The adventures of a newbie quad copter builder. I'm going to record my exploration, notes and ventures into the world of radio controlled (RC) drones, quadcopters and FPV as well as their associated parts and components.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Alien 5.6 #1
ImpulseRC Slammed Alien 5.6 #1
This is a slammed Alien 5.6 - a 5 inch body with 6 inch arms.
#1 because I have 3 Alien 5.6s and numbering them makes it easier to remember stuff like "#2 has lost it's buzzer" or "#1 is still on 1.47 firmware and needs an upgrade".
Slammed means the top body plate is on shorter standoffs. I think a standard Alien has 30 or 35mm standoffs, wheras the Slammed Alien has 22mm standoffs.
Slamming the frame is possible because in the few years that the Alien has been out the electronics have become smaller and the ideas about how to optimally build a quad have changed, so less volume is needed between the top and bottom main plates.
Probably most importantly slamming the has the effect of lowering the top mounted battery much closer to the prop line lowering the quads CG. For a brief discussion of slammed (aka "drop deck") designs see Soma's Armattan Chameleon review (if I understand correctly Soma is the designed of the Alien - not sure if the slammed Alien revision was his or not).
Obviously with a 5.6 you can fly a 5.6 with 6" prop, but you can also fly it with 5" or probably even 4" props if your motors will support that. This 5.6 was built as a 4S with T Motor F40 Pro II 2400KV motors, which I believe are 2306s. These obviously worked well with 5" props, but did OK with 6" especially lower pitch like 6030s or 6035s.
As I write this I am re-building this quad due to a broken arm and because want to convert this and my other "daily driver" quads to 6S. I have another 6S Slammed .5.6 Alien with Fettec FC running KISS and Fettec 45A 4in1 ESC with T-Motor Velox 2207 1750. I like the way 6S runs - decent voltage even when the cells are at 3.3v.
I currently have 3 Slamed 5.6 Kissed Aliens, 2 with Kiss V2 FCs and Kiss 32A ESCs and one Fettec FC with Fettec 45A 4in1 running KISS.
Ideally I'd like to end up with 3 semi identical quads - i.e. all flying KISS and all with the same motors.
Since this quad Alien #1 needs an arm replacement I am going to take this opportunity to remove the F40 2400Kvs and replace it with motors more suited to 6S and 6" props, in this case I will be trying the Axis Flying C246 1650Kv motors. The motors are "cinema" motors (whatever that means) with a 2406 stator.
Actually these motors have been upgraded from" cinema motors" to "cinema/freestyle/sbang motors". Juicy
I think one of the reviewers Axis Flying sent some motors to said they don't do cinema but I do do sbang freestyle and Axis decided that well, these motors can be that motor too.
In any case Slammed Alien 5.6 #1 should end up configured as:
- Impulse RC Alien 5.6
- Kiss FC v2
- Kiss 32A ESC
- TBS Crossfire Nano
- Wolf PDB v1
- Run Cam Eagle
- IRC Tramp HV
- ViFly GPS Mate
- GPS unkown model
- Matek Buzzer
- Axis Flying C246 2406 1650Kv Motors
Wiring
Tramp VTX
- Yellow Video
- Green Audio
- White Tramp Control
- Red Power HV - set via solder bridge
- Black Grnd
RunCam Eagle
- Yellow Video
- Red power
- Black Gnd
- Blue Camera Control
- Black Gnd
GPS
- GPX TX Green
- GPS RX White
- Red 5v
- Black Gnd
PDB/ESC
- Yellow Telemetry
- White ESC Signal
- Black Gnd
Matek Buzzer
- White BZ-
- Red 5v
- Black Gnd
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Remix - Helio Spring and Butterflight
Remix v1
This post is mainly just a record for myself of the components in the build, the firmware etc.
However I will comment about the Helio Spring board. When these came out they were the new hotness, a lot of people were going gag about them. I can't really remember how they flew compared to Betaflight of the time (which I guess was Betaflight 3.2 or something like that) or the KISS of that time.
But what I can comment on is how dissapointed I am in teh quality of the board. The USB port has come off/loose to the point that it doesn't work unless you jiggle it around and hold it in the exact right spot.
I bought a pack with 12 different micro USB connectors (5 of each for a total of 60 micro USB ports).
Then I identified the correfct type of miro USB port and went to solder it on.
But there was a problem,. Whatevever was holding the USB port legs into their holes was not solder.
It looks like it is some kind of glue or epoxy. Not really strong enojugh to hold the USB port, but I assume cheaper than having someone solder the micro USB ports on (or cheaper than the machine time to get a robot to do it, assuming a 'bot can do it).
Anyway I did an ugly ass job, and got it replaced, but it was way harder than in needs to be and it has come loose again. I could not get that epoxy out so I sort of soldered the side of the USB port to the metal "trace" around the USB port leg and it have come a little use after maybe 4-5 plug/unplug cycles.
Fucking glue and not much of it in a npt very iseful place. Gluing metal, which from what I can see has not been rouhed up to increase adhesion. It's like it's designd to fail. Not like it's designed to fail. It IS designed to fail. Maybe not intentionally, but in reality the fucking thing will fail early - bywhich I mean while the rest of the product has much life.
I guess I'll replace it again and then I think I will use a large blob of expoy around the micro IUSB port to support and hold it.
But even though its like 7 years later I'm really pissed at whoever archtiected these controllers.
This is the thing I hate most about the hobby - manufacturers - at least most manufacturers think 12 months is a long product life, so they build ultra low quality and they don't keep products going - in production for more than a few years.
There are a few notable exceptions - Team Blacksheep, ImmersionRC (kind of - annoyingly you can only buy a Tramp VTX in a combination with a Ghost Receiver, which bites ass), but for the most part you can only get replacement parts for a year or two and then your moving onto new products.
