Jermo's DX7 Setup Video

[Skarn]

Jermo,

First of all, thank you for making your DX7 video! It helped a lot.

If I may ask, though, WHY do you advocate using the GYRO SENS menu to set GYRO gain as opposed to setting the gain with the GEAR channel endpoints?

I asked many people on this and other forums about this and the replies were 100% in favor of using the endpoint adjustment to set gain.

Just curious. Maybe when you re-do your video, you could show BOTH methods and point out the pros and cons of each?

Thanks again!

Really? Everyone I know and have spoken to use the Gyro Sense menu vice gear unless their radio does not allow it! I did and it works great.

I'm curious too as to whether one method has any benefit over the other. Maybe post this question in the Main section.....

Skarn

[leeph]

I really wish the functions of the DX7 setup can be explained in principles rather than a prescription (100-90-100 throttle stunt-1) in your video. I don't know why the 90 instead of a flat linear 100-100-100 that is just one of the many unexplained settings.

It's like this so as not to over-drive the motor. Think about it, the motor will be working very hard when at 9 degrees pitch for example (positive or negative) because of the force required to push the blades through the air. As you approach 0 degrees pitch, there is comparitively very little drag produced by the blades as they are dead flat and cut through the air very easily. We reduce the throttle at this point (90%) just to stop the motor RPMs increasing too much. Obviously the 100-90-100 points produce a curve, so as the pitch decreases, so does the throttle by a certain amount.

I may be wrong, but I think this is more important in a nitro machine than in an electric, as fully opening the throttle with no load will stress the engine badly. Your car wouldn't last long at full throttle while in neutral - that is why there is a rev limiter, so think of it like that.

If you noticed only a handful of people have responded on this thread. If my guess is right, most are confused on the terms (what rate mode is ...etc) and are too embarrassed or don't even know how to ask as I was last year.

There are so, so many explanations of heading hold versus rate mode, both on this forum and on the wider internet, I don't think anyone would have a problem finding an explanation that they can understand.

Cheers

[Jermo]

Hi guys, sorry to have been absent for a while.
For the difference between using Gyro Sense and just the Gear switch is more preference than anything.

Using only the Gear switch you get only Two Gain settings which most map to use Rate and Heading Hold.

Using Gyro Sense you get Three Gain settings which I suggest using Heading hold on all three.

What I've noticed is having more control in Normal, Stunt, and Throttle Hold Modes. Really I think Spektrum should have mapped Normal, stunt1, and stunt2 *shrug*,

I prefer gyro sense because I never need to use rate mode. Properly initialized and handled the chopper just flies. Except during setup, I've never found it necessary to flip into Rate Mode. If moving the chopper powered where orientation changes just moving the rudder quickly side to side 3 times will reset the tail for flight (not the same "zero center" as rate mode but it does what we need it to do before flight).

At the end of the day set it up the way you like and go fly.



Jermo,

First of all, thank you for making your DX7 video! It helped a lot.

If I may ask, though, WHY do you advocate using the GYRO SENS menu to set GYRO gain as opposed to setting the gain with the GEAR channel endpoints?

I asked many people on this and other forums about this and the replies were 100% in favor of using the endpoint adjustment to set gain.

Just curious. Maybe when you re-do your video, you could show BOTH methods and point out the pros and cons of each?

Thanks again!

[BryMeister]

I tried it both ways and was pleased with the results I get when setting GEAR endpoints to drive the GYRO gain. Plus, when using endpoints, the ratio between the setting and the actual GYRO gain is 1:1. When using GYRO SENS menu, you have to take into account the 1.44:1 ratio.

The only reason I can see to use the GYRO SENS menu is to have different gains in your different flight modes.

[Skarn]

The only reason I can see to use the GYRO SENS menu is to have different gains in your different flight modes.

