The Flytron Simple OSD XL from Flytron is the advanced version of the Simple OSD Ultralight Edition. This OSD has a more powerful CPU and offers significantly more features. According to the manufacturer, the Simple OSD XL is the lightest OSD system on the planet except SimpleOSD Ultralight and still offers most features. Even for the Simple OSD XL, the word “Simple” means that information is presented as simple as possible. The important information is clearly displayed, but the fantastic view not blocked with to many symbols. The manufacturer describes this with a succinct sentence: „Flying like a bird without OSD scraps on the screen“.
We received the following parts for review:
- 1x Simple OSD XL
- 1x GPS 10Hz
- 1x Current sensor 50A
- 1x USB program adapter
- 1x small parts like connectors,…
Technical Data of the main components (manufacture data)
Simple OSD XL
- weight only 2.99g
- 27x35mm stamp size
- monitoring 2 batteries voltage and capacity and current(with optional current sensor)
- Plug and Play interface for easy usage
- Internal Audio Telemetry Modem for transferring values to the ground
- PC Based Audio Telemetry Modem software for receiving values
- PC Based Configuration Tool for Custom screen designs
- Alarm options for distance, battery and altitude
- Audible Variometer
- Record system for Max Speed, Altitude, Distance values
- 32kb code space for complex applications and useful screen
- IR port for Infra-red Dogfight and menu control with TV remote
- Optional 10hz GPS module with -163dB high sensitive active antenna
- Second battery monitor
- RSSI input pin for signal level monitoring
- Optional analogue pin for different sensors and Sensor design system
- EXT port for remote controls, digital outputs or IR gun for dogfight
- Firmware update system over internet
- SimpleOSD XL Web Manual
10Hz GPS module v2
- MediaTek Single Chip
- 16x16x6mm
- Patch Antenna: 15x15x4mm
- L1 Frequency, C/A code, 66 channels
- Embedded LNA and SAW filter
- With Active patch antenna
- High Sensitivity Up to -163 dBm tracking, superior urban performances
- Position Accuracy < 3m CEP (50%) without SA (horizontal)
- Cold Start is Under 35 seconds (Typical)
- Warm Start is Under 34 seconds (Typical)
- Hot Start is Under 1 second (Typical)
- Low Power Consumption 48mA @ acquisition, 37mA @ tracking
- Low shut-down current consumption 15uA, typical
- DGPS(WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS) support (optional by firmware)
- Max. Update Rate: up to 10Hz
- UART Interface
- Support AGPS function (Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days)
- 1 week backup time with Super Capacitor
The technical data is from the new GPS version 2. The difference is easy noticeable because of the backup battery. In the test I will use the old version 1 GPS.
50A Current sensor
- High quality 50 Ampere current sensor for SimpleOSD
USB program adapter
- Silab’s CP2102 based high quality USB to RS232 converter with 120cm long cable
- Full compatible with SimpleOSD Firmware loader software
This part is coming free with a new SimpleOSD XL(or Ultralight).
Installation
Contrary to its name, the Simple OSD is not a Plug & Play system. You have to study the web manual located at the manufacture’s website. A printed manual is not shipped with the unit. Special attention is needed for the power supply setup. Failure here can result in the destruction of your FPV equipment really fast. Even the wiring diagram in the web manual is difficult to follow for this.
The OSD needs a voltage from 7 to 24V. Normally its supplied by the current sensor. The current sensor directs the voltage of the connected battery (mostly the main flying pack) directly to the OSD. But this exact voltage is also directed to the connections for TX and cam (also to the connection of the receivers input). The wiring diagram shows, a 4s lipo, connected to a 12V TX and a 12V cam. Not a good idea if you value your gear. Because of the direct connection of the voltage from the flight pack, you should use a filter to suppress noise. So you can save the extra battery for the video equipment. If you want to use 5V equipment, a special 5V voltage regulator is necessary.
The OSD itself does not need any noise filtering. Even with the running motor, the display values do not flicker nor are there any other similar problems. The biggest difference between the Simple OSD and all the other OSDs out there, is the video and audio lines are not guided through the OSD, rather they are connected in parallel to the OSD. This is a big advantage, because in the event of OSD failure, there is still video and audio transmitted to the ground.
There are 2 ways to built up the OSD:
1) soldering plug connectors to make everything pluggable
- flexible construction
- GPS can be mounted on a different place for better reception
2) direct soldering the cables and the GPS module onto the main board
- compact construction
- less possibility of failures due to loose connections
Since version of the OSD already had soldered plug connectors (normal delivery with unsoldered pins), I decided to try the flexible construction. This type of construction needs much more space and the connections were to insecure. I suggest using a drop of hot glue or somthing similar to secure them.
Because of the planned use of the OSD in my FPV-Pod, I built it up once again. This time I soldered the GPS and the cables directly to the main board. The small board leaves little room for big connections.
You have to solder your own battery connectors onto your current sensor. Soldering the XT60 directly onto the board was difficult. I didn’t want to risk a loose connection with so many plugs, so I decided to use cables. Unfortunately you can see the disadvantage of this solution in the picture. It’s big. Generally I wished the current sensor were smaller, because as it is, the advantages of a small OSD are negated. There are current sensors available from the same manufacturer which are much smaller.