Yes I'm a grumpy old man.
This quad is one of Tommy (Ummagawd!) Tibajia's babies - the original Remix. I think this one is from one of the first batches - definately the first batch that came into Australia.
It's a really cool design - kinda reminds me of another one of my favourite designds the Armattan Chameleon - the smashed design with the camera cage and props at battery height.
I reckon it looks good, which is an upside because not all quads do.
And when I bought it I was throwing a few bucks at one of my favourite pilots. Ummagawd!
Noice.
Anyway the spec for this quad is:
- Helio Spring F4/F3 FC
- Pitch aliognment 180 degrees
- Yaw alignment 180 degrees
- Aikon AK43 4in1 ESC
- T-Motor F40 2150Kv
- Runcam Swift (2??)
- Unify HV
- TX2 White Wire
- XFire Nano
- FC RX3 (Yellow)
- FC TX3 (White)
- ESC Telemetry RX4
- Green end wire on esc cable
- UART 5 configurd for MSP
- No MSP device currently present. If USB port comes off again can add Speedybee USB device.
- Emu Flight
- Props Out
# EmuFlight / HELIOSPRING (HESP) 0.4.2 Jan 11 2024 / 14:27:35 (d23611a55) MSP API: 1.51
# IMU-F Version: 106
#
# dump
# version
# EmuFlight / HELIOSPRING (HESP) 0.4.2 Jan 11 2024 / 14:27:35 (d23611a55) MSP API: 1.51
# IMU-F Version: 106
board_name
manufacturer_id
# name
name 1337flite
# resources
resource BEEPER 1 C15
resource MOTOR 1 C06
resource MOTOR 2 C07
resource MOTOR 3 C08
resource MOTOR 4 C09
resource MOTOR 5 NONE
resource MOTOR 6 NONE
resource MOTOR 7 NONE
resource MOTOR 8 NONE
resource SERVO 1 NONE
resource SERVO 2 NONE
resource SERVO 3 NONE
resource SERVO 4 NONE
resource SERVO 5 NONE
resource SERVO 6 NONE
resource SERVO 7 NONE
resource SERVO 8 NONE
resource PPM 1 B14
resource PWM 1 B14
resource PWM 2 NONE
resource PWM 3 NONE
resource PWM 4 NONE
resource PWM 5 NONE
resource PWM 6 NONE
resource PWM 7 NONE
resource PWM 8 NONE
resource LED_STRIP 1 A08
resource SERIAL_TX 1 A09
resource SERIAL_TX 2 A02
resource SERIAL_TX 3 B10
resource SERIAL_TX 4 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 5 C12
resource SERIAL_TX 6 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 7 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 8 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 9 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 10 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 1 A10
resource SERIAL_RX 2 A03
resource SERIAL_RX 3 B11
resource SERIAL_RX 4 C11
resource SERIAL_RX 5 D02
resource SERIAL_RX 6 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 7 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 8 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 9 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 10 NONE
resource I2C_SCL 1 NONE
resource I2C_SCL 2 NONE
resource I2C_SCL 3 NONE
resource I2C_SDA 1 NONE
resource I2C_SDA 2 NONE
resource I2C_SDA 3 NONE
resource LED 1 B07
resource LED 2 NONE
resource LED 3 NONE
resource RX_BIND 1 NONE
resource RX_BIND_PLUG 1 NONE
resource SPI_SCK 1 B03
resource SPI_SCK 2 B13
resource SPI_SCK 3 C10
resource SPI_MISO 1 A06
resource SPI_MISO 2 C02
resource SPI_MISO 3 B04
resource SPI_MOSI 1 A07
resource SPI_MOSI 2 C03
resource SPI_MOSI 3 B05
resource ESCSERIAL 1 NONE
resource CAMERA_CONTROL 1 B06
resource ADC_BATT 1 A00
resource ADC_RSSI 1 NONE
resource ADC_CURR 1 A01
resource ADC_EXT 1 NONE
resource COMPASS_CS 1 NONE
resource PINIO 1 NONE
resource PINIO 2 NONE
resource PINIO 3 NONE
resource PINIO 4 NONE
resource USB_MSC_PIN 1 NONE
resource FLASH_CS 1 C14
resource OSD_CS 1 A15
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 1 C14
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 2 A15
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 3 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 4 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 5 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 6 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 7 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 8 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 9 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 10 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_IPU 11 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_OPU 1 NONE
resource SPI_PREINIT_OPU 2 NONE
# mixer
mixer QUADX
mmix reset
# servo
servo 0 1000 2000 1500 100 -1
servo 1 1000 2000 1500 100 -1
servo 2 1000 2000 1500 100 -1
servo 3 1000 2000 1500 100 -1
servo 4 1000 2000 1500 100 -1
servo 5 1000 2000 1500 100 -1
servo 6 1000 2000 1500 100 -1
servo 7 1000 2000 1500 100 -1
# servo mix
smix reset
