Post by rdstarwalt on May 15, 2012 13:54:13 GMT -6
I previously reviewed the MNQ-1 used with FMS software (look in this section down the thread line).
After using it for several weeks, I have been totally happy with its performance for the money. My only concern was that the time I spent with one sim control box would not directly sync up with a 'real' RC transmitter for feel, reach, and interface beyond the 4 channels it provided.
I wanted to be able to have the sim operate with the transmitter I would be using on my quadrotor, the Nova, or what ever I was flying with. What a pleasant surprise it was to find that the Spektrum DX6i (with DSMX) would work with FMS!
All that was needed was to load one more piece of software and connect a mono audio cable between the DX6i and the microphone jack on my laptop.
NOTE: DO NOT plug a mono audio cable into the ZDFly USB interface of the MNQ-1. The USB interface does not separate the power and ground well in the audio connector. I did a quick test of this, noticed the blue led was not on, another quick insertion/removal, same result. I then removed the USB adapter and could slightly smell the aroma of cooked electronics! This would also imply that you SHOULD NOT plug a Spektrum transmitter with mono audio into the ZDFly interface. Didn't go there, don't want the t-shrit! The ZDFly and MNQ-1 did operate normally afterward, much to my relief.
The software needed was SmartProPlus.
It is made by the hobby community to work with FMS and site support information made the task silly easy.
And the even better part... FREE!!
I had the audio cable in my collection. When plugged into the off DX6i, it automatically wakes. You will have to select between airplane or helicopter but that is all that is required on the transmitter side.
On the FMS side, I had to reassign channels to functions to match my mode. It was literally running in less than 30 minutes after starting the research.
The Spektrum series of transmitters makes this easy but if you don't have one, look over the support pages for options.
After using it for several weeks, I have been totally happy with its performance for the money. My only concern was that the time I spent with one sim control box would not directly sync up with a 'real' RC transmitter for feel, reach, and interface beyond the 4 channels it provided.
I wanted to be able to have the sim operate with the transmitter I would be using on my quadrotor, the Nova, or what ever I was flying with. What a pleasant surprise it was to find that the Spektrum DX6i (with DSMX) would work with FMS!
All that was needed was to load one more piece of software and connect a mono audio cable between the DX6i and the microphone jack on my laptop.
NOTE: DO NOT plug a mono audio cable into the ZDFly USB interface of the MNQ-1. The USB interface does not separate the power and ground well in the audio connector. I did a quick test of this, noticed the blue led was not on, another quick insertion/removal, same result. I then removed the USB adapter and could slightly smell the aroma of cooked electronics! This would also imply that you SHOULD NOT plug a Spektrum transmitter with mono audio into the ZDFly interface. Didn't go there, don't want the t-shrit! The ZDFly and MNQ-1 did operate normally afterward, much to my relief.
The software needed was SmartProPlus.
It is made by the hobby community to work with FMS and site support information made the task silly easy.
And the even better part... FREE!!
I had the audio cable in my collection. When plugged into the off DX6i, it automatically wakes. You will have to select between airplane or helicopter but that is all that is required on the transmitter side.
On the FMS side, I had to reassign channels to functions to match my mode. It was literally running in less than 30 minutes after starting the research.
The Spektrum series of transmitters makes this easy but if you don't have one, look over the support pages for options.