Beginners experience w/ an X-14 transmitter

[Piddler]

Trying to get back into ‘Leisure’ Flying 2 function sailplanes with 4-6 yrs of experience from long long ago.

I can build a ‘straight and true’ airplane from scratch. I have designed very basic models. I once flew in a single thermal with (from bottom to top) a buzzard, a Red Wing Hawk and on top of the hawk, a great Blue Heron. The Heron disappeared into the bottom of the thermal fed cloud. All FUN !

I have managed to finish a full education, build a house, have a career in construction, received someone else’s Lungs (reason given for being a recipient was to give ‘Quality of Life’). I’ve managed to live for almost 75 yrs w/o doing too many stupid things or bothering too many people.

When I decided to get back into Radio Control planes I must have severely misrepresented my intelligence. I have a plane. A Rudder/Elevator Hand launch plane from days of yore (a 60” Climax). FUN. Yet I can’t get transmitter and deceiver to ’talk’ to each other

I researched and read as much basic material as I could. I fell for false advertising and out and out lies. None from Aloft. I bought up to date equipment and made plenty of mistakes and blew more money than I will admit.

So now, the last step. I am down to not being able to program an “X-14 FrSky”. The “X14 is a great radio that is still pretty easy to program“. Not my quote. Apparently, “pretty easy to program" and I do not live on the same planet. I cannot believe that even though, in my opinion 95% of the features of this Transmitter are not for what I want it to do, I cannot get two servos to operate.

The transmitter does not even list my receiver an FrSky Archer Plus GR6. How do I know the low voltage range for the transmitter battery for an alarm ? I know the Tx range but the low voltage selection is not an option. Shouldn’t the transmitter default be the factory supplied Tx battery. Just a very few of the roadblocks that came up almost at every step.





I am a patient person but this is not “Quality of Life” or even near for me. This has been going on and off for many months now. So now I am faced with a decision.

My two options are :
OPTION 1 :
Keep looking for someone to program my X-14. Fruitless so far. I’m willing to learn or PAY someone good money for their time. I kinda wanna just fly, not trying to figure out Software. I don’t think I’m the only person in the world that may be totally discouraged by things that should be simple.

In my opinion the Instructions so far are only a description of functions by people that know how to program software but can’t relate to the uninitiated beginners. I pity young people who may be discouraged from taking up such a nice hobby.

OPTION 2 :
Exercise “Quality of Life” by choosing an:
8 oz hammer ( for many blows)
or
a 2 lb hammer (fewer blows)
or
an 8 lb Sledge Hammer (for greatest satisfaction to experience “Quality of Life”) to kill a perfectly good piece of electronics. (the Transmitter)

Either option would do my Soul good at this point.

And “so it Begins” or “Ends”

Any suggestions so I can get in the air ?

Piddler

 

[G-man]

> Any suggestions so I can get in the air ?

Piddler,

Like you, I've been flying a long time. I know what I like, and I know what works for me.
Even though at times I made my living as a Novell system administrator and Access database programmer,
I cannot seem to grasp modern transmitter setup and operation, as wonderful as the capabilities are.

My personal solutions have been:

1. Refit old favorite and familiar transmitters, 72 mHz Airtronics VG6000 with FrSKY 2.4 internal conversion modules
purchased from Aloft Hobbies (in days of yore) and from RC Groups classified ads. Now I have a familiar 6-channel
computer radio with internal antenna which links to inexpensive and reliable FrSKY receivers. The VG6000 holds only
four models, which led me to refitting multiple transmitters. Plus, I like having a spare transmitter when I sally forth.

2. Recent purchase of a Futaba T6L very simple beginner radio. Mine cost $99 with a full range receiver included.
It takes four AA dry cells, which is my favorite way to power a transmitter. The transmitter comes from the factory
bound to the receiver. All you have to do to run rudder and elevator is plug the servos into the correct slots.
If you want to run a motor you must reverse channel 3 or you will be in for a surprise. (Futaba oddity)

Welcome back to the hobby. I enjoyed your description of big thermals. That is why we do it.

// Dave

 

[Wayne]

Piddler - Have you grabbed the fully detailed instruction manual? This may well be the key you are missing. Like many products these days, they do not include the big manual with the radios, you get to download them. Here is a link:

Ethos – a thoroughly upgraded new operating system

ethos.frsky-rc.com

This is also available via the Ethos Suite software, a rather handy application that runs on a computer. It will help you to keep the radio updated etc.

Have you seen the manual before? It is 458 pages long at the time of this posting...A big girl for sure. It goes into pretty deep detail on just about every function and think this is what you have been missing.

Here are a few highlights:
Page 72 they have the section "Model Setup" I think this is one of the areas you are going to want to read.
Page 156 discusses getting your ACCESS receiver and X14 to talk with one another.
Page 342 is Basic Fixed Wing Airplane Example, this one shows you the steps for setting up a new model, this will get your servos up and running.