# feature
feature -RX_PPM
feature -INFLIGHT_ACC_CAL
feature -RX_SERIAL
feature -MOTOR_STOP
feature -SERVO_TILT
feature -SOFTSERIAL
feature -GPS
feature -RANGEFINDER
feature -TELEMETRY
feature -3D
feature -RX_PARALLEL_PWM
feature -RX_MSP
feature -RSSI_ADC
feature -LED_STRIP
feature -DISPLAY
feature -OSD
feature -CHANNEL_FORWARDING
feature -TRANSPONDER
feature -AIRMODE
feature -RX_SPI
feature -SOFTSPI
feature -ESC_SENSOR
feature -DYNAMIC_FILTER
feature -LEGACY_SA_SUPPORT
feature RX_SERIAL
feature TELEMETRY
feature OSD
feature AIRMODE
feature ESC_SENSOR
# beeper
beeper GYRO_CALIBRATED
beeper RX_LOST
beeper RX_LOST_LANDING
beeper DISARMING
beeper ARMING
beeper ARMING_GPS_FIX
beeper BAT_CRIT_LOW
beeper BAT_LOW
beeper GPS_STATUS
beeper RX_SET
beeper ACC_CALIBRATION
beeper ACC_CALIBRATION_FAIL
beeper READY_BEEP
beeper MULTI_BEEPS
beeper DISARM_REPEAT
beeper ARMED
beeper SYSTEM_INIT
beeper -ON_USB
beeper BLACKBOX_ERASE
beeper CRASH FLIP
beeper CAM_CONNECTION_OPEN
beeper CAM_CONNECTION_CLOSED
beeper RC_SMOOTHING_INIT_FAIL
# beacon
beacon -RX_LOST
beacon -RX_SET
# map
map AETR1234
# serial
serial 20 1 115200 57600 0 115200
serial 0 0 115200 57600 0 115200
serial 1 2048 115200 57600 0 115200
serial 2 64 115200 57600 0 115200
serial 3 1024 115200 57600 0 115200
serial 4 1 115200 57600 0 115200
# led
led 0 0,0::C:0
led 1 0,0::C:0
led 2 0,0::C:0
led 3 0,0::C:0
led 4 0,0::C:0
led 5 0,0::C:0
led 6 0,0::C:0
led 7 0,0::C:0
led 8 0,0::C:0
led 9 0,0::C:0
led 10 0,0::C:0
led 11 0,0::C:0
led 12 0,0::C:0
led 13 0,0::C:0
led 14 0,0::C:0
led 15 0,0::C:0
led 16 0,0::C:0
led 17 0,0::C:0
led 18 0,0::C:0
led 19 0,0::C:0
led 20 0,0::C:0
led 21 0,0::C:0
led 22 0,0::C:0
led 23 0,0::C:0
led 24 0,0::C:0
led 25 0,0::C:0
led 26 0,0::C:0
led 27 0,0::C:0
led 28 0,0::C:0
led 29 0,0::C:0
led 30 0,0::C:0
led 31 0,0::C:0
# color
color 0 0,0,0
color 1 0,255,255
color 2 0,0,255
color 3 30,0,255
color 4 60,0,255
color 5 90,0,255
color 6 120,0,255
color 7 150,0,255
color 8 180,0,255
color 9 210,0,255
color 10 240,0,255
color 11 270,0,255
color 12 300,0,255
color 13 330,0,255
color 14 0,0,0
color 15 0,0,0
# mode_color
mode_color 0 0 1
mode_color 0 1 11
mode_color 0 2 2
mode_color 0 3 13
mode_color 0 4 10
mode_color 0 5 3
mode_color 1 0 5
mode_color 1 1 11
mode_color 1 2 3
mode_color 1 3 13
mode_color 1 4 10
mode_color 1 5 3
mode_color 2 0 10
mode_color 2 1 11
mode_color 2 2 4
mode_color 2 3 13
mode_color 2 4 10
mode_color 2 5 3
mode_color 3 0 8
mode_color 3 1 11
mode_color 3 2 4
mode_color 3 3 13
mode_color 3 4 10
mode_color 3 5 3
mode_color 4 0 7
mode_color 4 1 11
mode_color 4 2 3
mode_color 4 3 13
mode_color 4 4 10
mode_color 4 5 3
mode_color 5 0 9
mode_color 5 1 11
mode_color 5 2 2
mode_color 5 3 13
mode_color 5 4 10
mode_color 5 5 3
mode_color 6 0 6
mode_color 6 1 10
mode_color 6 2 1
mode_color 6 3 0
mode_color 6 4 0
mode_color 6 5 2
mode_color 6 6 3
mode_color 6 7 6
mode_color 6 8 0
mode_color 6 9 0
mode_color 6 10 0
mode_color 7 0 3
# aux
aux 0 0 0 1300 2100 0 0
aux 1 13 1 1300 2100 0 0
aux 2 35 1 1800 2100 0 0
aux 3 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 4 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 5 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 6 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 7 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 8 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 9 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 10 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 11 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 12 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 13 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 14 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 15 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 16 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 17 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 18 0 0 900 900 0 0
aux 19 0 0 900 900 0 0
# adjrange
adjrange 0 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 1 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 2 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 3 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 4 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 5 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 6 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 7 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 8 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 9 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 10 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 11 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 12 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 13 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
