Receiver programming troubles

[rc rookie 540]

Hi, I’m pretty new to RC flying and am just learning to programming my DX6e transmitter and receivers. I just bought a Flightline P-51 and have installed a Spectrum AR630 receiver. When I bind my transmitter nothing works. No ailerons, elevators or throttle. Receiver is brand new right out of the package.
Any tips appreciated.

TIA

[Gilatrout]

Check the orientation of the servo wires plugged into the rx. I recommend removing the prop before doing any testing to be safe

[SanExup]

And move the TX away from the Rx by at least 6 feet. I have had trouble binding when too close. Also, use the method of plugging in the Rx before turning on the TX while holding down the bind button and then release the bind button as the binding initiates.

[SanExup]

Also, consider a high wing trainer if you don't have one already. You'll learn more about modeling than flying, if this is your first plane, or your first low wing. If it is your first low wing, teach yourself about lower rates and expo. Exponential is handy in taming a squirrely plane, but your rates have to be reduced as well. The low rates the book gives should probably be what gets set as high or mid rates.

Spektrum has some great YouTube vids on programming if you haven't come across them already.

[kallend]

Hi, I’m pretty new to RC flying and am just learning to programming my DX6e transmitter and receivers. I just bought a Flightline P-51 and have installed a Spectrum AR630 receiver. When I bind my transmitter nothing works. No ailerons, elevators or throttle. Receiver is brand new right out of the package.
Any tips appreciated.

TIA

1. Join a club and get an experienced modeler to help you.

2. A model P-51 is not a RC trainer any more than a fullsize P-51 is a trainer for full-size flying. It wil just cause you frustration and grief.

[rc rookie 540]

Check the orientation of the servo wires plugged into the rx. I recommend removing the prop before doing any testing to be safe

That was problem number one. Nowhere in the receiver manual or the transmitter manual was that mentioned. Swapped them and the receiver came alive.
next issue was how to determine the neutral position for the elevator servo? The aileron servos were fine but I don’t get more than a couple percent of down elevator travel when set to manufacturer settings. Up seems fine.

Last problem is the throttle. I set the throttle cut off at the manufacturer recommended values but the motor will only turn very low rpm at full throttle. Unresponsive at any lower settings and will not stop when throttle is reduced to idle. Only when I flip the throttle cut off switch does it stop.

Appreciate the help. Have not found an active RC club in my area yet.

[rc rookie 540]

Also, consider a high wing trainer if you don't have one already. You'll learn more about modeling than flying, if this is your first plane, or your first low wing. If it is your first low wing, teach yourself about lower rates and expo. Exponential is handy in taming a squirrely plane, but your rates have to be reduced as well. The low rates the book gives should probably be what gets set as high or mid rates.

Spektrum has some great YouTube vids on programming if you haven't come across them already.

[rc rookie 540]

I have seen some YouTube videos on programming and found them useful. None of the ones I watched mentioned the orientation of the servo connectors. Guess I am used to electric connectors only fitting one way.

The P-51 will be my sixth plane. Most of my others were BNF while the P-51 is a PNF which is new to me.

[SanExup]

Rookie RCDo you have a battery checker/servo tester? Spektrum makes one. Center your servos with the sevo tester before anything and make the mechanical adjustments in the plane. Avoid centering with the radio, centering mechanically is the way to go.

Not sure what you mean "I don’t get more than a couple percent of down elevator travel when set to manufacturer settings. Up seems fine."

Or "Last problem is the throttle. I set the throttle cut off at the manufacturer recommended values but the motor will only turn very low rpm at full throttle. Unresponsive at any lower settings and will not stop when throttle is reduced to idle. Only when I flip the throttle cut off switch does it stop."

Are you making adjustments or trying to set rates in the servo settings/servo travel? You'll want to zero everything out and start over if that's the case. Set your rates in the dual rate/expo menu option. Not in the servo travel menu option.

And then you need to calibrate your esc.

[SanExup]

Do not put the prop on until you've 100% worked out the throttle setting issues.

[kallend]

I have seen some YouTube videos on programming and found them useful. None of the ones I watched mentioned the orientation of the servo connectors. Guess I am used to electric connectors only fitting one way.

The P-51 will be my sixth plane. Most of my others were BNF while the P-51 is a PNF which is new to me.

