DJI F550 with Spektrum AR8000 and Spektrum DX8 Controller need help

[karl0z007]

HI Everyone,
just upgraded from the DJI Phantom. Wanted to get into the F550 and also purchased the Spektrum DX8 with Telemtry. I haven't plugged in all the telemetry items right now, i'm just messing around with the RX and TX. I was able to get the TX and RX binded and setup in the Naza Assistant, so it turn on and spins.

I really am new to the controller, wonder if someone could give me some good calibration tips for my controller as far as where it should be set to, to simulate good flight like the Phantom, as well having IOC enabled and the switching between GPS, Atti. I don't use Manual but if we need to put on a 3 switch we can just have a second atti.

I'm also curious on the failsafe, hate to lose my bird on the first flight.

thanks everyone!

 

[karl0z007]

So i was able to get it setup and running. Took it for the first flight, seems its doing the toilet bowl effect on GPS Mode, and its wobbling pretty bad. Seems I always get the blinking yellow light also when i plug in battery to setup Compass again, which I do and its fine.

Any ideas how to tweak?

Also just using 100% on controller, and tweaking via NAZA as some suggested is this also everyones suggestion.

 

[PeteDee]

I am doing a rebuild on my 550 but was using 100 across the board and flying was quite steady, on my 450 I have upped the gains to 120 and it is rock solid.

What firmware do you have on your Naza?

Do a full calibration.

If you have TBE then try doing a little offset as per the manual.

Pete

 

[glacier51]

karl9z007:
>I'm also curious on the failsafe, hate to lose my bird on the first flight.

Don't be just curious. It is imperative you setup the pre-set failsafe in the DX8/AR8000 for any situation where the radio looses contact with your flight controller. The How-To is explained in the DX8 manual.

If you're using a NAZA/GPS, when you do the set-up, remember to set the DX8 switched failsafe switch to ON and the throttle to above 10% (seems most pilots are setting the throttle nearer 40-50%) then bind the radio/receiver.

Then, when you loose radio, the AR8000 tells NAZA what to do - enter failsafe mode with no throttle cutoff.

 

[stauntonflyer]

I second what glacier said, Failsafe isn't a bonuse, it's the most important feature. Without failsafe I would have lost my little finger chopper 3-4 times already. You must play around with it to get the failsafe setting working reliably. You want the 3 position gps/atti/fail, so when you accidentally fly out of sight or lose your orientation you can flip a switch and it just comes back home.

Make sure you have incorporated magnetic declination into your gps mounting. http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/ point the gps forward then offset it the amount of declination for your area. Also double check that when you enter the GPS location in the naza assistant you are the correct distances from center of gravity and you have the correct positive/negative numbers. I had a hell of a time getting all that correct the first time so I like to throw this out there when anyone says "toilet bowl".

Good luck!

 

[Empire Support 2]

The AR8000 allows you to set up failsafe in the Rx which is a necessity. Set your throttle end point from -100 to about 0 and adjust your mode switch to failsafe. Turn your Tx off. Then power the Rx with the bind plug in. You will get rapid flashes. Then remove the bind plug. The flashes should continue. At that point you can power your Tx with the bind switch depressed. Once bound, unpower everything. Reset your Tx to -100-0-+100 and your mode to manual, atti, gps-atti or atto, atto, gps-atti. You can now repower everything and connect to assistant. When you turn off the Tx you should see the throttle go to above 10% and the mode slider go to failsafe.

 

[MultiCopterFPV]

You'll have to forgive me, but I am not used to a phantom, but as a part of my pre-flight check I make sure my Naza-M on my F550 goes in to fail safe before I take off. I hope you can do the same.

I have fail safe trigger 2 ways:
One, from a transmitter turn off
Two from a 3 position switch between GPS, Atti, and Manual. I can flip my DR and get the switch to turn in to a GPS, Atti, and Fail safe switch.

I make sure the LED flashes yellow to confirm fail safe. You can do this on the ground before you ever throttle up and take off.