Jermo's DX7 Setup Video

[dingosrun]

does the dx7 programe same as the dx6
or can you do a set up with the dx6

[Jermo]

I'll do a DX6 vid eventually. My focus is on other things atm..

[dingosrun]

thankyou

[infinity005]

Regarding not using the gyro setting in the radio and instead using the gear setting.

I read through the history, but didn't quite follow it all. When not setting a channel for gyro you use the Travel Adjustment setting on the gear channel to adjust the gain. What are the pros and cons of each setup? Does the 1.44 rule apply to both situations?

[Claude626]

Hi Jermo,

I set up my DX7 just like your video, but i'm a bit curious. I mean, it seems like I'm just replicating your setup on my heli, which may not be the best thing to do as I understand that each heli may be different. You also mentioned that those values are just reference values.

Now, being new to heli and all and having problem with tail holding on the ground with my Gyro, I begin to suspect my settings for gyro gain isn't fine tuned. What's with the 32% gain in HH that we all want? What if I go above that and what if I go below that?

I've set up my curves (pitch and throttle) just like how you have it in the video. The issue I'm seeing is that my gyro doesn't seem to hold the tail solid when I'm at 47%-50% on my throttle stick. It seems to release and hold for split second in periodic timing every second or so, which causes the heli to turn quickly about 20 degrees and then stop.(til the next second)

I understand that at that much throttle, I'm sitting at around 88-89% throttle on my throttle curve, and nearly 0 pitch (comming from -2). I'm not sure why it's doing this motion, so I'm trying to narrow it down. As I don't understand the effect of increasing gyro gain and reducing gyro gain, I'm posting here.(I've seen Bob's video and explanations, but maybe i'm just thick... xD)

I should note that, when I get pass that throttle point, the Gyro holds well. In hover, it's VERY still.

EDIT: I forgot to say that my Gyro is the GY401 and my tail servo is S9650.

[sjgusmc21]

Hope all had a great weekend. I actually was able to spend about 4 hours this weekend trying to figure out how to get rid of my tail wag. Well, after going over everything, and watching the video's again I still cannot get rid of my tail wag. I have a DX7 with the AR6100. I cannot adjust the ATV/EPA remotely through my radio, only on the pot on the gy401. However, I can turn the HH on and off using Aux2 channel on the DX7. The funny thing is, that I have the yellow wire from the gy401 connected to the gear plug on the AR6100. But when I try to change it to Gear in the radio gyro manual, nothing works. I have the radio set to Aux 2/Gyro, and I can turn HH on and off on the radio, but I cannot make any adjustments. Sooooooooooo, I am confused as hell now and COMPLETELY back to square one.... I have built 3 Trex's and a Raptor 50V2 and never had this many problems. I have adjusted the limit numerous times on the gyro….and I have gotten very close, but…… I have tried to adjust the gain on the DX7 but nothing is happening. I have 0 delay set since it is a 9650 servo I am using and I have it set to digital on the gyro. I also have revo turned off. I have also checked the proper placement of the yellow wire as well.

I have come to the conclusion that it has too much gain, but until I can figure out how to lower it on the radio, I am afraid I am lost. I understand that if I have my DX7 set to Gear, and the yellow wire is plugged into the Gear position on the receiver, that I should be able to adjust the gain through my radio. However, when I do this, nothing happens. HOpe all of this makes sense. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

BTW Finless and Jermo: THANK YOU for the video’s!! They are great!

[sjgusmc21]

OK, please correct me if I am incorrect here. I have tried everything that has been suggested to me and more. However, I think I have come to the conclusion that maybe something isn't right with my radio. I say this because I have the yellow wire plugged into the Gear slot on the receiver (AR6100). When I set my DX7 up to Gear/Gyro, I cannot even put it in normal mode on the radio. Nothing happens when I flip the switch. However, when I put the radio in Aux2/Gyro, I can Switch the Gear on and off, and that puts my radio in either HH or Normal mode, but I still cannot adjust any gain. At first I thought my Gy401 might be bad, however, when I removed the yellow wire from the receiver, the switch did nothing. So this leads me back to the radio. Am I incorrect on this? On the AR6100, there is no Aux2 plug, so I can't test that. Take care, Stacy.

[harebearva]

I have a dx6 on the way. Would any of hte info in this vid help me with seting it up on an SA? thanks for any help!

Harebear

[kawasakizx636]

how do i save the settings when i'm done?

[dkochan]

sjgusmc21:

What I did on my DX7 was I left the Gyro modes out of the picture from the TX's perspective. I am using the gear channel as if, from the TX's point of view, it is controlling gear. Then you use the travel adjust for the gear channel to tweak the gain. The gear switch changes mode between rate mode and HH mode. There are no "gyro" settings on my DX7 in this setup.

This lets you just flip the gear switch over to rate mode when you pick up the heli to move it, for example, avoiding the "tail snap" on spinup that you can get if you move the heli while in HH mode.

Be sure that you are in HH mode on the TX when you power up the 401.

It's pretty much what this guy did over on raptortechnique.com:

http://www.raptortechnique.com/gy401-dx7.htm

Dave

[kawasakizx636]

oh, so i actually have to set up the dx7 with my t-rex put together? i bought one and am in the process of building it but i wanted to use it for the phonix sim

[dkochan]

You pretty much have to create a separate model in the DX7 for Phoenix. That's what I am doing, and it works great. Just make a new heli model called "Sim" or something. Take all the defaults - no need to make Phoenix un-mix CCPM! (I think it can do this, but why bother?)

