AP2000i Setup!

[Deron Douglas]

Hi Mark,
Just wanted to let you (and everyone) know I got the AP2000i setup over the holidays. It was a lot simpler than I thought once I got started. That Quick Start manual is a MUST HAVE. It's pretty cool... it's fun to see the cyclic react when I put my hand in front of the IR sensor. I have the gain on a switch, set to 100% flipped on, and OFF in the off position (AUX2 on a DX7).... I saw a post for Multi-Gain on a DX7. But I was wondering... what settings do other people use?

Happy New Year to All!

[catfight]

ddragon,

I have a DX6 so have less options and if I had DX7 I would use the multi settings you referenced. In my opinion you need a cal position also. I think I run mine about 33% also ( I use 2 switches and have off, cal, 33%, and 60% I think- too cold to fire her up today!)

[Deron Douglas]

Thanks Rusty,
yes... I wanted to do that as well. I'm using the AUX2 switch for OFF and 100% (which I'll drop to around 60%)... trying to figure out how to assign a new switch to CAL and 35% gain on the AUX2 channel.... still doing a search.

How did you setup your switches?

[MarkWebber]

Courtesy of Gary Goodrum:


I finally got some time to play with the settings on my DX7 in order to get a variety of gain settings for the AP-2000i, plus the cal function. It uses the Gear switch, the Flight Mode switch and the Aux2 switch. It took some doing because I wanted to still have Stunt 1 set to dial down the governor to about 80-85% and leave Stunt 2 at 100%. Anyway I now have the following AP-2000i settings: CAL, OFF, 12%, 25%, 38%, 50%, 62% and 75%.

In the normal "OFF" condition the Gear switch is off, the Flight Mode is set to Normal and the Aux2 switch is off. The way I have my setup done I set Normal and Stunt 1 with straight 80% throttle curves and I use the Throttle Hold switch to startup, with the left stick at the mid point (i.e. -- 0 pitch...). As I said, I have Stunt 2 set to 100% so that I can get a bit extra "pop" if I drain the a123 pack(s) down too much.

Anyway, to do the calibration you just flip the gear switch on for a second, and then turn the gear switch off. To get 25% gain you just go from Normal to Stunt 1. To get 50% you go back to Normal and then turn on the Aux2 switch. For 75% you use Stunt 1 with Aux2 on. The Gear switch can be used to get in between values. With Stunt1 and Aux2 on, turning on the Gear switch will drop the gain from 75% down to 62%. With Normal selected and Aux2 on, turning on the Gear switch will drop the gain from 50% to 38%. Finally, with Stunt 1 selected and Aux2 off, turning on the Gear switch will drop the gain from 25% to 12%.

I have Stunt 2 work the same as Normal, as I figured if I'm trying to get back down on the ground I'll want the stabilization off so the easiest way is to just quickly switch all three off and then just switch the Flight Mode switch to Stunt 2, to get the full 100% throttle.

To make this work you need to set the Aux2 channel to be reversed and set the end points to +50 and -58. It also requires all three program mixes in the DX7's Heli mode to be used. Here's the settings:

Program Mix 1:
AUX2->AUX2
Rate: +106
- 91
SW: NR Offset: 0

Program Mix 2:
AUX2->AUX2
Rate: +52
- 49
SW: Gear Offset: 0

Program Mix: 3:
AUX2->AUX2
Rate: +106
- 91
SW: S2 Offset: 0

This could be done with just two mixes except that there is no switch option in the mixes for just selecting Stunt 1. You can select Normal, or Stunts 1 and 2, or just Stunt 2, but not Stunt 1 by itself. That forced me to use two mixes and program the opposite conditions for the Normal and Stunt 2 modes.

You might need to tweak the values a bit, for your AP-2000i but maybe not. These work with both of the AP-2000i untis I have active right now. You could also come up with a different range of values as well. Basically you have 7 discrete values to play with, plus the Cal. This is plenty, I think.

-- Gary


I'd like to get my hands on a DX7 to see if there might be something a bit less involved than this but I haven't had opportunity just yet.

[MarkWebber]

Oh yeah, I'll fly anywhere from 30-100% depending on what I'm doing and how much stabilization I want. To begin with, I'd like to see you start at a lower setting while you get used to flying with stabilization, just so you know what to expect.