adjrange 14 0 0 900 900 0 0 0 0
# rxrange
rxrange 0 1000 2000
rxrange 1 1000 2000
rxrange 2 1000 2000
rxrange 3 1000 2000
# vtx
vtx 0 0 0 0 0 900 900
vtx 1 0 0 0 0 900 900
vtx 2 0 0 0 0 900 900
vtx 3 0 0 0 0 900 900
vtx 4 0 0 0 0 900 900
vtx 5 0 0 0 0 900 900
vtx 6 0 0 0 0 900 900
vtx 7 0 0 0 0 900 900
vtx 8 0 0 0 0 900 900
vtx 9 0 0 0 0 900 900
# rxfail
rxfail 0 a
rxfail 1 a
rxfail 2 a
rxfail 3 a
rxfail 4 h
rxfail 5 h
rxfail 6 h
rxfail 7 h
rxfail 8 h
rxfail 9 h
rxfail 10 h
rxfail 11 h
rxfail 12 h
rxfail 13 h
rxfail 14 h
rxfail 15 h
rxfail 16 h
rxfail 17 h
# master
set align_gyro = DEFAULT
set gyro_hardware_lpf = NORMAL
set gyro_sync_denom = 2
set gyro_lowpass_type = PT1
set gyro_lowpass_hz_roll = 0
set gyro_lowpass_hz_pitch = 0
set gyro_lowpass_hz_yaw = 0
set gyro_lowpass2_type = PT1
set gyro_lowpass2_hz_roll = 0
set gyro_lowpass2_hz_pitch = 0
set gyro_lowpass2_hz_yaw = 0
set gyro_abg_alpha = 0
set gyro_abg_boost = 275
set gyro_abg_half_life = 50
set gyro_notch1_hz = 0
set gyro_notch1_cutoff = 0
set gyro_notch2_hz = 0
set gyro_notch2_cutoff = 0
set gyro_calib_duration = 125
set gyro_calib_noise_limit = 48
set gyro_offset_yaw = 0
set imuf_rate = 16K
set imuf_roll_q = 6000
set imuf_pitch_q = 6000
set imuf_yaw_q = 6000
set imuf_w = 32
set imuf_pitch_lpf_cutoff_hz = 90
set imuf_roll_lpf_cutoff_hz = 90
set imuf_yaw_lpf_cutoff_hz = 90
set imuf_acc_lpf_cutoff_hz = 40
set imuf_ptn_order = 3
set gyro_overflow_detect = ALL
set yaw_spin_recovery = AUTO
set yaw_spin_threshold = 1950
set gyro_use_32khz = ON
set dynamic_gyro_notch_axis = RPY
set dynamic_gyro_notch_q = 400
set dynamic_gyro_notch_count = 3
set dynamic_gyro_notch_min_hz = 150
set dynamic_gyro_notch_max_hz = 600
set smith_predict_enabled = ON
set smith_predict_str = 50
set smith_predict_delay = 40
set smith_predict_filt_hz = 5
set align_acc = DEFAULT
set acc_hardware = AUTO
set acc_lpf_hz = 40
set acc_trim_pitch = 0
set acc_trim_roll = 0
set acc_calibration = -56,-98,-48
set align_mag = DEFAULT
set mag_bustype = NONE
set mag_i2c_device = 0
set mag_i2c_address = 0
set mag_spi_device = 0
set mag_hardware = NONE
set mag_declination = 0
set mag_calibration = 0,0,0
set mid_rc = 1500
set min_check = 1050
set max_check = 1900
set rssi_channel = 8
set rssi_src_frame_errors = OFF
set rssi_scale = 100
set rssi_offset = 0
set rssi_invert = OFF
set rc_interp = MANUAL
set rc_interp_ch = RPYT
set rc_interp_int = 21
set rc_smoothing_type = INTERPOLATION
set rc_smoothing_input_hz = 50
set rc_smoothing_debug_axis = ROLL
set rc_smoothing_input_type = PT2
set fpv_mix_degrees = 0
set cinematic_yaw = OFF
set max_aux_channels = 14
set serialrx_provider = CRSF
set serialrx_inverted = OFF
set spektrum_sat_bind = 0
set spektrum_sat_bind_autoreset = ON
set sbus_baud_fast = OFF
set airmode_start_throttle_percent = 32
set rx_min_usec = 885
set rx_max_usec = 2115
set serialrx_halfduplex = OFF
set show_altered_rc = OFF
set adc_device = 1
set input_filtering_mode = OFF
set blackbox_p_ratio = 48
set blackbox_device = SPIFLASH
set blackbox_record_acc = ON
set blackbox_mode = NORMAL
set min_throttle = 1070
set max_throttle = 2000
set min_command = 1000
set dshot_idle_value = 450
set dshot_burst = ON
set use_unsynced_pwm = OFF
set motor_pwm_protocol = DSHOT300
set motor_pwm_rate = 480
set motor_pwm_inversion = OFF
set motor_poles = 14
set thr_corr_value = 0
set thr_corr_angle = 800
set failsafe_delay = 4
set failsafe_off_delay = 10
set failsafe_throttle = 1000
set failsafe_switch_mode = STAGE1
set failsafe_throttle_low_delay = 100
set failsafe_procedure = DROP
set align_board_roll = 0
set align_board_pitch = 180
set align_board_yaw = 180
set gimbal_mode = NORMAL
set bat_capacity = 0
set vbat_max_cell_voltage = 43
set vbat_full_cell_voltage = 41
set vbat_min_cell_voltage = 33
set vbat_warning_cell_voltage = 35
set vbat_hysteresis = 1
set current_meter = ESC
set battery_meter = ADC
set vbat_detect_cell_voltage = 30
set use_vbat_alerts = ON
set use_cbat_alerts = OFF
set cbat_alert_percent = 10
set vbat_cutoff_percent = 100
set vbat_lpf_period = 35
set ibat_lpf_period = 10
set force_battery_cell_count = 0
set vbat_scale = 109
set vbat_divider = 10
set vbat_multiplier = 1
set ibata_scale = 250
set ibata_offset = 0
set ibatv_scale = 0
set ibatv_offset = 0
set beeper_inversion = ON
set beeper_od = OFF
set beeper_frequency = 0
set beeper_dshot_beacon_tone = 1
