Align 3G - Hot off the press...

[James Kovach]

Could look at it this way.

"A" company wants to put out products that do not require their interactions with the customers. IE: Buy the product, read the directions and use the product. Their install and setup is simple that it does not require their intervention with the end user.

The "other" company on the other hand has in the past had a product that was not easy to install and setup. So for their product to succeed they had no choice but to provide that level of support/interaction.

To be honest, I prefer the "A" method. Give me a product that is simple to use that I do not have to get in the "customer service" line to get working. I do not want to have someone "do the calculations for me on 'non-standard' installs". I personally think that some of these FBL units are just over thought. The elevator and aileron are just another axis. Companies have been able to simplify the rudder axis, why is it so hard to comprehend that the same thing can be done with the other two.

IMHO, setting up a FBL should be as simple as getting your mechanics square ( no different than when you did it with a flybar: level swash and square up servos). Then show the unit the range of inputs that it is going to see from your TX. Lastly, to adjust the flight characteristics should be as simple as at what rate and how fast do you want the heli to roll and flip. Seems to me that is the route that Align went with their Unit.

[Primus]

That's my opinion too James. Good point.

[g_dmitry]

Could look at it this way.

"A" company wants to put out products that do not require their interactions with the customers. IE: Buy the product, read the directions and use the product. Their install and setup is simple that it does not require their intervention with the end user.

The "other" company on the other hand has in the past had a product that was not easy to install and setup. So for their product to succeed they had no choice but to provide that level of support/interaction.

To me honest, I prefer the "A" method. Give me a product that is simple to use that I do not have to get in the "customer service" line to get working. I do not want to have someone "do the calculations for me on 'non-standard' installs". I personally think that some of these FBL units are just over thought. The elevator and aileron are just another axis. Companies have been able to simplify the rudder axis, why is it so hard to comprehend that the same thing can be done with the other two.

IMHO, setting up a FBL should be as simple as getting your mechanics square ( no different than when you did it with a flybar: level swash and square up servos). Then show the unit the range of inputs that it is going to see from your TX. Lastly, to adjust the flight characteristics should be as simple as at what rate and how fast do you want the heli to roll and flip. Seems to me that is the route that Align went with their Unit.

If you think that Vbar is complicated then I guess you did not try Vbar 4.0 ;) Why you are so afraid :oops: to write names of these products?

Company 'A' - Futaba 401. Simple setup, bad performance.
Company 'Other' - Spartan. Just a little bit more complicated setup, but superb performance. :lolol

Steph, who is Troll? Someone who is not blind and want to know bad and good things about the product? If yes, I am a Troll then. :happyd:tongue:bananaTell me about good sides (and bad sides too, but I suppose you dont know about them ;)) of the G3 comparing to other FBLs. I really want to know them.:OK

[Felt]

Όταν*οι*Έλληνες*θα*προβεί*σε*vbar;*...*lol

[rickn816]

Come on, guys.
This hobby is big enough for different approaches.
One size need not fit everybody.

Rick

[Mike3DPro]

Dmitry, you have a right to want to know the pros and cons of each system. You seem to know very much about the vbar 4.0, maybe you have one, maybe not, but it sounds like you would only be happy with an advanced system like the vbar.

However it seems you are coming off with a negative attitude tword the other members. I dont care who wrote what, you should not be calling other people's statements stupid. Anybody can tell that the vbar is a more advanced system, in a different class than the align unit.

[OnTheSnap]

Well I just received my unit and it's ready for a maiden this weekend on my 12s 600E. You can follow my experience in this thread http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=187093 .

I've been flying a vBar Protos, and plan on giving the best comparison I can of the 2 systems. It's been rain non-stop for a week, but Saturday looks clear in the forecast. Fingers crossed.

[CeeveeSiN]

Dmitry, you have a right to want to know the pros and cons of each system. You seem to know very much about the vbar 4.0, maybe you have one, maybe not, but it sounds like you would only be happy with an advanced system like the vbar.

However it seems you are coming off with a negative attitude tword the other members. I dont care who wrote what, you should not be calling other people's statements stupid. Anybody can tell that the vbar is a more advanced system, in a different class than the align unit.

Steph just posted in another thread that he talked to Align last night and there is indeed a programming interface on the way. So that will get rid of half these issues when available.

good news for Align!

******Had a chat with an Align technician earlier this evening.

The Align 3G system is fully programmable, with complexity that rivals any of the existing system on the market today. In fact, the programmer software has already been completed. A lot of the setup parameters will eventually be opened up to user modifications through the programming kit. But for now, they want to keep some tried and true settings in the system, so that FBL novices can learn the basic setup and experience the benefits of FBL system.

