I am still using my old Hitec Aurora 9 system for fixed wing plane flying. Other than lower cost than Spectrum, I don't understand what all that added "flexibility" is needed for, by average RC'ers. Some seem to enjoy striving to learn complex programming and "community" as much as flying. It may be that multirotor racing drone, FPV, helicopter, competition sailplane or maybe model boat or RC car fans actually need the added flexibility/versatility. If I need to upgrade my RC system, I will probably go with a "menu driven" system and expect some learning curve there too.
Thank you John. Really you made it easy for people like me new to OpenTx. Very simply described. I have lot of respect for you an your videos. Finally I completed my Devil 505 with H1 FC, and Radiomaster TX16S. I crashed it in the very first test flight. Then I found where I have done the mistake. Hope it will fly ok in this second attempt. Thank you again. Your swash setup combo e-book has lot of lessons I learned. It helped a lot. Thank you again....
YES! .. i would love to see you make a Heli setup on OpenTX .. showing what to do when using a flybarless unit like iKON. I have not flow my helis since i got my TX16S Max.
YES !! Per your offer at timemark 8:05 please do show us how you set up your heli on OpenTx. If I may push my luck.... Could you demonstrate BOTH a fly-barred and a flybarless heli setup? As always, many thanks for this invaluable help.
If I do one with eCCMP radio mixing, it will be a separate video. And since the feedback so far to do an OpenTX heli configuration video seems positive, looks like I'll be doing both 🙂 Thanks for the feedback.
@@Rchelicopterfun Thanks John. I reviewed your ebooks (plural) to make sure I'm using the right terminology. If I could put my request in sharper focus.... Could your videos show how to set up OpenTx for: 1) Old School Flybar Heli with a simple old school gyro 2) New school Flybarless heli with enough detail to be used on a variety of different flybarless controllers...and 3) Old school Flybar heli that has a current generation flybarless flight control unit installed in place of the old school gyro. Did I miss anything ;-) Thanks again.
@Takaka Zushi. That is what I meant by eCCPM mixing setup. Just because you have a modern flybarless or older flybared machine, doesn't necessarily mean a specific OpenTX configuration over another. It has to do with the swashplate mixing type (internal in the radio, or external in the FBL system or not even used on mechanical mixed swashplates). For example, a mechanical mixed flybar heli would use no eCCPM radio mixing, exactly like a modern day FBL heli because the swash mixing is done mechanically. In short, both these vastly different helicopters would use the exact same OpenTX helicopter configuration. On the other hand, a flybarless heli running an older Align 3G or 3GX flybarless system would require internal radio eCCPM mixing just like a flybar version running 120 degree eCCPM swash mixing. I cover all that in the swashplate setup & leveling ebook if you have that one. In my OpenTX radio's I only have two base heli foundations. One for external eCCMP mixing helicopters (ie modern day FBL helicopters or older mechanical mixed flybared helicopters). And another for internal radio eCCPM swash mixing for flybared helicopters with 120,135, or 140 degree eCCPM swashplates or flybarless helicopters that use FBL systems that don't have internal eCCPM mixing. Exactly like what is shown in OpenTX University's heli setup section. There is actually not much difference between the two configurations, other than an additional mix program plus the fact you have to enable eCCPM mixing type if you want the radio to do the swash mixing internally.
@@SplitHairz I first bought eHeli set up from him around 2013 and it was version 8. A year ago I picked up the same title.. version 11.5. I thought he did a GREAT job bringing the material up-to-date. Great write ups and photos especially for a guy like me that has 101 questions on every element of set up.
My only regret after buying the radiomaster tx16s is that the max version came out a month after I got it. As a software developer, I love the flexibility and power to do just about anything. Recently I came up with the idea to use the side pots to reset my timer since all my other switches are used for other things. My timer resets if both pots are raised up all the way, and I have an alarm that fires after a second to ensure I don't leave them up. Works really well on my OMP M1 SFHSS setup. Also, I use the 6 position buttons to bump up my throttle from 60-85% when I am in a "idle-up 2" type of flight mode. I used the sound generator to give me throttle % callouts for each of these buttons. Fantastic stuff. I've had much less luck with the companion app, probably because I just never took the time to really understand it. I've accidentally wiped the models off of my radio by trying to update a model through the app. I just stay away from it, its not a necessity.
