Bruce Austin Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 Hi there MattyB, Bruce here again, and the gradual dawning is in progress. What might help me speed up a bit more, would be a link to the latest available glossary for the Taranis and Open TX abbreviations???? Please. Go With the Flow Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Austin Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 Oh, and thank you for those video links Go With the Flow Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyB Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Posted by Bruce Austin on 06/02/2016 13:44:37: ...What might help me speed up a bit more, would be a link to the latest available glossary for the Taranis and Open TX abbreviations???? Please. Unfortunately you have hit upon probably the only major weak point of OpenTX - as it evolves so rapidly compared to proprietary systems, the documentation often lags behind the latest version. The is understandable though when you consider those coding it are giving up their time to do it for free, so writing up user manuals isn't probably top of their list! That means you often need to do a bit of Googling to find solutions to issues you may have, or ask a question on OpenRCForums or RCGroups where most of the OpenTX gurus tend to hang out. Luckily though there is now a manual available for OpenTX 2.0 - you can view it here. Telemetry has since changed a fair bit in 2.1, but the fundamentals of inputs, mixers, logical switches etc all remain the same, so for your use this will be fine. I'm sure there is a telemetry wiki out there too somewhere that will cover off the big changes in 2.1... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Austin Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 MattyB, thank you for that amazingly fast response, and link, yet again! I have just had a very quick glance, and this is just exactly what I was looking for!!! You guys are nothing short of miraculous, with all this information that you are able to provide. This whole Open TX and the Taranis just seems so amazing for the relatively small amount of money compared with other TX offerings out there. Seems to me that the best way to show my appreciation is to roll up the sleeves and get on with the studying of HOW, and then to dig into my pockets and purchase this "magic machine", then start "rubbing" it to let the Genie loose on my planes. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the continuing enlightenment. Go With the Flow Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatscoleymo Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Bruce - you canna go wrong with Taranis... I've had mine for nearly 2 & 1/2 years now and it does everything I need and want it to do, and is not difficult to program, once you get into it. No more so than I remember the rest being on 1st aquaintance... (mind I hardly remember anything these days)... I came from Futaba, then JR and was always consulting the manuals. I've found with Taranis that the logical 'flow' during programing means I just think it through and rarely now have to look at the 'manuals' that I originally printed out from the online sources. I was at the field last year with a buddy who had programmed throttle cut into his IC planes and I thought what a good idea - it took just a couple of minutes there and then to add an extra line to the mix and asign a switch and I had it... So much help from the various forums online if ya do get stuck... Wonderful bit of kit....the rx and sensors are inexpensive, the radio link is rocksolid, rx battery readout and alarms great, RSSI is very reassuring, telemetry great, companion excellent (although I don't use it)..... and you can mod it if you want to (as mine was an early one I did the speaker upgrade and bigger battery and charger upgrade - all of course now standard on Taranis +) spares are cheap and easily obtained. I'd never 'dared' look inside a tranny before - in fact only a few years ago it cost me about £70 to have the internal battery changed on my JR set!!!..... never again..... Go on - you know it makes sense! Fats Mmmmm... I do sound a bit evangelical there.... but you get my drift I hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Posted by Fatscoleymo on 06/02/2016 15:31:08: Mmmmm... I do sound a bit evangelical there.... but you get my drift I hope That's the thing I have found with the Taranis. If you are prepared to accept that its basic programming structure is not menu driven and invest just a little time in accepting it for what it is, rather than treating it as "just another transmitter", then is really rewards you and you do develop that evangelical zeal for it and start thinking "why aren't all transmitters like this?"! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy48 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Posted by MattyB on 06/02/2016 14:34:52: Unfortunately you have hit upon probably the only major weak point of OpenTX - as it evolves so rapidly compared to proprietary systems, the documentation often lags behind the latest version. The is understandable though when you consider those coding it are giving up their time to do it for free, so writing up user manuals isn't probably top of their list! I'm working on it! Once I've got enough done, I'll ask Beth if she can stick a few PDFs on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Austin Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Well, I have been "first time" reading through, and watching a variety of videos on the preliminaries of using the Taranis and following quite a few links, as one does during a wet and windy weekend! One particular video was aimed at the absolutely new Taranis user, explaining how to set up a basic RETA model with separate servos for ailerons. This I found to be the easiest to follow, step by step. It had a duration of fifty odd minutes and was made by a Czech. UNFORTUNATELY, I now cannot find it. I'm reasonably sure that it had the Open TX logo and was marked episode 1. But when I try that search,I come up with a different video by somebody else. Can somebody please give me a link back to the Czech video. His language was not perfect but the various steps were taken slowly and were easy to follow, I would definitely try to view that one again. Some of the other videos which I have watched, I, probably (because it's so new to me), I found didn't go slow enough to follow the actual menu button cycling process between the actual set up steps. So, I think what I am discovering is that there are probably two types of tutorial, or maybe tutors??? One geared toward the absolute newcomer, like me, and the other is for the guy who has used his Taranis for maybe six months and is more familiar with its operation. I am high-lighting my perceptions, because I think it may help those attempting to impart information, to a specific audience type, and also for the audience types who can then select the information type (for newbies) or for (the more experienced). I emphasise that, in my case, I am a Newbie just trying to get a "try before I buy". There is certainly a ton, no, many tons, of help out there, and in this forum and within this thread. Thanks guys, I am being convinced that the Taranis Plus is the way to go. (I didn't need much convincing) Now I must just gather together some cash and do the deed!!! The other thing that I and other newbies might benefit from is knowing which Frsky Receivers are needed for variometers, and other telemetry, as we would need to purchase a couple along with our new Taranis???? In conclusion, can you guys provide some more links to videos for absolute newbies to the Taranis, its related receivers, and telemetry, please? Thank you all for your patience with the newbies. Go With the Flow Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 The simplest route for telemetry beyond the built-in receiver voltage and signal strength is to use S-port devices on X series receivers. Then you can daisychain your variometer, LiPo voltage sensor etc. together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy48 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Posted by Bruce Austin on 08/02/2016 10:51:35: Some of the other videos which I have watched, I, probably (because it's so new to me), I found didn't go slow enough to follow the actual menu button cycling process between the actual set up steps. This is why its easier to learn using the Companion, I believe. You can learn the button presses later when you understand how OpenTX works and need to do some editing down at the field. I set up all my models using just the Companion. Try setting up a model using the Companion wizard, and then look at the various screens to see what has happened. The simulator can then be used to see what happens when you tweak various lines or numbers. There are 4 basic receivers that allow telemetry, the X4R the small 3/4 channel lightweight receiver which comes in 2 variants, the X6R and the X8R, 6 channel and 8 channel respectively. Personally I see little point in the 6 channel version especially as the cost is almost the same. If you're flying powered gliders, you may want to look at the current sensor, which will keep track of how much current you have used, and can be set up to warn you when the battery is nearing its usable current capacity. This is far more reliable than using just voltage sensing as that can fluctuate considerably depending on power drawn. Oops, post crossed Bob! Edited By Andy48 on 08/02/2016 11:08:27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 ps - don't confuse S(mart)-Port telemetry port with S-Bus servo output! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Austin Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 ps - don't confuse S(mart)-Port telemetry port with S-Bus servo output! Ohhhhh.......Kaaayyyyyy????? Ahemmmmm!!!!! Thank you Bob for those wise words of warning, gulp, gulp, gulp???? I need a little enlightenment here please, or link to where I can find it, if this thread is not appropriate. Just a basic outline as to what the difference is, please. I have not yet dabbled in the telemetry side of things, other than basic recording of altitude via an HK recording device plugged into a spare channel on a Frsky Delta 8 RX, then downloaded onto my laptop. Go With the Flow Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy48 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 The X series receivers have two ports on them, the S-Bus servo output which allows one to link many S-bus enabled servos back to this one port. This is useful with a large complex model that needs way above 8 channels. Otherwise forget all about it! The Smart