Still digging for a complete set of step by step instructions (that work).

[Required]

So I get a Taranis X9D + 2019 and I have FrSky receivers RX8R and R-XSR.
I read manuals, but somehow, none of the instructions work!
So off I go searching the internets for more info.

There's plenty of "here's how ya do it" videos, but none of THEM seem to work either.
I'll find a new YouTube video (which I hate, much prefer a good clear set of written instructions.)
I'll get about three steps in and either get no result or a different result than the video.
But they plow right ahead, with no "if that didn't work, check A, B and xyz".

Some blog posts I've read reference different firmware files that FrSky doesn't publish in the relevant section of the download area.
I tried using FrSky's current FW file to flash the R-XSR but the X9D says "FAILED upload" with ZERO explanation what to do.
FrSky says nothing about hooking up the receiver directly to pins in the external module bay (oh and you have to switch pins on the connector?)
And what's the difference between .frk and .frsk firmware files?

I can't bind to either of Receivers OR flash their firmware.

On the store side, you folks say "...at Aloft we offer a wonderful professionally written series of manuals...
We do our best to keep these manuals up to date with any changes with OpenTX and FrSky.
We highly recommend these manuals for everyone, new or not."

I've read on other sites that your manuals are good, but where are they?
I read blog posts with links to them but they're all broken!
"404 page not found" here at alofthobbies.

I'd have commented sooner but first I had to discover unaided that I needed a separate account
(from the store account) to log in here at "help/forums".
Show me the manuals. PLEASE.

 

[HENNY]

Who still uses the old Ardu pilot Flight controllers. There were out dated 5 years ago.

 

[Konrad]

...

I'd have commented sooner but first I had to discover unaided that I needed a separate account
(from the store account) to log in here at "help/forums".
Show me the manuals. PLEASE.

Really? It is standard practice to have separate credentials for the sales site and the blog forums. This way a firm can separate the valued customer from the trolling forum poster.
The first page of the forum asks you to open an account. Sounds like a simple enough set of instructions.

Have the links not been showing up for the manuals and instructions posted earlier?
FrSky for the maintenance of the radio.
OpenTX the user interface (Operating system, Mixer based)
And then the great comprehensive manual by Lothar Thole. This is an independent, nonprofit effort. They are not free as there is a large publication cost associated with printing of the manuals. But they are well worth it! I can tell you that these manual have saved me hours and hours of frustration.

Now I will tell you that none of these manuals will tell you how to interface with a FC. That is to be found in the support documents of the particular FC you are using.

From where I'm sitting the issue is with your FC documentation and your assumptions not supported in the documentation. Please step back and do a systematic assessment of the problem. I see where folks like Kilrah have tried to guide you away form some traps you look like you are about to fall into.

To be clear Aloft in my LHS. I have NO association with Aloft Hobbies. I'm just a satisfied customer. While I too have issues with FrSky, it has been Aloft's customer support (Yes, I've had to pay a few times, for the service tech's skills*) that has made the FrSky experience worth while.

* That's not true I've had to pay only for parts needed.

 

[Required]

Um Henny, why do you bring ArduPilot into this discussion? I'm using PX4 fmu v2.

Someone replied with technical info about the benefits of inverted signal (active low logic)
As they say, hindsight is 20-20. IF I had known about this BEFORE purchasing, I would have chosen differently.

I researched diligently, I saw & heard only glowing reports about FrSky. NO mention of this problem.
Now I'm in the thick of it, trying to find an option that makes this "highly recommended" stuff work.

I learned that FrSky makes a "converter cable", it's for sale on their website. But they don't tell you squat about it (except the price!).
Overview (blank) Specifications (blank)

Probably intentionally, they don't want potential customers to know what they did, and all the trouble it caused.
It seems FrSky wants to obsolete as much of their competitor's stuff as possible, and make them buy new stuff.


I found mention of a DIY inverter cable.

https://imgur.com/a/dDPaZ

I'm a bit suspicious, it only converts in one direction.
I thought the RC radio communication was bi directional. Can anyone confirm or deny that?

