Multiple Herelink on single network

HereLink
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Really liking the (relatively) low cost hardware for here-link air unit. Great range, compact etc.

I am looking at doing some long range multi-drone “swarm” type operations. We have been using ESP8266 but don’t get the range. Before I jump up the cost ladder to something like MicroHard I was wondering if the herelink hardware can be adapted for the purpose.

Can any of the devs comment if it is possible to configure multiple air-units with different fixed IP addresses and connect them to a single base unit/network? (A router or another “air unit” for example).

Happy to provide more detail on the specific use case if needed.

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@Duncan_Hine yes you can do this. We have been able to get 5 aircraft connected all controlled from 1 hotspot and one laptop, with 5 different controllers.

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I would be interested in how you accomplished this if you would be willing to share?

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So we used a HotSpot/Router Powerbank Device.

  1. Hardcode the IP Address on the Hotspot based on the Mac Address of each aircraft, such that the last number of the IP Address represents the aircraf ID for easier identification. E.G. 192.168.0.1 for Aircraft #1
  2. On the Herelink Controller, make sure to go and set a Static IP Address, for each of the aircraft. So on Herelink Controller for Aircraft #1 set the static IP to 192.168.0.1.
  3. You need to set the aircraft identifier on UGCS for what each IP Address represent which aircraft.
  4. Now when you connecting via the wifi hotspot/router on UGCS, you are automatically displayed the aircraft identifier.

Note this only works for up to 5 aircraft due to signal separation, but also doesn’t work for long range as the signal attenuation stops the bandwidth gap.

For just comms, I would recommend use the RFD900X which has better for just comms, not for video links though.

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