AP 2000i for my new AP e raptor !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rcjetman]

Hi guys this is my first AP heli and i have a few Q's for you

At the moment the heli is a little heavy and it dose fly and I have been able to take some good photos but I want to make a few changes.

1. Im going to stretch the helicopter to suit 680 mm blades.
A .So I can lift more weight
B So it will be more stable in a hover and
C It will auto rotate easyer.

Dose anyone know where to get a stretch kit for the raptor 50 to suit 680 mm blades?

2. I would like to fit a Auto Pilot (AP2000i) so that I can flick a switch and the helicopter will maintain a steady’ish hover on its own to make it easyer for me when the helicopter is higher up and its hard to judge the orientation of the helicopter due to the odd viewing angels.

My q regarding the AP 2000i dose it work that well? Once set up correctly how well dose it maintain a hover.
Dose it work at higher altitudes say 100 feet above the ground.
And do I need to buy any other products to help it work / add-ons if where do I find them?

Sorry for all the Q’s but I need you help

I look forward to your reply’s



Im running at the moment a NEU 1912 / 2y on 10s 4000’s and getting about 14 minutes flight time on the 620 mm blades. The head speed is about 1800 drawing 20 amps on a hover.

My camera is a 10.1 MP A20. And with the shake reduction on its really good delivering perfect images
I did have a K10D 10.1 SLR camera on the befor but it was just to heavy plus I couldn’t really tell the difference in image quality between the little A20 and the K10D so I would reather have $500 in the air vs $2000
Soemof the images look balnd but once I have edited them in CS they look amazing but they end up being 9 MP in size so I cant post them.

[miami6]

a vigor CS Boom will work and will have to be cut down

the belt is available from mcmaster

the part number is in one of DJ's Treads

[MarkWebber]

My q regarding the AP 2000i dose it work that well? Once set up correctly how well dose it maintain a hover.
Dose it work at higher altitudes say 100 feet above the ground.
And do I need to buy any other products to help it work / add-ons if where do I find them?

It works very well as others here have attested. In windy conditions it will drift but that can be mimimized with a bit of trim. The higher you get the more you'll appreciate it. Above 300' would make me nervous before. Now it's no trouble at all.
You do need an IR sensor from FMA to use the IR stabilization feature. That is the link for their site.http://www.fmadirect.com/Detail.htm?item=1778&section=20

[rcjetman]

thanks for the info it helps a lot.

i have ordered the AP2000i and the USB interface , did you use a PC to tune your AP 2000i ?


any tricks or tips re setting this thing up ????

any info would be grate. :D

[harrysvr]

Do you think ap 2000i is it better than the copilot 4 or 8?
rcjetman, can you inform me how do you downlink from the camera, do you have a monitor or a laptop?
All these questions because I wanna start with AP...I ordered the Blip URBI interface for my nikon 7900 and waiting...

[Tonystott]

RCjetman where in Oz are you?

[rcjetman]

Do you think ap 2000i is it better than the copilot 4 or 8?
rcjetman, can you inform me how do you downlink from the camera, do you have a monitor or a laptop?
All these questions because I wanna start with AP...I ordered the Blip URBI interface for my nikon 7900 and waiting...


i use this down link system www.rangevideo.com

its just a ccd camera mounted next to the digi camera and i get a live video feed to a 7" protable DVD player.

[rcjetman]

RCjetman where in Oz are you?

I live in SA mostly and i spend some time in Sydney doing my commercial helicopter license. To and from all year round work hear and fly over there.

If you want to talk about AP in general send me you ph and we can talk if you want.
:D

[MarkWebber]

rcjetman

The USB Flashlink is only used to update the firmware when Spartan releases new versions. All your setup and tuning will be done in the AP2000i's menu.

Download the user guide on Spartan's website and start familiarizing yourself with the setup and use instructions. If it's not clear, please feel free to ask me for clarification.http://www.spartan-rc.com/products/ap2000i/AP-2000i_user_guide.pdf

You noted that you have ordered the AP2000i and USB flashlink. I hope you mean you also ordered the FMA sensor adaptor cable. Without it you cannot use the IR stabilization feature.

[dreslism]

Do you think ap 2000i is it better than the copilot 4 or 8?


Without a doubt yes. I have used the CDP4, the FS8, and the ap2000i.

The ap2000i wins hands down.

Everyone else on here will agree.

[harrysvr]

Thanks all of you, so you think is a Must a stabilizer system for AP?

