Should a DX7 Do This ?

[DarrenC]

Hi Folks,

What a crappy day today !

Drove to my local flying club, for our once a month get together. Made sure all my packs were fully charged as well as the DX7, so that I could enjoy a days flying with my 450 SE v2.

Anyway, locked and loaded, I walk out to the fist flying station, and found the heli behaving very strangley. Immediately disconnected my battery, and walked back to the grandstand.

After looking over the heli, I could see absolutely nothing wrong. Our club chairman had a walk over, and also started to look over the 450. We noticed that the lights on the AR7000 would not come on. I usually start with the throttle hold on, to prevent any accidental spin up in the pits. We switched the throttle hold off, re-connected the battery, and all was ok. Then disconnected the battery, switched the DX7 off, switched the throttle hold on, re-connected the battery, and NOTHING !

After trying re-binding etc, we noticed this problem to be very intermitant.

Finally got home, and thought I would take another look. I took the AR6000 out of my Funjet, and installed it into the 450, thinking it was the AR7000 messing me about. Discovered exactly the same problem.

My question is, should the lights on the receievers light up, with throttle hold on ?

I would have thought they should, and this seems very strange to me.

1. If switch on the DX7 throttle hold on, and then connect the battery, no lights come on on either receiver.

2. If I switch on the DX7 throttle hold off, and then connect the battery, both lights work correctly.

3. If I switch on the DX7 throttle hold on, and then connect the battery, no lights come on on either receiver (as in 1 above), but If I know flick the throttle hold switch off, then back to on, the lights come up correctly.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Thanks
Darren

[Danal Estes]

I'm guessing here, but maybe, just maybe:

Spektrum has stated that their receivers run many "self checks" while linking up to the TX. If any of these checks fail, they will not link. This prevents you from flying with some subtle problem that would bite you later.

Perhaps... if your throttle hold is set to -5 or whatever, it is considering this channel to be "out of range" of valid values and thus failing one of the self checks... maybe...


Did I say I was guessing enough times? :)

[tailStrike]

All I know is I usually flip my throttle hold off when the radio nags me about it when turned on :D.

[Pinecone]

I do too, but I always flip the TH ON before powering up the heli.

My 6100 in Trex works fine with powering up in TH, but I am running a 9303 with module.

I will check out the 7000 in my Hurricance today. I just switched to Spektum this past week.

[dlmcmichael]

The DX-7 has a safety feature that will not allow the receiver to connect if throttle hold is on or idle 1 or 2 is on. My transmitter gives me a nasty beep and warning on the display if I have either switched on when I turn on the transmitter. Do you not get a warning and beep on yours if you have throttle hold on and turn on the transmitter? Don't know if there is a way to disable it. Or am I just crazy?
David

[DarrenC]

Thanks guys for all the help.

I am really lost here, as to what exactly is going on.

I agree that when switching on the DX7, with throttle hold on, the thing bleeps. I also normally flick the T/H off for a second, then back on, then connect the battery.

I had some very strange goings on at the field on Sunday, where by I thought I was eliminating all potential problems, leaving the DX7 as the only option.

Now I am not sure.

All the problems seem to return to the same issue, i.e. inconsistent binding between the DX7 and the AR7000.

I stripped the heli when I got home and tried my AR6000.

The problem did not change. (This was after trying another bec and removing all servos one by one, and all at the same time.)

I will look over the heli again tonight and also call Spektrum today.

I will keep you all updated as to what I discover.

Thanks
Darren

[Stallion]

Hey guys!

I read that Thread and i felt like "didn't the same thing happen to me today".

Ok not exactly the same but very similar. When i switch on with throttle hold on then get some beeping. No problem here even when i connect the batteries then. the ECS will not arm because it does not see low stick! When i switch Throttle hold on than it see's low stick and it arms. But i wanted to fly this evening. Went out switched on my Tx and then the Rx and no lights on either of the both Rx. Tried several times. Gyro initializes correct but no Binding and no stick action. So i pull my binding Plug out of my pocket and started the Binding process. Worked the first time!! Than removed everything and switched TX and RX back on. Perfect!!

Than i had a strange behavior of my Hurry in the air, nearly crashed because i lost control. It was a glitch of some sort i think than it recovered and dance over the sky. I could land the bird safely but it flew very unstable! Puh!! Nearly had a heart attack!!

I switched to the DX7 2 weeks ago. Had no problem with my old 40Mhz Radio. Same ECS same Motor and everything. Only i flew with new Packs today to brake them in but i don't think this could have something to do with it.

Maybe the DX7 is not so good after all. :-( I hoped i would buy a glitch free system with the convenience of a very short antenna.

Does any body have any suggestions what to do??

[DarrenC]

Hey Stallion,

This does sound very similar to my experiences.

I forgot to mention that although the bind lights on the Rx did not come on, even when I had toggled the Throttle hold off, then on, the gyro & tail servo seemed to be working. Any input from me, on any stick, did absolutely nothing (including rudder), but when I picked up the heli and moved it around, the tail was moving correctly.

I am lost here.

