2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

openTx has introduced a range of new features, ideas and bling. It is fast becoming the firmware of choice for many users. openTx will run on ALL current hardware platforms, including the gruvin9x and sky9x boards. Work has already started to support the new FrSky X9D radio!
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

My Radiomaster TX12 only came with a quick start guide and I haven't seen a manual for the OpenTX 2.3.xx firmware. I've got what I'm sure most would think are stupid questions. My 1st RC (scratch build) had 3 servos and the throttle....Futaba 6J. Pretty easy, but my 2nd version (scratch build) model is more complex. 6 servos and I need to do some mixing. All 4 horizontal control surfaces will have both pitch and roll mixes...the of course the rudder and nose wheel mix. I've found the mixing menu in the TX12. It seems sort''a straight forward.

Here's the 1st dumb question. What channels do I plug the servos into. The first 4 are obvious....it doesn't matter where I plug in the other 2?

I'm using the Frysky RX8R receiver so I can have battery voltage telemetry.

Thanks
https://thefourthpoint.com

rdeanchurch
Posts: 750
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:22 pm
Country: United States
Location: Carson City, Nv

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by rdeanchurch »

Whatever you put in the MIX page works. So if you put AilL on as Mix 8, then it is channel 8 for its servo.
In either OpenTx or EdgeTx it is the same.
Here is some reference material for OpenTx...for setting up Mixes and Channels what works for one works for the other.OpenTx reference urls
http://open-txu.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfdnixA ... e=youtu.be
https://rc-soar.com/opentx/basics/index.htm
viewtopic.php?t=8724
http://rcdiy.ca/opentx-guide/
https://opentx.gitbooks.io/manual-for-opentx-2-2/
Dean
OldDmbThms: 1. Takeoff, 2. Crash, 3. Repair, GOTO 1
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

I have to put 2 servos in one channel? I guess you're referring to....in the menu.

I looked at the link to the 2.2 manual...found nothing about mixing. Is there any text info, step by step how to do it?

I've seen this menu, but working it...the instructions are a bit vague. It says "select" and "enter". Where's the enter button? Can't find it.

Image

Thanks
https://thefourthpoint.com
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

Hold the sys button longer.
https://thefourthpoint.com
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

Yes, the documents are written for Traxxs, or some other TX. It refers to buttons that my TX12 doesn't have. That makes it quite confusing for a beginner. I'll have to talk to Radiomaster and find out how to translate these functions to their radio.
https://thefourthpoint.com

xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

Next step? The manual says:

"Create model and model selection
In the main interface, press and hold the ENT key to show the menu
Select to enter the model selection page, which is used to select, create"

Guess what, there is no ENT key that I can find. So I have to wait a few days for radiomaster support to respond. Nobody here knows. By the time radiomaster responds, I'll forget where I was.
https://thefourthpoint.com
rdeanchurch
Posts: 750
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:22 pm
Country: United States
Location: Carson City, Nv

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by rdeanchurch »

Enters is done by pressing the roller key (in).
Dean
OldDmbThms: 1. Takeoff, 2. Crash, 3. Repair, GOTO 1
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

I've got the first 4 channels working as they should, but I'm using one servo per control surface. So that means I have to mix the other aileron (channel 5) into the aileron channel 1......and elevator (channel 6) into elevator channel 2, right?

I'm missing something, channel 5 and 6 don't work.


I'm only showing inside channel 5, aileron.

Input menu page:
Image

MIX menu page:
Image

and editing inside the channel 5, MIX menu: Note the "source".
Image

.
https://thefourthpoint.com
User avatar
Kilrah
Posts: 11108
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:56 pm
Country: Switzerland

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by Kilrah »

You don't change anything in Inputs, and in Mixer you copy the line of the first channel onto the 2nd.
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

Is there a copy function or do you just type in the same data?

Thanks, I appreciate the help.
https://thefourthpoint.com
User avatar
Kilrah
Posts: 11108
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:56 pm
Country: Switzerland

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by Kilrah »

You can copy a line by long pressing enter on it, choose copy, then scroll it to where you want it.
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

Deleted my original mod to inputs:

Image

Copied new Mixes. The copy function worked easily;
I didn't name the new mixes. Should I?
Image

In Outputs tho, I made changes using the named inputs I made in the beginning. I can't seem to delete these and start over in this section.