Once they open it up for external programming, the possibility is endless.*****

[steph280]

Thanks for relaying that info CeeveeSin.

Contrary to some belief posted in this thread, Align is here to help. They have a team on their forum to answer questions, even the owner himself is there. But unfortunately the forum is Mandarin only. If you could speak the language, the support experience you gain from them will put any other companies to shame.

I'll continue to post relevant information as I see them.

[Edvard R]

Well said, Rick

I for one welcome the 3G - extremely easy to setup and flies beautifully out of the box. I won't argue if it is better or worse than the V-bar or the SK360. I have all 3 of them now, and in my opinion the 3G is the FBL answer for 95% of us, simply because of the setup and the way it flies.

Happy flying


Come on, guys.
This hobby is big enough for different approaches.
One size need not fit everybody.

Rick

[lindahl]

This bird went down a bit.
4.1kg dry with Radix 710 non SB.
135446

135447

135448

135449

DS760 compared to FL760
135450

Take note of the metal pin. It has slipped away.
135451

[Mike3DPro]

When this unit becomes programmable, where will you plug it into the unit? ie: ds760 has a 3 pin port on the side . . .

[steph280]

The programming adapter plugs into the same plug as the gyro sensor.

[TheBillMan]

Here’s an interesting short setup video post by Bert Kammerer who I believe might be affiliated with Align on the 3G FBL system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjnOpexd28g

[g_dmitry]

Must admit that piros in the beginning of the flight was looking pretty bad for FBLS.

[Felt]

Must admit that piros in the beginning of the flight was looking pretty bad for FBLS.

Is that bad is in bad or bad as in good?

[Jimmy!]

Is that bad is in bad or bad as in good?

As in bad. It may just be Bert messing w/ the cyclic, but as he was piro'ing, the heli was rocking at the same time. I'm pretty sure it was just Bert, though.

[g_dmitry]

It could be just Bert, but who knows. He started doing piro when tail was tilted down a bit, and during first piro or two it still was down. Piro optimization on Vbar was implemented to correct such issues (in case it is not just Bert). Whould be interested to hear the answer from Bert.

[GB ian]

Did anyone post a link to a manual for this system, someone asked about 1000 pages ago!

Would love to av a look

[TheBillMan]

http://www.helifreak.com/showpost.php?p=1784110&postcount=313

[nexgen]

I'm interested in getting one of these for my 550, but I have not seen a single vid that shows clean operation. I have however seen lots instances of there being some other reason the unit did this or that. Frankly the stuff I have seen so far can be done with the fbl unit I have on my G200 which is a lot cheaper. Leaves me skeptical as to if the unit itself is actually as good as they say or not.

C'mon guys, just because it says Align on the box doesn't mean that its gonna knock the socks off all the other units out there.

[g_dmitry]

+1

Check Mikado team videos from IRCHA. You will see really quick and super precise operation of fbl unit :noteworthy For now G3 videos not as good...

[malc1]

Sorry wrong thread

[steph280]

+1

Check Mikado team videos from IRCHA. You will see really quick and super precise operation of fbl unit :noteworthy For now G3 videos not as good...

You just can't wait to jump on that one huh?

Do you even realize the thing has only been out 3 days, and most people are still trimming the heli?

Like I said before, if you don't run a 3G, what are you doing here? Your brain seem to be set that your Mikado is the $hit. If you don't have any constructive input to contribute, you are just wasting bandwidth here. We are here to discuss the 3G, not for you to tout what a piece crap it is before you even seen one.

Anyway enough troll talk...

Flew 4 more packs this morning, played around with the gain and expo, and it is even better now. Straight up and down, no oscillations, no pitching up in FFF, perfectly flat pirouette left or right. 10% expo on the 14MZ, 1 o'clock gain dial, I am leaving it as is for now.

T-Rex 500 is next.

[lindahl]

Check Mikado team videos from IRCHA. You will see really quick and super precise operation of fbl unit :noteworthy For now G3 videos not as good...
If you would like to have the best, you should go for the vbar. But it is not fare to compare the vbar for 475 usd to the align 3g with head and blades for 382 usd. What you pay is what you get. I paid for the Align 3G but i don´t expect to receive something that is just as good as a vbar unit.

If somebody thinks that it is going to be just as good as the vbar is, you are going to waste your money.

I own the Align FL760 but i have not flown with it. I didn´t buy it to get something that can compete with the vbar. I just bought a cheaper solution to FBL.