SpartanRC DS760 Gyro Review and Setup Vids

[puma1824]

This is the deal. Set up the gyro with Futaba 9254 servo per Finless Bob's setup video. The problem I'm having is the Bird wants to piro to the right (nose goes right).

I tried the Flash Link cord also. Anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong, and also might share some setup info for seting up gyro with software and flash link.

Thanks,
Mike

I think my friend experienced this in flight! See this video (LINK (http://helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=88899)). It was in a steady hover then quickly piro to the right without any warning. Furthermore wind was VERY low.

When I was resetting the gyro after repairing the heli after the crash, it produced the same tail movement on the bench. It was weird, reset the gyro twice and recycled the power and it went away. It been through 4 batteries since then with no event.

Any ideas?

[franticf]

Mike, without knowing you, your experience or the helli you’re putting it on my first thought is that you have the Gyro correction direction reversed. When you move the tail to the left or right the pitch on the tail blades should change to move it in the opposite direction.

[Mercuriell]

I'm a little confused with the V1.08 firmware and the delay that was added for Spektrum radios. Is it no longer necessary to bind with the gain set at 10% as was directed in V1.07?

Also, does anyone have any general setup numbers for the X9303 on the Trex 700 with a 8900G? Ball spacing and gain numbers (in JR numbers)? I can't remember the damn equation that goes from normal % to JR "Gyro Menu % :arggg: Something like JR Gain - 50 x 1.44 = Actual....?

Thanks guys!

(Futaba Gain / 1.44) + 50 = JR Gain :arggg:

I'm thoroughly confused by the whole DX7/9303 thing and really wish the gyro gain was given in the setup utility - I have had a lot of trouble setting up the DS760 on 3 helis now with inability to check gain, troublesome drift and today the tail letting go on my T700 - hopefully the LCD screen will make it a lot easier to see what is going on ! - I would really appreciate a current clear up-to-date explanation of the initialisation problem with the 2.4 radios.

[toaster12]

Actual gain can be seen using the setup utility!

Click the logo on the far left of the title bar and select start diagnostics.

This will show the actual gain and servo pulse frequency (From memory)

[toaster12]

As to the 2.4 problems.

Spektrum and JR 2.4 systems will immediately on startup move all channels to their startup positions as set when the rx's are bound.

The rx's normally take a few seconds to bind and because of this it is not possible to enter gyro setup (It won't respond to altering between rate and hh as the tx and rx are stilll binding and ignore any tx input!)

Spartan suggest setting the rudder off centre or have a low gain on the aux channel. The last method is the preffered one.

The gyro won't init until it sees a high gain value or an rx rudder centre pulse. Because this won't happen until the radio is bound it is now possible to enter setup. (It has had to receive rudder centre or a higher gain from the tx to init and thus is now seeing commands from the tx so toggleing the gain is now being seen).

So basically, if the above steps are not taken, the gyro initialises before the radio is bound and talking to each other!

I hope that helps and makes sense.

[Mercuriell]

Actual gain can be seen using the setup utility!

Click the logo on the far left of the title bar and select start diagnostics.

This will show the actual gain and servo pulse frequency (From memory)

Thanks for that - I would NEVER have found that without your help - where is it referred to ?

Thanks also for your other advice - sets my brain piroing - something about gyro and rx vying to be top dog or dominatrix - so in v 1.08 - is the binding trick of low gain necessary to slow down gyro inintialisation till Rx ready? and how do you enter set up mode when this is done - it when do you know when to toggle RM/HH modes ?

[toaster12]

It was on here a while ago, obviously just stuck in my head :lol:

Yep, you bind with low gain and then set your normal gains. The rx starts up and sends out the startup positions. When the rx has bound to the tx it will then receive the higher gain set and start initilising!

As to when, I start toggling as soon as i switch on! When the tail servo moves I know i'm in setup mode!

