src/FirmwarePlugin/APM/APMFirmwarePlugin.cc

@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 #include "MissionManager.h"
 #include "ParameterManager.h"
 #include "QGCFileDownload.h"
+#include "SettingsManager.h"
+#include "AppSettings.h"
 
 #include <QTcpSocket>
 
@@ -641,8 +643,10 @@ void APMFirmwarePlugin::initializeVehicle(Vehicle* vehicle)
             break;
         }
     } else {
-        // Streams are not started automatically on APM stack
-        initializeStreamRates(vehicle);
+        if (qgcApp()->toolbox()->settingsManager()->appSettings()->apmStartMavlinkStreams()->rawValue().toBool()) {
+            // Streams are not started automatically on APM stack (sort of)
+            initializeStreamRates(vehicle);
+        }
     }
 }
 

src/Settings/App.SettingsGroup.json

@@ -199,5 +199,11 @@
     "enumStrings":      "Never,Always,When in Follow Me Flight Mode",
     "enumValues":       "0,1,2",
     "defaultValue":     0
+},
+{
+    "name":             "apmStartMavlinkStreams",
+    "shortDescription": "Request start of MAVLink telemetry streams (ArduPilot only)",
+    "type":             "bool",
+    "defaultValue":     true
 }
 ]

src/Settings/AppSettings.cc

@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ DECLARE_SETTINGSFACT(AppSettings, esriToken)
 DECLARE_SETTINGSFACT(AppSettings, defaultFirmwareType)
 DECLARE_SETTINGSFACT(AppSettings, gstDebugLevel)
 DECLARE_SETTINGSFACT(AppSettings, followTarget)
+DECLARE_SETTINGSFACT(AppSettings, apmStartMavlinkStreams)
 
 DECLARE_SETTINGSFACT_NO_FUNC(AppSettings, indoorPalette)
 {

src/Settings/AppSettings.h

@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ public:
     DEFINE_SETTINGFACT(gstDebugLevel)
     DEFINE_SETTINGFACT(followTarget)
 
+    // Although this is a global setting it only affects ArduPilot vehicle since PX4 automatically starts the stream from the vehicle side
+    DEFINE_SETTINGFACT(apmStartMavlinkStreams)
+
     Q_PROPERTY(QString missionSavePath      READ missionSavePath    NOTIFY savePathsChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString parameterSavePath    READ parameterSavePath  NOTIFY savePathsChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString telemetrySavePath    READ telemetrySavePath  NOTIFY savePathsChanged)

src/ui/preferences/MavlinkSettings.qml

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import QtQuick.Dialogs          1.2
 
 import QGroundControl                       1.0
 import QGroundControl.FactSystem            1.0
+import QGroundControl.FactControls          1.0
 import QGroundControl.Controls              1.0
 import QGroundControl.ScreenTools           1.0
 import QGroundControl.MultiVehicleManager   1.0
@@ -132,8 +133,7 @@ Rectangle {
                             }
                         }
                     }
-                    //-----------------------------------------------------------------
-                    //-- Mavlink Heartbeats
+
                     QGCCheckBox {
                         text:       qsTr("Emit heartbeat")
                         checked:    QGroundControl.multiVehicleManager.gcsHeartBeatEnabled
@@ -141,8 +141,12 @@ Rectangle {
                             QGroundControl.multiVehicleManager.gcsHeartBeatEnabled = checked
                         }
                     }
-                    //-----------------------------------------------------------------
-                    //-- Mavlink Version Check
+
+                    FactCheckBox {
+                        text:   fact.shortDescription
+                        fact:   QGroundControl.settingsManager.appSettings.apmStartMavlinkStreams
+                    }
+
                     QGCCheckBox {
                         text:       qsTr("Only accept MAVs with same protocol version")
                         checked:    QGroundControl.isVersionCheckEnabled