Great Job John! I am one of your adopters for sure.. I have several of your e Books and always learn something from your YT's. YES YES, I hope you decide to do some thorough FLYBAR and FLYBARLESS setups.. I have a stable of both and would like to see your logic paths.. I've been wrestling with OpenTx on an early TX16S and look forward to your spin on things.. I am waiting to flash the EdgeTx when they get a version of Companion compatible with Edge.. I really like using Companion to run simulations with the many OTX uploads that are on Facebook... and I do find it easier to work with overall and then write them to the TX16S.. and it's great for managing backups as well.. I realize you're maybe not that big into Rescue's and Gyro settings pre se, as a crutch to learning to 'fly' the chopper, but, there are a LOT of schools of thought about NOT enabling and employing a RESCUE feature if there were the unfortunate event of a catastrophic accident where someone was seriously injured by a heli misfortune... you know how litigious our society is... I do think that an SF toggle is a very good idea to enable any and all stabilization tricks your FB can perform in an emergency situation.. Years ago, I brought a Century Predator .60 down not too far in front of me and it changed my views on safety fundamentally... It was, lets say, an impressive event... Just a dumb thumb but, I had time to use a Rescue if I had one... Would have saved an expensive heli crash and my nerves as well... And could certainly keep the 'planker's' from building a case for banning choppers from their fields... Ps, I hope you decide to post the OTX files as well... There is an 'OPENTX .otx Repository' on Face that is slowing becoming an interesting place to find downloadable OTX's, and, allows us to add ours as well, for a wide variety of aircraft.. Thx again, for all you do...
Now there's a beta fork of OpenTx called EdgeTx which has a lot of features that were promised for version 4.3. You know, just to make things more confusing :)
@@madbren Not just the Eachine, but Edgetx is only a release candidate so you'd have to check if your specific radio is supported. I'd wait for a stable release before trying it out. Also, since it's 100% based on OpenTx all the info and resources above stay just as relevant.
@@classGfpv thanks for that I've the radiomaster tx16s I haven't upgraded to 2.3.14 yet as not everytime I find when an update comes out that it's necessarily needed all depends what your using your radio for I reckon. I wasn't aware that Edge tx was not specific to the Eachine OpenTx radio. I agree with you though as your better waiting to see how these updates go.
@Mad Bren, if you want more details on EdgeTX, their FAQ page is pretty helpful and lists supported radios: github.com/EdgeTX/edgetx.github.io/wiki/Frequently-Asked-Questions My 1000 foot view of EdgeTX is it looks to be OpenTX's development team's test bed product moving forward. Ie. OpenTX's nightly build releases will now occupy EdgeTX's domain but with a little more stability by the sounds of it, and strong encouragement of more beta testing & feedback by its users (us). Looking at a few videos of the user interface, it's very similar in architecture to OpenTX (cleaned up a little bit), just as Class G FPV mentioned - and with touch screen support now which OpenTX has been promising for a year. Like Class G FPV also mentioned, I would wait until a stable version has been proven. That or just wait for the most refined version to show on OpenTX. They (EdgeTX) plan to release their first 2.4.0 version on June 21st, not many more sleeps 🙂
I might do it on the Eachine TX16S just because it's a totally blank slate. Regardless, it would be the same for any OpenTX radio. Thanks for the feedback.
I have been using the dxe the easiest to use transmitter ever but I want to get a good transmitter to last a while and I was looking at the tx16s and I LOVE everything abt it but open tx is defintly intimidating and imo gets a bed rep for being hard to use but I feel like it is definitely worth it after seeing the advantages thank you
Many different ones. I mostly have FrSky, JR & Spektrum in my bigger birds and all the small stuff I run with the built in RX's or use micro Futaba or Spektrum/JR satellite RX's. That is after all, the benefit of having multi-protocol. 🙂
I have mode 2 set and my sticks work how they should on mode 2 but my throttle is inverted.. if I got and Switch Direction it's let's me do it in imputs but my heli still wings out or don't work right on throttle ..if I go to the Calibrate my sticks is still inverted even if I switch the reverse on throttle..would this be a open tx program problem ? Or is it somthing in my remote?
Nice video, thanks for posting. I searched on RU-vid all day long but I was not able to find a tutorial on how to read out the value of the S2 knob... That said, I have my gains for the S6R set on the S2 knob and would like to look at the plane, and not on my screen, while turning the knob. So it would help if my TX16s would read out the value for me. Any ideas!? Thanks.
I'm no OpenTX/EdgeTX expert, but the only way I know of doing something like that is with logical switch programming. You would have to create a logical switch function for each level of output you want the knob to read off. The more resolution you want, the more individual logical functions you would have to create. For gain adjustment, I would think every 5% would be more than enough, so 20 different logical switches to program to cover 5% to 100%. If 10% resolution would be enough, then only 10 to program. Then you would need to assign a voice call out for each individual logical switch activation to call out the specific output percentage. Lots of work, but that is the only way I would know how to achieve something like that. Maybe someone else who is more OpenTX savvy will chime in.