[shield]

I finally broke down and bought one. Yay! :clappp

I've had it with my fussy 401, I'm tired of spending the first minute of my five minute flight making gyro adjustments but that's another fustrating story. :roll:

On another note, I see many are switching from the 9650 to the 9257 and loving it with the Spartan gyro. I read a post on RR (link below) for a mod on the 9650 using 9257 gears which makes it faster. Anyone know if this is a good idea in order to save a little cash or are you better off just buying the 9257?

http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/t386123p1/

Btw, I just made the correlation between Webber Aerial Imaging (where I got my Spartan) and Mark Webber. :o Guess I'm just slooooow. It's too early, where's my coffee? :smokin:

Thanks Mark!

[MarkWebber]

That's ok. Just glad you found us in the first place.

Not sure about the servo mod. Haven't heard much on that one, myself.

[shield]

I received my Spartan today and I was impressed by it's size. Very small for such a powerhouse gyro especially compared to the 401. Took a few photo's for anyone interested in seeing a comparison.

Time to go, got to get this little gem installed. ;)

Thanks again Mark for the fast shipping and excellent service. :thumbup:

[heliboy88]

Hi guys,

I've the spartan waiting for me to finish my build(and it's nearly done) on the Protos, but it's sad to say i didn't get the USB link when i ordered the gyro. Will i be 'good' to setup the gyro with just my tx? Or the USB is really that important for the gyro to work well?
Thanks a lot for any help i can get.

regards,

[MarkWebber]

Do the setup w/o the Flashlink, first. Most find the stock parameters work just fine.

[AlanChow]

Just switched from DX7 to Futaba 12FG 2.4, I got a problem with the Spartan Gyro setup. I followed the 12fg manual, don't assign any switch for the gyro, I've set Head lock in normal mode and non hade lock in Idel 1. So that I can switch between this two mode in order to enter into the DS760 program model. but I failed to enter to the program model of spartan..... are there something I miss or doing wrong?

[Finless]

Use the channel monitor screen in the radio to make sure the channel you have the gain line plugged into is toggling from +100 to -100 when you toggle the switch.

Bob

[heliboy88]

Do the setup w/o the Flashlink, first. Most find the stock parameters work just fine.

Thanks a lot for the heads up, so i suppose the use of the Flashlink is not that critical for the gyro to work 'good'?? Sorry to ask cus i haven't tried to setup the gyro yet, hope to finish the build(if i've spare time) and do things straight forward.

regards,

[Mercuriell]

I have had an intermittent flicker from the LED for a while and now it doesn't come on (in HH mode!) unless I press lightly on the gyro top - I presume a bad LED or connection as the gyro seems to work OK - anyone else had this problem

[sbmon]

I saw that happen to a friend at the field (led didn't work unless you wiggle the wires) the gyro continued to work fine though. Last I heard he was sending it back.

[Mercuriell]

Have to say I keep on plugging away with the DS760 as everyone says how marvellous they are and I do like the compactness and soft/firmware setup. I don't seem to be having much luck. Lost my tail on my MA Stratus yesterday - 1st flight with my gorgeous new Arizona canopy :thumbup: - this is a different gyro the winking LED one I posted above - I had some issues with drifting and after a lot of work cured it by moving the gyro onto the battery tray - a common Stratus fix and by no means unique to the Spartan.

Yesterday I was flying in plank sector so as to not annoy the dudes was doing gentle circuits along with the planes - gave them a nice chance to enjoy the canopy in the early Spring sunshine :) - Anyway - an unexpected tail twitch led me to switch to normal mode and start getting her down and then lost tail completely so hit throttle hold and got her down awkwardly - blades wiped out and significant damage to the new canopy :bawl

Anyway back on the bench - still powered up - no output to the tail servo ie like it was switched off - all other cyclic servos working OK. No LED from the Spartan in rate or HH modes. Checked wiring - all intact - running Align reg with 5.1 dropdown to a 9256 tail servo - all joints Goop'd. Rx a JR 921 2.4 and was bound with no LED flashing to denote loss of Tx signal.

Recycled the power and the gyro LED came on and all worked perfectly till a few seconds later when the LED went off and no tail servo output (as if it wasn't powered up).

All components recent and never crashed.