set yaw_motors_reversed = OFF
set crashflip_motor_percent = 0
set crashflip_power_percent = 70
set 3d_deadband_low = 1406
set 3d_deadband_high = 1514
set 3d_neutral = 1460
set 3d_deadband_throttle = 3
set 3d_limit_low = 1000
set 3d_limit_high = 2000
set 3d_switched_mode = OFF
set servo_center_pulse = 1500
set servo_pwm_rate = 50
set servo_lowpass_hz = 0
set tri_unarmed_servo = ON
set channel_forwarding_start = 4
set reboot_character = 82
set serial_update_rate_hz = 100
set accxy_deadband = 40
set accz_deadband = 40
set acc_unarmedcal = ON
set imu_dcm_kp = 8500
set imu_dcm_ki = 0
set small_angle = 180
set auto_disarm_delay = 5
set gyro_cal_on_first_arm = OFF
set use_stick_arming = OFF
set gps_provider = NMEA
set gps_sbas_mode = AUTO
set gps_auto_config = ON
set gps_auto_baud = OFF
set gps_ublox_use_galileo = OFF
set gps_rescue_angle = 32
set gps_rescue_initial_alt = 50
set gps_rescue_descent_dist = 200
set gps_rescue_ground_speed = 2000
set gps_rescue_throttle_p = 150
set gps_rescue_throttle_i = 20
set gps_rescue_throttle_d = 50
set gps_rescue_velocity_p = 80
set gps_rescue_velocity_i = 20
set gps_rescue_velocity_d = 15
set gps_rescue_yaw_p = 40
set gps_rescue_throttle_min = 1200
set gps_rescue_throttle_max = 1600
set gps_rescue_throttle_hover = 1280
set gps_rescue_sanity_checks = RESCUE_SANITY_ON
set gps_rescue_min_sats = 8
set deadband = 10
set yaw_deadband = 10
set yaw_control_reversed = OFF
set pid_process_denom = 1
set runaway_takeoff_prevention = ON
set runaway_takeoff_deactivate_delay = 500
set runaway_takeoff_deactivate_throttle_percent = 20
set tlm_inverted = OFF
set tlm_halfduplex = OFF
set frsky_default_lat = 0
set frsky_default_long = 0
set frsky_gps_format = 0
set frsky_unit = IMPERIAL
set frsky_vfas_precision = 0
set hott_alarm_int = 5
set pid_in_tlm = OFF
set report_cell_voltage = OFF
set ibus_sensor = 1,2,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
set smartport_use_extra_sensors = OFF
set ledstrip_visual_beeper = OFF
set ledstrip_grb_rgb = GRB
set osd_units = METRIC
set osd_warn_arming_disable = ON
set osd_warn_batt_not_full = ON
set osd_warn_batt_warning = ON
set osd_warn_batt_critical = ON
set osd_warn_visual_beeper = ON
set osd_warn_crash_flip = ON
set osd_warn_esc_fail = ON
set osd_task_frequency = 60
set osd_warn_core_temp = ON
set osd_warn_rc_smoothing = ON
set osd_warn_dji = OFF
set osd_lq_format = TBS
set osd_lq_alarm = 70
set osd_rssi_alarm = 20
set osd_cap_alarm = 2200
set osd_alt_alarm = 100
set osd_distance_alarm = 0
set osd_esc_temp_alarm = -128
set osd_esc_rpm_alarm = -1
set osd_esc_current_alarm = -1
set osd_core_temp_alarm = 70
set osd_stat_show_cell_value = OFF
set osd_ah_max_pit = 20
set osd_ah_max_rol = 40
set osd_logo_on_arming = OFF
set osd_logo_on_arming_duration = 5
set osd_tim1 = 2560
set osd_tim2 = 2561
set osd_vbat_pos = 234
set osd_rssi_pos = 2071
set osd_crsf_tx_pos = 2393
set osd_crsf_snr_pos = 2455
set osd_crsf_rssi_pos = 2424
set osd_tim_1_pos = 234
set osd_tim_2_pos = 234
set osd_remaining_time_estimate_pos = 234
set osd_flymode_pos = 2401
set osd_g_force_pos = 234
set osd_throttle_pos = 2080
set osd_vtx_channel_pos = 2048
set osd_crosshairs_pos = 205
set osd_ah_sbar_pos = 206
set osd_ah_pos = 78
set osd_current_pos = 2102
set osd_mah_drawn_pos = 2368
set osd_craft_name_pos = 2441
set osd_gps_speed_pos = 234
set osd_gps_lon_pos = 234
set osd_gps_lat_pos = 234
set osd_gps_sats_pos = 234
set osd_plus_code_pos = 234
set plus_code_digits = 11
set plus_code_short = OFF
set osd_home_dir_pos = 234
set osd_home_dist_pos = 234
set osd_compass_bar_pos = 234
set osd_altitude_pos = 234
set osd_pid_roll_pos = 234
set osd_pid_pitch_pos = 234
set osd_pid_yaw_pos = 234
set osd_debug_pos = 234
set osd_power_pos = 234
set osd_pidrate_profile_pos = 2433
set osd_warnings_pos = 2320
set osd_avg_cell_voltage_pos = 2060
set osd_pit_ang_pos = 234
set osd_rol_ang_pos = 234
set osd_battery_usage_pos = 234
set osd_disarmed_pos = 234
set osd_nheading_pos = 234
set osd_nvario_pos = 234
set osd_esc_tmp_pos = 234
set osd_esc_rpm_pos = 234
set osd_rtc_date_time_pos = 234
set osd_adjustment_range_pos = 234
set osd_mah_percent_pos = 234
set osd_core_temp_pos = 234
set osd_stat_rtc_date_time = OFF
set osd_stat_tim_1 = OFF
set osd_stat_tim_2 = ON
set osd_stat_max_spd = ON
set osd_stat_max_dist = OFF
set osd_stat_min_batt = ON
set osd_stat_endbatt = OFF
set osd_stat_battery = OFF
set osd_stat_min_rssi = ON
set osd_stat_max_curr = ON
set osd_stat_used_mah = ON
set osd_stat_max_alt = OFF
set osd_stat_bbox = ON
set osd_stat_bb_no = ON
set task_statistics = ON