[Deron Douglas]

Thanks Mark,
Yes, I saw that and was going over it as well. Seemed a little more complicated than what I need. Problem is, I'm trying to figure out what this means without the radio in front of me (I'm at work :YeaBaby: )

Program Mix 2:
AUX2->AUX2
Rate: +52
- 49
SW: Gear Offset: 0

I'm thinking... Mix onto itself.. AUX2->Aux2

When the Gear switch is OFF increase the current setting on AUX2 (gain) by +52. But I can't figure out what the -49 mean?

And ideas?

[MarkWebber]

Having not had one to play with, I'm not sure what the -49 represents. Mixing the channel to itself is what I do with my 9C. When you activate the designated switch, the program adds/subtracts the specified % from the channels current position. I use this for Calibration. By moving the slider to OFF then hitting the switch, the program is basically moving the endpoint a bit more to trigger the calibration routine. Hope that makes sence.

[Deron Douglas]

Hi Mark,
Once I got home and had a chance to play with it and watch the readout I was able to figure this out... the -49 is the lower switch setting/rate... the upper figure is the upper upper switch position. I got it working with the gear switch....

So ... for those interested:

With the AUX2 in the down position the AP2000i is OFF
With the AUX2 in the OFF (down position) and the GEAR switch UP... to have CAL
Then move the AUX2 switch UP you have 35% Gain... then flick the GEAR down and you have 60% gain.... both down turns off the AP2000i again.



So it looks something like this:

CAL - 35% ON (35% if GEAR UP or 60% if GEAR DOWN)

O O

OFF - 60% OFF


Hope that makes sense? I can give the actual setting for the DX7 if anyone is interested.

[MarkWebber]

Hope that makes sense? I can give the actual setting for the DX7 if anyone is interested

Easier if you'd email me but post here if you'd like too. I've been looking to get ahold of a DX7 to have a simplified program. Sounds like you've got it. If I've got it, in the future I can provide this your programming to those that would prefer to do as you have.

mark@webberaerialimaging.com

Thanks Deron!

[Efliernz]

I've been after a simpler DX7 setup and have spent many hours trying to get a setup similar to ddragon. I would be really happy to see the exact setup. I'm not always this simple... but it is 00:47 here...

[Deron Douglas]

Hi Mark and Pete, I'll email Mark the settings and post it publicly when I get home tonight. I could probably do it from memory, but I won't want to take any chances. I'll do up a set of instructions from "Step 1".
Deron

[bullaculla]

I dont know what the mix numbers mean exactly, but it works. You just have to make sure all your flight modes are the same with the same trim so when you switch flight modes to get more gear switch settings, your helis attitude, throttle, and pitch curves dont change. and also, you have to memorize your switch positons and what the gain setting are for each position. I memorized mine by in order. I had to flip the switches in exact order so I would know what gain setting i'm in. Lots of practise. I wish I knew how mine was setup, but I switched to the X9303 just for the gain slider, which works really nicely.
Mine was not nearly as complex as Garys setup tho. I only used 2 mixes and had: OFF, CAL, 25% 50% 80% and 95%
I think I posted how I set mine up awhile ago. I'll try to find it.

[Deron Douglas]

OK... to start lets assume you followed the Quick Guide for the AP2000i and have that all setup and all the wires plugged in correctly. Also, lets assume the following:

AUX2 is active in the DX7 and you have the gain cable for the AP2000i in there, AND you are still using the GEAR channel for the gain on the gyro (I have a 611).

Step 1:
Bring up the setup menu for your model.
Goto [TRAVEL ADJUST] and for

AUX2 set the values to:

+ 25%
- 110%

You'll see the little arrow -> appears when you flick the AUX2 switch.

Step 2:
Goto [PROG.MIX1]

Set the channel mix (first entry) to
GEAR-> AUX2 ON

Next Entry:

RATE: -125%
0%

Next Entry:

SW: ON
OFFSET: 0

That's it! If the initial setup is the same as mine you'll get this:


GEAR (down) AUX2 (down) = OFF
GEAR (up) AUX2 (down) = CAL
GEAR (up) AUX2 (up) = 35%
GEAR (down) AUX2 (up) = 60%

You can adjust the 60% top end gain by changing the TRAVEL ADJUST (step 1)... increasing the number from 25% will increase this number. You don't have to touch the - -110% as this will always be OFF. If you go to low (around 120%) you will start the CAL process.

You can also change the low end gain (35%) by changing the MIX rate of -125%. I watch the LCD on the AP2000i while clicking the increase/decrease button.

