# Has anyone integrated Starling 2 with Sylvus radios?

Source: https://forum.modalai.com/topic/3752/has-anyone-integrated-starling-2-with-sylvus-radios
Category: Development Drones (https://forum.modalai.com/category/44/development-drones)
Tags: starling
Posted: 2024-08-29 18:17:47 UTC by PD_NODA
Replies: 11 · Views: 1315

## PD_NODA · 2024-08-29 18:17:47 UTC

Hi,

I'm interested in mounting a Sylvus Streamcaster Drop-In module with a Starling 2 Max. All my cross-referencing of data sheets and specs seem to provide a viable approach but I'm not certain.

**Power**
For power, I'm guessing we could split the XT-30 coming off the battery into a pigtail and solder it to the backside as depicted in picture? Sylvus says it needs 8-36V and the batteries that come with Starling are two 7V wired in series (14V effective)?

**Data**
The Sylvus offers ethernet, USB, and RS232 serial. I'm hoping there is an unused USB onboard the VOXL2 but otherwise any ideas how we can go serial to an open port on VOXL2?

Thanks in advance!

![6fa14340-4d24-45df-b08c-94f390b89112-image.png](https://forum.modalai.com/assets/uploads/files/1724954608088-6fa14340-4d24-45df-b08c-94f390b89112-image.png)

## Reply by Moderator (ModalAI staff) · 2024-08-29 20:28:05 UTC

@PD_NODA We have had customers successfully integrate Sylvus, but we have not tried ourselves.

Many of our add-on boards have a USB hub built in for expansion. It just depends on your overall system design. There are breakout boards that expose UARTs as well.

This board, with no 4G modem installed, is basically an I/O breakout with USB hub https://www.modalai.com/products/m0130-3?variant=48186331693360

## Reply by PD_NODA · 2024-08-29 20:43:07 UTC (in reply to Moderator)

@Moderator Thanks for the quick response!

Does this mean we need to purchase the additional expansion board or are there available USB (or IO) available on the VOXL2 out of the box?

If an additional expansion board is required, I was looking at this one https://docs.modalai.com/m0062/. It doesn't look like it comes with any cables. Which cables would I need to purchase to connect this board to the VOXL2?

## Reply by Moderator (ModalAI staff) · 2024-08-30 17:29:30 UTC (in reply to PD_NODA)

@PD_NODA The [M0062](https://docs.modalai.com/m0062/) provides USB. We don't know the pinout of the Sylvus radio, you would likely need to design a custom cable for integration

## Reply by PD_NODA · 2024-08-30 18:43:21 UTC (in reply to Moderator)

@Moderator To be clear, I was asking for the cabling from ModalAI's expansion board to ModalAI's VOXL2 board. Do you sell this cable?

Also can you anser:

@PD_NODA said in [Has anyone integrated Starling 2 with Sylvus radios?](/post/18810):
> or are there available USB (or IO) available on the VOXL2 out of the box?

## Reply by tom (ModalAI staff) · 2024-08-30 19:17:44 UTC (in reply to PD_NODA)

@PD_NODA The M0062 expansion board seats directly on VOXL 2. No cabling needed

## Reply by PD_NODA · 2024-08-30 19:38:45 UTC (in reply to tom)

@tom Thanks, Tom.

Can you help me with answering whether or not there are USB ports available with the Starling 2 Max out of the box?

I'm still trying to figure out if I need to purchase the M0062.

## Reply by tom (ModalAI staff) · 2024-08-30 19:50:28 UTC (in reply to PD_NODA)

@PD_NODA It depends on the SKU you ordered, can you post a picture of the hardware?

## Reply by PD_NODA · 2024-08-30 19:57:10 UTC (in reply to tom)

@tom 

I am holding short on making a bulk purchase until I better understand some of these questions, but these are the two models we are considering:

5G, Wifi, and Ghost : MRB-D0012-4-V2-C28-M24-T9-K0

4G, Wifi, and Ghost : MRB-D0012-4-V2-C28-M20-T9-K0

Thanks a ton for all the help!

## Reply by tom (ModalAI staff) · 2024-08-30 21:42:24 UTC (in reply to PD_NODA)

@PD_NODA Both of those will have USB ports you will be able to access without needing an additional add-on board. 

The USB ports will either be exposed via a 4-pin (USB2) or 10-pin (USB3) JST.

If you want to connect a USB-A device to these ports you'll want to use these cables:
4-pin: https://www.modalai.com/products/mcbl-00009?_pos=2&_sid=b8eea876b&_ss=r
10-pin: https://www.modalai.com/products/mcbl-00022?_pos=3&_sid=b8eea876b&_ss=r

## Reply by tom (ModalAI staff) · 2024-08-30 21:44:06 UTC (in reply to tom)

@PD_NODA For clarity, your 5G drone will have an M0090 add-on board, while your 4G drone will have an M0130 add-on board pre-installed

## Reply by PD_NODA · 2024-08-30 21:57:36 UTC (in reply to tom)

@tom said in [Has anyone integrated Starling 2 with Sylvus radios?](/post/18832):
> M0130

Wonderful! Thank you. That answers my question.