Phoenix Setup for Futaba Tx ?

[lcc014]

This forum has a pin thread for setting up Phoenix with DX6i step-by-step. Do we have another thread to setup Futaba Tx step-by-steo ?

Thanks,

Ching-Ho Cheng

[flightengr]

Phoenix wants your transmitter setup to be as simple as possible. I don't know anything about Futaba, but on a Spektrum TX the instructions for Phoenix tell you to set up a default heli model ("1 servo normal" swash, which essentially means no automatic swash mixing for 3 servos) and start there. You could use a default airplane model as well if you don't plan to fly helis in the sim; the reason it wants to you set up a heli model is to get the pitch channel calibrated during the initial transmitter setup/calibration wizard.

Even if you fly a 3-servo CP heli in the sim, the software does not want your TX doing that mixing. The TX should be sending simple elevator only for forward/back and aileron only for left/right directional controls.

A trick I learned is that during the calibration wizard, one step will ask you to center all of your contols and it has a big picture of the transmitter pointing at the sticks. At that time, center the sticks, and also set 3-position switches on their center position. The 2-position switches should be set at their 0 or normal position. Then on the next screen where it tells you to move everything around, move the sticks and all switches to all of their possible settings.

[lcc014]

Originally Posted by flightengr

Phoenix wants your transmitter setup to be as simple as possible. I don't know anything about Futaba, but on a Spektrum TX the instructions for Phoenix tell you to set up a default heli model ("1 servo normal" swash, which essentially means no automatic swash mixing for 3 servos) and start there. You could use a default airplane model as well if you don't plan to fly helis in the sim; the reason it wants to you set up a heli model is to get the pitch channel calibrated during the initial transmitter setup/calibration wizard.

Even if you fly a 3-servo CP heli in the sim, the software does not want your TX doing that mixing. The TX should be sending simple elevator only for forward/back and aileron only for left/right directional controls.

A trick I learned is that during the calibration wizard, one step will ask you to center all of your contols and it has a big picture of the transmitter pointing at the sticks. At that time, center the sticks, and also set 3-position switches on their center position. The 2-position switches should be set at their 0 or normal position. Then on the next screen where it tells you to move everything around, move the sticks and all switches to all of their possible settings.

Thank you for the information. I did select a new model in my Tx and did the calibration. What about end points (ATV) and expo in Tx, can I change them to reduce the sensitivity of the heli in sim program (similar to the real heli) ? Also, do I need to setup the pitch and throttle curves in my Tx too ?

Thanks,

Ching-Ho Cheng

[flightengr]

After performing the calibration process and Phoenix understands the normal 100% travel on all of your channels, then yes, you can change endpoints, expo, and curves to your liking. CP helis will need throttle and pitch curves set up in the TX, and you can often make those match the real setup.

Look carefully at the model you're flying on the sim to see if it has any expo or endpoint/travel adjustments already in it. Go into the screen where you edit the parameters for a model. (I think it says "Edit Model..." on one of the menus.) I've noticed that many of the models in Phoenix 5 are coming with some expo on them already. In that case, I set the model in Phoenix to 0 expo and then change it to what I want on the TX.

[lcc014]

Originally Posted by flightengr

After performing the calibration process and Phoenix understands the normal 100% travel on all of your channels, then yes, you can change endpoints, expo, and curves to your liking. CP helis will need throttle and pitch curves set up in the TX, and you can often make those match the real setup.

Look carefully at the model you're flying on the sim to see if it has any expo or endpoint/travel adjustments already in it. Go into the screen where you edit the parameters for a model. (I think it says "Edit Model..." on one of the menus.) I've noticed that many of the models in Phoenix 5 are coming with some expo on them already. In that case, I set the model in Phoenix to 0 expo and then change it to what I want on the TX.

Great, thanks for the tip. I will do that.