And because it says gryo instead of gear ;)

Skarn

[Howard]

Thank you very much for these's videos.Just got a DX7 AND WITHOUT these instructions I would have never got close in my set up.
Thanks Howard

[kin1946715]

Hi Jermo's
Could you do CCPM set up using the DX7 Finless used a Futaba he said the radios were different. I have never before had an rc radio this high teck, plus for the mini helies they use the 6100 rec. how do I bind it, what would i be pluging it into? Hope you can help, I have watch your videos and Finless's many times and will keep watching till I get it right.
Thanks for your time
jim

[HeliG 275]

Hi Jermo's
Could you do CCPM set up using the DX7 Finless used a Futaba he said the radios were different. I have never before had an rc radio this high teck, plus for the mini helies they use the 6100 rec. how do I bind it, what would i be pluging it into? Hope you can help, I have watch your videos and Finless's many times and will keep watching till I get it right.
Thanks for your time
jim

Jim,

Yeah, I get to help!!! Binding the AR6100 is pretty easy. Follow these instructions.

1. Put the bind plug into the battery port on the RX or attach the battery and blind plug through the power cable (with on/off switch) on the battery port.
2. Turn power on the RX. The light should flash.
3. Set your TX to settings that you would like for Fail Safe (what should it do when if you lose connection).
4. Press the bind button on the back of the TX and turn the TX power on while holding bind button. The bind button on the TX will flash and the RX light will flash as well. Binding is complete when lights are solid on.
5. Turn of RX. Remove bind button.
6. Turn on RX and test to ensure they bound correctly.

That's it! Easy squeezy.

Here's the Spektrum link (PDF) if you want it. http://www.spektrumrc.com/ProdInfo/Files/SPM6100_Binding_Instructions.pdf

[Stricker22]

Quick question, this may be a rookie question on the DX7.

Why when I toggle between throttle hold on/off does the swash plate move up and down? I checked through all the settings and they seem identical. I must be missing somthing.

Also my flybar cage comes deadly close to the rotor blades when cranked full left or right.

By the way the heli (trex 450) flys fine so maybe I should just leave it all alone.

Ideas?

Thanks!

[trickybit]

I don't know about your setup, but the pitch curves on my throttle hold setting are symmetric, +/- 10 degrees or whatever, just like idle 1 & idle 2.

'Normal' mode is often setup to only have a little negative pitch, (-3deg maybe) so n00bs like us don't panic and drop the "throttle" only to power slam the heli into the ground on full negative.

So, when landing, you're at about half stick or below, and that's where Normal mode and TH mode pitch curves are often not the same.

I land in idle1 and flip throttle hold. If I'm done for the day, I pull the battery and slip on the blade holder (helps to have near zero pitch). If I'm not done for the day, I pull the battery and turn off the Tx. That way I save a little Tx battery while I swap lipos into the heli, and when I turn it back on, it will ***** at me if it's not in normal mode.

I set to normal and turn off TH to get it to shut up, then turn on TH. Then I connect the battery and arm the heli.

TH off, gentle spool up on soft-start, take off in normal mode, switch to idle1 right away.

Your mileage, she may vary.

Jim

[Stricker22]

Trickybit you pretty much answered my question. I actually take off in idle 1 and just initiate soft start by switching off TH.

I think I need to look at adjusting my pitch curves to lower the swash to get the flybar cage away from the main blades on hard cyclic movements.

Thanks!

[kin1946715]

thanks guy for your time
jim

[smoothoperator55]

is there a video for the spektrum 6i... thanks
james

[Jermo]

unfortunately I don't have a DX6i video, I had purchased a Dx6 to do a video then the 6i came out and nobody really wanted a dx6 vid anymore. If I can a dx6i I'll do a vid if needed.
So far the only change I have down for the DX7 vid is governor setup and ccpm. The ccpm setup is exactly the same as Bobs on the Futaba so I'm not sure another vid is needed. On the governor I'll need to wait until I get to an event where someone has the setup and will allow me to video it.

I'm selling a rifle soon and am debating to get a 600N.

