Post by rdstarwalt on Apr 19, 2012 11:54:15 GMT -6
If you are reading this, the chances are good that you have a computer which can be used for a flight simulator.
The virtues of a 'sim' will not be debated in this post, but the value of a sim depends on your experience and ability.
In short, crashing (and you WILL crash if you fly) is much cheaper with a sim than with your shiny new Nova, GeekStar, etc.
If you are like me and also dabbling in rotary wing aircraft, it is almost an essential step in skill building.
The simulator you see at the hobby shops is almost exclusively RealFlight 6 (or better).
This is a super great product with two versions, fixed or rotary, packaging (one has more of the rotary wings than the other).
The control box is superb and the gimbals are high quality with no squishy or binding points.
My only problem was the price - $200 US retail.
My big build now is an Arducopter based on the 3DR 'B' chassis (quadcopter).
I have a huge amount of time and material invested in it and still havent' purchased the APM (Ardupilot Module) yet.
Because flying rotary is very different than fixed, I needed a sim.
I am collecting material to make a Nova and the sim still was a very good idea.
What does anyone looking for a budget based piece of tech do? EBAY!
Trolling ebay is an art in itself and best set aside for another discussion.
In short I bought THIS unit for $0.99 plus shipping of $9.99.
The controller was cheap, and the FMS software is FREE.
I had visited the FMS site previously but was concerned about using a piece of software from an unknown source. Silly me.
The software works fine on my Dell610 laptop. XP is my OS on the Dell laptop. FMS file fms2alpha85.exe works for me.
A discussion of configuring the controller with FMS is best for another post. Make Magazine also mentions FMS in their latest issue, #30.
The MNQ-1 works for fixed and rotary wing aircraft, both included in FMS - WHAT A DEAL!
The unit I purchased was a 4 channel version. The box also has a checkspot for 6 channel.
Never one to let a new product stay untampered, I opened the controller up (6 philips #1 screws) to take a look inside.
The single, small circuit board has solder pads for two more potentiometers!
Can it be hacked to add two more channels? I will test this functionality later.
The control came as a Mode 1 unit.(See my post on Tx modes HERE)
Because I like throttle on the left stick, I had to disassemble the gimbals and move the centering spring/detent parts around to achieve this.
If there is interest, I can post a how-to on this later.
The control box cable has a 1/8 (or so) stereo plug that inserts into a USB adapter that connects to your PC.
Another possibility, if you have a newer RC transmitter, is using it with FMS.
Many of the 'computer controlled' transmitters have a training/buddy connection on them.
HERE is a website for connecting a transmitter and a PC.
There is more specific detail further into the page. BEWARE of the fake 'speed test' pop-up from the French site.
For less than $12.00 US, I still think going with the MNQ-1 was the deal of the week.
I love building electronic/electrical items but in this case, stick time was more important that driving a soldering iron.
That still may happen if the other two potentiometer inputs on the control board are active.
April 21 Update
I have been enjoying the sim and found a model of the EasyStar. What an easy flyer. Two channels only but I can hope that the flight characteristics are like the Geekstar/Nova.. without airlerons.
Here's a couple screen caps..
FMS with EasyStar
FMS with EasyStar 2
April 24 Update
Sims are addictive but I don't really think I have spent that much time with it...
I can fly, somewhat, inverted with a 3D helicopter now. A visit to the hobby shop in Greenville, SC got me some stick time with RealFlight 6. The control box on RF6 has super smooth gimbals as compared to my MNQ-1. Then again the price is 20 times more than I have in my sim. RF6 has super selections, superb physics, and is, as mentioned above, a super product. If money were no object, I would have bought it.
FMS is an outstanding product for the price and I recommend starting out with it to get your thumbs accustomed to the function. Muscle memory and eye/aircraft recognition is what is premium in starting out learning to fly fixed or rotary wing aircraft.
May 14 Update
With the addition of one piece of software and a simple mono audio cable, FMS works great with a Spektrum DX6i.
