What Rx should I get?

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VarietyPack
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What Rx should I get?

Post by VarietyPack »

I'm new to both RC and Taranis and I've recently made some mistakes. I got an EFlite Mustang from HH for Xmas and I accidentally plugged in my 4s battery (visually identical to my 3s batteries) when trying to set up the radio. It browned out my receiver, an Ar636a.

I was wondering which receiver to replace with? I'm kind of on a budget, so I'd rather not spend 65 American Kopecks if I don't have to.

I am using a Taranis QX7 and I have almost no idea what I'm doing when I turn it on.

Thanks!
To save everyone time, I lost all of the fingers on my right hand. Some fancypants surgeon put toes on my hand and called them "tingers". So now I have to use the rare Mode 3, and Taranis has proven to be very... handy...

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bob195558
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Re: What Rx should I get?

Post by bob195558 »

Hi VarietyPack ,
I suggest you look at the FrSky receivers like the X8R, X6R, X4R
and there are other see here: (https://www.frsky-rc.com/product-category/receivers/).
I like and is a must for me to use receivers that do telemetry info back to my radio.
(https://alofthobbies.com/radio/frsky-te ... ystem.html)
Er9x on 9x radio, with Smartieparts Programmer and TelemetrEZ Board.
ErSky9x on Taranis, Sky9x, 9Xtreme radios.
3D-Printing: (https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=129).
Daedalus66
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What Rx should I get?

Post by Daedalus66 »

I would not suggest an FrSky receiver in your situation. The AR636 is a stabilized receiver. Depending on your flying skills, you probably want a stabilized receiver to replace it. You could go for the S6R, but it’s fairly complex to set up.

Your least expensive but very good solution is a LemonRX Stabilizer:
https://www.lemon-rx.com/index.php?rout ... uct_id=131

It’s an excellent receiver with very good range and very good basic stabilization. Less capable than the AR636 but a lot less expensive.

Full instructions here:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthr ... ons-thread

Since you have a DSMX model, obviously you have a suitable external module in your 7X.
VarietyPack
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Re: What Rx should I get?

Post by VarietyPack »

I am a rather skilled pilot, I've flown in video game simulators since I was six and I've had no trouble translating that practice into RC. I'm just terrified of crashing my newest, most expensive plane. I was wondering about your thoughts on telemetry modules? I know next to nothing about FrSky things and if it's going to require flashing or software finagling on my PC, I'll probably procrastinate on setting that up. However if I can just plug it all in and set it up on the Tx I think I'd like to make the full switch to FrSky.

I have an old Dx6i Tx module Frankenstein'd into the back of my Q X7.

Thanks for your help, guys!!
To save everyone time, I lost all of the fingers on my right hand. Some fancypants surgeon put toes on my hand and called them "tingers". So now I have to use the rare Mode 3, and Taranis has proven to be very... handy...
Daedalus66
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What Rx should I get?

Post by Daedalus66 »

It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Your current setup using a Spektrum module in a Taranis X7 is perfectly viable but limited to 6 channels and 1024 resolution. I’m guessing it’s a DSM2 module, so moving up to DSMX or FrSky would gain you a more robust protocol, which seems to be your main concern (but DSM2 still works very well).

Presumably you are using OpenTX in the X7, so are familiar with the programming.

Your options for upgrading seem to be the following:

Option 1: Stick with DSM
Get yourself a Multiprotocol module such as the iRangeX to plug into the X7. You would then have DSMX, 8 or more channels, 2048 resolution. Use either Lemon or Spektrum receivers. Both are highly reliable if you choose an appropriate one for the type of aircraft and flying. Store backups on the SD card.

Option 2: Go to FrSky
Use the integrated module with appropriate FrSky receivers (X6R, etc.). Get the benefit of RSSI and other telemetry. Also use Companion to program the models and store backups on a PC (or the SD card).

There’s nothing hard about updating the firmware in the X7, as it already has OpenTX 2.2 installed. The scary stories about upgrading involve things going wrong when upgrading from earlier versions, and most of us had no such problems anyway (I started on v.1).

In short, either option is perfectly viable.

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bob195558
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Re: What Rx should I get?

Post by bob195558 »

VarietyPack wrote: Mon May 07, 2018 5:23 amI was wondering about your thoughts on telemetry modules ?
You will like the FrSky telemetry better , because they have the best telemetry for the cost and it work very well.
Your X7 is made for it.
Er9x on 9x radio, with Smartieparts Programmer and TelemetrEZ Board.
ErSky9x on Taranis, Sky9x, 9Xtreme radios.
3D-Printing: (https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=129).
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bob195558
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Re: What Rx should I get?

Post by bob195558 »

FrSky SP-FLVS - Smart Port Lipo Voltage Sensor: (https://alofthobbies.com/frsky-sp-flvs- ... ensor.html)

FrSky High Precision Vario (FVAS-02H): (https://alofthobbies.com/frsky-high-pre ... s-02h.html)
Er9x on 9x radio, with Smartieparts Programmer and TelemetrEZ Board.
ErSky9x on Taranis, Sky9x, 9Xtreme radios.
3D-Printing: (https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=129).
VarietyPack
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Re: What Rx should I get?