[Finless]

A person named Sokal is doing DX6i vids in the Blade 400 forum. Here is the thread.

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=66100

Bob

[UfcGuy39]

That is awesome., thanks for the link. I'm having trouble with the tail on my 450, with the dx6i and rx 6200 receiver. :thumbup:

[bilbil]

One question, How do i re-calibrate my throttle stick position . My situation with DX7 is I go to function mode and pitch curve in normal mode. At 0 scale at the throttle stick markers (throttle fully down), my in and out is 0 shown in the Tx display. when i increase until 50% (centre throttle stick), my in and out reads 46. To achieve 50 in and out, i need to move my throttle stick further more than the 50% markers. Can I recalibrate this one so that when I move stick to centre (50%) so that my in and out also reads 50% (instead of 46). thanks :noteworthy

[Finless]

The painted on markers are not accurate! 46 is nothing to worry about. If it was like 30 something I would worry.

Bob

[DAHOUSEAPAIN]

Hey Jermo a big thank you from another newbie stuck in the mix of all the mind boggling information on here!
I look forward to getting the head set up properly now and getting her in the air...

Diamond Geeza!!!

Craig... :rolling

[bilbil]

The painted on markers are not accurate! 46 is nothing to worry about. If it was like 30 something I would worry.

Bob

Bob thanks. Last night I was doing the cyclic servo centering 90DEG on beam and realized that when you said stick centre at 50% and found out that things i said above. I wouldn't worry anymore. The video help me a lot. :thumbup:

[bilbil]

another question. This is about setting DX7 with GY401. Why when I flip the GEAR switch, I'm still in the HH mode.It should be the rate mode. I went to input select choose GEAR and select GYRO. So my signal cable was plugged into the GEAR channel. I went to GYRO SENS. Selected the AUTO and set the gain for 0 is 72 and 1 is 28. When i switch on the Rx, the gyro initialized in HH since my GEAR switch is at 0. I manage to make servo centre etc. But when I flip the GEAR switch to 1, the light in the gyro still there as if nothing happened.Try to move the rudder and it shows HH mode. Tried to rebind again but still when GEAR flipped, the mode didn't change. Beside AUTO,also have RUDDER D/R switch but no GEAR switch. anyone would help me on this thanks. I would like to use the GEAR switch to change from HH mode to Rate mode.

[BryMeister]

Then you need to use your DX7 GEAR channel endpoints to set gain vice the GYRO SENS menu. Go into model select mode and change the GEAR channel from GYRO to GEAR. Then, go to your function select menu and scroll to the travel adjust screen. Scroll through the channels on this screen until you see the GEAR channel. In this mode, your GY401 will be in HH mode with GEAR "on" (1) and in rate mode with the GEAR sw. "off" (0). You will need to play with the 1: setting to set your HH gain. Mine it set right now at
1: 60
0: 72

HTH

[bilbil]

When using Travel Adjust for GEAR to adjust the gain, can I still use the concept of 1 gain values in TX equal to 1.44 gain value in gyro?

[BryMeister]

No. When using GEAR channel travel adjust to set gain, the ratio is 1:1. I have found that a gain of 60 is still a bit high on my TREX SE V2. I get a small bit of tail wag when doing rapid piros. I'm going to experiment with lowering it until the wag goes away as soon as I can get back out in the field - maybe tonight, winds permitting.

[Skarn]

I would like to use the GEAR switch to change from HH mode to Rate mode.

Out of curiosity, why do you want to set it up this way? Why not have it set up for the different flight modes like in the Jermo video?

It's fine this way, I was just wondering what your thoughts were. And yes, Bry gave you the correct info on how to do it that way.

One thing to be careful of: If you do set it up this way, be careful of accidentally hitting your gear switch. For me, since I don't ever fly in rate mode, I have all of my flight modes set at 72% so no matter what mode I'm in or if I accidentally hit the switch, it's still in HH mode.

Good luck!
Skarn