John-Frederick Davie

Hi Folks - Im a self-confessed buyer of old E-bay and the like - 20th hand aeroplanes. I have noticed a worryingly large number of plastic component failures. notably, control horns. I have not had a flight failure - more often than not when hooking up control rods etc. Another notable was the tailplane breaking up, on both a plastic 'Jupiter' and its high wing mate, a Ready. Just a light tap and the surface shatters. One material I know (professionally), that is damaged by UV is Kevlar. It has to be protected - early test specimens failed at half the expected load after UV exposure. The trick is there would appear to be plenty of plastic components that DO-NOT degrade with UV exposure or aging - any recommendations guys, as what to go for? RamseyMAC - J. D.

FITTING AN INTERNAL MODULE…...I don't know if this has come-up in another thread however its worth posting. I got myself an 'E' but as things go just couldn't get on with it so have gone back to my 'D'. With the 'E' I wanted to be able to use both the international firmware and the LBT. I purchased the relevant module, and set to, not a difficult task in any way. Come the first flight using this module everything checked out ok extended range checks etc. Then the flight, almost as soon as the plot was airborne, we were in trouble with a lost radio link. The link seemed to reconnect and a landing attempted. First approach had to be aborted and round again, rounding out at altitude for finals the link was lost again and the plane dived vertically into the ground. Then came the good news, it had dived into a goodly pile of rotting onions and was virtually undamaged. After recovering to the flight line, again all the good checks were carried out with every check passing A+, instant loss of faith and much head scratching. A while later I, once again had cause to pull the back off the ‘E’, taking a look inside and the DJT module didn’t look right. It appeared to be cocked up on one side, understanding began to dawn. The DJT incorporation calls for the modules top cover to be removed and discarded. The module is them positioned and the friction of the pins holds the assembly in place. Now the rub!! The circuit board itself is NOT retained within the module; it’s only the friction of the socket on the pins that retains the assembly. It would appear that the module case is retained OK, its just the circuit board that can come free within it. A poor insertion, a less than solid insertion, rough handling of the Tx, a bumpy car ride and a disaster is there waiting to happen. Some ‘rough handling’ tests then proved that the circuit board can slip off its mating pins. The cure? A healthy dose of hot-melt holding the cct board within the module case. Some more rough handling tests were successful. Pity I couldn’t get on with the ‘E’, maybe in the future!

It is relativly easy to set-up Taranis in Trainer mode In this case My X9D was master and my friends X9D set as slave. However my X9D does not see the slave inputs when the two are connected. This is visiable in the Radio Setup Page4 Trainer. When linked the bottom line shows the Slave stick values and the cal can be run. With my X9D as master the values remain at Zero. Swap the status with my friend's X9D as master - mine as slave, all the values can be seem and call'ed correctly. We both run OpenTx 2.1 and I have reflashed my firmware all to no avail! Help!!!

I’m having a little trouble flashing a ‘external device’ from the X9E. I successfully downloaded OTxC 2.1 to my PC and have upgraded the X9E to this std. I flashed the LBT firmware to the X9E OK and now have the three .flk files on its SD card.( I get D8/D16/LR12 on the mode button ok) Iv’e just had a go to try and flash LBT on a Rx – in this case a X6R – I knocked up a ‘bodgie’ lead, swopping the +/_ pins at the X9E module end As a first test I connected the lead at the Tx end (sig lead to the top of the Tx) checked with a DVM on the other end of the lead – nothing! Buzzed the lead and it checked out fine. Removed the lead and checked for power at the pin block – no sign of 5Vdc! I have obviously gone wrong somewhere! Q. does the Mode have to be set to D16? Q. Do the Chans need to be set to 1 – 16? Q. does the Ext module need to be set to off? Q. Can I flash X6R’s with the latest LBT firmware or is it only X8R’s Many thanks guys!

Hi Andy and thanks for that - however it doesn't work with Win 7, and Im holding off on Win 10! Another new OpSys woild strain my limited interlectual powers to breaking point! Regards......... JayDee

Hi - yes indeed. I had success last night when the penny dropped that the X9E was not on the correct firmware, it was on 2.0 - I up issued to 2.1.17 and the download to the internal XJT works faultlessly. Many thanks..

I am using Open Tx Companion 2.1.17

I am attempting to flash my X9E's firmware to the 2016 LBT EU firmware. The version I have used is Vers 151223 issued 23/12/15. I downloaded the file from FrSky - then in Bootloader mode, sucked it off the PC and put it into the firmwares file.on the 9E Then accessed the SD card, went to Firmwears highlighted XJT_LBT_build 151223.frk and hit 'flash internal module'. The download worked just fine, BUT when checking the op modes in model set-up all I have is D16 which is indicating that I am still on the pre '16 EU firmwear............ HELP!