Image
https://thefourthpoint.com
User avatar
Kilrah
Posts: 11108
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:56 pm
Country: Switzerland

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by Kilrah »

Your copies are on the same channels as the originals, not on those you're going to connect your servos to, you probably want 5 and 6.
Outputs will need their own adjustments based on your servos/linkages to match both ailerons' centering and throws.
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

I think I understand. Copy the += ail to channel 5....and elv to channel 6.

Thanks
https://thefourthpoint.com
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

Great, I've got 4 control surfaces, but the elevators are behaving like ailerons. I was looking for servo reverse but couldn't find that....or is that done in the curves menu???

Image
https://thefourthpoint.com
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

I found it....in outputs. Direction, select INV. I did rename them back to ch5 and ch6 first. It works.

...still have tuning...and more mixing. I want all 4 to have pitch and roll, and a flap mode. I did find an elevon procedure in the OpenTx 2.2 manual. Couldn't be much different than my 2.3.11 version.

I appreciate the time and help!
https://thefourthpoint.com
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

I've got pitch and roll on all 4 wing control surfaces now...thanks for the help. Now you can see why and what for. A ways to go yet...

Image

Updated image.
Last edited by xv1 on Mon Aug 15, 2022 3:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.
https://thefourthpoint.com
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

I've got the mixes done, and now looking at the flight modes. It was easy enough to name 3 FMOs and put them on a 3-way toggle, but I can't see how to put in the data that would make the changes I need.

Fmo 1 would be take-off mode where all wing servo "centers" would be 10-15% lower.

Fmo 2 normal flight with all wing servos centered naturally.

Fmo 3 landing mode with all wing servos centered 25% lower.

Is this possible to do? The only thing I'm seeing in flight mods is trims. Do I need to figure out how to build trims?

Thanks
https://thefourthpoint.com
rdeanchurch
Posts: 750
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:22 pm
Country: United States
Location: Carson City, Nv

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by rdeanchurch »

Yes you could do it with each FlightMode using "Own Trim."
or
You could put an extra 2 mixes on each channel with only the Flight Mode 'checked' for the appropriate flight mode on the mix setup page.
(The default probably has the mixes active for all flight modes.)

As with many things in OpenTx/Edgetx, there is more than one way to do many things...so there may be other ways to accomplish this.

But you will have to figure out how much the trim or mix weight is to move the surface to get x or y percent as that depend on mechanical geometry in either case... and it is likely the first guess will have ailerons/elevators moving in the opposite direction to each other and/or the way you want them.
I'm assuming you do not have linear servos, rotary servos are the most common.
Dean
OldDmbThms: 1. Takeoff, 2. Crash, 3. Repair, GOTO 1
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

rdeanchurch wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 11:00 pm Yes you could do it with each FlightMode using "Own Trim."
or
You could put an extra 2 mixes on each channel with only the Flight Mode 'checked' for the appropriate flight mode on the mix setup page.
Somehow I think adding so many mixes would bend my brain....even more than it is already. I'll try the trims first, tho I haven't any idea...of what to do, but I'll mess with it and see if I get somewhere.
https://thefourthpoint.com
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

I was wrong about trying Trims. ....can't understand the menus and the manual skips Trims, no data. At least I understand the Fmo and Mix menus. Gotta copy the right ones in a logical tree and put them on the toggle. Then change the settings.
https://thefourthpoint.com
rdeanchurch
Posts: 750
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:22 pm
Country: United States
Location: Carson City, Nv

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by rdeanchurch »

Well I don't have a Tx 12. I do have a FrSky Qx7 and a RM T16s.
The QX7 screen and the TX12 screen are similar in size, colors (or lack thereof), and pixel count.
I think that right now the menus on the radio are very confusing for Flight Modes even on the TX16s.
A couple of videos are probably worth watching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcH3uIiVv40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKWNflw3L0s

But I've never setup flightmodes on the radio.
I use OpenTX Companion and EdgeTX Companion which at least have labels for all the places that are just columns on radios.
Companion also allows much more of your setup to be seen at once.

