FBL systems with DS16

[IFlyEm]

So I have recently had an overhaul to my R/C setups. I switched from JR to Jeti and am looking for guidance on the plusses and minuses to the various FBL setups available. I am not really experienced in setups and such. I am currently flying a Trex 600EFL with a BeastX. Love the setup but looking for input on which direction I should go with the Jeti.

I am looking at buying a Goblin 700 with an original Ikon ready for RX. The guy selling it is also an Ikon dealer and could swap the original Ikon for a 2. But I am curious how it compares to a Vbar or a Spirit in regard to Jeti integration.

Any info is greatly appreciated!

[etherbatxx]

spirit and ikon/brain integrate with jeti.
vbar integrates with vcontrol.

[Mattinfla]

Spartan vortex also integrates with Jeti.

[IFlyEm]

Originally Posted by etherbatxx

spirit and ikon/brain integrate with jeti.
vbar integrates with vcontrol.

And just to be clear. The iKon 2 and the Brain 2 are exactly the same aside of the case?

[dogbreath]

I have Skookums, 3 Spirit Pros, 3 Brain2's & an Eznov. Skook was by far the best a few years ago but they stopped supporting it. Spirit & Brain are two top choices as far as my experience goes. Eznov worked, and its rescue worked too, but they may be off in quadland these days. I don't think you can go too wrong with any of the jeti integrated systems.

Telemetry integration is a slight bit more straightforward in Brain2--Spirit routes the telemetry into the sat port so an adapter cable is needed. Brain2 routes into a standard servo port. Both have great software and great support. I can't pick a favorite of those two. Bavarian Demon can't be counted out, but I have no experience there.

Brain vs Ikon is just color/name difference. There is a brain V2 that is not the latest one if you're going to buy used.


edit: One thing that may influence your decision is your application. Brain2 has units that have end plugs, Spirit/Spirit Pro has top plugs only. There's a new Spirit micro but I think it has top plugs as well. Spirit also has an aircraft software that their units can be programmed to use. So many choices, so few helis/planes.

Dan

[myxiplx]

You choice if you want Jeti integration and the ability to tune from the radio is Spartan Vortex, MSH brain or Spirit.

All three fly well, and all have their advantages.

Myself, I fly Spartan, I think they have the clearest software and easiest setup. The other two have good software with a wizard, but neither guides you through the setup quite as well as the Spartan.

You can download the Spartan Studio software to take a look, it has a full demo mode, and I think the others have the same.

In terms of features, there are some differences. Spartan's philosophy is slow & steady, it's a rock solid reliable unit, manufacturing faults are almost unheard of, and the software just works. However it doesn't have all the features of the Brain and Spirit.

The Brain and Spirit are evolving rapidly, they both have self level and rescue features, MSH also have ESC integration for logging and telemetry (although Spirit are now working to add the same).

One thing I'm not keen on with the Brain is because they are innovating so rapidly there are a lot of updates, and the software auto updates. I'm not keen on making that many firmware updates to a heli that's flying well, it's additional risk that I just don't want.

All three have excellent support from the manufacturers here on Helifreak.

[OnTheSnap]

If you don't want to update just launch the app in airplane mode. It's one click in windows. Then you can keep the same firmware for 2-3 years. ;-)

[myxiplx]

Originally Posted by OnTheSnap

If you don't want to update just launch the app in airplane mode. It's one click in windows. Then you can keep the same firmware for 2-3 years. ;-)

You mean with no internet connection to your PC, not an app feature right?

I get that there's a workaround, and I understand the app and units need to be kept in sync, I'd just rather chose when that update happens.

Incidentally I do like that the app manages the firmware updates for you, that part of it is very neat.

[OnTheSnap]

Originally Posted by myxiplx

You mean with no internet connection to your PC, not an app feature right?

I get that there's a workaround, and I understand the app and units need to be kept in sync, I'd just rather chose when that update happens.

Incidentally I do like that the app manages the firmware updates for you, that part of it is very neat.

In windows 10 it's a single button like a cell phone on the desktop. It couldn't be easier. If you don't want new features or want to hold off updates this works fine.

Normally we don't have updates more often than 4-5 months. But recently we released major new features so we had more frequent updates. So we are quite steady with a very lengthy beta test period. The next major release has been in test months already.

Next release has graupner integration, and nitro gov enhancements. As well as improvements to the wizard.

[jhamel]

I believe 3-Digi also integrates with Jeti.

[pierredelica]

Bavarian Demon Axon and Cortex Pro now integrate with jeti. They shortly will also have Bluetooth. Awesome fbl system with great tail control.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[akschu]

I don't have any experience with the Spartan, 3digi, or Bavarian Demon, but I do know they have Jeti support.

I'm most familiar with Ikon/Brain (yes they are the same) and Spirit.

Both work great, both have telemetry, both have governors, both have good rescue, both are getting free updates, you can't go wrong with either.

As for the differences:

Brain pros:
More flexible software (you can directly edit PID values) and you don't have to click save for everything.
The governor seems to work better.

Spirit pros:
Wifi module. It's a lot nicer than the bluetooth setup as anything with wifi and a browser can configure your heli.
Mac software that works with usb or wifi.
Aluminum case
You aren't forced to update or work around the auto updater.

All that said, I would skip past a goblin and order a protos 700, and it comes with a brain2, so I would just use that.

schu

[jarhart]

Originally Posted by akschu

Brain pros:
More flexible software (you can directly edit PID values)

That's a pro for the Spirit in my book. Cyclic gain and elevator filter are all you need to dial in the cyclic. I have no idea how to tune cyclic I-gain and with the Spirit I don't need to.

For the rudder you still adjust PID values, but they've been named based on their effect.

[akschu]

Oh, just noticed the original poster was talking about a used goblin 700 with an ikon. In that case you need to either give him extra to swap out for an ikon 2 or purchase the heli without a FBL controller and buy one yourself.

[OnTheSnap]

Originally Posted by jarhart

That's a pro for the Spirit in my book. Cyclic gain and elevator filter are all you need to dial in the cyclic. I have no idea how to tune cyclic I-gain and with the Spirit I don't need to.

For the rudder you still adjust PID values, but they've been named based on their effect.

I guess it depends on what/how you fly. For cyclic I like to tune the feel (natural/robotic), cyclic speed in deg/s, clean up stops on elevator (your system just renames elevator D gain "elevator filter"), and occasionally mess with stuff like feed forward for more precision control of how cyclic starts etc.

Really simple. If you're not picky, only thing you need to adjust on Brain is cyclic gain. Rest the defaults are 99% there. If you want to adjust elevator stops more than the default, you tweak elevator D gain, instead of "elevator filter".

All the parameters have really nice pop up bubbles that tell you exactly what they do.

Really don't think anything has been simplified to get the same results. Yet if you want the last 5% how do you get it if they don't give access?

My 2c.

[etherbatxx]

Originally Posted by jarhart

I have no idea how to tune cyclic I-gain and with the Spirit I don't need to

it would be inaccurate to suggest you need to to adjust cyclic-I gain to fly Brain/Ikon. it flies well right out of the box.

and it's nice to know you at least have that option and flexibility if you want to tweak something.

a choice is not a negative.