Setting Up The Radio.
Set Up
Controls Fuselage Radio 1 Engine Undercarriage Wings Linkages Radio 2 Assembly Last Checks And Finally
If you are at the flying field, ensure that you have the sole use of the frequency peg for the frequency you will be using by obtaining the appropriate frequency peg and that you fully understand the frequency control system in operation. Do not depend on what the guy in the model shop told you or what is written on the box of the transmitter.
Switching on.
- The transmitter.
- The crystal in the transmitter will be identified by either a frequency or a frequency number. For a list of the frequencies used and the corresponding frequency numbers, see Fail Deadly. If you can get the use of a frequency scanner, use this to verify your crystal.
- Move all the control trims to their centre (neutral) position and put the throttle stick to it's midpoint.
- If fitted, switch all dual-rate switches to "full" movement. This may be "off" or "1" depending on the manufacturer.
- Switch the transmitter "on".
- Check that the battery/signal indicator goes to the fully charged position. If not the transmitter requires charging.
- The receiver.
- Switch on the receiver power.
- Moving the "sticks" on the transmitter should cause the servos and controls to move. If nothing happens, check that the battery is connected properly to the switch harness and receiver and is fully charged. If this is not the problem, switch off the power and check that the receiver crystal is matched to the transmitter crystal - they should both have the same value.
- Check that the receiver switch is now in the position indicated by the "On" indicator on the switch ie. "on" means power on - it's very easy to get this wrong and if you do the receiver battery willl be flat when you get to the flying field and you'll definitely not be flying that day.
The servos.
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Each servo should be set up in turn so that the servo arm is at 90° to the pushrod it is operating when the controlling stick and the trim lever are in the neutral position. If this is confusing then check the diagram at the side.
- Neutral position.
- In each sticks' neutral position, the servo arm should be straight out the side of the servo.
- Check that the ailerons are in the neutral position on the wings.
- Check that the elevator is in the neutral position on the tailplane.
- Check that the rudder is in the neutral position on the tailfin.
- Control surface movements.
- Check that the ailerons move in the correct direction when the aileron control is moved to the left and right.
- Check that the aileron servo movement is sufficient to give the movement on the ailerons required by the aircraft (as recommended by the aircraft manufacturer).
- Check that the elevator moves in the correct direction when the elevato control is moved up and down.
- Check that the elevator servo movement is sufficient to give the movement on the elevator required by the aircraft (as recommended by the aircraft manufacturer).
- Check that the rudder moves in the correct direction when the rudder control is moved to the left and right.
- Check that the rudder servo movement is sufficient to give the movement on the rudder required by the aircraft (as recommended by the aircraft manufacturer).
- Check that (if fitted) the steerable nose gear or tail wheel moves in the correct direction when the rudder control is moved. If you're not sure which way the wheel should point, move the rudder control all the way to the right and push the model forward. The model should try to steer to the right. Moving the rudder stick to the left makes the model steer to the left.
- Check that (if fitted) the steerable nose wheel movement is not excessive. It should be about 1/3 to 1/2 the rudder movement.
- Throttle.
- Check that the throttle control opens the hole in the carburetor when moved forward and closes it when the throttle control is moved back.
- Check that when the throttle control is fully back (remember to move the trim lever back as well!), the hole in the carburetor barrel is fully closed.
- Check that when the throttle control is moved fully forward (with the trim lever forward), the hole in the carburetor barrel is fully open.
- Check that when the throttle control is fully closed and the trim lever moved forward, the hole in the carburetor barrel is about an 1/8th way open.
- Fouling.
- Move all the transmitter controls into all possible positions and combinations, remembering to move all of the trims as well.
- There should be no clashing or binding of any of the controls. This is usually audible as a servo "buzzes" when it is stalled.
- Check that there is no mechanical interference between any one control and any other. This can usually be done visibly - ie. no control run should collide with any other or get tangled up in servo leads etc.
Now switch off the receiver and then the transmitter.
Set Up
Controls Fuselage Radio 1 Engine Undercarriage Wings Linkages Radio 2 Assembly Last Checks And Finally