<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[SDK 1.6.4 on a Stinger X8: lepton0_encoded never publishes H265 frames]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p dir="auto"><strong>Hardware:</strong> VOXL 2 Mini (M0104) on a Stinger. SKU <code>/data/modalai/sku.txt</code>: <code>MRB-D0013-6-V1-C33-T8-M26-X8</code> (X8 = Lepton). ADB serial <code>6299769b</code>. USB VTX dongle Realtek <code>0bda:8812</code>, product string "VTX Gen 1.5". Paired ModalAI VRX (same <code>vtx.key</code>, 5825 MHz).</p>
<p dir="auto"><strong>Software version:</strong> Full flash today of <code>voxl2-mini_SDK_1.6.4.tar.gz</code> (MD5 <code>12c726bed8e72d68ec489533e15ba9ef</code>), <code>/data</code> preserved, SKU reconfigured as above. Last confirmed after flash (bird is offline now, so this is not a fresh <code>voxl-version</code> paste):</p>
<ul>
<li>System image <code>1.8.08-M0104-14.1a-perf</code></li>
<li><code>voxl-suite</code> <strong>1.6.4</strong> (was 1.5.0)</li>
<li><code>voxl-lepton-server</code> <strong>1.4.0</strong> (was 1.3.3)</li>
<li><code>voxl-vtx</code> <strong>2.2.27</strong> (was 1.4.7)</li>
</ul>
<p dir="auto"><strong>Configuration / services:</strong> SoftAP off. <code>voxl-vtx</code> and <code>voxl-lepton-server</code> enabled and active. VTX RF: 5825 MHz, bandwidth 20, FEC on, STBC 0, <code>/data/modalai/vtx.key</code> present. Active VTX source was switched between <code>hires_low_latency_misp_encoded</code> and <code>lepton0_encoded</code>. Lepton config is stock SPI bus 0, <code>en_rotate: true</code>, <code>shutter_mode: manual</code>.</p>
<p dir="auto"><strong>What I am trying to do:</strong></p>
<p dir="auto">Send the downward Lepton to the VRX using the stock SDK 1.6 path: <code>voxl-lepton-server</code> publishes <code>/run/mpa/lepton0_encoded</code> (H265), and <code>voxl-vtx</code> uses that pipe as its profile <code>source</code>. RGB already works on the same radio and VRX.</p>
<p dir="auto"><strong>What actually happens:</strong></p>
<p dir="auto"><code>lepton0_raw</code> and <code>lepton0_color</code> publish live frames (RAW8 / RGB, 160×120, ~8.8 fps). <code>/run/mpa/lepton0_encoded/info</code> exists and reports <code>string_format: H265</code>, 160×120, 9 fps, server <code>voxl-lepton-server</code>. <code>voxl-inspect-cam lepton0_encoded</code> stays at "Waiting for Server" indefinitely. No encoded frames, with or without <code>voxl-vtx</code> subscribed.</p>
<p dir="auto"><code>voxl-lepton-server</code> log:</p>
<pre><code>WARNING: OMX SetTargetBitrate: H265 CBR requires bps &gt;= 3.0Mbit (1000000 bps provided). Using FPS hack. scale = 3.000000
H265 encoder initialized (160x120 @ 9 fps)
WARNING: ion buffer pool exhausted — reusing idx N (age=~455ms, gen=…)
</code></pre>
<p dir="auto">The ION warning repeats on every frame from first boot. Verbose run also prints "Received a complete frame, publishing" for the raw path, then the same ION exhaustion, and the encoded client still never receives a frame.</p>
<p dir="auto">Pointing VTX at <code>lepton0_encoded</code> makes the VRX drop to signal lost. Pointing it back at <code>hires_low_latency_misp_encoded</code> restores video immediately (same frequency, same key). So the RF link, key, and VRX are fine. The encoded Lepton pipe is empty.</p>
<p dir="auto"><strong>Steps to reproduce:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Flash VOXL 2 Mini SDK 1.6.4, preserve <code>/data</code>, configure SKU <code>MRB-D0013-6-V1-C33-T8-M26-X8</code>.</li>
<li>Confirm <code>voxl-lepton-server</code> is running and <code>voxl-inspect-cam lepton0_raw</code> shows ~9 fps.</li>
<li><code>voxl-inspect-cam lepton0_encoded</code> — stays "Waiting for Server".</li>
<li>With SoftAP off and VTX on a channel the VRX already locks (here 5825), <code>voxl-configure-vtx -s hires_low_latency_misp_encoded</code> — VRX shows video.</li>
<li><code>voxl-configure-vtx -s lepton0_encoded</code> and restart <code>voxl-vtx</code> — VRX loses signal. <code>lepton0_encoded/info</code> is present; <code>voxl-inspect-cam</code> still waits.</li>
</ol>
<p dir="auto"><strong>Question:</strong> On SDK 1.6.4 / <code>voxl-lepton-server</code> 1.4.0, is <code>lepton0_encoded</code> supposed to emit H265 for a 160×120 Lepton, or is the encoder known not to produce frames (ION pool exhausted, OMX 1 Mbit vs 3 Mbit CBR warning)? Release notes for 1.6.6 only say lepton-server 1.4.1 is a rebuild against <code>libvoxl-codec</code> 0.1.1 ("OMX parity with camera-server"). Is that the fix for this, and can you provide <code>voxl2-mini_SDK_1.6.6.tar.gz</code> (MD5 <code>5e412872759cca0c5252aa02c29b31ef</code>)? 1.6.6 is not on the public download page.</p>
]]></description><link>https://forum.modalai.com/topic/5432/sdk-1.6.4-on-a-stinger-x8-lepton0_encoded-never-publishes-h265-frames</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:54:48 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://forum.modalai.com/topic/5432.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2026 02:24:53 GMT</pubDate><ttl>60</ttl></channel></rss>