FT EZ ID was created to not only provide compliance with current FAA regulations, but also bring features that many will find valuable and useful in everyday flying activity.
- 100% both designed and manufactured in the United States, thanks to a tremendous amount of hard work between Flite Test, Tritium Electronics, and the FPVFC.
- Provides an excellent, high-value solution for both RC model airplane pilots as well as recreational drone pilots. Our desire was to provide the lightest, most versatile, remote ID solution that can easily go between aircraft.
- Weighs just 10g and can be powered from a 3.3V battery all the way up to an 8-cell battery. It also provides an integrated GPS receiver and a Bluetooth transmitter (4 and 5) with antennas etched on the printed circuit board, reducing the total weight and functions without any external antennas hanging off the aircraft. The average power draw of the FT EZ ID is a low, 10 milliamps, meaning there will be a small power penalty when using the FT EZ ID on radio control fixed wing or multirotor aircraft.
- Designed to be installed easily and then removed and installed on a pilot’s entire fleet of recreational aircraft; it can also be mounted within a multirotor stack using its 20x20-millimeter mounting holes.
The future features of the FT EZ ID are limitless and will make compliance only a small portion of its purpose. When using the free Flite Test app, you can unlock additional features with your FT EZ ID, such as “Find my plane.” Additional features like Logbook and so much more will be soon following that will not only help preserve memories but also recognize great achievements in flying and growing the hobby.
DOWNLOAD THE FT APP HERE!
Update - Oct 2023 - Without any changes to FT EZ ID firmware and just the code in BetaFlight 4.4.3-Zulu or 4.5-Zulu, the FT EZ ID sends GPS coordinates to a BetaFlight flight controller. The video below by Dan Oachs of FPV Freedom Coalition shows how:
https://youtu.be/b6toY6pMoQA?si=-w4NRpQUm2lWcrcy
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Flite Test EZ ID Installation Instructions:
1. The FT EZ ID serial number is loaded in the FT EZ ID at the factory!
a. Nothing to do here!
b. How to find your serial number:
i. Included in the packaging is a serial number sticker.
ii. Also, you can scan the serial number QR into the Flite Test app. And
when you register in the FT App, you can scan the FT EZ ID serial
number directly into the app.
2. Register the FT EZ ID to your DroneZone account
a. Sign into your DroneZone account at https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/#/ or
just search on FAA Drone Zone
b. If you haven’t already, take the TRUST, it is a safety exam which you cannot fail.
It only requires about 20 minutes. When you complete TRUST, print out your
proof of completion. This is the only proof you will have. If you lose the card,
simply take TRUST again. We recommend you take TRUST at Pilot Institute:
https://trust.pilotinstitute.com/
c. Now register your broadcast module. You can do this by adding your broadcast
module serial number to your personal FAA registration number.
3. Install the FT EZ ID on your aircraft
a. Connect power your FT EZ ID
i. The FT EZ ID handles 2S to 8S direct current. 2S is 7.4 volts and 8S is
29.6 volts.
ii. Use either an adapter cable or solder a connector
iii. Tip: We suggest attaching the FT EZ ID to your aircraft with a cable that
has a connector so you may use the same FT EX ID broadcast module
more than one of your aircraft. Recreational operators (flying under
44809, may move the broadcast module from aircraft to aircraft. If you fly
under part 107, the broadcast module must be dedicated to the aircraft.
b. Attach your FT EZ ID to your aircraft.
i. Using velcro or zip ties or the 20 x 20 bolt holes, affix your FT EZ ID
broadcast module to your aircraft
4. Tips for installation placement
a. The FT EZ ID has a GPS receiver on the top and a Bluetooth transmitter on the
bottom. We recommend installing the FT EZ ID so the GPS side of the FT EZ ID
points up.
5. For fun: Watching the broadcast module signal
a. It is not required, but you can check to see if your FT EZ ID is broadcasting by
installing the FT app, or if you have an Android phone the openiddrone.org app.
b. Need help on this section
6. BetaFlight GPS connection installation
a. Hardware:
i. Connect the two UARTs to a Tx and Rx UART of the same # on the Flight
Controller. For example Tx2 and Rx2. Normally, the output from the
GPS will be labeled Rx and Tx. The Rx on the GPS (FT EZ ID) is
connected to the Tx on the Flight Controller and the Tx on the GPS is
connected to the Tx. There are exceptions to this. CLRacing connects
Tx to Tx and Rx to Rx. As these are low voltage signal ports, swapping
the wires will not damage the FT EZ ID or the Flight Controller.
ii. Connect 2S to 8S power to the FT EZ ID. Then connect the FT EZ ID to
ground. Connect to ground on the Flight Controller if you are getting
power from the Flight Controller.
b. BetaFlight set-up
i. In the Ports tab, select the Flight Controller UART you connected the FT
EZ ID to. On that UART, drop down the Sensor Input and select GPS.