set debug_mode = NONE
set rate_6pos_switch = OFF
set cpu_overclock = 192MHZ
set pwr_on_arm_grace = 5
set vtx_band = 0
set vtx_channel = 1
set vtx_power = 1
set vtx_low_power_disarm = OFF
set vtx_freq = 5806
set vtx_pit_mode_freq = 0
set vtx_halfduplex = ON
set vcd_video_system = AUTO
set vcd_h_offset = 0
set vcd_v_offset = 0
set max7456_clock = DEFAULT
set max7456_spi_bus = 3
set displayport_msp_col_adjust = 0
set displayport_msp_row_adjust = 0
set displayport_max7456_col_adjust = 0
set displayport_max7456_row_adjust = 0
set displayport_max7456_inv = OFF
set displayport_max7456_blk = 0
set displayport_max7456_wht = 2
set esc_sensor_halfduplex = OFF
set esc_sensor_current_offset = 0
set led_inversion = 0
set dashboard_i2c_bus = 2
set dashboard_i2c_addr = 60
set camera_control_mode = HARDWARE_PWM
set camera_control_ref_voltage = 330
set camera_control_key_delay = 180
set camera_control_internal_resistance = 470
set camera_control_inverted = OFF
set pinio_config = 1,1,1,1
set pinio_box = 255,255,255,255
set usb_hid_cdc = OFF
set usb_msc_pin_pullup = OFF
set flash_spi_bus = 3
set rcdevice_init_dev_attempts = 6
set rcdevice_init_dev_attempt_interval = 1000
# profile
profile 0
set dterm_dyn_notch_enable = OFF
set dterm_dyn_notch_q = 400
set dterm_abg_alpha = 0
set dterm_abg_boost = 275
set dterm_abg_half_life = 50
set dterm_lowpass_type = PT1
set dterm_lowpass_hz_roll = 90
set dterm_lowpass_hz_pitch = 90
set dterm_lowpass_hz_yaw = 90
set dterm_lowpass2_type = PT1
set dterm_lowpass2_hz_roll = 200
set dterm_lowpass2_hz_pitch = 200
set dterm_lowpass2_hz_yaw = 200
set pid_at_min_throttle = ON
set spa_roll_p = 110
set spa_roll_i = 85
set spa_roll_d = 110
set spa_pitch_p = 110
set spa_pitch_i = 85
set spa_pitch_d = 110
set spa_yaw_p = 130
set spa_yaw_i = 70
set spa_yaw_d = 130
set acc_limit_yaw = 0
set acc_limit = 0
set crash_dthreshold = 50
set crash_gthreshold = 400
set crash_setpoint_threshold = 350
set crash_time = 500
set crash_delay = 0
set crash_recovery_angle = 10
set crash_recovery_rate = 100
set crash_limit_yaw = 200
set crash_recovery = OFF
set iterm_rotation = ON
set iterm_relax_cutoff = 11
set iterm_relax_cutoff_yaw = 25
set iterm_relax_threshold = 35
set iterm_relax_threshold_yaw = 35
set iterm_windup = 70
set iterm_limit = 400
set pidsum_limit = 1000
set pidsum_limit_yaw = 400
set throttle_boost = 5
set throttle_boost_cutoff = 15
set feathered_pids = 100
set i_decay = 4
set i_decay_cutoff = 200
set emu_boost = 15
set emu_boost_yaw = 40
set emu_boost_limit = 20
set emu_boost_limit_yaw = 40
set dterm_boost = 0
set dterm_boost_limit = 0
set emu_gravity = 50
set axis_lock_multiplier = 0
set axis_lock_hz = 2
set p_pitch = 58
set i_pitch = 70
set d_pitch = 30
set p_roll = 50
set i_roll = 70
set d_roll = 28
set p_yaw = 60
set i_yaw = 70
set d_yaw = 5
set df_yaw = 15
set p_angle_low = 100
set d_angle_low = 10
set p_angle_high = 35
set d_angle_high = 1
set f_angle = 40
set df_angle_low = 70
set df_angle_high = 0
set level_limit = 45
set angle_expo = 10
set angle_filter = 100
set horizon_transition = 0
set horizon_tilt_effect = 90
set horizon_strength = 50
set motor_output_limit = 100
set auto_profile_cell_count = 0
set linear_thrust_low_output = 65
set linear_thrust_high_output = 0
set linear_throttle = OFF
set mixer_impl = 2PASS
set mixer_laziness = OFF
set mixer_yaw_throttle_comp = ON
# rateprofile
rateprofile 0
set thr_mid = 50
set thr_expo = 0
set rates_type = BETAFLIGHT
set roll_rc_rate = 120
set pitch_rc_rate = 120
set yaw_rc_rate = 120
set roll_expo = 70
set pitch_expo = 70
set yaw_expo = 70
set roll_srate = 70
set pitch_srate = 70
set yaw_srate = 70
set das_yaw_with_roll_input = 0
set das_roll_with_yaw_input = 0
set roll_pitch_mag_expo = 0
set rate_center_sensitivity = 100
set rate_end_sensitivity = 100
set rate_center_correction = 10
set rate_end_correction = 10
set rate_center_weight = 0
set rate_end_weight = 0
set tpa_rate_p = 75
set tpa_rate_i = 125
set tpa_rate_d = 65
set tpa_breakpoint = 1600
set throttle_limit_type = OFF
set throttle_limit_percent = 100
set vbat_comp_type = OFF
set vbat_comp_ref = 37
#
#
Monday, April 1, 2024
Battery Voltages
Quick and Dirty Battery Reference
This page is purely a quick reference page for myself.
Charging batteries - especially Lithium batteries - esepcially those that have been flown fopr FPV is a dangaerous operation and I can not and will not bare any responsinbility or liability for your battery charging.
YOU SHOULD NOT USE THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE FOR ANY PURPOSE.