Using mixes is easier to understand and setup on the radio. It sounds a little messy having to put 2, 3 or 4 mixes on each channel for each control surface.
By the way for your application, I would put the flight modes on the INPUTS rather than the MIXES I think.
Flight Modes are the better way and seems more clean , but I would not even attempt setup FMs on the radio.

I know it is another big bit to add to the whole bunch of new stuff and requires learning how to upload tx data to the PC and download it from the PC to the TX in Companion.
The fact that Companion allowed me to mess around with setups on the PC was my attraction to OpenTx initially...
and it did not and does not cost anything but my time.
I had not even bought a computer TX when I started using Companion.
There are numerous Utube videos abut Companion.
Dean
OldDmbThms: 1. Takeoff, 2. Crash, 3. Repair, GOTO 1
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

Yeah, I might try it with companion, but the win10 partition in my laptop is small. I only installed it to see what win10 does. I don't use it, so I limited its HD space. As far as uploading goes, I'll pull the microSD out of the radio and load it directly. Easier for me that way. I don't really wanna plug the TX into my computer....ever.

I see adding mixes, as having the advantage of copying them...in the same menu. I doubt you can copy from one menu to the other. If I put FMs in inputs, I'd have to build it from scratch... wouldn't I?
https://thefourthpoint.com
rdeanchurch
Posts: 750
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:22 pm
Country: United States
Location: Carson City, Nv

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by rdeanchurch »

there are versions of companion for Linux also.
Yes you would probably have to start over todo it on inputs.

I think the TX12 uses tx memory for models...not the SD card. It seems more like QX7 or X9D under Opentx.
To change the TX memory I think you must use Tx connected t PC.

But I could be wrong.
Good luck.

Out
Dean
OldDmbThms: 1. Takeoff, 2. Crash, 3. Repair, GOTO 1
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

My TX12 didn't come with ANY card. I had to purchase one and install it...and the needed content. It's a 4G, microSDHC. I did it all in my laptop, then put it in my TX.

You cold be right about storing models in the ROM, but when you back up the models, they're put in microHD.
https://thefourthpoint.com
rdeanchurch
Posts: 750
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:22 pm
Country: United States
Location: Carson City, Nv

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by rdeanchurch »

You can save individual models to the SD card and the Tx can restore them from the SD.
They are saved as as .bin files on the SD as a single model.

Companion does not handle .bin files from the TX (last time I tried anyway.)
It handles all the models on the tx as on .otx and reads them from the tx micro's memory.
Companion can also write a set of all models from an .otx to the tx micro's memory.

But maybe it has been too long since I tried playing with a models.bin file.
But i will not debate the matter anymore.

Good luck trying it.
Dean
OldDmbThms: 1. Takeoff, 2. Crash, 3. Repair, GOTO 1
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

rdeanchurch wrote: Mon Aug 15, 2022 4:17 am Companion does not handle .bin files from the TX (last time I tried anyway.)
It handles all the models on the tx as on .otx and reads them from the tx micro's memory.
Companion can also write a set of all models from an .otx to the tx micro's memory.
Thanks, you're probably right. I'll check and let you know.

Here's where I am:
The Flight Modes I named and corresponding switches.


Image

All I did was copy and paste 1a and 1e to the others in that exact order? I don't name the original channel, just the mixes.

The Mixes; I'm only adding 2. It seems to me that the original mixes "1a" and "1e" are the default mixes. I'm only guessing if I don't assign an FM to it, those will take priority if the FM switch is in the middle....or if I need to I can assign SB- (sb middle) to them. Either way, I'm not expecting I need the 3rd copy, just use the default mix I've already got. I don't know why the 1st 4 are in bold and the other 2 are not?

Image

Then just do the same aileron/elevator on channel 2, 5 and 6.


Image

NGR stands for nose gear.

