Heli SIM for Mac Users ??

[erwinito]

I dont have a PC... I only have a mac and I dont want to run windows on it. Any Mac users out there? I downloaded a free siimulator but have no idea on how to hook up my DX6 to it... is there a USB connector or somehting? I looked on the web but wasnt bale to get a detailed description of the optional wires available... if anyone knows anything.. please let me know..

cheers.

[videotecca]

I dont have a PC... I only have a mac and I dont want to run windows on it. Any Mac users out there? I downloaded a free siimulator but have no idea on how to hook up my DX6 to it... is there a USB connector or somehting? I looked on the web but wasnt bale to get a detailed description of the optional wires available... if anyone knows anything.. please let me know..

cheers.

[probe3]

If you have an intel based mac download bootcamp from the apple site. It allows you to install windows xp on a partition on your hardrive and run it natively ;)

[DebianDog]

They have one but it is a "roll your own" transmitter.
http://www.alphamacsoftware.com/screenshots.php

[raylepper]

RC Helicopter simulator from Alphamac software is pretty good. Not nearly as sophisticated at the PC based ones but useful for basic training. DebianDogs link will get you there.

I use a DX6 with RCHS on my mac. The cable you want is available from MileHigh Wings (http://www.milehighwings.com/). The specific model is is the USB interface for JR. Email Aleksandra (store@milehighwings.com) and he can fix you up. Good guy, great service.

One cool thing about RCHS is that you can build your own scenery and heli models then fly them in the sim. I built a model of my own heli and made a scenery of the park where I fly. It's really helpful for visualizing actual flight patterns. It's also seriously geeked out.

[mashburncs]

I am also using the RC Helicopter Simulator from Alphamac Software. However, I am using a simple Logitech USB analog gamepad. I use the Raptor helicopter, because it is the closest thing to my AXE CP. However, I am afraid to try to fly my new AXE CP because I cannot yet get a descent hover from the Raptor in the simulator. The Raptor seems extremely sensative to stick movement. I am not controlling the helicopter yet, I am constantly trying to gain control. If I try to fly the Raptor in the simulator, I do ok, but I really cannot put the helicopter where I want it. Another problem I have is that I soon get the helicopter so far away, that I cannot see it well enough to understand it's orientation, and constantly fly it into the ground.

Any advice?

[raylepper]

Advice?
I find the sim most useful in training my eyes/hands to react instinctively rather than consciously. Eventually, you stop thinking about what do to and just do it. Using the actual radio you'll use to fly your heli is the best training, so I'd move on from the gamepad and get the cable you need to fly the sim with your radio (hovering a heli requires many VERY small stick inputs. A game pad will never feel like the real thing and it won't train your hands/fingers).

You can modify the sensitivity of the Raptor (Helicopter configuration.txt in the Raptor folder) in the sim as well as the performance of your radio (in the Transmitters folder) by changing values in the config files that RCHS uses. You can 'slow down' the Raptor in the sim by making it heavier and lowering the values of tail rotation, cyclic and collective pitch. In fact, you can make it unrealistically docile. That's probably OK to get comfortable, but as you do, you'll want to return to the original values (which are pretty realistic).

It sounds to me like you're having a very normal experience with flying the heli—that is, being 'behind the aircratf', meaning you're always playing catch up and over controlling. This is natural and is experienced by model- and full-scale pilots alike.

All I can tell you is keep flying the sim. Set goals like don't crash for 1 minute, then 5 minutes, then 10 minutes. Or, fly a circle around yourself, keeping the heli in clear sight and off the ground for a full 360, then reverse direction and do it the other way. Little challenges like this, day by day, and you'll get VERY comfortable in the sim.

Then it's time for a deep breath and the sound of the real heli spooling up in front of you. If you've worked hard on the sim, your experience and instinctive reactions will minimize the repair time (and parts cost).

Have fun.

[mashburncs]

Raylepper,

Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement. I knew how to make the sim docile, but what I didn't know was whether the sim was very realistic with the default settings. The last thing that I want to do is to make the sim simple and then find out the hardway that the rc heli is much more sensative than I had been practicing in the sim. Sounds like I simply need to hang in there and continue to practice the sim using the default settings. I have already learned that the light stuff is the right stuff on the controls. I just barely move the sticks, and I get good response, I just need to get my actions to be instinctive, instead of having to analyze every heli reaction and desired action to compute the correct stick movement and direction. This is what is still hard for me. I was gettind discouraged, simply because I thought that it shouldn't be this difficult to fly the sim, and subsequently the rc heli.

Thanks,

Curtis

[equisol]

I am using Clearview on a MACbook wit Parallels. Works great and no need to reboot.

[deepak]

Just trying to see if anyone has found a sim to work on the new mac osx lepoard.
Cannot get my reflex to work on my intel mac. wont recognise the hardware bubble.
Incredible. Macs hot now and cannot find a quality rc heil sim?
Any ideas