Issues with RC to FC communication

Jonny

Jonny

Active Member
Hello, I am stumbling my way through my first build. I have managed to figure most things out using tutorials but I have found myself stumped.

Here's my part list:

Crazepony H210 frame
EMAX Skyline 32 acro FC (running base flight)
EMAX MT1806 motors
EMAX SimonK 12a ESCs
Flysky F6-i6 RC transmitter and F6-iA6 receiver

So I was able to connect the RC transmitter directly to the ESC (channel 3) and control it with the throttle. However, when I try to connect everything through the FC I am not getting any movement from the motors. The ESCs do boot up properly with the audible noises. I am guessing that I am missing a key step in configuring the flight controller or something.

Thanks!
 
tylorwashere

tylorwashere

Well-Known Member
Jonny said:
Hello, I am stumbling my way through my first build. I have managed to figure most things out using tutorials but I have found myself stumped.

Here's my part list:

Crazepony H210 frame
EMAX Skyline 32 acro FC (running base flight)
EMAX MT1806 motors
EMAX SimonK 12a ESCs
Flysky F6-i6 RC transmitter and F6-iA6 receiver

So I was able to connect the RC transmitter directly to the ESC (channel 3) and control it with the throttle. However, when I try to connect everything through the FC I am not getting any movement from the motors. The ESCs do boot up properly with the audible noises. I am guessing that I am missing a key step in configuring the flight controller or something.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Do you have it set to always disarmed in base flight? In open flight there is an arm setting and default is set to always disarmed
 
Jonny

Jonny

Active Member
Perhaps, the FC is in the exact same configuration that it shipped with. I haven't connected it to my PC yet.

In reading the manual for the skyline, it mentioned some different communication patterns other than PWM. I forget what it was called but should I be concerned with that?
 
holtneil

holtneil

Well-Known Member
Moderator
HI I dont know base flight but any FCB will have a way to arm the motor after you power it up so make sure you are arming the motors or they will not work
KK hold rudder to down and right Naza M hold both sticks down and away from each other so you need to find it for your FCB
I just looked at the manual its throttle stick down and right to arm look at page 8
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...LXpXOoQYBZQbwu_gQ&sig2=vsiZgc12hIb-DvmuPCh8Bg
 
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Jackson

Jackson

USA member at large
Jonny said:
Perhaps, the FC is in the exact same configuration that it shipped with. I haven't connected it to my PC yet.
Click to expand...
You'll need to get the correct software which is linked to in the manual but you may get by with only the configurator.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/...urator/mppkgnedeapfejgfimkdoninnofofigk?hl=en

In your case your RX can only do PWM so you need to carefully match up the RX to the FC as shown in the manual's diagram for PWM, and finally you MUST be connected to your PC to set it all up.
 
Jonny

Jonny

Active Member
I finally got a chance to try the base flight configuration tool, and got everything connected! Here's what I did:
  1. Installed the proper driver for the USB to serial device (https://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx)
  2. Went to the chrome app store and searched for "baseflight" and installed the app.
  3. Connected everything in order as described in the manual.
  4. Calibrated accelerometer and magnetometer in the app.
  5. Set the maximum throttle for the ESCs as described in the app.
After doing all of these steps, I tried for a maiden flight but not everything worked so smoothly. After arming the motors, I slowly increased the throttle, but it seemed like the only front two motors were spinning at all. I increased the throttle until the front flipped over. Nothing was damaged, but I figured I would come back here and see if I missed something.

Also, the arming of the motors seems to be hit or miss for me. Is there a timeout or something if you don't arm them right away?

Hopefully I will get a chance to fly my first build tomorrow!
 
Jonny

Jonny

Active Member
So I found the culprit this morning, I had the copter in X mode but the 3 and 4 motors were switched. I will be back at it this afternoon to fix the mistake and see if I can get airborne! After that it's on to PID tuning and trying to get my FPV gear working.
 
RGJameson

RGJameson

Hanging in there...
Jonny said:
After that it's on to PID tuning and trying to get my FPV gear working.
Click to expand...
You may want to read this.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2586066

There are also some choices that can be made in setup , pre tuned for a few quads.

CC3D-18.jpg
 
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Jonny

Jonny

Active Member
RGJameson said:
You may want to read this.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that puts it into perspective more. I don't want to screw up any settings right off the bat.

I am interested in flying rate control mode eventually. How do people typically switch between self leveling mode and rate control mode? I assume that there must be a way to use the switches on the RC transmitter to change modes, is that right?
 
Jonny

Jonny

Active Member
RGJameson said:
Sounds like you haven't done any homework. :( YouTube is your friend.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I just moved to northern CA and I am living way out in the boonies without internet access except through my phone. It makes troubleshooting dificult as I don't want to spike my data charges.

I have done quite my fair share of "homework" and I expect that I have much to learn and many mistakes to make. I believe that asking questions of others who have more knowledge and experience is not only a valid form of learning, but it can be a very rewarding to both teacher and student. Additionally, the very purpose of this website is to share knowledge, the very purpose of this section is for beginners and the purpose of this thread is for me to gather additional knowledge and advice, I do not feel like I am being unreasonable in asking questions.

I may be out of line here but I do not count statements such as "you didn't do your homework", "you should Google that" or "YouTube is your friend" as helpful or constructive in any way. If you want to help, please leave hurtful and insulting remaks off of the internet, thanks.

/rant

To follow up on my progess, I was able to get everything hooked up yesterday evening and had my maiden flight. The copter was very touchy, and seemed very unusual. I would later discover that the Skyline32 with baseflight runs in acro mode by default. I tried using the configuration tool to allow it to fly in angle mode (self level with angle restrictions) or in horizon mode (self level but at the edges of the pitch/roll input it uses rate mode). However, the settings just weren't taking. After a while I tried flashing the latest baseflight firmware and my settings were saved! I was able to use the AUX 1 (channel 5) input to switch between the different modes using low/mid/high input. Now that it has stopped raining I am about to try flying my quad outside for the first time!
 
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