Leave the speed selection on the sensor to Auto.
ii. In the configuration tab, select GPS and in the drop down select protocol
as UBLOX, Auto Baud = on, Auto Config = on, Use Galileo = on and Set
Home Point Once = on. Leave Ground
iii. Save and reboot.
iv. Disconnect and Reconnect to BetaFlight.
v. Within a minute of reconnecting to BetaFlight, the small indicator at the
top of the BetaFlight screen will show a GPS icon illuminated. If this is
not illuminated, go back and recheck the installation, including swapping
the UART connections from the FT EZ ID to the Flight Controller.
vi. Once the GPS icon is illuminated, go to OSD and select the GPS
coordinates, distance, number of satellites connected as well as direction
to home. Remember to save all OSD selections.
vii. This will provide GPS information to your Flight controller. To set up
BetaFlight, we recommend following Oscar Liang’s “How to Setup GPS
Rescue Mode in Betaflight” at:
https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
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FT EZ ID - Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is the GPS integrated or does it depend on a separate GPS module?
a. The GPS is integrated in the single-board, FT EZ ID.
2. What are the modules used?
a. The GPS is a uBlox SAM-M8Q
b. The Bluetooth transceiver is a Nordic NRF52840 chip.
3. Is the FT EZ ID Open Source? What language is used to code the module?
a. The software on the FT EZ ID is closed source.
4. What Quality Assurance testing is performed on the FT EZ ID?
a. 100% of modules are tested prior to shipment
b. Testing includes: Full function test and also GPS to BT test, BT to Phone test,
Status LED test.
5. What is the power consumption of the FT EZ ID?
a. The average power draw of the FT EZ ID is 10mA. This may spike as high as
100mA when establishing an initial fix and during other short operation intervals.
6. What is the best range you have gotten?
a. The FT EZ ID has been tested in an unobstructed area transmitting at a distance
of 1500ft.
7. How long is the cold and warm start of the GPS?
a. Cold start is approximately 53 seconds and warm start is usually less than 20
seconds.
8. Who is Tritium Electronics?
a. Tritium Electronics is an independent electronics engineering and manufacturing
company located in Ohio, USA. Tritium has worked on previous projects with
Flite Test.
9. The price sounds high, what are the chances it will be reduced this year?
a. The price of the FT EZ ID covers no recoverable expense to design, prototype
and develop software as well as the rapidly rising cost of electronic components.
FT EZ ID is a purpose-designed remote ID broadcast module for recreational
pilots in the USA.
10. Where can I buy a FT EZ ID?
a. Pyrodrone
11. Can FT EZ ID be used for part 107 operations?
a. The FT EZ ID may be used to bring a part 107 aircraft into compliance if it is
manufactured prior to September 16, 2022.
12. Will the GPS data be available to betaflight or ArduPilot?
a. Via a UART, the GPS data will be available to any flight controller software.
13. Will FT EZ ID have features beyond broadcasting remote ID?
a. Flite Test will be offering a suite of software which will use the GPS function of
FT EZ ID.
14. What mobile devices will be able to pick up the signal and what apps are compatible?
a. THE FT EZ ID transmits Bluetooth 4 and 5. Newer Android phones receive both
Bluetooth 4 and 5. iPhone supports bluetooth 5 from iPhone X on. Bluetooth 5
transmits a much farther range (up to several kilometers) than Bluetooth 4.
15. If I have trouble setting up the FT EZ ID, where can I go for support?
a. Flite Test Customer Support is available to respond to questions about the FT EZ
ID. However, the FT EZ ID only requires power and then is ready to operate:
support@flitetest.com
16. Can FT EZ ID be installed inside a plane, or in the stack of an FPV drone?
a. The FT EZ ID may be installed anywhere inside or on the exterior of a
recreational aircraft. Radio frequency performance of the FT EZ ID will improve if
it is installed on the exterior of an aircraft