In reality there is a range for these voltages - these are what I use, but your milage may vary and you should consult an expert. I do not warrant this info for anyone's use
LiFePo4 (Lithium Iron Phospate
1 Cell 3 Cell
Empty: 2.5 7.5
Storage: 3.2 9.6
Max: 3.6 10.8
LiPo (Lithium Polymer)
1Cell 4 Cell 5 Cell 6 Cell
Empty: 3.3 13.8 16.5 19.8
Storage: 3.8 15.2 19 22.8
Max: 4.2 16.8 21 25.2
Kiss FC Radio Channels
Kiss FC (Classic Kiss) Radio Channels
I've just cleaned up, standardised and unified my radio AUX channel use and switchology for Kiss - I'll be doing this for Betaflight too soon and this is a cheat sheet I can pull up on my phone when I am out flying in case I forget WTF I am doing.
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Entry #16 - Manual
UARTs
- Smart Audio/Tramp Telemetry gets wired to TX port of a free UART
- ESC Telemetry goes to an RX port of a free UART, All ESC TX pads are wired to a single RX pin.
Chameleon 6
- FC Matek F405 with PDB
- UART1- Smart Port
- UART2 - RX XSR - inversion hack
- UART3 - ESC Telemetry
- UART4 - Tramp Telemetry
- ESCs Wraith 32 35 A motors 2 and 4 reversed
F1-6
- FC Matek F405 AIO
- TX1 Tramp Telemetry white
- RX2 SBus RX - XSR-M/E Orange
- PWM Signal 5 softserial 1 - Smart port Blue
- RX3 ESX telemetry Blue
- ESCs Wraith32 Plus 50A
- Motors 2 and 3 reversed
Chameleon 5-2
- FC Matek F405 AIO
- TX4 Tramp Telemetry white
- RX2 SBus RX - XSR-M/E Orange
- PWM Signal 5 softserial 1 - Smart port Blue
- RX5 ESX telemetry Blue
- ESCs Wraith32 35A
- Motors 2 and 3 reversed
- Type “resource motor 5 none” in CLI, ENTER,
- Type “resource serial_tx 11 A15” in CLI, ENTER
- Type “Save”, ENTER
- Connect the inverted telemetry signal to S5 pad
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Entry #15 - Mateksys Betaflight FC F405-OSD and FC HUB-62
I recently bought a Makesys Betaflight FC F405-OSD which along with the FC HUB-6S has pretty much everything I want in an FC.
- SD Card slot
- Current Sensor
- 4 UARTs - Matek say there are 5 UARTs, but it is not clear to me how of if you can access the 5th UART
- DShot
- Betaflight OSD
- The is a ICM20602 gyro that can run at 32khz and communicates over SPI.
- The PID loop can run at 16khz.
- The pads on the FC and the PDB are well laid out and and very accessable. Most if not pads all are on the edge of the board as is the DFU boot button.
- The silk screen is clear and complete i.e. it labels all the pads and the board looks and feels like it is well built.
- If you are using the matching FC HUB-6S PDB you can connect the FC and PDB with a little ribbon cable that comes with the PDB. That ribbon cable carries 5v, 10v, the ESC signals, VCC for voltage sensing and I believe current. so there is no soldering required to connect the FC to the PDB.
That is really cool - it's a feature I really like. - The FC HUB-6S supports up to 6s.
Assuming you use an SBUS or iBUS receiver you can fly with just one UART.
Or even no UARTs if you choose to go down the PPM path.
However assuming you're an average quad pilot you'll want to use all the features available to you then your UART port allocation would probably look a bit like this:
1) SBUS to Receiver
Performance
And boy was it smooth. That quad is so smooth to fly.
It was the nicest quad I'd flown until I crashed it and broke an arm.
Easily my best flying quad.
- Moved to BF 3.2 pre release version
- BLHeli 32 replaced BLHeli S
- It was my first 6"
I've since used it on other quads and it seems to perform really well.
If this sounds good to you but you are building tight builds or prefer and all in one FC then hold on to your hat.
Matek just released the Matek F405-OSD an all in one version of the board. From the specs it's the same FC with pretty much the same specs but all the features of the PDB are also incorporated into the same board. Basically the Matek F405-OSD is like an F4 version of the Betaflight F3 FC with but better build quality and I suspect better 5v/10v power supplies.
Over all I really like these boards and I think over time they will become my go to board, especially as you can essentially get a traditional version with integrated, but separate PDB or an AIO with integrated PDB if that is what you want/need.
Caveat
- The board is not a supported/included target in the current official Betaflight version 3.1.7 release.
- However if you want to run 3.1. 7 you can get 3.1.7 firmware for it as Matek has organised a 3.17 hex which you can get from the Matek site
This issue will be resolved totally when BF 3.2 is released later this year as the Matek board is an officially supported target in BF 3.2.
- I'm not 100% sure, but I think the board shipped with BF 3.1.7 .
- The Matek target is NOT included in the current 3.17 Betaflight release.
- The Matek target IS included in the current BF3.2 branch and will be officially supported by the Betaflight project when BF 3.2 is released, probably later this year.
- Bear in mind Betaflight 3.2 is not released yet or even at release candidate stage, so caveat emptor if you decide to use it.
- If you're curious the reason I flashed 3.2
Getting Betaflight 3.2 pre release builds.
- You can get BF 3.2 from the Betaflight Jenkins instance.
- If you choose to use BF 3.2 you will need a more recent version of the Betaflight Configurator than the current release version.
- You'll need to go to Betaflight Configurator github project and download a very recent version e.g. the master ( I think that link will get you a recent Configurator).
- If you have other quads you will need to keep your old configurator around too for your other quad(s) if any, as there are some incompatibilities between the 3.17 configurator and the more recent versions.
One way of having different versions of the BF Configurator is to create a second user profile in Chrome or a new user in Windows or OSX and use that user./profile for the newer version
Build/Config Issues
The fix was to upload another font in the OSD page of the configurator.
I know the "betaflight" font works and so does the "digital".
