Still having trouble hovering tail in

[Mart61]

Hi guys

Having chatted with Graham, I've just recorded a short video in Phoenix and wondered if you guys with Phoenix could take a look for me. Is this normal? Should I not be able to hover better than this after a week or two of Phoenix?

My concern is that my "wallowing" may be caused by a slight (fraction of a second) lag I note between moving my stick and the on-screen image of the transmitter reflecting the move. As such I'm concerned that the very small delay may be causing the wallow if there is a delay in control input to correct drift.

Anyway, I've attached a zipped Phoenix flight recorder file and would be grateful if you could look and see if this is "normal" flight for one so "green"?

Or, if anyone can suggest how to fix the minor delay in control input that would be good too (I find when I move my mouse on screen, it moves instantaneously. The sticks in Phoenix are still showing a lag)

Many thanks,

Martin

[heliTV]

Hi Mart

As a fellow newbie, I reckon that's pretty good going after a couple of weeks! Well done. Take a look at the tuition video hover with (I think0 a large raptor - even thats not completely rock steady!

One thing I struggled with is to get the inputs in slightly quicker which helps the "overcorrection" aspect of it a bit - you almost have to anticipate what its about to do and put the correction in just as it does it!

Not making much sense this, but one good analogy that helped me in hovering was to think of the heli as suspended on a bit of string, like a pendulum.

I think you're doing really well Martin - keep at it - looking forward to some other replies from more-able pilots than me!!

All the best

Graham

[Mart61]

Hi Graham and many thanks for your kind words. Perhaps I'm expecting a little too much of myself (and Phoenix).

I'm looking at buying a DX6i and trying with this, just in case the delay (if indeed this is not normal) was caused by my LP5DSM.

I guess my next question is this. If you push your stick full scale in one direction and then rapidly move it full scale in the opposite direction, does the on screen transmitter in your Phoenix reflect the move the millisecond you complete the move? Or does it take a fraction of a second to catch up, as mine does?

[163phil]

Hi Mart

It's perfectly normal for there to be a slight delay between the tx and the on-screen tx, after all the processor has a hell of a lot to do in a very short time!

My advice is to turn the on-screen tx off and then you won't be distracted by it

Good tip there from Graham - it really can help thinking of it as being like a pendulum, and the smaller the model the shorter the string.

You're doing fine mate

[Mart61]

Many thanks for your kind words guys. Just to better show the extent of the lag, take a peek at this Youtube video I just this second shot. You will note a lag between the stick movement and the t/x on screen reflecting it:

[ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wEsLdR-i5TI[/ame]

[163phil]

Yep, perfectly normal.

[heliTV]

Hadn't noticed that - my gut feel is that the controller graphic responds slower then the heli but couldn't be sure...

[Tim Procter]

As Phil kindly states that's normal Martin.

Havent watched your recording but after seeing your MCX videos earlier you are coming on fine.

As I told you a week or two back it will be a long road learning to fly but all of a sudden something will click and it will all fall together.

Stick at it mate, Your doing fine.

[Mart61]

Again thanks for the input guys. Trust me, I'm in this for the long haul. I will crack it.

My main concern was (and to some extent still) is that if the delay is not "normal" then I may be making unnecessary control input and developing bad habits before I fly for real.

Am I making sense?

[heliTV]

Again thanks for the input guys. Trust me, I'm in this for the long haul. I will crack it.

My main concern was (and to some extent still) is that if the delay is not "normal" then I may be making unnecessary control input and developing bad habits before I fly for real.

Am I making sense?

Hi Mart

Don't worry about the bad habits - I don't think this control lag (if it exists!)made any difference to me. The real thing IS slightly different anyway... Difficult to explain the difference (apart from crash costs!) but even with the differences, the sim is really useful.

All the best

Graham

[waveydavey]

It looks like there is expo dialed in to the controller or model, I've just checked mine with PCM 9X2 and it's spot on. It's not bad at all mate your doing the same as everyone does and over correcting which starts the swinging. Keep at it and it'll come. Some days you can hover over a 10p piece others the bloke on the next peg is keeping a watchful eye.

[chemicalbro]

I watched your phoenix vid and you're doing fine, the drifting is over compensation.
its all down to newtons 3rd law (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.)
as you progress you will become faster at inputting the correct opposite force needed to hold the heli steady when it starts to drift.
you won't have to think about it as much and you'll just naturally do it...

as Tim says. it will just click at some point .
then it will be like riding a bike.... you won't have to think about how to keep your balance you'll just do it

the plate analogy is a good one too.... imagine the rotor disk of the heli is a plate sitting on a pole which you have to balance. you are going to need tiny inputs of force to keep it there.

[Mart61]

Hi Guys

Just bought a DX6i from Troubledpetey. Nice guy and a good seller!

Here's my new hover with the DX6i. No expos dialled into the radio or Phoenix. Tis much sweeter I reckon!

[squeaky pete]

glad you liked it mate, hope it helps with the flying

[Brian Gifford]

Hey, Mart. I think you are doing great I has a look at the "lag" you were worried about. What it seems to be is there is a maximum rate of change for the position of the sticks if you have the controller on screen. This does not seem to have any effect on the actual control of the heli.

Hope that makes sense.