Who Likes Using Expo?

[alex7703]

I've been practicing nose in hovering and noticed yesterday that expo was causing me to jab the rudder stick. I decided to turn off all expo in normal and stunt mode to experiment and found that for me a touchy heli is better. People seem to put a lot of emphasis on expo, so now I am curious. The thing is everytime I realize something like this, I end up stepping back in my progress to get used to the change. I know it's part of the learning process.

Who likes using expo and how does it benefit you?

[kristianwest]

With FBL helis you don't use expo at all as the FBL unit does the expoing for you.

On a fb heli it is common to use some expo on cyclic. When it comes to rudder I think it is more common to set the expo to zero. This is however not a rule, it is a question about what you are comfortable with.

Play around and experience for your self how your heli responds to different setups. Only then you can figure out what is best for you

[alex7703]

Originally Posted by kristianwest

With FBL helis you don't use expo at all as the FBL unit does the expoing for you.

On a fb heli it is common to use some expo on cyclic. When it comes to rudder I think it is more common to set the expo to zero. This is however not a rule, it is a question about what you are comfortable with.

Play around and experience for your self how your heli responds to different setups. Only then you can figure out what is best for you

Yeah, I'm really getting that point. I've been flying the manual set up for my DX8. I just took expo off everything and was loving the response yesterday. Just sucked because I had my whole practice plan plan laid out for yesterday and had to step back to get used to the change. I understand the need for it in the beginning, but right now I'm wishing that I hadn't been using it.

[kristianwest]

You learn by everything It is not waist of time getting the feel of how different setups and configs influence your heli and flying style. Just don't get too hung up in your practice plan

[bmitchell138]

Originally Posted by alex7703

Who likes using expo and how does it benefit you?

When I got my mcpx it had been about 3 years since I had flown a heli. I used 40% expo on the Aile and Elev to start out to tame down the heli. I haven't touched the Rud expo. When I got used to the heli roughly a week of hovering and FF I started reducing the amount of expo. Now I'm flying with 10% expo.

I'm sure everyone is different in the way they approach setup, but this is what worked for me.

[alex7703]

Originally Posted by bmitchell138

When I got my mcpx it had been about 3 years since I had flown a heli. I used 40% expo on the Aile and Elev to start out to tame down the heli. I haven't touched the Rud expo. When I got used to the heli roughly a week of hovering and FF I started reducing the amount of expo. Now I'm flying with 10% expo.

I'm sure everyone is different in the way they approach setup, but this is what worked for me.

After yesterday I just don't see a point in using expo unless you are trying to fly in a small indoor area. I can see how it is a preference thing. Just wondering what those that use it get out of it. What does it help them accomplish? To me the heli feels more alive without it.

[DoubleCH]

I love every last bit of response from user control whether it be steering response and throttle response on my race cars or cyclic response on my helis, but I like expo on my brushless birds. They dart away so fast I like to fly them with a little expo.

[CousinLarry]

Zero expo here too. At first when I got the MCPX I was using about 35% expo indoors and like 15% out. Then I tried it with 0 expo and never looked back.

[alex7703]

Originally Posted by DoubleCH

I love every last bit of response from user control whether it be steering response and throttle response on my race cars or cyclic response on my helis, but I like expo on my brushless birds. They dart away so fast I like to fly them with a little expo.

Thanks for the heads up. I have all the parts for a BL setup. I'm just trying to decide my battery setup before I actually do the mod. Going HPO5S for my first one. Definately keeping that aspect in mind. Makes sense.

[alex7703]

Originally Posted by CousinLarry

Zero expo here too. At first when I got the MCPX I was using about 35% expo indoors and like 15% out. Then I tried it with 0 expo and never looked back.

I won't be looking back either. Way more fun I think.

[Spunjah413]

On my brushed and lower power BL motors I did not like expo at all. On my current 915 I feel like 10% on Ail and Ele make it more controllable with over 7000 Rpm.

To me it's more for precision landing and tight quarters flying. Any sort of 3D and larger space flying I feel Expo hinders performance and actually makes it tougher to fly as you need more stick movement.

[d12bn]

For me as I've increased dual rates I also increased EXPO . Find what you like and dont worry about what everyone else is doing.

[DoubleCH]

High dual rate for tic-toc (attempt anyway) and some expo for precise landing in one flight same setting.

[Imzzaudae]

I prefer a heli that responds crisply and don't like much expo at all.
If anything on my MCPX I like my rudder -5 or -10 otherwise the tail is not quick enough.

[-kenny-]

I use as less expo as possible too. Between 0 and 15 max. On the mcpx i have 0 on cyclic and even -30 on rudder. I don't like a soft response, less expo makes for a more precise hover aswell.
As far as not using expo on fbl heli's, it's more convenient if you disable all expo on the fbl unit so you can adjust expo on the fly in your tx

[deca]

I always flew my Blade 400 with 0-5% expo, but I started using more since getting back into flying with the mcpx and my foamies. Maybe just because I'm still spooked by flying indoors...we'll see what happens once the weather breaks.

[poulsbobill]

I use rudder -30% aileron and elevator -10%.

Makes it much more sensitive. I feel more connected to it without any lag.

Bill

[CalRotor]

Originally Posted by kristianwest

With FBL helis you don't use expo at all as the FBL unit does the expoing for you.

On a fb heli it is common to use some expo on cyclic. When it comes to rudder I think it is more common to set the expo to zero. This is however not a rule, it is a question about what you are comfortable with.

Play around and experience for your self how your heli responds to different setups. Only then you can figure out what is best for you

Maybe yo were trying to make another point (trim?), but FBL does not have built in expo. FBL stablilizes the heli, expo adjusts how sensitive your sticks are around mid-point.

[alex7703]

Originally Posted by d12bn

For me as I've increased dual rates I also increased EXPO . Find what you like and dont worry about what everyone else is doing.

Not worried about what everyone else is doing. I'm starting conversation and getting input.

[VonRecktofen]

Just keep in mind for all you folks with Spektrum or JR Tx, to add expo to a control, you must enter a positive number, not a negative number, to properly feel the effects of expo with your cyclic or rudder...Futaba Tx use a negative number, if I am correct...