I've had reports that some of the fonts won't work so I advise you choose one of the above but YMMV.
The OSD issue looks like this:
Entry #14 - Turnigy Evolution Sticks Stuck Issue
The Turnigy Evolution is an inexpensive transmitter apparently designed more or less exclusively for quad pilots flying software like Betaflight or Cleanflght.
It's a great controller for controlling relatively simple aircraft.
It's got everything you need to fly quads and it's a great form factor - the case is sort of like a Playstation controller with a screen.
It's a really good controller. The feature set is minimal but it does everything most quad pilots would need and it does it well and at $74USD (15 July 2017 it's a really good transmitter, which I'd highly recommend to any one getting into FPV/racing/freestyling .
BUT
I recently had an issue where the throttle stick would occasionally get stuck.
When that happened I could not get the throttle past about about 50%.
I Googled and searched YouTube, but could not find anyone who was reporting similar issues.
So I pulled the controller apart but could not find any loose material. I was stumped.
Then while putting it back together I noticed the switch on the back of the controller was loose.
It could move in and out. Hmmm could this be the issue?
As it happens yes it was the issue. The difference between a working throttle and a jammed throttle was about 3mm of movement.
Since I didn't find any one else reporting this issue I made a video explaining the issue and how to solve it.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Entry #13 - Good Aussie Quadcopter and FPV Retailers
Quick post of quad copter /FPV retailers who I have found to be pretty good - for me that means reasonable to great service, decent range, reasonable (for Australia) prices and fast shipping.
https://www.hott-hobbies.com.au/
https://www.efaw.shop/ - excellent customer service - they go over and above to deal with any issue with their products and service.
https://www.phaserfpv.com.au/
buzzhobbies.com.au
https://hobbyking.com/ - surprised? Started by an Aussie and have an Aussie warehouse.
https://www.wildquads.com/
https://www.hott-hobbies.com.au/
https://nemosminiquadsupplies.com.au/
https://www.fpvfaster.com.au/
https://www.multirotorshop.com.au/
https://www.nextfpv.com.au
https://boltrc.com.au
http://www.avitus.com.au/
http://impulserc.com/
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Entry # 12 - Aide Memoire
See also my checklists.
SI Labs VCP Drivers
Lipo Voltages
VTXs
Immersion RC Tramp
Team Black Sheep Unify
Team Blacksheep Unify Pro 58G HV Manual
TBS Unify Pro 58G HV Product Page


Betaflight
Betaflight 3.2 Default PIDs
Buzzer Codes
0 GYRO_CALIBRATED 20, 10, 20, 10, 20, 10 Gyro is calibrated
1 RX_LOST_LANDING 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 40, 40, 10, 40, 10, 40, 40, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 70 SOS morse code
2 RX_LOST 50, 50 TX off or signal lost (repeats until TX is okay)
3 DISARMING 15, 5, 15, 5 Disarming the board
4 ARMING 30, 5, 5, 5 Arming the board
5 ARMING_GPS_FIX 5, 5, 15, 5, 5, 5, 15, 30 Arming and GPS has fix
6 BAT_CRIT_LOW 50, 2 Battery is critically low (repeats)
7 BAT_LOW 25, 50 Battery is getting low (repeats)
8 NULL multi beeps GPS status (sat count)
9 RX_SET 10, 10 RX is set (when aux channel is set for beep or beep sequence how many satellites has found if GPS enabled)
10 ACC_CALIBRATION 5, 5, 5, 5 ACC inflight calibration completed
11 ACC_CALIBRATION_FAIL 20, 15, 35, 5 ACC inflight calibration failed
12 READY_BEEP 4, 5, 4, 5, 8, 5, 15, 5, 8, 5, 4, 5, 4, 5 GPS locked and copter ready
13 NULL multi beeps Variable # of beeps (confirmation, GPS sat count, etc)
14 DISARM_REPEAT 0, 100, 10 Stick held in disarm position (after pause)
15 ARMED 0, 245, 10, 5 Board is armed (after pause ; repeats until board is disarmed or throttle is increased)
LED Flashes
You need to add one to the values in the enum defined in system.h, which ends up being:
FAILURE_MISSING_ACC 2
FAILURE_ACC_INIT 3
FAILURE_ACC_INCOMPATIBLE 4
FAILURE_INVALID_EEPROM_CONTENTS 5
FAILURE_FLASH_WRITE_FAILED 6
FAILURE_GYRO_INIT_FAILE 7
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Entry #11 - Notes for the Betaflight F3 Flight Controller
This notes are about the FPV Model Betaflight F3 flight controller board.
The best online resource for this flight controller (and most other RC stuff) is the RC Groups thread, though it is too long to sit down and read and not that great to search.
Here are some quick notes:
- Due to the double sided board, it's probably best to solder all the wires to the board before building and then install the board, then solder the far end of the wires. This is especially true for the ESC pads. I've done two builds and a board replacement with this board, and attaching the wires to the board first was way easier.
- The corner mounting holes are connected to ground - I've had boards from two batches and this has been the case with both so be aware. Nylon hardware or other non conducting mounting is probably wise.
- There are two solder bridges on the bottom of the board:
- one controls the voltage of the RAM pin. The ram pin is the pin the camera power should com from if you're not going to power it from your VTX.
- one controls the voltage on the receiver power pin
- If you don't bridge these I think you get no power to the RX power and RAM pins.
- It's said the camera and VTX should both be connected to the ground AGND pin. Given the ground plane for the whole board is common, I'm not sure how true this is.
Other references:
Sorry about the images I can't see an obvious way to customise the image size or do a thumbnail with a pop up in Blogger. I'm hoping you'll prefer the info over the aesthetics. The default X-Large is too small and original size gives us this.












