Hitech HG-5000 Gyro Setup / Review

[bflores]

I bought this Hitec combo but I just can't get it setup correctly. Almost give up but I need someone to help.

HeliBru,

Here is a thread that has a lot of troubleshooting and setting recommendations for the HG-5000:
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=43365

[pitounet]

I have a logitech LT2100 with a 3100 servo.

I have been VERY DISAPOINTED with this combo. I have seen a lot of good reviews on lt2100, that's why i've been lured into buying one. A lot of people say it is better than a 401. From what I have seen it is false.
It is not a bad gyro but it is no way as good as a 401.
Here is my experience with this servo.

My setup Trex 450 se, 4s neu 1107/2y, kontronik jazz. HS = 3000 rpm.

Pros :
- The tail will stay really locked in pitch pumping, less correction is needed during tic tocs, rainbows. Smackdowns and other violent stops are cleaner than with the 401.
- The piro rate is more constant than the 450 even in more demanding manovers. There is no the whipping tendency you can see on a 401. Piro tornado are easier.
- Unlike others I think the setup is easy and very convenient once you learn how to do it.
- In sportflying it will be almost on par with a 401.

Cons :
- VERY DISTURBING IN 3D:The hold is really softer than with the 401. I was struggleling to make correct hurricanes, the tail felt a bit sloppy in backward hurricanes, funnels etc. Those manoever where not as clean as with my 401.
- Right and left piro are not the same
- The piro rate is consistant but it is difficult to make some small adjustment in the piro rate during a manoever.
- Right and left stops are differents. One is sloppy the other is bouncy.
- VERY DISTURBING IN HARD 3D: There is sometimes a delay between an input and the reaction of the gyro. When doing a stop from fast piro rate sometimes you will not be in the good orientation because the stop will occure a fraction of a second to late. Sometime you will enter the piro a fraction of a second later that you thought. This behavior is very inconsistant. This makes it very difficult to make clean 4 points tic tocs.
- When there is a lot of wind the tail will occasionnally let go where the 401 + 9257 or even 401+3154 will still hold.


Conclusion when pushing the limits i lost confidence with this gyro. Imho it is a good gyro, you can fly 3d with it, but the 401 beats it hand down. I'm selling this combo, my next try will be a spartan.

[Finless]

Agreed pitounet, I have NOTHING against Hi-tech and in fact LOVE many of their products and I have nothing against Logictech and in fact love the 6100 gyro. But I have tried my hardest to get the most out of the LG2100 and this Hitech gyro and in the end it's just not up to what I am use to in a good gyro. YES for people wanting a cheaper gyro it is not a BAD gyro... Blade 400 guys or other folks that really never plan to go hard 3D... It's a good alternative. Scale heli guys in the 450 to 500 range should also look at this gyro.

But for me.... It's just not doing it for me.

I can only be honest to you all folks.... Just take this feedback and understand what this product limitations are and buy based on what YOU need in a gyro.

Bob

[RMG2]

I do understand your point about this gyro Bob which is why I bought it for my first CP build. I purchased the whole Hitec package with gyro and all servos. As a beginner to collective pitch (coaxial and fixed pitch prior) I think this gyro will be just fine for my current needs. As I progress in this hobby I may chose to look at other options but for now the Hitec should serve me well.

Thanks for the write-up and honest opinons, the fact that you were honest about the gyro lead me to make a confident purchase. And bye the way, Hitec has changed some of their initial setup data in the manual since the time you did the review. I'm guessing the new setup info. is aimed toward maximizing this gyro's piro rate as they are now recommending to max. out rudder EPA and D/R prior to setup.

[smokin3000gt]

Are these reviews with the servo that came with the gyro? I was leaning towards the 2100T and a 9257 servo. I've seen some vids on youtube where it seemed to hold pretty solid but now I'm wondering..

