Detailed Configuration Guide

Detailed Configuration Instructions

Tip

After studying this chapter, you can configure the product according to your actual needs. Go to the \<\\>, \<\\>, or \<\\> chapter for quick configuration.

Access the Configuration Web Page

• LQ3 Data Link Station Unit Preparation
• Connect the Ethernet cable supplied with the LQ3 Data Link Station Unit to the unit's Ethernet port and the laptop computer.
• Briefly press the power button. After you hear a beep, press and hold the button until the running indicator flashes, indicating that the device has entered operating mode.

• LQ3 Data Link Mobile Unit Preparation
• Connect the Ethernet cable supplied with the LQ3 Data Link Mobile Unit to the unit's Ethernet port and the laptop computer.
• Connect the power cable supplied with the LQ3 Data Link Mobile Unit to the charging port, and set the supply voltage to 12V~18V.

Connect the LQ Ethernet cable to your computer. Before proceeding to the next step, make sure you know how to configure a static IP address in Windows. Refer to the following link for instructions: https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/607778502.

Set the computer's IP address to 192.168.1.123, the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0, and the gateway to 192.168.1.1.

Open a browser on the computer, enter the default URL 192.168.1.200, and press Enter to access the LQ management page. The page shown below indicates that access was successful. If you cannot access the web page, go to <<Firmware Upgrade and Recovery>>, restore the factory settings using the physical method, and then access the web page again.

Web Interface Overview

Navigation Bar

After accessing the interface, first familiarize yourself with the overall system interface layout, including the navigation bar on the left, the function area on the right, the action bar at the top, and the status bar at the bottom.

Network Settings Page

Preliminary Concepts

AP (Access Point) mode: A wireless access point that creates and serves as the center of a network. It provides wireless network services, allowing users to connect to the network wirelessly.

STA (Station) mode: A wireless client that uses the network. It connects to the network wirelessly.

Channel: A channel can be understood simply as a signal path. Channel switching means switching between different channels so that devices can find the best signal path for communication.

Network Connection Configuration

Tip

After reading this chapter, you will have a basic understanding of network configuration concepts, methods, and the configuration process. A quick review of chapters such as \<\\>, \<\\>, and \<\\> will then help you connect and apply these concepts.

LQ Connection Mechanism

The network connection method used by LQ devices is the same as the WIFI connection method: devices connect using the ESSID (WiFi name) and password. As long as two devices have the same ESSID and password, they can connect automatically. This is the basic principle of LQ connections. All other communication functions of an LQ device depend on this network connection.

Set the Same Subnet and Different IP Addresses

After the network is connected, the entire network forms a local area network. By default, the Ethernet ports of the devices can communicate with one another. Devices that need to join the network are usually placed on the same subnet to facilitate communication between them. A subnet is similar to a defined "direct communication area" in which devices can communicate directly, while an IP address is each device's unique identity number. Different subnets are like two different "communication areas": devices can communicate directly within each area, but communication between the areas requires additional measures. If the IP addresses are the same (that is, the identity numbers are the same), a unique device cannot be identified. Therefore, the two devices must be set to the same subnet but given different IP addresses so that they can communicate directly.

Why Set AP and STA Modes?

The definitions of AP and STA make it clear that a network consists of an AP and STA devices. The AP creates the network, while STA devices use it. A network cannot operate properly with only one of these roles. Without the AP at its center, STA devices cannot operate properly—without the skin, where could the hair attach? Without any STA devices, no device would join the network—one hand cannot clap, leaving the AP alone. Therefore, when configuring the network, make sure that at least one device is in AP mode and the other devices are in STA mode. This enables communication between the devices.

Parameter Characteristics in Mesh Networking

From the preceding sections, we now understand the LQ connection mechanism and why devices must use the same subnet but different IP addresses. Customers who have purchased LQ-Mesh also need to understand two parameters used in Mesh networking:

• Operating Frequency Mhz: To place Mesh modules on the same network, set them to the same operating frequency; otherwise, they cannot communicate.

• Level Threshold: This value ranges from -90~0. The level value determines whether a received data packet is forwarded. If the value is below the configured threshold, the packet is not forwarded; otherwise, it is forwarded. For example, suppose a mesh device receives data from another mesh device, but the data carries a level value of -95 while the threshold is set to -90. In this case, the data packet is not forwarded. In actual use, you can adjust the threshold based on this principle to improve the forwarding of valid data, reduce network congestion and latency, and increase bandwidth.

Serial Port Feature Configuration

Transparent Serial Transmission Configuration Method

Transparent serial transmission is a method of communicating between devices through serial ports connected to LQ devices. This function enables communication between devices and is suitable for devices that cannot connect to a network but require wireless communication with one another.

The LQ device has three serial ports, all of which support transparent serial transmission. Serial port 3 also supports SBUS communication, providing a direct communication interface primarily for unmanned aerial vehicles and remote controllers.