Thanks Mike didnt know that - in actual fact only just upgraded my 9D to OTx Comp V 2.1.17 - from the old 27?? standard. So LBT will address/bind with my mass of V8FR-II receivers then? No need for the DJT. - thats good news. ....... JayDee

Again I suppose everyone knows this - The LBT firmware comes from FrSky as a .rar file. Download a free copy of 7Zip to extract the file from the compressed format - EasyPeasy! (got a model called that!!) ......JayDee

Couple of interesting points about the X9E. Fitting a DJT module: I followed the 'yellow brick road' with the exception of the extended antenna lead - I used one that I had handy. Bound ok to a Int standard Rx and tried a flight. Lost the radio link almost straight away and lucky to recover the model with minumum damage. Range checked out to 100 meters all good. Purchesed the recomended lead from T9 - fitted OK and back to the flying field - extended range check fine - flight fine - solid control all the way. Assumption, the antenna lead I fitted originally duff. Now Im looking to flash LBT firmware and its 'peer into its soul' again - I take out the DJT - taking a good look at the pins - the ones used to flash Rx's - Happy with the initial look so its back in with the DJT - and here is the problem ! Looking down at the DJT it was apparent that the CCT board was cocked up to one side, the Tx pins had not engaged correctly, simple to wriggle it about to get it in correctly - Conclusion, its easy to fit the DJT into position and displace the CCT board!!! Almost certain this was the cause of my original crash. The fix? a goodly load of hot-melt fixing the CCT board firmly in its case. Second interesting point: Though everyone will say 'Everyone knows that!' Had trouble getting into Bootloader mode. The 3 finger shuffle produced a line of writing then disappeared, just leaving a lit blank screen. Played around many times - then the penny dropped - Trims inward - Power On - observe info and instantly release the power button - bingo, into bootloader mode. Oh another wrinkle if you are a DJT user with your 9E - you need access to the bind button on the DJT to bind. OK easy to lever the back off the 'E' - However a hole trepanned over the DJT's position and one of those little rubber car floor bungs (Halfords) makes for a real easy access point - my hole is aprox 25mm. Hope these couple of points are useful................... Jay Dee

Hi Masher - my advice to you - Go forth my good man, bag of gold in hand and have a serious conversation with T9 Hobby Sport or Banggood et al. You know it makes sence. .My struts are the plastic ones, I have not seen the latest metal ones so cant really comment IMHO Fr-Sky would have done better to have ommited the struts completely. They could have designed a good after market tray to suit. I think the integral struts are just a gimick. As the D does just everything I reckon the E will do all of that and even more everything. I have not attempted a copy (see aforementioned whimp status) But as Im putting models on selectivly, its no great pain to enter them via finger. One day I will get to grips with Open Tx and really learn. Edited By John-Frederick Davie on 31/12/2015 16:10:27

Not long had my 'E' - (I'm an owner of a 'D' as well). But let me hasten to add, I am not an experienced flyer, I’m still an ‘A’ grade at the 'stagger around the circuit' level. Seduced by the looks of the 'E' and of course owning something new and shinny, I made it my early Xmas present. First impressions, great, liked the layout and the general good looks. The gash bits, well the rubbish harness and the equally rubbish struts mating to the harness. I purchased a DJT module to suit the mix and match of FR-Sky receivers that I own, fitting was simplicity itself and once I had read the ‘destructions’ correctly, the bind procedure was straightforward as well. The next step was to try it out in real time. I configured my trusty Ready 2 and with everything ready to go, that’s where the problems really began. I had learnt the control function as ‘thumbs on top’ flyer; the new ‘finger & thumb grip’ really did for me. Getting the plot airborne and doing the usual circuits required more than usual concentration, but oh dear, the landings. The bill for props was becoming ridiculous; I even got a Xmas card from Inwood’s my local dealer, for outstanding prop customer! I went back to try ‘thumbs on top’ and as awkward as it was with the existing layout, at last I managed a half decent landing; it was time for modifications. First off the suspension system and harness; a rugby training harness was acquired and a couple of dog leads. A touch of Cyno and scissors produced a fine harness. So easy to do, I also made one to fit when wearing my bulky cold-weather suit. I decided to make a suitable tray; the base plate from an old DVD player was pressed into service. My bandsaw soon produced a pleasing shape then a few hours on the mill liberated a pair of attachments hooks from a block of Ali. Not to many detail modifications and I had a serviceable tray. I looked long and hard at the on-board suspension struts with the thought to remove the assemblies, saving weight, in the end they were left in place. What I did do, was to trepan a 25mm hole in the rear cover, sealed with a car floor rubber bung, to give easy access to the module switches. In order to facilitate ‘thumbs on’ I dumped the plastic ‘ears’ – sorry wrist supports and it was back out to the flying field. Glory be! I made the first decent landing in an age; I think the Ready2 also breathed a sigh of relief! Now for the detail mods: The existing sticks were too long for comfortable ‘thumbs on’. It was not a great deal of trouble to liberate a pair of suitably sized sticks from some M10 Ali. bar stock. Fitted them today, they feel ‘the dogs b***ocks’, just the right height. When storms Adam to Zebedee finally go; it’s back out to the field to test and evaluate. The Tx itself, I am not a great PC user, even the thought of hooking up the Tx to the PC gave me the twitches. My ‘D’ still remains with the original firmware that Fr-Sky provided; I am far too much of a whimp to even try and up-grade on my own! What I have noticed with the ‘E’ is that most of the set-up remains familiar to me. My one gripe so far, how the heck do you easily reverse servos? With the ‘D’ it was easypeezy, but now I seem to have to do a raft of button pressing to achieve the same thing; the rest of it is coming to me. With all set-up tasks I only attempt them when the need arises; I then learn and document the task for future reference. What a ‘Wally’, I hear you sneer! Conclusions; well I love my new shinny thing and one day far into the future I may actually get too know how to get the best from it (but I’m not holding my breath)!!

Hi John -thanks for the offer - Im in Huntingdon Cambs..........................

Alex - many thanks! The 'adjustable spanner' gave a C of G at 50 mm from the LE. I have compromised and ballasted to achieve the 75 mm position. We will give that a go and see how it goes. Thanks again.....................JayDee