Besides the piro rate (not as important for me) does the 2100 lock in the tail as well as the 401? Is everyone having the same problem with tail stopping (bouncy/sloppy) as pitonet? And the most important one.. how do they hold up in a crash? I've seen a few post that heli started to drift after a couple dirt munchers.

by the way, I'm sure that you guys probally already knew this but I'll throw it out there anyways but I've read a few times that the problems related to the 2100 are because it is sensitive to vibration. Once they got that, the gyro was what it should be.

Last thing, if someone has a video of the piro rate with the LTG2100T it would be great to look at to determine if it is fast enough.

Sorry about all the questions but my Trex should be here any day and I want to get the gyro/tail ordered ASAP so I'm not waiting on it!

Thanks guys!

-smokin

[muscleflex]

i just got this gyro yesterday. have watched all the vids and looking forward to putting this gyro on the heli sometime soon!!!

[Danyboy]

Hello folks!

I've owned a Logictech2100 (which I've sold with the heli, though not because of the gyro), and a friend of mine also has one, we both appear to have the same symptoms:

When hovering (since discovery of that problem, we do not dare to do more...), you'll notice that you've lost control over the tail, because it's more or less drifting away in the nose-right direction, not reacting to control-inputs for correction. You'll have about one second to notice this situation, the tail will then suddenly move to the opposite and full deflection. Where it stays. No recovery. Not reproducable on the bench, so we're in the dark...

Has anyone encountered the same symptoms and did anything solve the problem?

If the gyro is shot - well than I'm off to the 401 as well. In the case of my friend's, there was no crash involved... With mine, well, there was a crash - because of that behaviour - which I accredited at that time to tempdrift since it was deep in January - and it was well protected inside a fuselage and didn't go anywhere...

Thanks for any advice!

Cheers from switzerland,

Daniel

[bflores]

i just got this gyro yesterday. have watched all the vids and looking forward to putting this gyro on the heli sometime soon!!!

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with this gyro/servo combo. Just curious to see if you have a better experience than myself and the others. PLEASE provide an update! Thanks so much muscleflex.

[bflores]

Has anyone encountered the same symptoms and did anything solve the problem? If the gyro is shot - well than I'm off to the 401 as well. In the case of my friend's, there was no crash involved... With mine, well, there was a crash - because of that behaviour.

Once again.. someone has confirmed that a Spartan DS760 gyro / Futaba s9257 tail servo combo can actually be cheaper than the HiTec / Logitech combo.

[Vinger]

I own a few 2100 gyros, even used them on my E550, while waiting for the SolidG to arrive, and these little ones work like a charm, never had any trouble with them. You have to set them up properly and they will reward you with a solid tail and a piro rate that is fast enough to make your eyes water. Don't expect it to perform like a SolidG, Futaba, JR etc, because it is cheaper than all of those. The one on my MiniT has been giving me excellent service, even after two serious crashes.

You just have to mount them on they supplied tape, and make sure you do the setup in rate mode first. The gain in HH mode will vary greatly with lenght of servo arm (moreso than other gyros) and servo type used, but experiment and you will get there, just use a good digital servo and start with at least a 11mm servo arm for a 450 heli. The turn rate setting is actually there to adjust stopping ability and NOT to increase piro rate. Higher setting makes it stop more quickly and vice versa. Piro rate is determined by the rudder endpoints.

I am really happy with mine, on both the Hurricane and MiniT. The SolidG on the E550 was just as cumbersome to setup and does provide a few more settings, but in my humble opinion no better hold, maybe just a quicker stop and more consistent piro rate while flying forward or rearward.

Just my two cents.

[RMG2]

As I mentioned in an earlier reply, I bought the Hitec package which includes 4-servos and the gyro. I bought it even after Bob told us the piro rate wasn't as fast as he likes. As a beginner to CP helis the price point fit what I wanted to spend and I am not dissapointed with my decision.

I am only doing average sport flying so far but I am very pleased with the performance of the gyro. The tail does not "bob" on hard rudder directional change, and the tail does not drift with temperature change. Bests of all, the tail is LOCKED in HH mode!

The key to getting the gyro to perform as described is what Bob has told us in so many of his videos. That being, the tail servo MUST be setup/adjusted to achieve zero yaw in RATE mode before relying on HH mode to hold perfectly under all conditions.