Transparent serial transmission still relies on network communication. In essence, the serial data read from a device is sent over the network to the Ethernet port of another device. After the other device receives the data, it sends the data out through its serial port. Transparent serial transmission therefore supports three data transmission methods: UDP, TCP, and multicast. Configuring transparent serial transmission is essentially configuring the network transmission function, and the network connection configuration described above provides the foundation for communication.

Recommendations for selecting a transparent serial transmission method:

• Select UDP when fast communication is required and packet loss is acceptable.
• Select TCP when stable communication is required and latency is acceptable.
• Select multicast for one-to-many serial communication.

Caution

Configure the serial port baud rate according to your actual needs. You only need to configure the parameters in the red box: Baud Rate, Data Bits, Parity, and Stop Bits. Configure these parameters according to the serial port requirements of the connected device.

• UDP Transparent Serial Communication

1.First, make sure the LQ devices are connected to the network.

2.Open the web page and click "Network Settings" on the left to access the Network Settings page. For example, suppose your device is 192.168.1.200, the receiving end is 192.168.1.201, and serial port 1 is used to send data. Configure the settings as shown in the figure. Enable the client, set the Destination IP Address to the IP address that will receive the data, set the Destination Port to a custom port (you may choose any port), and set the Connection Type to UDP.

3.On the receiving end, enable the server for the port, set the Connection Type to UDP, and set the Listening Port to the same port used by the transmitting end. For example, if 192.168.1.201 uses serial port 2 to receive data, configure it as shown in the figure. 4.Connect your serial device according to the interface pinout: connected device RX->LQTX, connected device TX->LQRX, and GND->GND. You can then begin serial communication. (You can also connect it directly using the serial cable included in the cable package.)

• TCP Transparent Serial Communication

1.First, make sure the LQ devices are connected to the network.

2.Open the web page and click "Network Settings" on the left to access the Network Settings page. For example, suppose your device is 192.168.1.200, the receiving end is 192.168.1.201, and serial port 1 is used to send data. Configure the settings as shown in the figure. Enable the client, set the Destination IP Address to the IP address that will receive the data, set the Destination Port to a custom port (you may choose any port), and set the Connection Type to TCP.

3.On the receiving end, enable the server for the port, set the Connection Type to TCP, and set the Listening Port to the same port used by the transmitting end. For example, if 192.168.1.201 uses serial port 2 to receive data, configure it as shown in the figure.

4.Connect your serial device according to the interface pinout: connected device RX->LQTX, connected device TX->LQRX, and GND->GND. You can then begin serial communication. (You can also connect it directly using the serial cable included in the cable package.)

• Multicast Transparent Serial Communication 1.First, make sure the LQ devices are connected to the network.

2.Open the web page and click "Network Settings" on the left to access the Network Settings page. For example, suppose your device is 192.168.1.200, the receiving end is 192.168.1.201, and serial port 1 is used to send data. Configure the settings as shown in the figure. Change the Connection Type to multicast mode and set a multicast IP address. Make sure that this is a multicast IP address! If you are not familiar with multicast IP addresses, refer to the following article: https://blog.csdn.net/weixin_46121540/article/details/136019966.

Suppose the multicast IP address is set to 230.90.70.1 and the port is set to 8083. Configure the settings as shown in the figure.

3.On the receiving end, also enable the client, enable multicast mode, and set the Destination Port to the same port to begin communication.

4.Connect your serial device according to the interface pinout: connected device RX->LQ TX, connected device TX->LQ RX, and GND->GND. You can then begin serial communication. (You can also connect it directly using the serial cable included in the cable package.)

5.Unlike TCP/UDP communication, data in multicast communication is shared. With TCP/UDP, after the server is enabled, you can listen for client communication data by selecting the listening port. Multicast communication does not distinguish between clients, and all devices can receive the multicast data.

SBUS Communication Configuration

The SBUS interface provides a convenient interface for unmanned aerial vehicle users of this module, allowing communication between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the remote controller without requiring an external converter module. SBUS communication configuration method:

1.First, make sure the LQ devices are connected to the network.

2.Suppose you are sending data from the device at 192.168.1.200. Configure it as follows: Open the web page and click "Network Settings" on the left to access the Network Settings page. Select serial port 3, click to enable the serial port SBUS function, enable the client, and select UDP mode as the Connection Type. If the receiving end is 192.168.1.201, set the Destination IP Address to 192.168.1.201 and the Destination Port to 8084, as shown below:

3.On the receiving end, enable the server for the port, select UDP mode as the Connection Type, set the Listening Port to 8084, and enable the SBUS function, as shown below:

4.Then connect the transmitting end to RX on serial port 3, connect the receiving end to TX on serial port 3, and connect GND to GND on serial port 3. You can then begin SBUS communication.

You can proceed to the corresponding quick configuration chapter for further configuration according to your network configuration requirements.

• Go to <<Point-to-Point Configuration Quick Start>>
• Go to <<One-to-Many Configuration Quick Start>>
• Go to <<Mesh Networking Quick Start>>