If you look carefully at Spektrum receiver ports you will see that they are slightly "D" shaped rather than being perfectly rectangular. This is most easily seen on the "Bind/Prog/SRXL2" port. Spektrum servo plugs are similarly shaped. Your Fliteline servos may or may not have that shape but it is generally obvious which way in they go. The AR630 receiver also has a "-+~" symbol on the case next to the "Bind/Prog/SRXL2" port to show which way the plugs go in (mine do, anyway).

While it is certainly possible to force the plugs in the wrong orientation (which apparently you managed to do), it should be pretty easy to see which way they should go if you look carefully.

[rc rookie 540]

Rookie RCDo you have a battery checker/servo tester? Spektrum makes one. Center your servos with the sevo tester before anything and make the mechanical adjustments in the plane. Avoid centering with the radio, centering mechanically is the way to go.

I have a battery tester but that’s all it does as far as I know. It just says “Digital Battery Capacity Checkerl”

Not sure what you mean "I don’t get more than a couple percent of down elevator travel when set to manufacturer settings. Up seems fine."

Before I did anything I physically moved the servo are to center. Is that incorrect? Then I connected the elevator pushrods to the servo. Once I got the receiver bound and working I followed the instructions to set high and low rates on a switch. When I command up elevator it is to spec of 14mm up. When down is commanded it’s only 2mm down.

Or "Last problem is the throttle. I set the throttle cut off at the manufacturer recommended values but the motor will only turn very low rpm at full throttle. Unresponsive at any lower settings and will not stop when throttle is reduced to idle. Only when I flip the throttle cut off switch does it stop."

Are you making adjustments or trying to set rates in the servo settings/servo travel? You'll want to zero everything out and start over if that's the case. Set your rates in the dual rate/expo menu option. Not in the servo travel menu option.

And then you need to calibrate your esc.

I have never calibrated an esc. I would wager that’s he problem with the throttle.
I will remove the prop before trying anything else.

Your answers are much appreciated.

[rc rookie 540]

Needed my reading glasses to see the small + and - markings. I’m used to seeing red for positive and black for negative. The servos seem to use red for positive and brown for negative. Is there a specific reason for that?

If you look carefully at Spektrum receiver ports you will see that they are slightly "D" shaped rather than being perfectly rectangular. This is most easily seen on the "Bind/Prog/SRXL2" port. Spektrum servo plugs are similarly shaped. Your Fliteline servos may or may not have that shape but it is generally obvious which way in they go. The AR630 receiver also has a "-+~" symbol on the case next to the "Bind/Prog/SRXL2" port to show which way the plugs go in (mine do, anyway).

While it is certainly possible to force the plugs in the wrong orientation (which apparently you managed to do), it should be pretty easy to see which way they should go if you look carefully.

[kallend]

Needed my reading glasses to see the small + and - markings. I’m used to seeing red for positive and black for negative. The servos seem to use red for positive and brown for negative. Is there a specific reason for that?

No idea why some brands do that. Freewing uses brown/red/yellow** for regular servos and black/red/white for reverse rotation servos. I think Futaba uses black/red/white for all.

** the yellow can be light orangy and the red can be dark orangy.

The good news is that because the (+) is in the center, putting the plug in backwards doesn't generally do any damage.

[Evan D]

Back in the day Futaba was black red white and JR red orange brown, they were the most popular system (and Airtronics). JR always was reverse of Futaba's direction, their reverse was the same as Futaba normal. Some manufacturers have retained that and FreeWing is one of them. There was also a difference in their connectors with Futaba having a little tab and JR not. We that still have Futaba shave off that tab and the corners on the connectors so they fit in mot of the receivers out there. There are some connectors that are rectangles without the shaved corners. You can force them in but best to shave the corners. this also applies to HiTec and a lot of "aftermarket" servos you can get. I think the only one still different, if you can get the, are Airtronics but I'm not sure.

No idea why some brands do that. Freewing uses brown/red/yellow** for regular servos and black/red/white for reverse rotation servos. I think Futaba uses black/red/white for all.

** the yellow can be light orangy and the red can be dark orangy.

The good news is that because the (+) is in the center, putting the plug in backwards doesn't generally do any damage.