.
https://thefourthpoint.com
rdeanchurch
Posts: 750
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:22 pm
Country: United States
Location: Carson City, Nv

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by rdeanchurch »

There is no harm in naming the flight modes as you have done. They will show on the tx which is an advantage to me.
But you are not using them.

The ones in bold are currently active (apparently SB was up.)
But on page 6/13 notice that two mixes are trying to drive the ch1 to 100% and two mixes are trying to drive ch1 to -100.
Think about that for a second.

Physically the servo could not go to 200%. The output page will limit that to 100%.
So the first two mixes (1a and 1e) must have a swB-- (mid) to make them not active.

But if it didn't what happens, when given full up and full right aileron.
Once the elevator input got the full up, there is no way for aileron to have any effect of upward movement.
Solution make the weights of all those mixes less than 100%. A weight of 50% on each would allow aileron to have full effect while
full elevator is applied. I typically use 60 to 70% on elevons as I seldom have full stick deflection inputs.
Notice if you use the model create Wizard for a wing, it sets those deflections at 50%.

There is nothing wrong with using a Y servo for the rudder and nose gear. But you have a channel not used so using Ch7 for nose gear is free.

I did find this an interesting mental exersize, so I made a stab at it.
Attached is an .otx for Companion 2.3.15 TX that would be my first cut at your XV1 setup. It uses flight modes which are nicely visible and fairly understandable on Companion. I'm not sure of the switches on a TX12...I read somewhere that it had some two and some three position switches.
The default in OpenTx Companion has all toggles as 3 position.

If you run it through Companion, try the simulator in Companion. There are some icons on the left side of the simulator window.
Hover over them and a short explanation of what they do shows.
Get the OUTPUTs window on screen and move the sticks and flip SwB. up mid down and watch the Channels move on the OUTPUT page


Analyzing a setup from selected screen shots is difficult and error prone for me.
Attachments
ScreenShotOfSimulator.png
(502.87 KiB) Not downloaded yet
XV1-TX12-OpenTx2-3-15-2022Aug15-Rdy2.otx
(740 Bytes) Downloaded 90 times
Dean
OldDmbThms: 1. Takeoff, 2. Crash, 3. Repair, GOTO 1
xv1
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2022 5:14 pm
Country: United States
Contact:

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by xv1 »

I'll see if I can explain why one is at 100 and the other at -100...tho the first mix on each channel works perfectly. Without the minus 100 (-100). The forward ailerons worked the way the were supposed to, but one of the elevator mixes on the forward wing had to be set on "inv". When I tried the same setup on the rear control surfaces, the ailerons were backwards. So setting that mix at -100 fixed it. Both ailerons moved in the same direction.

Maybe I plugged them in wrong. Ch1 is forward port, channel 2 is rear port, channel 5 is forward starbord and channel 6 is rear starboard. I was thinking it doesn't really matter how you plug them in, other than the obvious.

I'm not sure if I've got the specific function right, but that's what happened. One function in the front had to be "inv"...when I copied them to the rear, the ailerons were reverse of the front. I tried every other way, but the -100 fixed it. The 1st channel entery and mix on each channel works correctly.
https://thefourthpoint.com
rdeanchurch
Posts: 750
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:22 pm
Country: United States
Location: Carson City, Nv

Re: 2nd RC, 1st OpenTX

Post by rdeanchurch »

That is not my point.
Mine are all plus because I don't have a model with the servos to set the ones to minus/inverted that need the servos direction reversed.
I do that by trial and error with a functioning model as part of my initial setup.
(With no model or mockup with servos with servo arms and control surfaces mocking up the model, I can't do that.)

My point was that they should not be 100% weight, If you are use of full travel of inputs to aileron it will give you asymmetrical movement
controls for elevator if you try to add elevator while holding the full aileron.
1 pull full right ailerons. hold it.
The right elevon is 100% up and the left is 100% down.
2. now pull full Up.
the right elevon does not move up and the left moves to about 50% up.
Result, less of a roll rate but no up movement of plane.

Change all weights to 50% and do the above procedure again.
All surfaces move in an expected manner.
Dean
OldDmbThms: 1. Takeoff, 2. Crash, 3. Repair, GOTO 1

Post Reply

Return to “openTx”