In terms of basic mixing, the setup wizard will do most of the work for you.

Please feel free to ask any questions, that is why this forum is here. We will get you going.

 

[Tmcfarland]

Trying to get back into ‘Leisure’ Flying 2 function sailplanes with 4-6 yrs of experience from long long ago.

I can build a ‘straight and true’ airplane from scratch. I have designed very basic models. I once flew in a single thermal with (from bottom to top) a buzzard, a Red Wing Hawk and on top of the hawk, a great Blue Heron. The Heron disappeared into the bottom of the thermal fed cloud. All FUN !

I have managed to finish a full education, build a house, have a career in construction, received someone else’s Lungs (reason given for being a recipient was to give ‘Quality of Life’). I’ve managed to live for almost 75 yrs w/o doing too many stupid things or bothering too many people.

When I decided to get back into Radio Control planes I must have severely misrepresented my intelligence. I have a plane. A Rudder/Elevator Hand launch plane from days of yore (a 60” Climax). FUN. Yet I can’t get transmitter and deceiver to ’talk’ to each other

I researched and read as much basic material as I could. I fell for false advertising and out and out lies. None from Aloft. I bought up to date equipment and made plenty of mistakes and blew more money than I will admit.

So now, the last step. I am down to not being able to program an “X-14 FrSky”. The “X14 is a great radio that is still pretty easy to program“. Not my quote. Apparently, “pretty easy to program" and I do not live on the same planet. I cannot believe that even though, in my opinion 95% of the features of this Transmitter are not for what I want it to do, I cannot get two servos to operate.

The transmitter does not even list my receiver an FrSky Archer Plus GR6. How do I know the low voltage range for the transmitter battery for an alarm ? I know the Tx range but the low voltage selection is not an option. Shouldn’t the transmitter default be the factory supplied Tx battery. Just a very few of the roadblocks that came up almost at every step.





I am a patient person but this is not “Quality of Life” or even near for me. This has been going on and off for many months now. So now I am faced with a decision.

My two options are :
OPTION 1 :
Keep looking for someone to program my X-14. Fruitless so far. I’m willing to learn or PAY someone good money for their time. I kinda wanna just fly, not trying to figure out Software. I don’t think I’m the only person in the world that may be totally discouraged by things that should be simple.

In my opinion the Instructions so far are only a description of functions by people that know how to program software but can’t relate to the uninitiated beginners. I pity young people who may be discouraged from taking up such a nice hobby.

OPTION 2 :
Exercise “Quality of Life” by choosing an:
8 oz hammer ( for many blows)
or
a 2 lb hammer (fewer blows)
or
an 8 lb Sledge Hammer (for greatest satisfaction to experience “Quality of Life”) to kill a perfectly good piece of electronics. (the Transmitter)

Either option would do my Soul good at this point.

And “so it Begins” or “Ends”

Any suggestions so I can get in the air ?

Piddler

I was in the same situation. I returned to the hobby and bought an x14 and fly gliders. The new electronics are complicated but have incredible capabilities. Here is what helped me. Most important when you are frustrated walk away from it. Get a change of scenery. Many times that is when the solutions pop into mind. Remind yourself that complex learning is a challenge. Focus on just one thing at a time. Step by step. I actually wrote down the problem I had and made a list of possible solutions and worked down the list. This small step approach reduced my frustration. Remember that those who know how to do it tend to lose the beginners perspective pretty fast. Everything is easy after you do it a time or two. One problem to watch out for on Youtube is that your menu selections may not match those shown due to different ethos versions.
I thought I was pretty tech savy but had a very hard time registering and binding my GR8 receiver. Pushed that tiny little button but never felt any disscerible click. Also I bought a simple on off switch to go inbetween the battery and receiver. Hard to push the tiny button and fumble with plugging in and out of the receiver. You will get it. Hope this helps.
Tom

 

[Jarron]

I've found that I need to remove the plastic case on the R6/GR6 in order to get to the bind button. They should've stuck to a little hole to put something pokey through instead of this integral button.

 

[Wayne]

I'll suggest staying away from the youtubers for the basics as they usually jump into some deep subject pretty quick and just add confusion to the new folks.

Yes, I hate the little registration buttons on the receivers. Some are darn near impossible to push. For sure you a power switch to make it more reasonable to accomplish.

 

[Piddler]

“For sure you a power switch to make it more reasonable to accomplish.”

???
And why ?

 

[Tmcfarland]

“For sure you a power switch to make it more reasonable to accomplish.”

???
And why ?

See instructions on registering and binding. You have to push button and turn power on and off. I found it hard to hold the button while plugging power connection into third space on the rx. Switch makes it much easier and will have many uses down the line. Like if you have plane powered up on your work bench and need to turn it off fast.