[dreslism]

Thanks all of you, so you think is a Must a stabilizer system for AP?

Not a "MUST", but it let's you concentrate more on the shot instead of more on the heli.

If you are flying solo, then I would say, yes it is a must. :-)

[rcjetman]

rcjetman

The USB Flashlink is only used to update the firmware when Spartan releases new versions. All your setup and tuning will be done in the AP2000i's menu.

Download the user guide on Spartan's website and start familiarizing yourself with the setup and use instructions. If it's not clear, please feel free to ask me for clarification.http://www.spartan-rc.com/products/ap2000i/AP-2000i_user_guide.pdf

You noted that you have ordered the AP2000i and USB flashlink. I hope you mean you also ordered the FMA sensor adaptor cable. Without it you cannot use the IR stabilization feature.

Thanks for the info and the link

I ordered the ap2000i + the USB flash link but you web sight said that you were out of FMA sensor adaptor cables so i didn’t include it in the order.

If you have them in stock let me know and i will order one? if not your web sight said there is some sought of wiring diagram that can be used to make my own?

Am I right

Thanks again
:D

[Tonystott]

RCJ, you can order the sensor from www.fmadirect.com
http://www.fmadirect.com/detail.htm?item=1778&section=20 for $42.95. you will receive it in the post in about a week.
you will also need the connector cable from Spartan
1x Adaptor cable for FMA CPD4SENUNIT

Good luck!

[Nitrospazzz]

This is more than a little off topic but I feel I must ask. rcjetman in the pictures of your cameraship I see green paddles. The same green paddles I have on my R30 3D ship...I think. If those are the same light paddles you would likely notice a big improvement in the stability of your ship if you were to switch to the black paddles that come with some raptors. For AP work you want heavy paddles to slow down the cyclic and smooth out the ship.

If you need a pair PM or email me, I have a couple sitting around.


Good luck with the AP and have fun with the AP2000i, I love mine

[MLaBoyteaux]

Yeah, and some flybar weights help too!

How much does your rig weigh, all up ready to fly?

[MarkWebber]

rcjetman

You must have ordered it from Spartan directly. I am the US distributor. In any case, if you email Spartan from their contact page I'm sure Angelos will include directions to make your own cable, if that's the route you prefer.

[rcjetman]

RCJ, you can order the sensor from www.fmadirect.com
http://www.fmadirect.com/detail.htm?item=1778&section=20 for $42.95. you will receive it in the post in about a week.
you will also need the connector cable from Spartan
1x Adaptor cable for FMA CPD4SENUNIT

Good luck!

Thanks mate.

i have ordered the sensor

but i couldnt find the cable FMA CPD4SENUNIT ???

so i think i will end up making my own.

i will call you some time next week. :D

[AZ ChopperCam]

did they drop the price of that sensor recently??

[rcjetman]

This is more than a little off topic but I feel I must ask. rcjetman in the pictures of your cameraship I see green paddles. The same green paddles I have on my R30 3D ship...I think. If those are the same light paddles you would likely notice a big improvement in the stability of your ship if you were to switch to the black paddles that come with some raptors. For AP work you want heavy paddles to slow down the cyclic and smooth out the ship.

If you need a pair PM or email me, I have a couple sitting around.


Good luck with the AP and have fun with the AP2000i, I love mine

Thanks for the heads up mate.

I did know that the green ones where NOT for AP but i decided to see how stable i could get it to fly with the green ones first (harder to do/ require more fine tuning) then once i had it trimmed out then add the black ones knowing its been fine tuned.

That’s my logic LOL, it seems to work. I have the black ones on there now and its much better. :D

I look forward to getting the AP 2000i set up and running. Should make my job a lot easier at high altitudes.
:D

[rcjetman]

Yeah, and some flybar weights help too!

How much does your rig weigh, all up ready to fly?


about 13.5 lb RTF its a bit to heavy at the moment with the 620's but soon it will be running 680's and this should be much better. :D

[rcjetman]

rcjetman

You must have ordered it from Spartan directly. I am the US distributor. In any case, if you email Spartan from their contact page I'm sure Angelos will include directions to make your own cable, if that's the route you prefer.

yer i did.

do you sell the adapter cables for the IR sensor ?

[MarkWebber]

I don't have any in stock at this time, either.

[Tonystott]

did they drop the price of that sensor recently??
Thay did DJ, from $80 to $42.95. For once, procrastination worked for me :)