Occasionally, I fire up Phoenix with my DX7 still set for the TRex450, and I crash very, very quickly. ;)

There is not a lot of radio setup work you can do without your heli at least partly assembled. You will absolutely need it to get your servo arms positioned, travels adjusted, etc.

Dave

[kawasakizx636]

ok cause i tried the sim with the dx7 "right out of the box" didn't program anything, i tried flying but the controls were all mest up so i tried the calibrate menu on the sim and then i really had problems, the heli was just shooting right in the air. how do i calibrate the tx for phoenix. what does it mean to put the sticks to the extents?

[dkochan]

I am not the site nazi, but if you post this over in the Phoenix section, I (and others, probably) will try to help you out. We are way off topic of Jermo's DX7 vid. :)

Move to the extents means move the sticks as far as they will go in all directions. I think I had to reverse one or more of my channels to get it to work, too. Can't remember if it was on the TX (I think so) or in Phoenix.

Dave

[infinity005]

sjgusmc21:

What I did on my DX7 was I left the Gyro modes out of the picture from the TX's perspective. I am using the gear channel as if, from the TX's point of view, it is controlling gear. Then you use the travel adjust for the gear channel to tweak the gain. The gear switch changes mode between rate mode and HH mode. There are no "gyro" settings on my DX7 in this setup.

I've been using mine this way since the beginning and am very happy with it so far. The other benefit to being able to switch into standard mode is to check for servo binding when doing setups and testings.

I think not using the gyro settings on the radio is the way to go.

[dkochan]

Great point. Yep, it is MUCH better for testing, I think. I can't see much point in doing it any other way.

Dave

[kawasakizx636]

hey, was just wondering where most of you guys installed your AR 7000?

[infinity005]

hey, was just wondering where most of you guys installed your AR 7000?
Mine is on the frame plate, way in the back. ESC is in front, battery in front on the top mount.

--edited. Not bec, but esc.

[kawasakizx636]

what do u mean by BEC, is that the other part of the AR7000. what about your esc. cause i set it up like in the manual and the ESC is placed in the back, and i hear that i should place the RX near the ESC

[infinity005]

I meant ESC. I'm thinking about mounting the ESC underneath the frame when I rebuild this thing for 4S.

[kawasakizx636]

alright, i build it with the battery up on the front mount,with the esc right underneath. and i put the rx in the back with the little rx in the back on the side of the frame. I hope this setup works.

[Jermo]

Claude,
32% gain is the typical setting on a Futaba radio. The numbers I give in the video are a starting point. Depending on gear sets you may end up with gain as low as 40. The idea is to start LOW and work up til the tail holds. This allows you to find the sweet spot that should work when you start doing fast reverse flight.

The debate of using the gear switch or the gyro sense menu to control the gyro is really not much of a debate. During Setup it's easier to set the input to Gear/Gear (which disables gyro sense) and just use the gear channel endpoints/switch to control the gyro. After the copter is setup you won't change settings much other than to tweak it if something changes and you start having tail holding issues. In that event I suggest the Gyro Sense menu because it allows me to change gain based on flight mode.

Either setup is correct and is more a matter of personal preference than right vs wrong.

Please note if you gun the throttle from 0 to mid-stick or whatever the tail won't hold. I've never seen one that would. A slow but steady spoolup works because you get the tail rotor speed up as the main rotors gain momentum. The tail then has the RPM to compensate for the mechanical and aerodynamic forces of the main rotors.

Hi Jermo,

I set up my DX7 just like your video, but i'm a bit curious. I mean, it seems like I'm just replicating your setup on my heli, which may not be the best thing to do as I understand that each heli may be different. You also mentioned that those values are just reference values.

Now, being new to heli and all and having problem with tail holding on the ground with my Gyro, I begin to suspect my settings for gyro gain isn't fine tuned. What's with the 32% gain in HH that we all want? What if I go above that and what if I go below that?

I've set up my curves (pitch and throttle) just like how you have it in the video. The issue I'm seeing is that my gyro doesn't seem to hold the tail solid when I'm at 47%-50% on my throttle stick. It seems to release and hold for split second in periodic timing every second or so, which causes the heli to turn quickly about 20 degrees and then stop.(til the next second)

I understand that at that much throttle, I'm sitting at around 88-89% throttle on my throttle curve, and nearly 0 pitch (comming from -2). I'm not sure why it's doing this motion, so I'm trying to narrow it down. As I don't understand the effect of increasing gyro gain and reducing gyro gain, I'm posting here.(I've seen Bob's video and explanations, but maybe i'm just thick... xD)

I should note that, when I get pass that throttle point, the Gyro holds well. In hover, it's VERY still.

EDIT: I forgot to say that my Gyro is the GY401 and my tail servo is S9650.

[dkochan]

Double post, sorry. :oops:

[dkochan]

Yes, Jermo - good point on the flight modes. This is why noobs like me should stay away from, well, from speaking really. ;)
Nah, but I will try staying away from sweeping statements like, "I can't see much point in doing it any other way." :oops:

While I'm here, thanks for the video - nice work. I found it very helpful.

Dave

[drtmind01]

thank you!!!!!!!!!! from this video i was able to setup my dx7 as soon as it finished thanx i had some what experience from a dx6 but the dx7 has much more features and i didnt even know how to get in the menus so thankyou!!! :noteworthy :lolol