After finishing all the soldering and testing it, the main installation was finished.
Firmware
Principally everything should work smoothly here, like the “Simple” name indicates. Connect the USB adapter to the computer and install the drivers – start the software update – enter firmware code – update. Unfortunately there is when the “Simple” ran out.
The updated software displayed a finished update, but the OSD did not know that. Even disconnecting during the update, does not effect the updating process of the software. The problem in this case is the kind of update. The firmware will be written into the OSD without error check or verification after update. This often results in a corrupt firmware. So the OSD wont start any more. After many tries, different computers with different operating systems, I ended up having to use an older firmware in the OSD. After that was installed, I could upgrade to the newest one. The manufacturer has already promised to solve this problem with a future firmware update.
PC configuration
After updating to the newest firmware, its time to configure the OSD with the PC software. Connect USB adapter – power up the OSD – change your settings. The user interface is self-explanatory so you can quickly customize the settings. Nevertheless a better manual would have been great. But the configuration possibilities are limited, to stay with the “Simple” theme. There is only one line to change in the upper border of the display, therefore there are 5 different pages to set. You can use the switch on the board or the external receiver input.
You will need a continuous slider or pot. on the transmitter to switch through all 5 pages. With a 3 way switch only pages 1,3 and 5 useable. Additionally you can configure the standard alarms for voltage and distance, etc. The calibration of the current sensor is also very important. A first test showed a tolerance up to 30%. The best time to do the calibration is immediately after everything is put together. I managed to calibrate the voltage but failed to do the same with the current. Changing the calibration values does not have much effect.
Important features
The Simple OSD XL offers additional useful features.
- RSSI: some RC-receivers provide a RSSI signal, which we could connect to the OSD. So the OSD can display the signal strength of the receiver, which is very useful. For example, we can turn back home before loosing control. The RSSI signal should be direct connected with a 10kOhm resistor in series to the OSD. I recommend to use a RSSI Buffer to prevent possible interference back to the receiver.
- second current sensor: The OSD has a second current sensor input. So we used it to monitor a additional video battery. It’s possible to show the consumed mAh even on the second sensor input.
- Infra-red port: This port should be used for IR dogfights or for configuration by a remote control. At the moment there is no use for it, so we’ll have to wait for future updates.
- Internal Audio Telemetry Modem: The OSD has an inbuilt audio telemetry modem, to send data to the ground via the audio channel; values from the GPS or voltage for example, etc. On the ground the audio output of the video receiver is connected to the line in the computer. The software analyzes the audio stream and displays the data. Live tracking with Google Earth is possible. In the future this data could be used for an antenna tracker on the ground.
Flight test
I assembled the Simple OSD XL onto an FPV-Pod. This helped make a fast change between two different planes.
The OSD starts very fast, after the battery is plugged into the current sensor. Because of the black back ground, the data is easy to read. The GPS acquires signal very fast, but you have to set the homepoint yourself. You have to wait until the GPS altitude stays at the same level and then press the button on the OSD, this resets all values to zero and sets the homepoint. Unfortunately this was not described in the manual and so took more time to figure out.
Here is the flying video with my Freescale X-Free 3D flyer:
Conclusion
The OSD does what it promises, but there were some difficulties. The name “Simple” is a little misleading because this is definitely not a Plug and Play system. Flytron has tried to keep everything “Simple”, but based on the variety of features this was not possible. There need to be some changes in the firmware and software to for this to be a “SimpleOSD”. The value for money is still good, but has competition from the new CEOSD. The SimpleOSD still enjoys market dominance. It is the ideal OSD for people who want specific data displayed without distracting from the view. Indeed there are other OSDs, like the Eagle Tree OSD, which also configure to a simple display, but they are a lot more expensive.
Score
Pro
+++ very small OSD
+++ simple presentment of the information
+++ parallel connected to the video and audio cables
++ many functions
+ future enhancements (antenna tracker, IR-dogfight,…)
Con
— no Plug & Play system
— problems with the firmware update
— problems with current sensor configuration (30% difference)
– incomplete manual
- not everything is that „Simple“
Result: good up to satisfactorily
[...] SimpleOSD XL Testbericht – Englisch [...]
i got it,
is the most problematic OSD ever.
GPS get jammed just by the RFI of my camera, what a shame.
Characters are full time dancing, not solid characters, and the lack of IN/OUT video ports is an advantage to reduce number of connectors, but it return lot of problems with some cameras, and video recorders. Also it can get easly flashed the OSD due the fact its modifying the signal levels rather than overimpose the data like any other OSD available.
Any RFI will make this OSD to not work properbly, and in my opinion is early a “BETA OSD” rather than something designed to be sold.
I like the shape and the size, and the low intrusivity in the image, but it returns too tooo toooo much problems.
The most tiny noise will make the Audio Modem to not work at all, and some people had problems with the R/C range (it become decreased a lot if you try to use the page change control over the radio)
Overall i find it expensive, not accurate, probably almost no filtered at all, and problematic.
My overall is 3/10.
[...] Polarisation-, Multipath- and Signal blocking-problems have more effects. You can see this when you compare the videos of flight test 1 and 2. At close range (about 400m) the effects are minimal so fun relaxing flying is no problem. You can see this in the Simple OSD XL Test. [...]