Port is what you will connect your telemetry into. Each sensor is linked in a daisy chain fashion from one to the next. As each sensor has a unique ID, the telemetry can differentiate between each sensor. While OpenTX can now accept a range of different makes of sensor, without a fair amount of electronics and programming skill it is not for everyone. Instead stick to the FrSky sensors designated for the Smart Port system. They are excellent value for money. Follow the link for the ones available. **LINK** The beauty of the Smart Port system is that most sensors can be transferred between models in seconds, so you only need one each of these. The exceptions are the air speed sensor - this needs building into the plane, usually before any covering is applied, and possibly the RPM sensor, which really is more useful for specialist applications or perhaps while testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 They're two of the sets of pins on the receiver Bruce. S-port is at the aerial end, SBus is under the servo pins. S-Port or SmarPort is the telemetry input socket which you would plug your vario into. It is also used to update the receivers internal programming (firmware). S-Bus or Serial Bus is a way of connecting s-bus compatible servos directly in series, or ordinary servos through an Sbus decoder, using a single output from the receiver . FrSky Sbus is similar to Futaba's in concept and execution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Andy types quicker than I do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Austin Posted February 8, 2016 Author Share Posted February 8, 2016 Thanks Bob and Andy for the lifebelt. I was feeling a wee bit out of my depth there. Yes, I'm sure that I can cope with the Smart-port stuff. Now to get back to my Taranis studies! Mmmmm, that feels better already. Go With the Flow Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy48 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Posted by Bob Cotsford on 08/02/2016 12:46:07: Andy types quicker than I do! You beat me last time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Austin Posted February 9, 2016 Author Share Posted February 9, 2016 OK Andy and Bob, Wide eyed panic attack over. I had a look at your telemetry links, and all very understandable and within budgets. Thanks guys. I'm working my way through the Open TX University on one screen and have the OpenTX simulator on another screen, pressing buttons and coming along nicely for the moment. I can see what is happening, and the prompting menus are straight forward enough for getting going with basic model operation to start with. I am quite encouraged with this, my first "hands on" read through with the simulator to play with. Go With the Flow Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy48 Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Have you used the model wizard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Austin Posted February 9, 2016 Author Share Posted February 9, 2016 No Andy I have not been aware of that animal yet???? I had seen a brief mention of that somewhere, but had not allowed that distraction yet. Please enlighten me about "Model Wizard". Go With the Flow Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Austin Posted February 9, 2016 Author Share Posted February 9, 2016 Hi Bruce here again. I am finding the naming and using the text symbols quite tedious when I make an error and wish to delete a symbol. What is the recommended / practical way of doing this, please. I'm still currently using the simulator and coping quite well on the learning curve. See previous fourth post back. By the way I have been trying to detect a post numbering arrangement on these forums for ease of referencing, but haven't observed it yet???? (e.g. RC Groups system). Go With the Flow Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 your in another world on ModelFlying! As for text symbols - I'm not quite sure what you mean? I just use the drop-down boxes to select what I want, it's quick enough in companion using a scroll wheel mouse, a bit more of a pain programming the transmitter directly and having to scroll through the lists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy48 Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 The wizard is by far the quickest and easiest way to understand what the Taranis is doing and to set up a model. Load the Companion. Go to file and new (top left hand corner). A small window will open up. Right click on the line 01, below general settings, and you will find the model wizard in the list. Follow the wizard through for the plane you want to create. When complete, right click again on the same line 01 (now with your model name in it) and this time go to edit. Explore the editing screens and see how the wizard has programmed your model. enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 One good point on programming via the transmitter is that switch/stick selection can be made by moving the control/switch so there's no need to scroll through the list for a particular configuration item. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy48 Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Bob, we'll have to stop cross posting like this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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