Odd timer problem, DX6i

[mejmea]

I've had this problem too but haven't been able to characterize what causes it although I haven't tried too hard to this point - glad to know I'm not crazy though. I had a new problem this morning and rather than hijack this thread I started a new one (see below). Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated!

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread....90#post3260390

[wouterd]

I had this again yesterday with both my heli's (T450 and T550)!

In fact I didn't notice it till it struck me that I was flying longer then normal, and that the battery power was getting noticeably lower. With a quick check on the DX6i, I saw it was at about 10min UP timer. I knew what had happened, so was in a hurry to land then. I had respectively 16 and 4%(!) battery left in those lipo's, so one might be pretty damaged, luckily heli's survived.

So, today I took some time to check what could lead to this, and I found that at least following scenario leads to this issue in a reproduceable way (and this might happen during normal usage of DX6i):
- Let a DOWN timer run till 0, and let it go through to UP counting (say using model 1)
- now, without stopping the timer, switch to another model (say model 2)
- switch off the DX6i (eventually after flying that other model)
- switch on DX6! (it will show model 2)
- change back the model 1
- the timer shows now an UP-timer with the same minutes and second settings as the original DOWN timer!!!!
- so, when you fly with this setting the timer will just start counting UP when you hit the timer switch, and you will have no warning at all as you planned to have.

Looks like a firmware bug to me!

Additional issue: don't forget that when you switch counter again from UP to DOWN, that the timer is reset to 6:00! So remember your timing setting, and don't forget to reprogram that also then!

Let's see if other people can confirm this story...

[texasclouds]

wouterd,

nice find

be sure to send this info to Horizon.

are you losing any other memory/settings as well?

thanks,

mark

[crashmore]

Yup, I can reproduce the bug here on my DX6i. Great detective work!

Anybody care to submit this to Spektrum?

Originally Posted by wouterd

I had this again yesterday with both my heli's (T450 and T550)!

In fact I didn't notice it till it struck me that I was flying longer then normal, and that the battery power was getting noticeably lower. With a quick check on the DX6i, I saw it was at about 10min UP timer. I knew what had happened, so was in a hurry to land then. I had respectively 16 and 4%(!) battery left in those lipo's, so one might be pretty damaged, luckily heli's survived.

So, today I took some time to check what could lead to this, and I found that at least following scenario leads to this issue in a reproduceable way (and this might happen during normal usage of DX6i):
- Let a DOWN timer run till 0, and let it go through to UP counting (say using model 1)
- now, without stopping the timer, switch to another model (say model 2)
- switch off the DX6i (eventually after flying that other model)
- switch on DX6! (it will show model 2)
- change back the model 1
- the timer shows now an UP-timer with the same minutes and second settings as the original DOWN timer!!!!
- so, when you fly with this setting the timer will just start counting UP when you hit the timer switch, and you will have no warning at all as you planned to have.

Looks like a firmware bug to me!

Additional issue: don't forget that when you switch counter again from UP to DOWN, that the timer is reset to 6:00! So remember your timing setting, and don't forget to reprogram that also then!

Let's see if other people can confirm this story...

[wouterd]

Originally Posted by crashmore

Yup, I can reproduce the bug here on my DX6i. Great detective work!

Anybody care to submit this to Spektrum?

I did via HorizonHobby. Unfortunately, all I got back was following reply:

Hello Wouter,

Thank you for contacting Horizon Hobby's Product Support Department.

Unfortunately at this time there is no firmware update to address this. We have passed the feedback on to the Spektrum team. We do appreciate your patience and feedback.

For further assistance, please use the URL located on our website's Contact Us page. If you are referencing a past request, please include the following ticket number when prompted: 11,466

Don't forget, our phone staff is available at 1-877-504-0233, Monday through Friday, 8am-7pm CST, Saturday 8-5pm CST and Sunday Noon-5PM CST.

Thank you,
MJ
We help YOU have fun with Hobbies!
Horizon Hobby Product Support
4105 Fieldstone Rd.
Champaign, IL 61822
1-877-504-0233

[Moon007raker]

So this bug is still active and there is no solution after six months?

[Pete32]

Sometimes my timer shows 'UP' with my selected 3:30.
If I hold the TH Cut button for 3-5 secs it sometimes switches to 'Down 3:30'
BUT other times it goes to UP 0:00 Aaaargh!
If that happens I have to reset the whole thing via the menus.

[matthewcornell]

It's annoying, no question. I just live with it and grit my teeth as a software developer who suspects Spektrum's testing procedures are sub-par. Everyone makes mistakes, though, so I fly!