Darren

[beeflyer2]

Strange, I have been powering up in TH with no problems. DX7, AR6100.

Yes, the gyro can initialize and operate the tail servo without input from the rx.

[Stallion]

No DX7 operation with throttle hold on when switching on the TX.
Same Here DarrenC!! But when i bind with the Plug again then it works untill i switch of my RX and on again then no connection with my Dx7. I cant bee that every time i want to go fly i have ask my self: Will it work today or when it binds can i fly safely?

I am loosing confidence in this system! I will not rule out that there is a failure on My end (the user) but i need to know what i did wrong.

It seems that many people are using the DX7 without any Problems. So there must be something.

I am lost here.

One more thing! I have no ferrite ring in my ESC wire. But it didn't cause any glitches with my old Radio. Should i put one in? Or my be do the Diode Mode like Finnless in his Vid?

[853sp]

Stallion/Darren C

Gentlemen, if in doubt read the instructions. Failsafe binding page 18 and Warning screen for throttle hold/stunt mode page 65. With a DX7 and AR7000, if you switch the transmitter on with either throttle hold or idle up on, nothing works. Having made the mistake once, I also found I had to switch the transmitter off and start again before everything worked. I have been using my DX7 programmed to 2 different helis,1 plank and the simulator for nearly a year without a problem. It has also been noticed by some in the UK, it is very easy to inadvertently operate the binding switch on the transmitter when switching on which adds a buggeration factor. Degrading receiver battery voltage is also known to affect receiver performance.

Hope you get things sorted.

Regards,

853sp

[Stallion]

Ok thanks for the tip with operating the binding button by accident. I use a some sort of controle console to put my DX7 in. I am no thumb guy! and its not originaly made for the DX7 but for the same casing. The bind Button stands out a little to mutch and gets pushed. This explains the glitch in the air. The TX was transmitting with low power and of course it cann not bind wenn the bind button is pushed and no bindplug is installed.

So the failure was completely on my end. I appologise for talking bad over my DX7!! I will give it another chance and my be we will fall in love again.

P.S.: i read the manual and knew about the Throttle hold condition.

[Pinecone]

It may just be a bad Rx.

But when I turn my Tx on, yes, it beeps if TH is on. So I turn it off then back on, then power up the heli. At least with the 6100 in my Trex this works fine.

[zagiman]

It may just be a bad Rx.

But when I turn my Tx on, yes, it beeps if TH is on. So I turn it off then back on, then power up the heli. At least with the 6100 in my Trex this works fine.

This is exactly how it works on mine and I have have the AR7000. I turn my tx on, turn TH on and then power up the heli.

[Skiddz]

Haven't had any issues with TH and one 6100 and one 7000, but have another 6100 that doesn't initialize unless I'm NOT in TH mode. Both 6100s have the 1.2 sticker on 'em, but the problematic one was purchased about 5 months before the one that works.

[Pinecone]

Hmm, 1.2.2? :)

Like years ago, I was having some trouble when trying to program something in dBase IV. After running through the trouble with tech support, they asked me serial number. When I told them, they mentioned that was an early copy, and they would send me a "newer" copy. So I asked up updates, and was told, nope no updates, but the "newer" copy should help. Yeah, right. :)

[jockstrap]

I have a similar issue..

If I turn on the DX7 (with throttle hold off) and then turn it on - then power on my T-rex with ar6100 - I find often the receiver will not connect!

The way I got over this is to make sure throttle is down and have throttle hold OFF when I power on the T-rex and as soon as the gyro beeps and is stable I flick the throttle hold on...

So basically - I got arround this buy having throttle hold off whilst powering on the receiver.

Hope this helps.

[Finless]

OK folks.... I troo saw this and fixed it.

I always tell people to GO THROUGH THE ESC PROGRAMMING so that it learns your throttle end points properly. In hold you should be able to set hold position to 0 not -5 and the motor shouldnt turn. If you cant then the ESC is not really understanding your the thorttle position.

So go set your normal throttle curve back to linear 0,25,50,75,100. Now go program the ESC all the way through! Now go set hold position for 0 instead of default -5.
Power up TX, go into hold, power up RX. Should work now.

Bob

[kamtsa]

All I know is I usually flip my throttle hold off when the radio nags me about it when turned on :D.

This always puzzled me. Isn't it safer to turn the DX7 with the throttle hold on? I would expect the DX7 to do the opposite, nag me to turn the throttle hold on.

Kam

[Pinecone]

One would think so, but most JR want the TH off. And Flight Mode in Normal (which I agree with). So you turn on, then flip the TH on.

And I wonder why they don't require the gear switch to be DOWN. :)

[Jermo]

No,
Mine has done that since day1. The only way to get it to initialize correctly with the Align ESC is for Throttle hold to be off. I never played with it but intended to experiment with the throttle hold setting to see if that would permit the ESC/RX..etc to correctly initialize. My setting is default at -5.

edit: just read Finless's comments..looks like that moving TH to 0 will resolve the issue for me (since I always program the esc as he taught :) )


<cut>

My question is, should the lights on the receievers light up, with throttle hold on ?

<cut>Thanks
Darren