Post by VarietyPack »

Daedalus66 wrote: Mon May 07, 2018 1:00 pm It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. Your current setup using a Spektrum module in a Taranis X7 is perfectly viable but limited to 6 channels and 1024 resolution. I’m guessing it’s a DSM2 module, so moving up to DSMX or FrSky would gain you a more robust protocol, which seems to be your main concern (but DSM2 still works very well).

Presumably you are using OpenTX in the X7, so are familiar with the programming.

Your options for upgrading seem to be the following:

Option 1: Stick with DSM
Option 2: Go to FrSky

In short, either option is perfectly viable.
Okay, so from what I've just now Googled, RSSI is a bit of telemetry to give me feedback on how strong the signal is? I'm vaguely comfortable with OpenTX, I just learned about Special Functions yesterday and put in a throttle killswitch with beeps. Still trying to figure out how to set up Trainer with my friend's rickety old Dx6i (he has kids and debts, can't afford a new Taranis, or fun). The Logical Functions look scary, so I've also been trying to conquer that page. Never was good at XNOR and modulus operators and logic.
bob195558 wrote: Mon May 07, 2018 1:46 pm FrSky SP-FLVS - Smart Port Lipo Voltage Sensor: ("https://alofthobbies.com/frsky-sp-flvs- ... ensor.html")
Hey thanks, Bob! This is exactly what I hadn't yet Googled was looking for! So do these things just plug right in? From what I've read you can daisy-chain them at will with other S.BUS modules, although I don't know anything about what other telemetry I might want. I'm not even sure what S.BUS is, there's just so much to read up on.
bob195558 wrote: Mon May 07, 2018 1:31 pm You will like the FrSky telemetry better , because they have the best telemetry for the cost and it works very well.
Your X7 is made for it.
Just ordered an X8R and FLVSS based on what you all suggest. Not sure if I should have gotten the X6R instead, but I do hope plan to use those extra two ports someday. Thanks for your help!
To save everyone time, I lost all of the fingers on my right hand. Some fancypants surgeon put toes on my hand and called them "tingers". So now I have to use the rare Mode 3, and Taranis has proven to be very... handy...
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jhsa
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Re: RE: Re: What Rx should I get?

Post by jhsa »


VarietyPack wrote: From what I've read you can daisy-chain them at will with other S.BUS modules, although I don't know anything about what other telemetry I might want. I'm not even sure what S.BUS is, there's just so much to read up
I believe you mean S.PORT, not SBUS?
S.PORT is the Frsky telemetry system.
SBUS is a control serial signal that carries the channel information..

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bob195558
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Re: What Rx should I get?

Post by bob195558 »

Hi VarietyPack ,
You can download the FrSky manuals here for more info: (https://www.frsky-rc.com/).
You may find getting the manual for the external XJT module will help with some info too.
I am not sure what the internal (transmitter) module is in the X7.
Er9x on 9x radio, with Smartieparts Programmer and TelemetrEZ Board.
ErSky9x on Taranis, Sky9x, 9Xtreme radios.
3D-Printing: (https://openrcforums.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=129).
Daedalus66
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What Rx should I get?

Post by Daedalus66 »

The X7 internal module is identical to the external XJT.

As for logical functions, you don’t need to learn everything at once. The only really essential thing for most people in the early stages is using Special Function Override to set throttle cut, and you seem to have that.

By the way, it’s important to set Throttle Cut to the same value as low throttle, otherwise the ESC may recalibrate itself. Normally, they would both be -100.

Calibrate the ESC to work with the transmitter settings if you want to have optimum throttle action (if you don’t, the motor may not start until 20% throttle and may reach wide open at 80%).
VarietyPack
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Re: RE: Re: What Rx should I get?

Post by VarietyPack »

jhsa wrote: Tue May 08, 2018 9:13 am I believe you mean S.PORT, not SBUS?
S.PORT, S.BUS, F/STOP, I'm still confusing terms. I'll get the hang of it with your help!
bob195558 wrote: Tue May 08, 2018 11:02 am You can download the FrSky manuals
Thanks, Bob. I've got the relevant ones in PDF on my phone for when I'm "dropping the kids of at the pool". ;)
Daedalus66 wrote: Tue May 08, 2018 12:40 pm By the way, it’s important to set Throttle Cut to the same value as low throttle, otherwise the ESC may recalibrate itself. Normally, they would both be -100.

Calibrate the ESC to work with the transmitter settings if you want to have optimum throttle action (if you don’t, the motor may not start until 20% throttle and may reach wide open at 80%).
So, I didn't know that. I'm guessing it's the bit where I power on with max throttle and listen for beeps and then throttle to null and listen for the arming beeps? (https://hobbyking.com/media/file/a/e/ae ... manual.pdf) That's pretty straightforward.

You guys have been super helpful, thank you.
To save everyone time, I lost all of the fingers on my right hand. Some fancypants surgeon put toes on my hand and called them "tingers". So now I have to use the rare Mode 3, and Taranis has proven to be very... handy...

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