I don't want to develop bad habits...Need some advice

[Quad_Billy]

Hello all I am extremely new to ANY type of flying so I come from a zero background and don't even know the terminology yet but I am trying. From what I have read:

Pitch = Elevator
Roll = Aileron
Yaw = Rudder

I am sure people from different backgrounds use different terminology. My question is very specific to my own situation so here goes. I bought a cheap Syma X1 for $30 and absolutely love the thing. In less than I week I have it buzzing all through my house and terrorizing my dog. I am going to get a much better quad in the near future and my question is on the controls and whether or not I have been gaining bad habits.

The Syma has two controller modes (1 and 2) and I just found out that what they call Mode 1 and 2 is not what the real hobbyist call it. From what I have read the Syma Mode 1 equals the real Mode 2 and the Syma Mode 2 equals the real Mode 4 but I am not 100% certain.

In the Syma Mode 1 the left stick is throttle up/down and turn left/right (rudder I think). The right stick is Fwd/Rev (elevator I think) and strafe left/right (aileron I think).

In the Syma Mode 2 the left stick is throttle up/down and strafe left/right (aileron I think). The right stick is Fwd/Rev (elevator I think) and turn left/right (rudder I think).

With that being said I hope I am correct in this being the real mode 2 and mode 4. My issue is that I prefer the real mode 4 and that is what I have been practicing. I initially tried the Syma mode 1 but found it trickier than the Syma mode 2.

From what I have read the real mode 2 is the most common in the US. Would I be at a disadvantage to keep flying the way that I have been or should I switch due to lack of compatibility to the way I have been getting used to? Are Mode 4 controllers much different or can they be reconfigured for any mode? Sorry for the long post but I am looking for solid answers and this seems like it might be just the place to find them. Thanks in advance to any replies and take care.

 

[holtneil]

HI mate there are 4 modes, which your right in saying , the mode you want to learn to fly on is mode 2, that is throttle and rudder on left stick collective on the right stick so its syma mode 1 , this is the most common flight so try and learn this one

 

[Quad_Billy]

HI mate there are 4 modes, which your right in saying , the mode you want to learn to fly on is mode 2, that is throttle and rudder on left stick collective on the right stick so its syma mode 1 , this is the most common flight so try and learn this one

Thanks that is what I was afraid would be the answer. It seems so much easier to control the direction that I am flying in with the right stick and holding my elevation with the left. Maybe because I am only flying indoors and have a very low height to fly in without crashing but I have started practicing mode 2 now. Another quick question...if I can control all of my directions with only 4 channels why do I read that the least people recommend is 6 channels? If I find the answer I will edit the question out. Thanks

 

[Mike]

Thanks that is what I was afraid would be the answer. It seems so much easier to control the direction that I am flying in with the right stick and holding my elevation with the left. Maybe because I am only flying indoors and have a very low height to fly in without crashing but I have started practicing mode 2 now. Another quick question...if I can control all of my directions with only 4 channels why do I read that the least people recommend is 6 channels? If I find the answer I will edit the question out. Thanks

You can get by with 4 channels, but it's always good to have at least six to make room for options. There are a lot of options your board may support that you'll need an extra channel to use - failsafe, return to home, altitude hold, etc.

 

[holtneil]

HI Billy sorry its been long in coming back been working strange shifts , What MM said is spot on all of my quads have 6 channel full range receivers , i will give you another heads up to when you start flying out doors and you start getting high , over 100 feet or so you may loose your orientation the quad will look flat but it may not be so the thing to do is fit some led lights to the under side so you can see if its flat not travelling forwards or backwards etc , also if its say a 450 size quad you can get a carbon fibre stick like they use on heli training gear and put a yellow ball on it put it up front between front legs helps to see what way round you are