So it seems my options are:
a) trash the FrSky Receivers, look for a different brand that will work.
b) trash the old PixHawk and buy a newer one that doesn't choke on inverted signals.

I coulda been flying today!

 

[Kilrah]

Again this doesn't have anything to do with FrSky, only with your FC.
FrSky provides standard SBUS, you can change brands all you want but any that does put out SBUS will be the same.
SBUS is unidirectional. Telemetry is typically sent back using a separate wire, and there are many options for that too. Again, that's a function of your FC.

 

[Konrad]

I researched diligently, I saw & heard only glowing reports about FrSky. NO mention of this problem.
Now I'm in the thick of it, trying to find an option that makes this "highly recommended" stuff work.

Really? I don't know how diligent your searches are. I rarely have anything glowing to say about FrSky. OpenTX and Aloft yes but FrSky the corporation No)! There are a plethora of problems with FrSky.

FrSky and OpenTX are very powerful and flexible products. This means there is often more than one way to accomplish any one task. This flexibility means that the products are squarely in the hobby sector and not in the consumer toy sector of the market.

Your misunderstanding of Duplex (bidirectional) communication and serial data streams leads me to again think you are assuming things that have not been stated in any manual or instruction sheet.

 

[HENNY]

I fly a multirotor using PX4 and Taranis and Horus radios. So I am uncertain what your actual problem is.

So is you are unable to get the Sbus connection working or is it the Telemetry from the PX4 back to your radio.

The sbus from the receiver is simple to connect. Take the Sbus from the receiver and plug it into the connector on the PX4 end connector called RC. The port called "SB" is an Sbus output designed to operate camera platforms etc.

If you want Pixhawk telemetry to drive Yaapu you need one of these. Included is a wiring diagram.

8.54US $ 5% di SCONTO|FrSky Telemetria Yaapu Cavo del Convertitore Pixhawk per Taranis X9D Più QX7 Ponticello T16 Intelligente Porta R9 Slim + R9 X8R XSR R9M X4R Ricevitore|Parts & Accessories| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

it.aliexpress.com

 

[Required]

Update: After a lot of frustration, I discovered the root cause of my Receiver problems.

The Receiver was getting power on the + and - pins, but the SBus signal was not connected.
I fabricated my own cables from salvaged 22 gage wires and a kit assortment of pins and shells.

The plastic shells have locking tabs to hold the pins in place, but there was about 2mm of "play"
present. So I pushed the pins as deep into the shell as possible and hot-glued the conductors to
the rear of the shell, to hold them in place more securely.

Problem solved! I did the same to all my ESC signal pairs.
Apologies for my rants about FrSky.

 

[Konrad]

Good to learn you found the root problem.

2mm of play sounds like a problem I've never seen with any of the connector types used by FrSky. So what specifically was wrong with the connector. I assume with the "locking feature" these weren't the JR style.

I ask as most electrical pins and connectors (female) have a spring feature to to make contact with the pin (male). If these are damaged your hot glue will not help keep the connection electrically secured. Vibration from your props will cause problem in the future with poor or failed connectors! (Pushed back and fretted pins are the bane of electrical systems in full size aviation).

Please go back and find your failed connectors and replace them with connectors functioning as designed.

 

[JMP 13]

I just purchased a new FrSKY Tandem 18X TX and TD R6 RX and am asking how to delete planes in the TX. I've made multiple attempts to set-up my first plane, get stuck by not understanding the instruction steps (or my screens do not match the instructions), get out of the set-up mode, go back in to retry and there are all my previous attempts. How do I delete them?

Thanks for your help,

JP

 

[HENNY]

I just purchased a new FrSKY Tandem 18X TX and TD R6 RX and am asking how to delete planes in the TX. I've made multiple attempts to set-up my first plane, get stuck by not understanding the instruction steps (or my screens do not match the instructions), get out of the set-up mode, go back in to retry and there are all my previous attempts. How do I delete them?

Thanks for your help,

JP

Long press the model key to change models scroll down and the delete function is there. You can only delete a model that is not your current model.

Ethos user manual found here https://www.frsky-rc.com/wp-content...X20S/X20 and Ethos User Manual_1.1.1_rev2.pdf