2. Model configuration
I recommend that you follow these steps when setting up a new model.
- Copy the model template, and rename it to identify the model.
- Bind the receiver.
- Discover sensors.
- Optionally reassign switches, if you are used to a different layout than mine.
- Optionally change inputs for sticks, knobs or sliders.
- Use the Channel configuration menu to get all servos on the right channel, and moving in the right direction.
- Also set end points and center for rudder and elevator here.
- Use the Align menu to set end points and align left and right side on a 5-point servo curve for flaps and ailerons.
- Use the Adjust airbrake curves or the Center flaperon menu to center flaps and ailerons to the maximum reflex point (all camber is down from that point).
- On full house wings, set aileron and flaperon throws as well as aileron camber on the Aileron and camber menu.
- Adjust other mixes.
- Set the battery warning level.
- Optionally, add different throws and exponentials for different flight modes as described at the end of this page.
The individual steps are described in more detail below. The menus that I refer to, are Lua scripts running in a telemetry screen.
| If you do not know how to get into the telemetry screens, please refer to your transmitter's user guide, as it varies by model. But on most models, it is a long press on PAGE, and then PAGE again to change screen. On Xlite, hold down SHIFT and pull down the joystick. |
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The first telemetry screen that opens is score keeping. You have to go to the last telemetry screen to find the Configuration menu.
Or, if the receiver in the model is already bound to your transmitter, use the same receiver number for the new program. That way, you do not have to re-bind, and if you have an existing program that you want to keep in parallel with the new one, then you can use either program to fly your model. If you are binding a new receiver, then use a unique receiver number, so you do not accidentally fly the wrong model.
In the transmitter's TELEMETRY menu. If you have an altimeter, then set the source for Variometer to VSpd. On X9D radios, go to the DISPLAY menu and set the Voltage source to the sensor that monitors your receiver battery, and if you have an altimeter, set Altitude to your Alt sensor.
All switches used by the program are mapped to logical switches in the first lines of LOGICAL SWITCHES. That makes it easy to change a switch input, as you only have to edit a single logical switch to change the physical switch. By default, the following switches are assigned:
| X9D+ | Xlite | F3K | F5K | FxJ | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| !SA- | SB↓ | L01 | L01 | L01 | Altitude | Allow reporting of altitude |
| SA↓ | Off | L02 | L02 | L02 | Altitude | Variometer on |
| SB↑ | SA↑ | L03 | L03 | L03 | Flight mode | Speed mode |
| SB↓ | SA↓ | L04 | L04 | L04 | Flight mode | Float mode |
| SC↑ | SB↑ | - | L05 | L05 | Arming | Arm the motor |
| Off | - | - | - | L06 | KAPOW | Enable KAPOW (for landing) |
| SD↑ | SD↑ | L05 | L06 | L07 | Report | Report remaining window time |
| SD↓ | SD↓ | L06 | L07 | L08 | Report | Report current altitude every 10 sec. |
| SF↓ | SC↓ | L07 | L08 | L09 | Trigger | Start/stop timer and motor |
| SH↓ | On | L08 | L09 | L10 | Logging | Data logging |
Obviously, not all switches are used by every model, so the line numbering may vary between different models. Notice that "!" means "not". So e.g. "!SA-" means that switch A is not centered.
You can change the different inputs from sticks, sliders and turn knobs in your transmitter's INPUT menu, e.g.:
- Add camber on a slider. By default, additional camber is disabled by setting the input to MAX, but you can change it to e.g. LS (left slider).
- Move the dial used for calling times in the poker task.
- Add more or less Exponential (set to 50% by default).
- Decrease the stick input to reduce aileron or elevator throws.
- Move motor power control from the throttle stick to a slider.
| If you want to reverse a servo, then do it in Channel configuration or OUTPUTS - not in INPUTS! If you want to reverse e.g. the throttle stick for brakes so stick forward is full brakes, then do so in INPUTS by assigning a weight of -100 to the Brk input line. |
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The small black triangles show the current servo positions. Use ± or Rotary to select a channel. Press ENTER to edit. Use ± or Rotary to select what to edit for the channel. Press ENTER again to edit (selection is blinking). The following items can be edited.
- Channel number. Notice that you can move channels when you select a channel number and press ENTER so the number is blinking.
- Servo direction (">").
