Clearview & a DX6 (take 2)

[Steve CP Pro]

Could someone tell me the settings I need for Clearview and the DX6? (Axis and buttons in the dropdown)

I'm using a standard milehigh USB cable to the DX6 and in the drop down boxes, I need to know what axis to put where. Am I missing something? Do I need to make or change any settings to my DX6?

[kgfly]

You can definitely get it to work, I used to have that setup. Sorry I do not have access to the info at the moment. From memory you use a mix of x/y/z axes and x/y/z rotation. Then use F1/F2 for IdleUp on/off and F3/F4 for throttle hold. It should only take a few minutes of experimentation to get it going. Turn on the on-screen Tx and then assign some axes to the controls. Move just one stick and see how the on-screen Tx sticks move. That will help you figure out what's what.

Try this to start (may not be right, working from memory):

Throttle: z-axis
Elevator: x-axis rotation
Aileron: y-axis rotation
Rudder: z-axis rotation

[Steve CP Pro]

That's kinda what I've been doing (I thought)

Something isn't right and I'm still trying to figure it out, it might be my transmitter...dunno.

Thanks for the help.

[kgfly]

Steve,

Make sure your Tx is turned OFF and then plug in the cable to the trainer socket. If your Tx is on it won't work.

[Steve CP Pro]

Yep...did that. For some reason I'm having a hard time getting it to work properly. I dunno if it's my transmitter or my settings in Clearview. Could be both. It's not as easy as I though it would be. My USB shows it as a 7 axis 4 button controller. It seems to calibrate ok, but I still can't control the heli.
Suggestions?

[kgfly]

Let's try going back to basics:

* What cable are you using ? Did you have to install any drivers ?

* Is it calibrated in Windows via ControlPanel/Game Controllers ? Do you see response to stick motions there ?

* Did you do any non-default channel mapping in the driver or in Windows ?

* In the controller setup dialog, up the top, what controller have you chosen (eg for my USB cable from milehighwings.com I think it is "MHW MHW" ?

* Have you tried FMS with the same controller and does that work ?

* Is your on screen Tx in ClearView responding to any stick inputs ?

[Steve CP Pro]

#1. Milehighwings USB cable
#2. Yes & Yes
#3. No (I'm not sure how I would do this)
#4. 7 Axis 4 Button Joystick (other choices are mouse, com port or keyboard, I have no com port)
#5. No, I can't
#6, Yes, but it only shows one joystick

I also used the USB calibration utility that came with Clearview.
You show a MHW and I show a 7 axis joystick...hmmm

Also when I plug in my USB cable, I get a exclamation point saying my device in malfunctioning and may not work. After repeatedly trying it...one time I saw it say MHW in the USB interface and then, it immediately changed to joystick device. I only saw it once very briefly.

I have tried this on two different machines, in every USB port I have, with the same results. It either says it's a 7 axis 4 button joystick or it malfunctions. I never get MHW in the USB device. What could be causing this problem? These are 2 brand new laptops with completely updated software.

Thank you for the help.

[kgfly]

Sounds like a driver conflict or else it's simply faulty. I don't have the MHW installation guide handy but I guess you have gone over it with a fine tooth comb several times by now.

#5. No, I can't FMS is free and simple to install. Get it here and try it out: http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html

#6, Yes, but it only shows one joystick You mean it shows an image of a joystick, an image of a tx with only one gymbal or an image of a Tx with two gymbals but only one of them moves ?

I suggest sending an email to MHW or maybe call them since you are in the US.

[Steve CP Pro]

This is quickly becoming very weird.

I have FMS, but since the joystick doesn't work correctly, I'm kinda stuck for now.

On #6...yes...that is correct. It only shows one gimbal (joystick) but, Windows says I have a 7 axis 4 button joystick.

This is a very odd situation and I'm working on it as we speak.
If it takes all day, I'm going to beat this thing.
I did send a email to Stefan @ Clearview and I'm awaiting a reply.

[Steve CP Pro]

Problem solved.

USB was intermittent.

Flying now!

Thanks for the help

[kgfly]

Phew! Glad it's all sorted out.

[Steve CP Pro]

A intermittent problem is the worst and sometimes it takes 4-7 tries to get the computer to recognize the USB cable...but it works!

Now I've got to get a education on what settings will make it easy to operate. The "slowdown" function (setting it about 75%) seems to help and the advanced settings parameters are WAY over my head.

It seems that flying a helicopter is like balancing two beach balls on each other, nothing wants to remain static...it's always moving, and it can be very difficult to keep it steady in one place.

I guess this is the way it's supposed to be but, wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to flip a switch and have everything go to a steady hover and regain control without crashing every time though, kinda like autopilot.

[kgfly]

Yep, flying helis is indeed hard, but with patience and persistance you will get there. I have been at it for 7 months and am still a lousy pilot hovering and FF, but when I think back to the start I realise how far I have come. It's frustrating at times to read of 4 year olds doing 3D or adults going from nowhere to acrobatics in a few weeks, but I just have to accept that this isn't something for which I have a natural talent and that's what makes it so challenging.

Hovering in the sims is, in my experience, harder than in real life on a calm day. I find hovering in Phoenix is even harder than in ClearView! In both cases slowing down time is one way to make it easier. Other thing to try include bigger helis (inherently more stable), slower headspeed or more weight (less twitchy), expo on the cyclic.

One thing to be sure of is that your PC is really up to the job. If it is too slow the control lag will kill you every time. CV reports the frame rate in the title bar I think, anyway somewhere on the screen. If it is less than 30fps it will be extra hard to fly a heli. Over 50fps is ideal.

FYI google "Spartan 2000i" for a popular stabilisation system mostly used for aerial photography (AP) but some use just for sport flying. There are others in the sub-$1000 range too such as the FMA CoPilot and the Robbe Helicommand and then there are the really high end systems (>$5000), one example of which is Carvec.

Happy flying