Remote control that works with the VESC 6

If you want to use the NRF, you need a Controller (e.g.Nunchuck) with a special replacement PCB, featuring NRF. This PCB is still not perfect and needs some attention. Due to FCC regulations we could not mount the NRF Chip for VESCs shipped to countries outside the EU. We might drop the NRF support due to the complicated legal matters that arise as soon as you incorporate "intended emitters", namely 2.4Ghz transceivers. Probably its best to have FCC approved Bluetooth modules and NRF transceivers as secondary devices in future. Frank

Frank - i really wanted to try the built-in NRF! Since i'm in the US - i'm guessing i'm one that did not get it "mounted"?

Does that mean it's there - just disconnected, or totally missing?

We had to make a last minute decision to take the NRF chip of the PCB for the American customers. FCC does not compromise on "intended emitters" although a 0dbm NRF is not likely to cause any issues. The test is time consuming and expensive, and each time you change the software or hardware you need to start all over again. For hard- and software, changing all the time, FCC testing is no option. There are approved NRF modules available, which is the way forward for Open Source. We hope everyone can understand that we needed to make this decision. Frank

Does the nRF work only with the "special replacement PCB" you mentioned or will a documentation be released about he communication protocol to build our own remote ?
Since I saw that Ben implemented nRF on the VESC6, I started to design a custom remote to deal with. ;)

The NRF is a topic on its own and software wise Benjamin has done major improvements like automatic pairing. Probably its best to open a thread about that next week. Benjamin is the guy to ask detailed questions about the communication protocol. Lets get them VESCs up running first and then hit the details a bit later. Now the VESC-Tool can upload a bootloader and everyone can start using the VESC SIX, VESC-Tool for HW 4 is the next step to take. After that, there is time to sort out the detailed question about the NRF improvements, communication protocol, software and hardware (PCB layout). Frank

The NRF chip itself is missing, but the passive components around it are there. A u.fl antenna cable is also missing. If you are comfortable with smd soldering and have a hot air soldering station you could solder the NRF to the PCB and it should work. The NRF is however probably one of the most difficult components to solder, so it is easy to break things so you do this at your own risk.

The easiest way to deal with the protocol for a custom remote is to have a look at my custom nunchuk code:
https://github.com/vedderb/nunchuk_mod
This implementation is more advanced than it has to be however sine it also supports a wireless communication bridge for VESC Tool with full support for all features.

If there is a remote available with a NRF and someone can let me know how the protocol works and send me one, I could implement this in the firmware. Also, if anyone is planning on making a remote with a NRF and make it available for other people to purchase I would be glad to help with getting the communication protocol implemented.

I saw that you updated the firmware of the nunchuk last december to use the STM32s UUID for pairing. So is the currently newest available firmware for the nunchuk able to communicate to the VESC 6? So for everyone inside the EU the NRF is mounted right? I haven't received my VESC yet to look at it and it looks like it will also not happen today, because of the bad decision to send the german VESCs over frank.

D: Can we still attach external nrfs as before?

I can't find the vesc 5 topic with schematics anymore, what is the identifier of the chip to buy?

The schematics says NRF24L01P.

Does the winning remote support NRF , will it work with the vesc 6 without a additional reciever ?

No, NRF is special and no cheap 2.4GHz remote will support that. Frank

It appears on my vesc that I got that the antenna cable is included. Solder is also already on the pads so hopefully I can just flux it and hot air the nrf on.

Hi, I looked around for some ready assembled pcb solutions. http://c.b1yt.com/h.QxO0O3?cv=1eTsZyi24tt&sm=1c9a4b This is pretty interesting: includes joystick, 18650 cell holder and nrf module; and price is 7€ all included. What do you think? I could design a case if it is usable.