I also have the Horus X12S, since updating to 2.3.11 I have list the option to use the external aerial on the internal module. My mistake was not backing up the old profile. Is it possible to back date, download the older 2.3.9. Which was the last I had and was able to use external aerial with the internal module?? Your thought please, with many thanks from little New Zealand
Please could you show us how to set up a flybarless unit like a icon or vbar mainly tail gyro. How to setup the tail gyro gains heading hold and How to assign gyro gain to the same switch as the idle up switch. That the part I get stuck on. Many thanks
Tail gains for HH or Rate mode are generally selected through the Aux2 (ch7) output but it depends on how you have it mapped in your FBL system. There is no better instructor for the Ikon than the setup wizard. It shows you pretty much everything - way better than I could because anything I would show on any FBL system would be totally specific to the heli I'm demoing it on & it would likely cause more confusion than help. Learned that lesson the hard way with the H1 FBL unit. Unlike the H1, Ikon has one of the best FBL setup wizards out there so take advantage of that awesome help. No idea on Vbar's since I don't use or fly Vbar. I'm pretty much an Ikon and Bavarian Demon guy these days. Having your gain channel toggled with your flight mode toggle is easy. In the OpenTX mix menu, just assign channel 7 (or whatever channel you use for tail gain) to active with your 3 position flight mode toggle (generally the SE toggle). If you have 3 different gains for each flight mode, then one of the easiest ways I would set it up is to create a 5 point 3 step output curve and assign the curve to Ch7 (or whatever channel you use for gain). This will allow you to easily change/tune the 3 positions of gain output by just altering your gain curve. Of course, there are multiple ways with OpenTX to get the same end result as that, but using a 3 step gain curve would be my method if I wanted to run 3 different selectable tail gains.
My tx16s controller doesn't turn on when connected to the pc for sim practice. I have to disconnect it and turn in on then reconnected again, can any body give me a hand or point me in the right direction. PLEASE...??
As I said in the video - OpenTX is almost limitless in customization & configurability options plus it's open source. Like I said, Linux vs Windows. Bigger learning curve however.
If you want to bind to Futaba S-FHSS protocol, you need the Texas Instrument 2500 RF chip set multi-protocol version, not ELRS which is a completely different RF protocol system. This is all explained in great detail in the Multi-Protocol website link I mention in the video and link to in the description.
Great video as always, Jon👍 After a year with helis and Radiomaster/OpenTx, and got some knowledge about programming the radio I think the FBL unit (Microbeast) added another complexity to the equation. Feels like the fbl and opentx doesn’t match very well. Ex. two places to configure Weight. Some knowledge to share, Jon?
@Bent Slåttsveen - OpenTX can work well with any FBL unit on the market today without issue 🙂. I'll presume by weight, you are referencing channel output limits? If so, this is addressed right at the beginning of the BeastX quick start guide in the preparing your transmitter section where it talks about radio channel output values: "Each control function must exactly control one output channel (ie. no eCCPM mixing). The servo throws must be set to 100% (ie. full channel travel outputs) and all trims and sub trims must be zero (ie. centered)." No problem doing any of that in OpenTX, in fact, it pretty much defaults to it. This is as easy as FBL system/radio configuration gets actually. Other FBL systems require you to adjust the travel limits, centering points, and output direction in the radio to meet the travel limits, centering points, and direction requirements the FBL system needs to see from the radio. The Beast X automatically does this just like auto calibrating a simulator to a radio. Max travel limits for the control surfaces on the helicopter (maximum collective, cyclic, and tail rotor pitch angles) are then setup within the BeastX. Of course, if travel limits are not what you meant by "weight" then please clarify. Best to contact me through my website since I rarely look for follow up comments in YT.
I also enjoy adding pitch pump from the radio when the fbl unit lacks such a feature like on nano CPX for ex. OpenTx is by far the most potent firmware for helicopters. All units I'm using states that you should not mix fbl controller settings with radio settings usually expo and dual rates.
Sometimes when I check the voltage of my 520 mah 1s packs for my k110 using a dmm, it creates some sparks or melts a tiny bit of the metal. Do you think they're safe to use?
Not sure I would say replace because Open is still tweaked and some Edge updates apparently are now supported with Open, but certainly Edge is the most active. I personally run both, but will likely convert every radio over to EDGE eventually, just so it runs with the latest multi-module upgraded protocols allowing access to all the various telemetry and forward programming options. Both OS are very similar and nothing said in this video is any different for Edge ; pretty much the same thing as updating to a new version of Windows or Linux IMO.
Would love to see your m2 setup with rescue I have a X9d Trannis also a dx8 but Not sure if rescue will work on dx8. Any help much appreciated. Great video liked and Subscribed to ch.
I cover it in the stabilization setup section in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LouYitd7jak.html It's simply activated with channel 5 output (like almost all of them) presuming you are using an external RX on your M2 and not the internal OMP RX. If using the internal OMP RX, stabilization selection is mapped to channel 7. Easy to confirm which stabilization mode is active on the M2 with the red LED status indicator, or of course by observing swashplate behavior.
The hardest concept they don't explain is the difference between the Input and Mixer pages. Input declares variables like aileron. Mixer actually sends the signal to the servo channel(s). Mixer takes the Input aileron variable to any channel(s) you like. Why the two pages you ask? Add the expo to the Input and it follows to all the channels that use "aileron" variable. If you have two aileron servos, you need an aileron variable to make your life easier.
