firmware supported by BebopTwo4G, if required you can up-/downgrade the firmware manually (see details for Bebop 2 here and Skycontroller 2 here).
  • Ensure there is sufficient storage available on the Bebop 2. This softmod only requires 10 MB, however it will not work if 100% of the internal storage is used by videos. This can be checked in FreeFlight Pro.
  • Turn on your Bebop 2 with the 4G/LTE USB modem plugged in. The modem needs to have a SIM card inside.
  • Ensure no device is plugged into Skycontroller 2 via USB cable.
  • Turn on Skycontroller 2 and wait until it's connected to the Bebop 2 via Wi-Fi (green LED).
  • Connect your PC's Wi-Fi to the Bebop 2 (e.g. Bebop2-123456).
  • Use an FTP tool (e.g. FileZilla) to upload the softmod to your Bebop 2.
    • Connect via FTP to 192.168.42.1 (no username/password required)
    • You have to set the transfer type to Binary (not ASCII). In FileZilla under Edit → Settings... → Transfers → FTP: File Types → Default transfer type → change from Auto to Binary.
    • Transfer the "beboptwo4g-master" or "beboptwo4g-x.y" folder to the "/internal_000" folder on the Bebop 2.
  • Press the Bebop 2's power button four times in a row to enable the telnet server.
  • Open a Command Prompt (Windows)/Terminal (macOS/Linux) and Copy/Paste the following commands manually (line by line) to install the softmod.
    • telnet 192.168.42.1 (If you get an error under Windows, make sure the Telnet Client is installed)
    • mv /data/ftp/internal_000/beboptwo4g-* /tmp/beboptwo4g
    • chmod +x /tmp/beboptwo4g/*/*_install.sh
    • /tmp/beboptwo4g/bebop2/bebop2_install.sh
    • /tmp/beboptwo4g/skycontroller2/skycontroller2_install.sh
    • reboot
  • Turn off Skycontroller 2 manually
  • The Bebop 2's 4G/LTE USB modem should show a steady LED (indicating Internet connection) after about one minute.
  • The Bebop 2 will register itself as a new member to ZeroTier (based on the Network ID provided in zt_networkid)
  • Use your PC and login to https://my.zerotier.com:
    • Under the tab "Networks", click your Network ID if it's not open yet and scroll down to Members.
    • You should see a new member here, your Bebop 2. Authorize it to use your Network ID (enable the checkbox "Auth?"), feel free to assign a short name (e.g. "bebop2")
      Authorize ZeroTier Member
    • Click the wrench icon and enable "Allow Ethernet Bridging".
      Enable Ethernet Bridging for ZeroTier Member
  • Turn On Skycontroller 2 and wait until it's connected to the Bebop 2 via Wi-Fi (green LED) - you don't need to connect a mobile device via USB to Skycontroller 2 at this time.
  • Enable tethering on your mobile device (iOS: "Personal Hotspot" or Android: "Portable WLAN hotspot"), ensure the Network Name (SSID) and Passphrase (WPA Key) match the configuration files ssid and wpa from above.
  • Double press the Settings button on Skycontroller 2 (give it a firm press and wait for about a second before pressing again).
  • Wait for Skycontroller 2's LED to go flashing blue
  • The Skycontroller 2 will register itself as a new member to ZeroTier (based on the Network ID provided in zt_networkid)
  • Use your PC and login to https://my.zerotier.com:
    • Under the tab "Networks", click your Network ID if it's not open yet and scroll down to Members.
    • You should see a new member here, your Skycontroller 2. Authorize it to use your Network ID (enable the checkbox "Auth?"), feel free to assign a short name (e.g. "skycontroller2")
      Authorize ZeroTier Member
    • Click the wrench icon and enable "Allow Ethernet Bridging".
      Enable Ethernet Bridging for ZeroTier Member
  • Power off the Bebop 2 and Skycontroller 2.
  • Proceed with How to fly on 4G LTE (User Manual) to test the BebopTwo4G softmod end-to-end.

⚠️ Note: these steps only need to be executed once, unless you want to change a setting or upgrade to the latest softmod version to Skycontroller 2/Bebop 2.

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