In summary, this gyro holds well, doesn't drift and the piro rate is more than fine for ME. I would recommend this gyro to any new, or average flyer and suggest you will like it just fine.

http://home.comcast.net/~pelletgunn/MT4.jpg

Sorry for the weird photo distortion, my very old digital camera gives everything the "fisheye" appearence.

[Finless]

Cool... looks good!

Seems you are happy with it which I know a lot of people will be. Insane piro rates are not something everyone wants and as I said before the gyro holds really well and does it's job! Glad your happy with it!

So you know on Saturday I flew the crap out of my beam with this gyro forgoing the piro rate issue. With atv at 150 it was OK but I couldn't do my "crack ho insane" piro's like on my other 450s. Even still I really worked on some backwards inverted stuff I have been needing to get better at, and it worked well! It's hold characteristics CANT be doubted.....

Bob

[muscleflex]

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with this gyro/servo combo. Just curious to see if you have a better experience than myself and the others. PLEASE provide an update! Thanks so much muscleflex.

i will do. i'm still waiting for the cnc head and tail replacements that i ordered before putting this gyro on my 450 so might be another week before i can test this.

[muscleflex]

what heli is this?

As I mentioned in an earlier reply, I bought the Hitec package which includes 4-servos and the gyro. I bought it even after Bob told us the piro rate wasn't as fast as he likes. As a beginner to CP helis the price point fit what I wanted to spend and I am not dissapointed with my decision.

I am only doing average sport flying so far but I am very pleased with the performance of the gyro. The tail does not "bob" on hard rudder directional change, and the tail does not drift with temperature change. Bests of all, the tail is LOCKED in HH mode!

The key to getting the gyro to perform as described is what Bob has told us in so many of his videos. That being, the tail servo MUST be setup/adjusted to achieve zero yaw in RATE mode before relying on HH mode to hold perfectly under all conditions.

In summary, this gyro holds well, doesn't drift and the piro rate is more than fine for ME. I would recommend this gyro to any new, or average flyer and suggest you will like it just fine.

http://home.comcast.net/~pelletgunn/MT4.jpg

Sorry for the weird photo distortion, my very old digital camera gives everything the "fisheye" appearence.

[Finless]

Pretty sure it is a mini titan 450.

Bob

[RMG2]

Pretty sure it is a mini titan 450.

Bob


As Bob said, Thunder Tiger Mini Titan. "Plain Jane" plastic version but I am totally pleased with it's performance for where I am in the learning curve. Very very stable and predictable control!

With the confidense this heli brings (coming from a fixed pitch), if I am not doing basic (loops, rolls, flips) 3D by Summer's end I will never be doing 3D:thumbup:

[davidwp56]

Once again.. someone has confirmed that a Spartan DS760 gyro / Futaba s9257 tail servo combo can actually be cheaper than the HiTec / Logitech combo.

Brian,
While I apprieciate your dislike of the Logitech gyro,I can purchase the logitech combo for around $215 without too much trouble, would really like you to point me in the direction of where I can buy the Spartan/Futaba combo for that price, will order a couple as soon as I get the details.

[muscleflex]

where is the best place to put this lil gyro on a 450 XL???

[muscleflex]

hi all - i have a question about the included servo on this gyro - will this work on a normal FM receiver? i'm still using my hitec eclipse radio.

i've just plugged the servo to the receiver and it doesn't work. i move the stick to the right and the servo only start to move when i'm near max on the stick. moving left doesn't do anything at all to the servo.

any ideas pls?

edit:
never mind - i have been told that this servo is ONLY compatible with the included gyro and will not work w/out the gyro. hence why it didn't work when i plugged it straight to the receiver. and when i plugged it to the gyro, it wouldn't respond but thinking back now... the gyro defaults to light 3 which means it's on analog servo so i need to set it to the first light. hopefully that will fix it.
i'll let you guys know tonight.

