DX7 and Phoenix Set Up Newbe

dbk · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:44 am Post subject: DX7 and Phoenix Set Up Newbe

Just opened the new Dx7, read manual, all like a
foreign language so far since I don't even understand how the heli
works. Is there a simple reference on the terminology to define all
the paramters on the transmitter, switches etc and what they do during
flight? I think I need to read something very basic to get an
overview of the interaction between the transmitter and helicopter
beyond throttle and pitch curves.

Questions:

1. Is the DVD series for $50 worth the investment???
Electric Helicopters and eCCPM Volumes 7-9
"This is the most influential helicopter DVD series youll ever see!
Weve made electric helicopter setup and flight trimming as simple as
it can be, because we answer all the why questions, then show you the
how. No matter what your level of experience, this DVD series explains
the steps necessary to set up and flight trim your electric helicopter
like an expert! While we use Align R/Cs T-Rex 450S and Spektrums DX6 and DX7 radios for the examples, the information is totally applicable to any electric helicopter and any radio.

2. The DX7 manual mentions charging both batteries, the transmitter and
the receiver but since I ordered the Dx 7 Heli model without the
servos, it did not come with a battery for the receiver. Is this
purchased with the TREX? Do the servos run on a different battery than the Heli motor?

3. What settings should I use to program the transmitter while using
the Phoenix SIM? "Make sure you don't have any CCPM mixing turned
on in your TX... As demixing the CCPM *CAN* be done with phoenix, but
it's generally getter to keep the channels seperate to start with!"

4. Start with linier throttle/pitch setup... Most heli's have the "rotor
governor" enabled. So your throttle curves are pretty much ignored
anyway...

I've been playign with the trex450 model to turn the governor off and
get the throttle curve setup to replicate what I *feel* my real heli
does too. but until you fly your real heli you won't know...

5. What does this mean:
Why is it we teach them that in normal mode, only have about -2
degree's pitch? Why to the RTF heli's with non-programmable radios
have ZERO pitch at low stick?

I believe if I had -2 from the get go I would not have any crashes to this day
actually if I remember correctly it was Skarn that told me to use
-2.........Great AdviceI believe that we have been teaching newbies
incorrectly for a LONG time!
This has been bothering me for quite a while, but I've always figured
that there must be a logical reason for this that I haven't figured
out yet since EVERYBODY has the same recommendations for people just
learning how to hover.
Why is it we teach them that in normal mode, only have about -2
degree's pitch? Why to the RTF heli's with non-programmable radios
have ZERO pitch at low stick?

So I say -2 till you get her trimmed and get comfortable with the
Heli, then get into Idle up as soon as you can ........

How do I program the transmitter and Phoenix to learn with -2?

Any truth to these statements:

Also make sure the DX7 model you use for the sim doesn't have eCCPM
turned on. You can still set up all flight modes, dual rates, etc the
same as you do on your real heli to get used to using the switches in
flight??? You just need to leave the standard pitch curve settings in
place on the Transmitter (Tx) - 0% to 100% flat line.
Then choose your simulator model and edit the paramters on the main
rotor page to set up full pitch travel amounts (positive and
negative).

My phoenix setup is this.

I made a new model and named it Phoenix (is this on the transmitter)

1 servo 90* swash (on a real heli this would be 3 servo 120* swash,
but phoenix does the mixing for you in the software so you just need 1
-90 for the sim)

I left everything default (on the transmitter??)
except the throttle and pitch curves, and i turned throttle hold on at
-5% on the rudder/Dr switch, which is the upper right switch. get into
the habbit of hitting throttle hold every time right before you crash,
it will save you in the long run.

I also added 20% expo for aileron and elevator on the DR switches on
the dx7. that way 0 had no exp and 1 had expo for flying the twichier
models.

Make your throttle curves like so( on the ransmitter or setup within Phoenix)

normal make it 0 80 80 80 80
idle 1 make it 100 - 90 - 80 - 90 - 100
idle 2 make it flat all 100

pitch curves like so

normal make 40 - 45 - 50 - 75 - 100
idle 1 leave it linear
idle 2 leave it linear

Spool up the heli in normlal mode then switch to idle up 1 before you
take off. (Is there a switch for this change on the transmitter?)

I need some simple instructions since this is all very confusing.

Thanks for the help.

Dan

rat2mole · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:

Hello! Haven't been here for a while! I know the answers to some of your questions so I'll answer the ones that I can. Wink

2. The DX7 manual mentions charging both batteries, the transmitter and
the receiver but since I ordered the Dx 7 Heli model without the
servos, it did not come with a battery for the receiver. Is this
purchased with the TREX? Do the servos run on a different battery than the Heli motor?

I assume that you bought the one that came with the receiver but without the servo. If so, then you don't have to worry about getting a separate battery pack for the receiver as it draw power from the one battery of the T-REX. That is unless you plan to be flying a 600 class or bigger helicopter - in which case you will need to get a separate battery pack for the receiver other wise it will be over powered.

3. What settings should I use to program the transmitter while using
the Phoenix SIM? "Make sure you don't have any CCPM mixing turned
on in your TX... As demixing the CCPM *CAN* be done with phoenix, but
it's generally getter to keep the channels seperate to start with!"

The answer is simple, program it as you would your real heli. What you want to do is make the heli in the sim react to your controls as similarly as it would your real helicopter, and one way to easily do that is to set your heli in the sim the same way that you set up your real heli.

I think that's all that I can answer. Hope that helps at least a bit.