XTR and G3 In Va Beach Area

[bombstopr]

Does anyone with a G3 live in Va Beach area? I have a new XTR but would like to try a G3 and decide if I want to sell my XTR w/Futaba cord and get a G3. As a newbie, I think the XTR is too hard. Hovering in XTR is way hard but yesterday when I took my EVO 50 up for the first time, hovering was way easier than the XTR is. Maybe it's a set up issue with XTR, but then it doesn't have instructions either.

[WillJames]

Ride down to Clint's this weekednn with Robert adn Zak Johns and try my G3 there.

[Robert Johns]

Will,

I tried to get David to ride down with us but he has other commitments.


David,

I spoke to the LHS owner (Les) about getting G3 installed and running in the store for everyone to try but he hasn't gotten back to me yet - he has G3 instock for sale and also needs it on the store demo PC for advertisement.

I wrote some software for him to allow the RealFlight and RealRace sims to run on a PC in the store for customers to try them out; I even applied a timer to the length of time an individual can test out the sims before they buy. (I wrote a keyboard handler that allows the guy behind the counter to select A for airplanes, H for helicopters, and C for cars) I will chat to Les again and see he wants me to modify my code and install G3 on the system so you can test it out.

-robert

[Dan Lewis]

Does anyone with a G3 live in Va Beach area? I have a new XTR but would like to try a G3 and decide if I want to sell my XTR w/Futaba cord and get a G3. As a newbie, I think the XTR is too hard. Hovering in XTR is way hard but yesterday when I took my EVO 50 up for the first time, hovering was way easier than the XTR is. Maybe it's a set up issue with XTR, but then it doesn't have instructions either.

The instructions that come with XTR are implemented in help files that you get to by clicking the help button on the different windows. For example, to make it hover easier, you do this:

From the main screen, select the Model menu, then choose Modify physical params. From here, choose the Main Rotor tab.

There is a parameter here that is detailed in the online help:

Hovering instability
At 100% the helicopter is VERY hard to handle, at 0% the helicopter hovers on it's own.

I hope this helps :)

[Dan Lewis]

The realism of this simulator does requre that your radio be setup as you normally would. Check for differences in expo between the model you use for your real heli as opposed to the heli model you use with XTR. The end points have to be set correctly as well. If not, then it would be the same as incorrectly setting up the mechanics of your real heli. I can help you to work through these issues. It's true that XTR is more difficult for someone new but then again, it's realistic too.

[bombstopr]

Thanks everyone for your guidance. I'll try to mess around with the radio? Not even being able to set up a helo yet I doubt I will be very successful but what the heck, Columbus took a chance and we see what happened there.

[Dan Lewis]

I understand. That's the real drawback to setting up XTR - it helps tremendously to already have experience setting up the real thing. It's easiest to talk through it on the phone - feel free to call me 813 727 3319. I'll call back with my free long distance. Take a look at this thread: http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=1139

You'll find a post where I tried to put together some step by step instructions on the radio setup. It was for 9C/9Z. One possible advantage to doing this is that you will learn some essentials about radio setup by working with the sim setup.

Here is the process that I used for the 9C. I imagine it would work with any 8 channel radio:

9C radio setup:

Start with a completely new model in PPM mode, HELI SWH1 under parameter ( no fancy swashplate settings, just standard ).
Turn off radio


Reflex setup:

Plugin reflex usb adapter and plug in square plug to Tx - 9C turns on
Press F8 or choose Radio >> Channel Display
Move this window to the side so that you can continue to view it.
Choose Radio >> Calibrate center... ...Follow instructions.
If you don't do this, then the next step will not work.
Press F7 or choose Radio >> Assign Channels
You should see both the Channel display and the Assign Channels windows now.


The Channel display should read slightly fluctuating values, at or near 0 (see attached picture).

Follow the instructions on the Assign Channels window at the bottom. Once it's complete and has auto-detected the channel assignments from your input, you'll have an opportunity to make any manual changes (e.g. if one of your radio swiches wasn't set to your liking). Reassign the switch in the radio, then make the changes in the reflex Assign Channels window. Here's my scenario to illustrate:

My newly created Reflex model in my 9C had channel 7 tied to the wrong switch, so I set switch G in the AUX-CH Select menu of my 9C for throttle hold on channel 7. Then, in Reflex, I set channel 7 to the 'Autorotation' reflex function of the Assign Channels window, making sure that it wasn't reversed.

- Reverse is indicated by the plus/minus ( ' - ' / ' + ' ) toggle button to the right of the channel buttons for each function.

- Adjust the end points in your radio to get full servo travel and thus a linear setup. Otherwise, your heli will be either too responsive or not enough. You view full servo travel by looking at the Channel Display and simultaneously adjust your end points, just like real setup. Some posts I've seen appear to suggest compensating for this by putting in expo... set the end points correctly first, then use expo if needed.

Remember, Reflex is much more of a "simulator" than other sims. Therefore, you have much more power to tweak your setup than you may be accustomed to. This can be good and bad: It's only bad if you want quick setup and your main goal is not realism (e.g. just want to learn basic orientation); it's very good if you want to simulate the real thing.

That's it. I hope this helps someone. For quick start guide, use this (file://C:/Program%20Files/REFLEX/english.hlp/inbetrieb.htm) local help file.