3DR Radio Telemetry V3 433MHz 1000mW with TTL and USB Port - 1W Independent Signal Amplifier, -140dBm Sensitivity, MAVLink, FHSS, and 2-3km Range for Pixhawk and APM RC Quadcopter and Fixed-Wing
The 3DR Radio Telemetry V3 is a high-power 433MHz UAV telemetry radio pair built around an independent 1W signal amplifier stage and CP2102 USB-to-TTL chip, delivering 30dBm (1000mW) transmit power with an exceptional receiver sensitivity of -140dBm for a proven 2-3km operational range with a small omnidirectional antenna - a substantial step up from the 100mW and 500mW transmit power levels of standard 3DR-compatible telemetry kits in the same 433MHz frequency class. The -140dBm receiver sensitivity figure is particularly significant, representing one of the highest sensitivity ratings available in the SiK-firmware 433MHz telemetry radio class and providing a link budget margin that sustains reliable telemetry reception at extended range even under partial signal obstruction, antenna misalignment, or RF interference conditions that would degrade lower-sensitivity receivers well before the 2-3km range ceiling is reached. The independent 1W signal amplifier is implemented as a discrete amplification stage rather than relying solely on the Si1000 transceiver output, allowing the full 30dBm output to be sustained consistently across the operating voltage and temperature range of the module.
A key practical feature of the V3 is the identical hardware design across both modules in the pair, where either unit can be deployed as the air-side or ground-side radio without hardware modification or configuration change, eliminating the module assignment confusion and spares management complexity associated with telemetry kits using distinct air-only and ground-only hardware. Both modules are equipped with a micro USB TTL port and a CP2102 USB-to-TTL chip for ground-side laptop and tablet connection, and OTG capability extends connectivity options to Android tablets and smartphones for field GCS operation without a laptop. The kit includes 3 cable types covering 5-pin APM and 6-pin Pixhawk telemetry port connectors alongside the USB interface, ensuring direct out-of-box compatibility with both APM and Pixhawk flight controller hardware without requiring additional adapter cables. Open-source SiK firmware running on the Si1000 8051 microcontroller provides MAVLink protocol framing, FHSS, adaptive TDM, AT and RT command configuration, and built-in error correcting code recovering up to 25% data bit errors, maintaining full feature parity with the broader 3DR telemetry radio ecosystem.
Key Features
- Frequency: 433MHz ISM band for UAV telemetry in European, Asian, and other regions where 433MHz is the designated licence-free sub-GHz data link band
- Transmit Power: Up to 30dBm (1000mW) via independent 1W signal amplifier stage for extended 2-3km operational range with small omnidirectional antenna
- Receiver Sensitivity: -140dBm, one of the highest sensitivity ratings in the SiK-firmware 433MHz telemetry radio class for reliable reception at extended range margins
- Independent 1W Signal Amplifier: Discrete 1W amplifier stage sustains full 30dBm output consistently across operating voltage and temperature range
- Identical Module Design: Both modules in the pair share the same hardware design and can be used as air-side or ground-side radio without modification or reconfiguration
- CP2102 USB-to-TTL Chip: High-quality CP2102 USB serial chip on both modules for reliable ground-side laptop and tablet connection via micro USB port
- Micro USB TTL Port: Both modules equipped with micro USB TTL port for flexible ground-side and air-side interface options
- OTG Support: On-the-go capability enables Android tablet and smartphone GCS connection without a laptop for field operation
- 3 Cable Types Included: 5-pin APM cable, 6-pin Pixhawk cable, and USB cable included for out-of-box APM and Pixhawk flight controller compatibility
- Proven 2-3km Range: Demonstrated 2-3km operational range with small omnidirectional antenna, extendable with optional bi-directional amplifier
- Transparent Serial Link: Passes MAVLink telemetry packets without protocol conversion for direct Pixhawk and APM flight controller GCS compatibility
- Air Data Rate: Up to 250kbps over-the-air data rate for real-time telemetry, parameter transfer, and MAVLink status reporting
- MAVLink Protocol Framing: Native MAVLink framing and status reporting for direct Pixhawk, APM, and PX4 telemetry stream compatibility
- Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum: FHSS improves RF interference resilience and co-channel contention resistance on shared 433MHz spectrum
- Adaptive Time Division Multiplexing: TDM optimises bidirectional channel sharing between air and ground modules under varying link conditions
- LBT and AFA Support: Listen Before Talk and Adaptive Frequency Agility reduce RF collision probability on shared 433MHz band
- Error Correcting Code: Built-in ECC corrects up to 25% data bit errors without retransmission for reliable telemetry under marginal link conditions
- Configurable Duty Cycle: Adjustable transmission duty cycle for regulatory compliance and co-existence with other 433MHz band users
- AT and RT Command Support: AT commands for local radio configuration and RT commands for remote air-side radio configuration from the ground station
- Si1000 8051 Microcontroller: Silicon Laboratories Si1000 8051-core RF microcontroller running open-source SiK firmware
- Bi-Directional Amplifier Compatible: Optional external bi-directional amplifier support for range extension beyond the standard 2-3km operational distance
- Omnidirectional Antenna: Small omnidirectional antenna included, replaceable via standard connector for higher-gain antenna alternatives
Applications
- Pixhawk and APM flight controller real-time telemetry and parameter monitoring at 2-3km range in 433MHz-regulated regions via APM Mission Planner or compatible MAVLink GCS
- European and Asian UAV operations requiring 1W 433MHz telemetry with -140dBm sensitivity for extended range beyond standard 100mW-class telemetry kits
- RC quadcopter and fixed-wing UAV ground station communication requiring out-of-box APM and Pixhawk cable compatibility with OTG Android tablet GCS support
- Field deployments requiring interchangeable air and ground modules with identical hardware for simplified spares management and module assignment flexibility
- In-flight PID tuning, waypoint upload, and MAVLink status monitoring at extended 2-3km range without bi-directional amplifier hardware
- Long-range UAV telemetry range extension builds adding an optional bi-directional amplifier to the 1W base output for beyond-standard operational distance.
Package List:
- 1 x Air Module
- 1 x Ground station Module
- 1 x APM 5P Cable
- 1 x Pixhawk 6P Cable
- 1 x OTG Cable