Seems the problem in the Rx - Gyro axis - don't know whether loss of data signal from the Rx would lead to an unpowered servo or whether there is a fault in the power line. Seems the Rx or gyro likely culprits but as all other channels working OK thinking it may be the gyro. ANyway gonna swap it for a SolidG and keep all other components and see how we go - had had about 20 flights with this setup after the drift issue sorted and all had been well. Maybe Angelos could advise whether there's any way to check the gyro via USB link - I was interested last time I checked settings that it uploaded some data to Spartan after I had had a brief tail loss. Firmware lates - 1.08 I think and pretty well default settings apart from the 9256 selection- had been running gain at 40% as lower settings hadn't locked in the tail satisfactorily. Only other thing I can think of is the GV-1 and ALign 2-1 regs quite close but hadn't had problems before like this - any thoughts would be most welcome :)

PS: Tried downloading the gyro settings and got the error message "Can't comunicate with gyro" even though it goes through the flashkink detect process successfully so points a bit more to the gyro. Checked the wiring carefull - all links in electrical continuity and no break apparent on stressing - found a tiny breach in insulation on the -ve lead but no break and can't see how that could short out to anything to cause the problem even if it was in contact with the frame which I doubt.

[Finless]

Bummer John... sounds like you had one go bad. I guess it can happen. I lost a 611 gyro sensor on my T700 last weekend and that was a brand new 611. Had a devil of a time trouble shooting as it was intermittent. Finally started replacing stuff and when I got to the sensor, after 3 flights I knew I resolved it. Anyway my 2 Spartans are still going strong. I would get yours to Angelos and get them fixed. Maybe some manufacturing issue has cropped up and I am sure he would like to see them.

Bob

[OICU812]

One thing I have not been able to nail down is that the DS760 to me at least does not seem to work well on a 450 size heli, maybe not enough mass on the heli for it to work real accurate. When I come in inverted tail in or in hurricane I have to constantly tender the tail, only on 450 size though, everything larger it works 100% on and feels great.

[raptorheli2]

i had a rex 450 and the 760 was SUPERB on there. 99.99% of gyro issues are down to setup. finding what the issue is ofcourse is another matter.

if your upside down and your getting drift then perhaps the pads are too soft.

here is my own 450 some time ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr4pl4r0lf0

[Finless]

Shawn, on the 450 try centing the slider rather than setting up for 8 degrees of pitch in the tail.

Bob

[jetpilot]

Hi Bob


I will fly My Trex 700 soon! i got the same configuration as you!

X9303
Spartan ( of course)i have loaded Burt K T-Rex 700 file .
any difference Between JR and Spektrum radio? i mean the file will work? or i need other settings?

Thank you
Luc

[dhoff002]

Both my 500 trex and 450 trex have a quick slight wag, when I apply full throttle, from center stick. Neither heli wags otherwise, and the tail holds great, but a full pitch pump I just get this quick .5 to 1 inch wag.

If I reduce gain the wag stays, and the tail gets soft. I am not sure how to fix this issue:

Setups:

trex 500, torque tube, 13 tooth pinion, stock motor, tail servo 9257, spartan gyro, mounted on top, using metal plate, using align 5 volt step down. KBD tail blades
Batteries: FP 2500, maxamps 3000, outrage 2500

trex 450, complete beam tail, scorpion 8 motor, 12 tooth pinion, tail servo 9257. Stock tail blades. TP 2200 batteries.

Thanks for your help

Dan

[Mercuriell]

Both my 500 trex and 450 trex have a quick slight wag, when I apply full throttle, from center stick. Neither heli wags otherwise, and the tail holds great, but a full pitch pump I just get this quick .5 to 1 inch wag.

If I reduce gain the wag stays, and the tail gets soft. I am not sure how to fix this issue:

Setups:

trex 500, torque tube, 13 tooth pinion, stock motor, tail servo 9257, spartan gyro, mounted on top, using metal plate, using align 5 volt step down. KBD tail blades
Batteries: FP 2500, maxamps 3000, outrage 2500

trex 450, complete beam tail, scorpion 8 motor, 12 tooth pinion, tail servo 9257. Stock tail blades. TP 2200 batteries.

Thanks for your help

Dan

Sounds like your tail might not have enough holding power for the sudden rotor head speed change - probably not related to gyro settings - maybe try some different (stiffer) tail blades