I probably have too many photos for this article too, but I wanted to give everyone a good visual to go along with the explainations.
This article covers:
Overview of the T6config software
How to mix for Delta wing/V-Tail/Elevons
How to mix for flaps/bombbay/landing gear
Overview of the T6config software:
Photo of desktop icon.
Common problem when starting this software.
If you run into the "Invalid port number" problem, click on "Settings".
Change the COMnumber into the correct one for the port you are using. This software doesn't like numbers above 9 so make sure you are using a USB port that is a COMport number less than that. Basically, just play around with the COMs that are available until it works and/or play around with the ports you are using. I suggest using the same USB port every time.
The best way to tell if the software is working is by looking at the green and black bars on the top of the screen. They should move when you move a stick. Green is the background color and black is how much it is moved from center. It can take a while before getting used to looking at it that way.
The very first thing you should do with your new Tx is to Save the factory settings. It is very, very, very easy to mess everything up. It's incredibly beneficial to be able to change it back to factory.
After you click on the "Save" button, a screen like this will pop up. Make sure you know where you are saving it for easy access. Also note that the button on the pop up window (at least for me) will say "Open". It will actually save it. It was probably overlooked when being programmed.
Clicking the "Open" button will of course....
...open the file that you want. Since you have nearly limitless memory on your computer for save files, I suggest saving your desired settings for each of your planes.
I will now cover the "EndPoint" button and what it does.
The end points is how far the servo will move. It can also be used to limit your throttle. This is a good feature if one of your servos moves more in one direction than the other, or if you want it to move more in one direction than the other. It could also be used to limit the throws on your plane, but having the proper leverage on your servo arm and control horn is a better way of doing that. The highest setting you can have the end point set to is 110%.
I will now cover the "Reverse" button.
This is how you reverse the direction of a servo. Probably the first real alteration to factory settings that you'll have to make. Is the rudder moving left when you move the stick right? Reverse the channel you're using for rudder.
The "SubTrim" button.
This is basically the same feature as the trim dial on your Tx. But instead of having to slide the dial, you can have it programmed into your Tx. This is a feature that shouldn't really be needed. You want your control surfaces linked to the servo so that you need little to no trim. It's a lot easier to use the sliding dials on the Tx to dial in the proper trim. But I could see wanting to get the trim perfect without using the dial (leaving room for changes while flying).
The "DR" or Dual Rates button.
If you are using one of the switches for dual rates, this is how you set how much it is changing the rates. The numbers are percentages.
The "Mode" button.
This is how you change the channel numbers for the sticks on the Tx. All it can do is to flip 2 and 3 with each other, or 4 and 1. That is, you cannot change 3 with 1 or 4 with 2. I don't see why you would even need to change 1 and 4 with each other when you can just hook it up differently. Basically, you won't be using this feature.
The "Type" button.
Just as a warning, changing from "ACRO" to any of the "HELI"s will screw up your mixes and make everything act very strangely. Even changing back to "ACRO" will not undo these changes to your mixes. This is why it is a very good idea to save the factory settings. I don't fly helis, so I'm unsure of exactly what it does when you change the Type. Just know to leave it at ACRO.
The "MIX." button.
I have this mix set up so I can use the knobs for channels 5 and 6.
There are three different mixes that you can use which is very limiting. You need two of them just for a simple Delta/Ailerons mix.
Both the Source and the Destination can be changed to Ch1-Ch6 or VR A or B (which are the knobs).
The Up and Down Rate is how much the two channels are mixed together.
The Switch can be SW A, SW B, ON, or OFF. Which means it can be turned on and off with either of the switches, always on, or always off.
The "Switch A" button.
The options are: NULL which makes the switch do nothing, DR which is the dual rates, and ThroCut which is throttle cut off.
*note: You can have a switch do both ThroCut and turn a mix on and off. (Same with DR.) Make sure you don't have one switch doing two things!
The "VR(A)" button.
The only option is NULL. The only way, that I know of, to use the knobs it by making a mix.
I know that was a lot of photos, but I hope that explains what everything does.
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How to mix for a Delta wing/V-tail/Elevons (all the same mix):
Basically all you are doing with these mixes is mixing channel 2 and 4 together. One servo will be plugged into the Ch2 port of the Rx, the other plugged into the Ch4 port. By mixing those two channels together, they now move and work together.
First step is to click on the "MIX." button.
You want MIX 1 to look like this. The source is Ch2 which is being mixed into the destination of Ch4. You want the rates at 100% and make sure it is turned ON.
You want MIX 2 to look like this. You now want the source to be Ch4 and to be mixed into the destination of Ch2. Again, rates at 100% and turned ON.
Unless you are going to use MIX 3 for something else, leave this one turned OFF.
You may not be done yet. You can have the Tx plugged into your computer and it'll still function normally. Have your plane all hooked up and test out your mixes with it still plugged into the computer. If the control surfaces aren't moving the proper way, you may have to reverse either Ch2 or Ch4.
You can actually either have a channel reversed, or have both of the rates for one of the mixes be set at -100%. It is just two different ways of doing the same thing. I don't like negative numbers, so I just reversed one of the channels.
If you are still having problems, on the Rx, flip the Ch2 servo with the Ch4 servo. Testing it is the only way to know for sure which should be which. You have a 50% chance of having to flip the two servos with each other.
This is to show what it should look like. Moving the stick up and down should actually be moving the bars opposite from each other.
Left and right should be moving the bars together. (Assuming you have built the FT Delta or if you have the servos mounted in a simular way. Always test to make sure it is working properly.)
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How to mix for flaps/bombbay/landing gear:
I have yet to have a plane with flaps, or a bomb drop, or with landing gear; But this is how I would mix for it. This isn't a great way to do it, but it's the only way I can think of. Basically what I'm doing is having one of the knobs control a servo. This will allow me to slowly, manually lower the flaps or landing gear. This will prevent the plane from jumping from rapid movement.
All I did was mix the source VR A (knob A) into the destination Ch5. I have to manually move it, but it'll work. This will be a good place to use endpoints. You don't want it to be possible to over extend the servo or bring it back, crushing the plane.
You could use a switch to open up the bombbay doors, or drop the landing gear or flaps.
If you are going to use a switch for a mix, make sure it is not being used for anything else.
By making the switch what turns the mix on and off, you can use the knob to set how far the servo moves, then use the switch to snap it into the middle position and back to your set distance.
Watch channel 5 in these photos.
I have the knob turned down all the way.
Then I flipped the switch and Ch5 snapped to center.
Or you could set the knob to above center, and exacty where you want it, instead of turned up all the way.
Then flipping the switch will snap it back to center.
I would probably still manually turn the knob, with appropriate end points set, to slowly lower flaps, landing gear, or a bombbay door. Not use the switch because I wouldn't want fast movement on my plane causing it to jump in the air. But that is how I would use the switch if I wanted to.
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There are actually other uses for the mixes. You can do things like mix rudder in with the ailerons. Or elevator in with throttle. Make sure to have the rates at a low percentage like 15 or 20 when first trying them out. If you try these things, I strongely suggest you use a switch to turn the mix on and off. If you don't like it, then you can go back to normal during mid-flight. Or if you have it mixed horribly wrong, you can still safely land your plane by turning off the mix.
There are probably other uses for the mixes that I haven't covered. Hopefully this article will tell you the basics so you can understand how mixes work.
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