Skookum 540?

[Varelco]

I've not really heard much feedback about Skookums SK540 and was wondering what users think of them? It's very much as scene of "Vbar will cure all the worlds problems" at the moment and was wondering how these compare. What are like in terms of Functionality, stability, reliabability, resistance to vibes, problematic? etc etc. My current experience with FBL systems is BeastX and recently Vbar (literally had 4 flights with vbar still setting it up), I need a FBL controller for my 630 Goblin and this one has my attention.

Thanks

Matt

[danch]

I'll start by saying that I have used : BeastX, Ace GT5 & ZYX, obviously the BeastX for me was the easiest setup as no pc etc needed but I always had issues with vibes, much as I did with the Zyx.

When I decided on a Goblin I decided to give the SK540 a go as I had read & heard good reviews about them & that they were on a par with the Vbar's

I have found the setup a doddle & often found myself over complicating the setup & thinking too much into the tail setup, I am now in the stage of just tweaking the tail & so far in the simple maiden flights it has felt locked in.

The setup interface is easy to use & well thought out IMO

I am sure there are a few others on here that run the SK540 & will be along with their opinions.

I have acquired another for my next project as well

My level of flying is basic sport, can FFF, hover inverted, rolls, loops & basic rainbow's just for info's sake

Dan

[Toolman]

There is a good review on RChelination

Skookum SK540 FBL Review

They do talk about the review in one of the episodes, you would have to look up which one if interested.

I have just bought one to try myself, though not sure which heli I will put it in yet.

What worries me though is that as soon as I get into Skookums the Spartan will be released & blow everything else out of the water!

Tim.

[Martind]

Re: Skookum 540?

Hi I like the sk, had it on a velo50 no problems great to setup bank switching and and very good gov. Now have it on as fusion running a electric gov that kicks ass and another on the 450.

[Varelco]

Thanks for the comments, TBH I kind of expected them to be positive, there isnt really any products out now which are 'bad'. I just wanted to see if its worth considering and comparisons to other FBL units.

Toolman any idea when the vortex will be out? Seems to be taking forever.

Also what is bank switching? I have seen this on Vbar but i dont know what it is.

[heathy]

Bank switching is where you can set up 2 different profiles on both cyclic and tail. So for cyclic you could run different settings for say speed runs and 3d and with the tail low headspeed and high headspeed where you need different gains for each. Thats just a very basic example however you can tune just about everything on them.

The 540 also runs 6 gyros using 3 and 3 in back up should the heli develop bad vibes or something.

[scallybert]

Also what is bank switching? I have seen this on Vbar but i dont know what it is.

Multiple sets of FBL parameters, selected from the Tx.

Great for risk-free experimentation, and cleverness.

SK & VB do this differently, but the principle is similar.

I doubt you'll regret an SK-540.

[Varelco]

Thanks for clearing that up, thats a useful function. I guess you just assign this to a single switch like IU?

[Snaaakeey]

There is a good review on RChelination

Skookum SK540 FBL Review

They do talk about the review in one of the episodes, you would have to look up which one if interested.

I have just bought one to try myself, though not sure which heli I will put it in yet.

What worries me though is that as soon as I get into Skookums the Spartan will be released & blow everything else out of the water!

Tim.

Good review but I dont get how he got the baliout to work with the hobbywing 120 though. After 3-4 seconds on 0 throttle input the ESC goes into soft start which means your landing if you like it or not.

I have had a bestx and then the sk720 and now a 540. All a bit subjective really but unless your a god on the sticks you'll never see a chink this things ablities! I agree the tail is right up there.

[scallybert]

Thanks for clearing that up, thats a useful function. I guess you just assign this to a single switch like IU?

That sort of thing.

VB uses a single 'gain channel'. This either sets the tail & cyclic gain; or selects one of four VB banks, each having the tail & cyclic gains (plus other stuff) set.

SK uses a cyclic gain channel and a tail gain channel. Similar to a tail gyro, each of these selects a bank (for tail or cyclic) depending on whether -ve or +ve. That bank may then use or ignore the gain channel's 'signless' (ie +1 -> +1 ; -1 -> +1) gain value. ] It's easier than I've made it sound. You can play with it on the PC set-up utility, adn see it all happen.

In either case the gain channels can be set on your Tx via switch positions, flight-mode, etc, etc. A DX8 works very well, as will others. You could even use the 'knob' to tweak things while in flight.

[heathy]

Skookum 540?

Mine are assigned to separate switches from IU.

[Baldie]

+ 1 on what Scallybert said.

If you go to:
Support « Skookum Robotics

you can download the software for it and play about with it without having a Skookum unit, Will give you a feel for the interface and banks

[vanman]

Ive been running the sk 720 for a while in my N2 and the unit itself done everything great, I moved to the 540 a few months back and have about 100 flights on it and it too is brilliant its just that little bit sharper on cylics and tail but both are great units my only thing would be the nitro gov hunts a little but nothing to do harm and skookum are working on a gov update with a bailout mode ,,,but i too had to give the V bar a go and put a silverline in the 600 to try i only have a few flights on it and have it 80 % tuned in to how i like it but both the skookum and vb are top end gyros and both perform brilliantly and for me its still to early to say which i like best but if you buy either you wont be disapointed

[mc_clean_david]

+1! Well said Vanman. I too have a SK720 + SK540. The 540 seems a bit snappier on cyclics and tail and both are very easy to setup via the PC software

[Snaaakeey]

Sk540 got Eitan Goldstein, Gaui and Skookum to 1st place set to music and 2nd overall Masters.

3D Master 2012 Master music Eitan Goldstein Team GAUI - YouTube

We are never going to get close to its abilities ( just like a v bar or a brain ect)