- The entire servo interval, including the center point. Min. and max. cannot go beyond ±150%.
- Servo end point range. Adjusts the range of min. - max.
- Minimum point.
- Center point.
- Maximum point.
| You have to get all servos connected to the right channel, and also moving in the right direction, by using Channel Configuration. This is especially important for flaps/ailerons. Do not try e.g. to get ailerons moving in the right direction by reversing the aileron input; that will mess up the mixes. |
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The following video shows you how to configure channel output for a DLG glider with the F3K program:
The Align flaperons menu allows for adjusting the flaperon outputs and aligning the 5-point curves between the left and right sides. Use the throttle stick to select a point. On FxK models, use throttle trim to move both sides up or down, and aileron trim to align the left and right side. On FxJ models, use throttle and rudder trims for flaps, and elevator and aileron trims for ailerons.
Notice that the curves stretch across points like when you pull a rubber band at a single point. Therefore:
| Start with the end points, then the center point, and finally make the fine adjustments across all the points. |
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The following video shows you how to setup flaperons on a DLG glider with the F3K program:
To help gauge the alignment on the big 3- or 4-part wings of FxJ models, the following template can be helpful. You can print it double-sided, laminate it, and stick it between the center and outer sections with double sided tape, aligning the center line with the bottom of the wing.
You can download the file here.
Centering means that you move the flaps/ailerons to the center position, i.e. the position where you want them to be for maximum reflex. For most models, maximum reflex is where the flaperons are flush with the trailing edge of the wing. Centering works differently for FxK and FxJ models.
On FxK models, use throttle trim to adjust the flaperons to the position of maximum reflex. Flaps can travel from this position to 100% down. Ailerons can travel from this position to 100% up, and the same amount down.
On FxJ models, you use the air brake curves for centering. Use the throttle stick to move between the five points, and use throttle and elevator trims, respectively, to set the flaps and aileron positions at each point. First, push the throttle stick all the way forward to the point where no air brake is applied. This is the position where flaps and ailerons should be at maximum reflex. Then, move the stick back and set the desired flap and aileron positions at each of the four other points.
| Please note that flaps and aileron camber is always down from the maximum reflex position. If you need more reflex in a flight mode, then set it here; not with camber trim! |
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Use the trim buttons according to the instructions on the screen. You can adjust the following mixes:
- AiR - Aileron to rudder.
- Dif - Aileron differential. Positive means that the aileron down movement is reduced, and negative means that the amount of down movement is increased.
- BkE - Brake to elevator. This is used to prevent the model from "ballooning" when you apply air brakes.
- Snp - Snap-flap. Additional camber when you pull up on the elevator. This is helpful when circling tight in a small thermal bubble. Please read below about Camber and snap-flap.
The following video shows you how to adjust other mixes on a DLG glider with the F3K program:
On FxJ models, the following additional mixes can be adjusted under Aileron and camber:
- Ail - Aileron. The amount of aileron movement.
- AiF - Aileron to flaps.
- CbA - Camber to aileron. Since the flaps and aileron linkages may be different, you can use CbA to get the desired amount of camber movement for the ailerons.
In the Battery warning menu, and use +/-, rotary or ↑↓ to set the warning level. Press EXIT when your are done. If you use a MLVSS or FLVSS sensor to monitor the voltage of the individual LiPo cells, then the minimum cell voltage is used for the battery alarm instead of the total battery pack voltage.
| The MLVSS will short and fry everything, if the balance connector is reversed. Therefore, please solder a balance connector onto the electrical pins, instead of sticking the battery balance connector directly onto the pins. Also, exposed pins can short against a carbon fuse and burn a hole. Therefore, please cover up all of the pins! |
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If you want to reduce the sensitivity of the stick, or add more or less exponential, then do so in INPUTS.
If you would like to have different throws or expo in different flight modes, then add an input line for the flight mode that you want to be different. As an example, if you want to have less elevator sensitivity in Speed mode, then copy the input line for elevator by selecting it, pressing CTRL+C to copy, and CTRL+V to paste in another copy. Then, edit the first input line, check only the flight mode(s) that you want it to apply for, and edit Weight and Expo.
| It is important that you leave the original input line as the last one, active in all flight modes, because it works as a "catch all" to guarantee that you do not end up in a situation where no line is active for e.g. elevator, and hence you loose control of the plane! |
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