[orlbuzz]

Bignose13, (reference post #37) you need to read the whole thread, or at least the previous page of that link you gave. Those piros are with a 401. He is complaining that he CAN'T get that rate with the 2100.

orlbuzz

[bflores]

i'll let you guys know tonight.

Muscleflex... any word on your Hitec HG-5000 endevour?

[muscleflex]

Muscleflex... any word on your Hitec HG-5000 endevour?


hi - yes, i've finally managed to finish and set it up the other night. not flown it outside yet as it's been windy as heck this weekend but i did a test hover in the kitchen and WOW! apart from a CSM 360 i had a looonng time ago, this is the first heading hold i've owned and after following bob's videos, it locks on so darn good! i really am very impressed!
not too impressed with rate mode tho as it doesn't seem to do much..but heading hold is another matter.
i'm just a beginner tho so i wont be doing fast piros or anything like that so i wont be able to test this gyro to its limit..

and as soon as the wind stops, i'll be test flying this outside and will report more.
but for now... i'm quite happy with this thing!

[TallDoode]

hi all - i have a question about the included servo on this gyro - will this work on a normal FM receiver? i'm still using my hitec eclipse radio.

i've just plugged the servo to the receiver and it doesn't work. i move the stick to the right and the servo only start to move when i'm near max on the stick. moving left doesn't do anything at all to the servo.

any ideas pls?

edit:
never mind - i have been told that this servo is ONLY compatible with the included gyro and will not work w/out the gyro. hence why it didn't work when i plugged it straight to the receiver. and when i plugged it to the gyro, it wouldn't respond but thinking back now... the gyro defaults to light 3 which means it's on analog servo so i need to set it to the first light. hopefully that will fix it.
i'll let you guys know tonight.
Ya, I had the same issue on the servo and thought it was bad. Called Hitec and a very nice guy told me that the default on the gyro is a standard servo and that I needed to program it for the servo that came with it. He mentioned that they do that because if you plug a regular servo into the gyro and it is defaulted to the servo that comes with it, it will nuke the regular servo.

Cheers ,

dave

[TallDoode]

All,

I have the HG-5000 package and a DX7. I have watched Finless's videos for setting up the DX7, the GY401 and the HG-5000 (but he used a 9303 with the HG-5000). I have watched pretty much everything he has put out (Thanks man!). But as a newer heli-guy, I seem to be programming challenged. Nothing I do will allow the Gear switch to move me between HH and Normal for properly centering the servo arm. I end up having to take my rate manually down to less than 50% to turn off the TL light which is a real pain. Also, when I am trying to adjust my endpoints so that I am not binding the tips in the video are not working. I need to adjust my 401 on my Trex 500 as well but the POT limit is not doing it.

What I am ultimately trying to do is make it so that when I go full left stick (right or left) I am at the ends of the slider. Right now, 1/2 way to the right or left on my stick and I am at the ends so it is making my tail way too sensitive.

If you are a hardcore DX7 user with the GY-401 and/or the HG5000 I would love to get your setup either here or in PM so we dont clog the base. Not sure if others are challenged like I am but it is driving me nuts. I am also beginning to wonder if I have a bad Gear switch on my radio.

Thanks,

dave

[Finless]

What I am ultimately trying to do is make it so that when I go full left stick (right or left) I am at the ends of the slider. Right now, 1/2 way to the right or left on my stick and I am at the ends so it is making my tail way too sensitive.

DO NOT DO THIS! What you are seeing is the piro rate. On the bench it will appear as if 1/2 stick movement causes the slider to go all the way over! In the air it doesn't work this way. The gyro is expecting the tail to MOVE when you give stick input and thus is moving the slider all the way over with just a little amount of stick movement. THIS IS NORMAL!!! You do NOT try to compensate by reducing rudder channel end points! Leave them at 100%. The rudder channel DOES NOT set travel limits on a 401 or the HG-5000.... The gyro setting does that. On a 401 its the limit pot and you adjust that so it wont go far enough over to BIND the servo. DO NOT WORRY that it goes all the way over with 1/2 rudder stick as again that is normal to see on the bench!

Bob