I was worried that since I was using the GEAR channel for the gyro gain I would be messing with that. But after flicking the switches around and watching the LCD on the gyro I saw there was no activity or change. I have the gain on the gyro linked to the flight mode switch in auto.

Hope it helps.

[bullaculla]

That is a better solution than flipping flight mode switches. :)

[MarkWebber]

Thanks Deron, I'm sure all the DX7 guys will appreciate your efforts.:thumbup:

[Efliernz]

Awesome thanks.

I'm not using my gear channel (401 connected to the spare trimmed ch on the AP2K instead). This should still work ok?

[Deron Douglas]

Awesome thanks.

I'm not using my gear channel (401 connected to the spare trimmed ch on the AP2K instead). This should still work ok?

Should work fine. Once set I usually don't change my gyro gain. But I don't have a need for a extra channel right now.

[Efliernz]

YES - it works. Just some % fiddling now on a day when I'm at the field, not battling with trees and really strong thermal on my park. Two settings are all I asked for - thank you.

I did cal today this afternoon while shooting two sites just in case I needed it. I'm not sure how much I will use it but if life gets tough, I know (as long I cal every time I move location) that it may help.

btw, here is this afternoons work. The school is to be opened in two weeks and we are doing the centre-spread in the paper (first biggee). The weather for the next week is crappy so i got in there today. The roundabout is part of a major roading job starting tomorrow. Just for our records.

[aramsdell]

I just only browsed quickly throught these posts. I don't have a governor but with 7 channels, and the heli set up only for AP in that model memory, you should have many options to do AP 2000i and shutter etc.
I used a 6ch on a Trex 450 and got camera idle, camera prefocus and camera shoot by 'y' connecting the gyro channel to a servo and a cut servo wheel to press shutter button. I did something like 20% HH mode as normal mode, 50% ish for prefocus and 80 to 90% HH gain (in gyro menu tied to idle up switch) to get camera to shoot.
Are you shooting AP with this setup and how are you triggering that?
If you aren't triggering a shutter then you could set up the AP2000i gain on the gyro channel tied to the idle-up switch. The important thing to do is to set all trims and pitch curves exactly the same in Idle-up 1,2 and normal mode so that the heli doesn't jump when the switch is moved. in normal mode AP2000i gain set to off. In Idle up 1 set it to your favorite flight gain %. in Idle up 3 either set it up for an alternate higher gain %, or set it to calibrate % if you can't program another switch to do that. I don't have a DX-7 so I don't know what is possible there for mixing.
Your gyro moves to output 4 of the AP2000i.
.For your next radio definately get a 9 ch or better.
I bought a Royal Evo 9 then converted it to the XPS 2.4 ghz module. 0 glitches. So many sliders and 3 position switches and all programmable.

[Tonystott]

No need to allow for pre-focus. The only function of this is to allow the user to select an off-centre area of the frame to lock focus into. Your camera will automatically pre-focus every time you press the trigger anyway.

[aramsdell]

Hi Tony. I think I did that because of my hand-held results but that throws in a natural blur of pressing the button I guess. I guess stayi8ng in continuous autofocus set to center might be a better way too.
Got a G9 . A640 riding second seat now. I'm Beta-testing the CamRemote USB switch with the G9. Others are doing other cameras. VERY promising already.

Al Ramsdell

Other side of the world from you and ,right now, probably a whole lot colder !

[Randallhurd]

I set up my DX7 MIX 1 - 3 that made the AUX2 Switch jump from 89 % Up and 60 % Down,
I tried lifting off and the heli kept trying to go Hard left on a roll left.

I had the Spartan Mixes EPL / H at 100% on the Avionics box.

Anybody know the core settings for a TAME heli?
Setting the DX7 to the Spartan AP2000I,
(NOTE) I've only been flying for about 6 - 7 months.

Thanks,

[MarkWebber]

A few questions:
Heli type?
Rate settings in tx/AP2000i?
Using the calibration?
How far back on the boom is the sensor mounted?

[dimon]

what is relation in how far on a boom the sensor is mounted?

my heli always wants to roll Right, when I activate AP2k I see swashplate tilts right a bit

[Randallhurd]

TREX600N. Sensor mounted on boom, 3inches from Boom strut mount towards Heli,

I had Calibration on the STAB, and Elp/? 1-4 set 100%
Aux2 UP = 96% Aux2 down-58%

Do you have to use Mixes 1-3 on the DX7 with the AP2000I?

I just looking for a basic setting that I can get familiar with. What are some Tame settings for flight, with agressive stabilization at 200+ feet.