The software needed is SmartProPlus.
Now I can build muscle memory with my real transmitter!
The virtues of a 'sim' will not be debated in this post, but the value of a sim depends on your experience and ability.
In short, crashing (and you WILL crash if you fly) is much cheaper with a sim than with your shiny new Nova, GeekStar, etc.
If you are like me and also dabbling in rotary wing aircraft, it is almost an essential step in skill building.
The simulator you see at the hobby shops is almost exclusively RealFlight 6 (or better).
This is a super great product with two versions, fixed or rotary, packaging (one has more of the rotary wings than the other).
The control box is superb and the gimbals are high quality with no squishy or binding points.
My only problem was the price - $200 US retail.
My big build now is an Arducopter based on the 3DR 'B' chassis (quadcopter).
I have a huge amount of time and material invested in it and still havent' purchased the APM (Ardupilot Module) yet.
Because flying rotary is very different than fixed, I needed a sim.
I am collecting material to make a Nova and the sim still was a very good idea.
What does anyone looking for a budget based piece of tech do? EBAY!
Trolling ebay is an art in itself and best set aside for another discussion.
In short I bought THIS unit for $0.99 plus shipping of $9.99.
The controller was cheap, and the FMS software is FREE.
I had visited the FMS site previously but was concerned about using a piece of software from an unknown source. Silly me.
The software works fine on my Dell610 laptop. XP is my OS on the Dell laptop. FMS file fms2alpha85.exe works for me.
A discussion of configuring the controller with FMS is best for another post. Make Magazine also mentions FMS in their latest issue, #30.
The MNQ-1 works for fixed and rotary wing aircraft, both included in FMS - WHAT A DEAL!
The unit I purchased was a 4 channel version. The box also has a checkspot for 6 channel.
Never one to let a new product stay untampered, I opened the controller up (6 philips #1 screws) to take a look inside.
The single, small circuit board has solder pads for two more potentiometers!
Can it be hacked to add two more channels? I will test this functionality later.
The control came as a Mode 1 unit.(See my post on Tx modes HERE)
Because I like throttle on the left stick, I had to disassemble the gimbals and move the centering spring/detent parts around to achieve this.
If there is interest, I can post a how-to on this later.
The control box cable has a 1/8 (or so) stereo plug that inserts into a USB adapter that connects to your PC.
Another possibility, if you have a newer RC transmitter, is using it with FMS.
Many of the 'computer controlled' transmitters have a training/buddy connection on them.
HERE is a website for connecting a transmitter and a PC.
There is more specific detail further into the page. BEWARE of the fake 'speed test' pop-up from the French site.
For less than $12.00 US, I still think going with the MNQ-1 was the deal of the week.
I love building electronic/electrical items but in this case, stick time was more important that driving a soldering iron.
That still may happen if the other two potentiometer inputs on the control board are active.
April 21 Update
I have been enjoying the sim and found a model of the EasyStar. What an easy flyer. Two channels only but I can hope that the flight characteristics are like the Geekstar/Nova.. without airlerons.
Here's a couple screen caps..
FMS with EasyStar
FMS with EasyStar 2
April 24 Update
Sims are addictive but I don't really think I have spent that much time with it...
I can fly, somewhat, inverted with a 3D helicopter now. A visit to the hobby shop in Greenville, SC got me some stick time with RealFlight 6. The control box on RF6 has super smooth gimbals as compared to my MNQ-1. Then again the price is 20 times more than I have in my sim. RF6 has super selections, superb physics, and is, as mentioned above, a super product. If money were no object, I would have bought it.
FMS is an outstanding product for the price and I recommend starting out with it to get your thumbs accustomed to the function. Muscle memory and eye/aircraft recognition is what is premium in starting out learning to fly fixed or rotary wing aircraft.
May 14 Update
With the addition of one piece of software and a simple mono audio cable, FMS works great with a Spektrum DX6i.
The software needed is SmartProPlus.
Now I can build muscle memory with my real transmitter!