3GX V2 update just out

[AlastairC]

Starting the update now... Only had 4 flights on my new 450 with no crashes. So overdue for one and can at least blame it on something

[Three6ty]

So are people going to try the stock settings as is? Just one lot of settings now. No different setting for different size helis. Are there any obvious sliders there that we need to crank up or down prior to first flight? Suppose we have the option of doing a fair amount of settings on the unit itself now, but I reckon I'll **** that up

[Delarado]

im just finishing a setup now, will let you now what ive done. Not saying itll be right, but its a start

[Delarado]

Ok, so here goes.

First off, the 2.0 software told me I had to install dotnet 3.5 on my machine, even though I already had it!

Secondly, when I clicked the "update" button from within the 3gx software it just locked up. I left it 20 minutes, got bored, and did CTRL-ALT-Delete and end task.

Then I ran the update manually from c:\my_setting\3GX\ALIGN_sys\Update

After that, I booted the heli up in DIR mode and set all my cyclic pitches to 8 degrees.

Next thing I did was re-run through the standard setups as per any other version of firmware. Im not sure if I needed to do this, but I did it anyway.

Now it was time to do the 2.0 specific stuff - there is another setup procedure you have to go through. This is accessed and performed as per the doc that three6ty posted.... To get you started though you go full rudder left or right, and then hold the set button for about a second.

Now your in setup mode.

The status LED will be flashing 1 time, followed by a long pause. This indicates your in the Roll/Flip rate setup. This allows you to set the roll/flip rate for Aileron/Elevator. If you move the aileron stick left or right it adjusts the setting. A solid light is 20%, flashing 10%. So four solid lights and 1 flashing = 90%. Set your Aileron rate. I used 60% to start with. Now if you move the elevator stick up and down you set the same parameter but for elevator. There is no indication as to if you are setting the elevator rate or the aileron rate. What i found is that moving the stick once seems to go into that setting, and moving it again adjusts. So lets say you have 80% set for aileron and 60 for elev. You have 3 solid lights indicating you are in elev mode. If you move stick right, youll get four solid lights indicating you are now in aileron mode. Move it right again and itll adjust it up 90%. However, if both values are set to 50%, you can go stick down, stick right, stick down, stick right and not see any change to show if your looking at elev or aile.... Its pretty confusing, but youll see when you do it.

Once done here press the SET button again. The status LED will be flashing twice, with a long pause. This is the elevator end point. I believe this is what sets your maximum elevator cyclic pitch. I used the suggested value of 70%. The formula here is 8 + (8*rate%)

So for example, if your rate % is set to 20% then you get 8 + (8*20%) = 9.6 degrees of pitch. If you set it to 100% you get 8+(8*100%) = 16 degrees of pitch.

Once done here press the set button again. Status LED now flashes three times with a pause following. This is Aileron end point setting. Same deal as the last menu.

Once youve set that, press the set button again. LED Flashes four times with a pause. This is the "swashplate dampening" setting. The manual states "The more dampening effect, the smoother helicopter flies, but feels less direct." Pretty self explanatory really. I went for 50% on this. Note that to change the cyclic pitch dampening rate you move the aileron channel. To change the collective pitch dampening rate you move the elevator channel.

Now press the set again, LED flashes 5 times. This is the swashplate acceleration setting. Adjusted in exactly the same way as the previous parameter, AIleron for cyclic, elevator for collective. The manual states F3C pilots want to set this to 0% so smack guys just whack it up to 100 But no seriously it does mention that setting over 50% you should use a BEC due to excess current draw...interesting, are we overloading the servos do you think?!

Setup is now complete.


One thing I noticed after I completed the setup was that with the heli in DIR mode, it still only gives 8 degrees of cyclic. However, with the endpoints set at 70% in normal operation mode I was getting closer to 13 degrees. Ive noticed some potential mechanical binding I Dont like so ive reduced the endpoints down to 50% in an effort to try and get 12 degrees, will go and measure now and post back.

But in any case, it looks as if we arent to adjust pitch using the swash mix menu any more. My swash mix's for Aileron and Elev on my DX6i are both 56%.

My settings file is here. It may be completely wrong I havent tweaked anything apart from the setup parameters, although there doesnt seem to be a lot more in there to be honest!

[CW.]

There was talk that the next update would include DSMX compatibility, has anyone noticed whether or not it is?
For Align to go from V1.2 to V2 they must think its a pretty signifigant update. lets hope its a winner this time.

[exiged]

Id be up for giving this ago, dont think ill have time to re-do the setup before i go out this afternoon though.

When it mentions that cyclic pitch has to be 8 degrees does that mean you need to reduce it through the swash mix menu, run the dir setup again and then increase it again to the desired amount?

What it means is this version will actually work below 8 degrees c.hehehehehehehehehehehe (i thought it was funny anyway)

[Delarado]

Ok, yes - I've just re-measured and setting to 50% has reduced my pitch, although not quite as much as I'd expect. Previously with the values at 70% I was getting between 12-13 degrees on all cyclics on all four corners. Now with the values at 50% im getting 11-12 degrees. Seems roughly correct, as a 20% reduction translates to a 1.6 degree reduction in total cyclic pitch.

Will try to get out tomorrow to test fly and let you know how it goes.

Just FYI up till now I've been using 1.1 with coolice's settings and as far as I'm concerned it was flying pretty perfectly aside from some oddities with really agressive flying (Although I have never flown anything else, so no point asking me for a proper opinion)

[Delarado]

and another point Ive noticed - there seems to be a "dead spot" at the edges of travel for my elev/aile stick.

I have about 10mm movement at the extremes that just does nothing. You go to about 70% stick movement and anything past there gives you no more movement. Strange, I will see how it flies; It might be because its on the ground; There is a parameter in the 3gx settings that seems to suggest some sort of "Ground detection mechanism" that influences the swashplate....

[Three6ty]

Hi,
Thanks for the report on setup. I may be wrong on this, but instead of setting up through the 3gx unit with TX as per the instructions I posted, could you not just do all those settings through the pc software with the sliders and send them to the unit through the usb cable?

[Delarado]

Yes, I believe so - but if your going to go that way then its worth going through the setup just to check the parameters have taken id say

[helimadness]

Can someone let us know how the "improved take offs" go. My biggest problem to date :-)
Cheers.

[Gixxer]

and another point Ive noticed - there seems to be a "dead spot" at the edges of travel for my elev/aile stick.

I have about 10mm movement at the extremes that just does nothing. You go to about 70% stick movement and anything past there gives you no more movement. Strange, I will see how it flies; It might be because its on the ground; There is a parameter in the 3gx settings that seems to suggest some sort of "Ground detection mechanism" that influences the swashplate....

I noticed the same thing, but after setting everthing up (and noticing the problem), I went through the DIR setup again and the 'problem' disappeared.

[Delarado]

Ah ok thanks, Ill try that.

[ollie]

i hope to do mine tonight on the 600n and try tomorrow

[ollie]

anyone flew it yet