Getting Started with FrSky radios and OpenTX software
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:22 pm
As a software engineer and software architect, I have to document a lot of what I do in my jobs. I find it easier to document systems as I learn them instead of after the fact. Then I can refer back to my documentation and correct it as needed.
There are lots of of videos on "FrSky" radios and the OpenTX" operating system that runs on them. Since this is a pylon focused forum, I'm going to document my journey into learning this equipment that is new to me. I have been flying the Taranis for a couple of years. But a friend set it up for my FPV racing drones and I'm just now really working on learning the radio and system.
I'm attaching actual photos I've taken, instead of the promo and product listing photos.
I have the Taranis X9D Plus edition of the transmitter.
I added one new option today. I got some Apex RC Products Red Aluminum Futaba / Spektrum DX6 DX6i DX7S DX8 DX9 / Taranis X9DRC Transmitter Gimbal Stick Ends #1711. I like these better than the Apex RC Products Red Futaba / Spektrum DX5i DX6 DX6i DX7S DX8 DX9 / Taranis X9D Umbrella Transmitter Gimbal Sticks Ends #1714. The first ones provide more thumb grip. I fly with my thumbs and I don't pinch the sticks. The umbrella sticks would be easier on your thumbs is you pinch the sticks. These are compatible with most radios. At least they should work on Futaba,Spektrum, and Taranis.
Here is my transmitter with the new stick ends.
I had heard that OpenTX had a transmitter screen capture function. My Google searches turned up messages saying it can be done, but I found a video in French here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT0T5NKapnY that shows how to do it.
Press the "MENU" button and the transmitter is is MODEL SELECTION mode.The press the "PAGE" button until you get to "SPECIAL FUNCTIONS". I assigned SF1 to SH↓ (or SH▼ for readability here) to the "Screenshot" option. So pulling back on the SH switch takes a screenshot. Plug in the transmitter to a Windows computer using a USB A Male to USB Mini Male ... like https://amzn.to/2HXEDOs ... You will have a choice of picking USB Joystick or USB Storage modes. To access the data including screenshots on the Tx, pick USB Storage. Then you will find the screenshots in a folder on the transmitter called SCREENSHOTS which will appear in a USB Drive folder.
I have a model on my Tx that is set up for the FPV drone simulator called "Velocidrone". Since my pylon racing add-on's for RealFlight 8 are what I practice pylon racing on, I'm going to see if I can get the FrSky working with RealFlight 8. Even if I have to create a new model.
There are lots of of videos on "FrSky" radios and the OpenTX" operating system that runs on them. Since this is a pylon focused forum, I'm going to document my journey into learning this equipment that is new to me. I have been flying the Taranis for a couple of years. But a friend set it up for my FPV racing drones and I'm just now really working on learning the radio and system.
I'm attaching actual photos I've taken, instead of the promo and product listing photos.
I have the Taranis X9D Plus edition of the transmitter.
I added one new option today. I got some Apex RC Products Red Aluminum Futaba / Spektrum DX6 DX6i DX7S DX8 DX9 / Taranis X9DRC Transmitter Gimbal Stick Ends #1711. I like these better than the Apex RC Products Red Futaba / Spektrum DX5i DX6 DX6i DX7S DX8 DX9 / Taranis X9D Umbrella Transmitter Gimbal Sticks Ends #1714. The first ones provide more thumb grip. I fly with my thumbs and I don't pinch the sticks. The umbrella sticks would be easier on your thumbs is you pinch the sticks. These are compatible with most radios. At least they should work on Futaba,Spektrum, and Taranis.
Here is my transmitter with the new stick ends.
I had heard that OpenTX had a transmitter screen capture function. My Google searches turned up messages saying it can be done, but I found a video in French here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT0T5NKapnY that shows how to do it.
Press the "MENU" button and the transmitter is is MODEL SELECTION mode.The press the "PAGE" button until you get to "SPECIAL FUNCTIONS". I assigned SF1 to SH↓ (or SH▼ for readability here) to the "Screenshot" option. So pulling back on the SH switch takes a screenshot. Plug in the transmitter to a Windows computer using a USB A Male to USB Mini Male ... like https://amzn.to/2HXEDOs ... You will have a choice of picking USB Joystick or USB Storage modes. To access the data including screenshots on the Tx, pick USB Storage. Then you will find the screenshots in a folder on the transmitter called SCREENSHOTS which will appear in a USB Drive folder.
I have a model on my Tx that is set up for the FPV drone simulator called "Velocidrone". Since my pylon racing add-on's for RealFlight 8 are what I practice pylon racing on, I'm going to see if I can get the FrSky working with RealFlight 8. Even if I have to create a new model.