DX8 Firmware Update Download

[TheBillMan]

Here's the link to register your DX8 with the Spektrum "community"
so you can download the firmware 1.01 update:
http://community.spektrumrc.com/

[LogoFreak]

Has anyone updated their firmware yet?

[Scraggy]

Yep all is well, update easy as pie.

scraggy

[LogoFreak]

Good to know, issues fixed?

[Kiba]

Originally Posted by LogoFreak

Good to know, issues fixed?

The gyro menu / model copy glitch hasn't been fixed yet (that will be in 1.02 which is hopefully coming later this week.)

Issues fixed & new features in 1.01:

DX8 AirWare TM Version 1.1

There are no updates to the user manual with SpektrumTM DX8 AirWareTM Version 1.1. This document describes the changes which are implemented with Version 1.1.

Software Upgrades

• “Throttle Out” timer activation – In the timer screen, Throttle Out has been added to the timer start options. When selected this mode uses the throttle servo output position to activate the timer rather than the throttle stick position. This is ideal for electric helicopter use as the timer can be paused when the output throttle position is at idle even though the stick may not be at low stick (like during an autorotation) plus the timer won’t turn off when doing full negative pitch maneuvers in stunt mode. MIX and GEAR
switches have also been added to the list of available timer switches.
• Throttle Reverse Confirmation – In the servo setup screen, when reversing the throttle servo, a confirmation screen is now displayed requiring a second step (confirmation)before servo output is reversed.
• SD Card - improved support for low-capacity cards

Bug Corrections

• Throttle Curve Switch (airplane mode only) - the user-selected switch in the Throttle Curve screen in airplane mode only was always assigned to the Flight Mode switch. This function is now corrected.
• Multi-Mixes with a Common Slave Channel - if a user had two or more mixes programmed to the same output channel, only the higher-numbered mix would be active.
• Mix Trim-Include – In some mixes trim include was assigned to the wrong trimmer in certain circumstances.
• Internal Timer – In the timer screen the internal timer for each model was not accurately calculated.
• Trim Steps - When trim step sizes were changed in the Trim Setup screen, values higher than 6 would cause the trim range to decrease.
• Shifting Screen - When selecting NiMH vs. LiPo battery, the bottom half of the screen would shift up or down 1 line.
• Translation Errors - in French, Italian, and Spanish, the "Model Selection" menu option was named "Special Features" and not translated.
• RPM Telemetry - The displayed value for the RPM was unstable when using the brushless motor sensor. Also a phantom RPM was sometimes displayed when dashed lines should have been displayed (no recent RPM reading). A filter was added to stabilize the RPM readings.
• BNF File Import - properly supports multiple languages now.
• Servo Travel Adjust- When editing Servo Travel Adjust, pressing CLEAR would cause the channel reverse to be defaulted to normal"

[JesusFreak]

Glad to see they are publishing a full list of fixes. Hope they get the Gyro/copy issue sorted soon, as that is a nasty one.

Have to admit it's cool to be able to do your own updates without mailing the radio back. Will be even cooler when they actually add new features and enhancments, not just bug fixes. One step at a time.

[pezdragon]

Update ver. 1.02 which concerns the gyro/model one issue has now been posted on the H.H. spectrum community site.

[Kiba]

Originally Posted by pezdragon

Update ver. 1.02 which concerns the gyro/model one issue has now been posted on the H.H. spectrum community site.

Wow, that was fast. Spektrum was saying "later this week" in some of their posts!

[LogoFreak]

Under promise, over deliver... Makes for happy customers... :-) It's good to see them get this fixed... I'm wondering though how the pros missed these pretty big bugs? None of them fly with a gyro?

[Chill_Will718]

Well, this transmitter was an upgrade for me. This is the first time I have ever purchased a first release of anything. I like how Spektrum addressed the glitches pretty fast. Can't wait to see how it really works

[trickybit]

Originally Posted by LogoFreak

Under promise, over deliver... Makes for happy customers... :-) It's good to see them get this fixed... I'm wondering though how the pros missed these pretty big bugs? None of them fly with a gyro?

Under promise, over deliver, but don't skip the regression test suite.

[LogoFreak]

looking good...

[OnTheSnap]

Originally Posted by JesusFreak

Will be even cooler when they actually add new features and enhancments, not just bug fixes. One step at a time.

They did add one feature, which is to use the throttle % instead of stick position to start the timer. Seems like an obvious miss. Spektrum definitely needs to do larger early field trials to catch more of the obvious feature omissions and bugs.

Looking forward to finally playing with my dx8 tomorrow.

[jamesb72]

Originally Posted by pezdragon

Update ver. 1.02 which concerns the gyro/model one issue has now been posted

Can someone please copy/paste the v1.02 release notes in here - a lot of people are watching the releases before making a decision to purchase, so more info the better

[Kiba]

Originally Posted by jamesb72

Can someone please copy/paste the v1.02 release notes in here - a lot of people are watching the releases before making a decision to purchase, so more info the better

Sorry for having to do it this way but Spektrum generated the release notes as a PDF in such a way that did not allow text extraction directly from the PDF-- and I didn't feel like typing it all back in.

[jamesb72]

Allow me:

DX8 Spektrum AirWare Software Version 1.02

This document describes the changes implemented with Version 1.02 software.

Software Corrections

- Heli Mode Model Memory Issue - In previous software versions changing the channel in Gyro or Governor screens from the default setting to any other channel would cause the model memory to default to model #1.

- Heli Mode Limited Trim - Throttle trim didn't work below 1/2 trim.

- Direct Model Access 10-Second Timer - In some instances, the 10-second time-out function for direct model access was applied to other screens after direct model access was used.

- Improved Flap Switch Selection - In Airplane mode, flap switch selection could be in conflict in the Flap System screen and in the Switch Select screen. In version 1.03, the flap switch is selected in the Flap System Screen.

- Center Trim Position Mark - Version 1.03 locates a trim tick-mark next to the trim graph at center trim allowing convenient reference when the trim cursor is near center.

[chosen69]

Is there any place we can email them suggestions for software changes / upgrades ?
I would have a couple of ideas to improve the software. For example when you scroll all the way down in a menu it should start at the top again so you can scroll shortest way and not have to scroll all the way up again.

[LogoFreak]

I called them to give suggestions. I think a really good suggestion is that they make another menu within the system menu to calibrate stick center, like you used to be able to do on the dx7 service menu, but make it more user friendly. If more people suggest it we might get it.

[Kiba]

Originally Posted by LogoFreak

I called them to give suggestions. I think a really good suggestion is that they make another menu within the system menu to calibrate stick center, like you used to be able to do on the dx7 service menu, but make it more user friendly. If more people suggest it we might get it.

While stick calibration isn't explicitly listed in the menus it's not hard to do and you don't have to dig into a service menu. Go into system setup, change the current TX mode to something else then change back to what you want (i.e. change from Mode 2 to Mode 1, then change back to Mode 2). When you change it back it will run the stick calibration routine.

[skigolfmike]

Do you have to run both upgrades or just the latest one?

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