MFD setup questions please

[Billy_boy_2010]

Hi guys

So I'm fitting a MFD to my zephyr and would love some advice and a few questions answered please :

Have read through the main MFD question on this thread so think they haven't yet been answered.

I have wired it up correctly I believe. I have video with the osd working so can't have ballsed it up too much :D

1) re the auto launch- can I wing tip launch it in this mode and expect it to autolevel and then fly straight?

2) I see the mfd doesn't supply power to the Rx- I need to use a Bec. Do you guys power the Rx directly with a bec? Or do you plug the 5V Bec into the mfd rail and allow that to power the Rx and servos?

3) I'm not using PPM yet- never used it before and have no idea how to set it up so will do one thing at a time I think!

[Flyboysee]

Hi guys

So I'm fitting a MFD to my zephyr and would love some advice and a few questions answered please :

Have read through the main MFD question on this thread so think they haven't yet been answered.

I have wired it up correctly I believe. I have video with the osd working so can't have ballsed it up too much :D

1) re the auto launch- can I wing tip launch it in this mode and expect it to autolevel and then fly straight?

2) I see the mfd doesn't supply power to the Rx- I need to use a Bec. Do you guys power the Rx directly with a bec? Or do you plug the 5V Bec into the mfd rail and allow that to power the Rx and servos?

3) I'm not using PPM yet- never used it before and have no idea how to set it up so will do one thing at a time I think!

Hi Billiboy

MFD is great, but needs time and love in set up, and quite a few tweaks need to be done in sequence to get it right.

Firstly, the launch mode is awesome, and I've tested mine three times. I've seen guys with wings throw it any which way and it goes up 30 degrees (25 in my case on the EZ*) and climbs right, and keeps level (this depends on how well you've done your tweaks).

So, advice is do the maiden in RC mode, then get some height, do STB tests (come home, adjust etc etc) and when all good with that do RTH, CIR etc and then you are ready for auto launch.

As to 5v, I have kept mine separate. Goes from UBEC to RC on receiver and gets back to MFD that route - works great. Currykitten has done his the other way (through MFD) and seems okay.

I'm having a bit of interference with video though - something I need to look into.

MFD is a great AP, but as I said, needs a little tweaking and beware, the manual is 'ok, but not that great!'

Good luck!

[Coyote]

1) re the auto launch- can I wing tip launch it in this mode and expect it to autolevel and then fly straight?

Yes it should, but launch mode should not be touched for a long time yet. Lots of setting up and test flights to do before trying Launch. Everything has to be set so it flies perfectly level in manual, Stabilizes perfectly in Stab mode, Gains all set correctly after in flight tuning, RTH / Circle and Alt mode working perfectly before attempting Launch mode.

2) I see the mfd doesn't supply power to the Rx- I need to use a Bec. Do you guys power the Rx directly with a bec? Or do you plug the 5V Bec into the mfd rail and allow that to power the Rx and servos?

Either way is fine, the MFD AP connections common up the 5v rail and the 0v rail so either end is fine it will pass the power to every servo / receiver.

3) I'm not using PPM yet- never used it before and have no idea how to set it up so will do one thing at a time I think!

PPM is not really any different. You just use a signal wire instead of multiple. Depending on brand depends which channel on the MFD AP you plug that single cable into. The only setup then is at your receiver end not so much the MFD.

[MarkLloyd]

Hi Billyboy, 

I'm just fitting the MFD Ap to my Z3 build at the moment so it's all been a steep learning curve for me too.
I'm sending power from an sbec to the mfd for the servos then on to the RX.

I had a Frsky D8R-ii plus rx ready to go in but fancied trying ppm to cut down on some of the spagetti between the rx and ap.  I ordered a Frsky D8r-XP which was cppm enabled and it has been fairly straight forward setting it up.  So just one servo wire between the two units ( have added a single signal wire also now for the rssi output to be displayed on the osd)

I later read on a forum that the D8R-ii and the D8R-XP are basically the same rx ( they look physically identical apart from the sticker) but with different software . If you flash the XP software onto the other rx it will run output a ppm signal just the same. ( I think a usb programming card is only about £4)

I've found the rcgroups MFD AP thread to be invaluable.  I'm only up to page 110 of about 250 but am really impressed how the manufacturer responds to problems and requests for features to be added.

Same as Flyboysee, I'm having an issue with lines on the vid but it seems intermittent.  It was something that was a real pain with the FY41 so I hope I'm not in for a repeat performance.   It has been suggested it's the immersion 5.8 600mw vtx -   it's certainly always the common factor.

Anyway, as already said , it seems to be an AP that you really need to sit down and  read up on & tweak to get the best from it.  I'm looking forward to maidening the Z3 within a couple of weeks so we'll see how it goes !  :)

[Flyboysee]

Same as Flyboysee, I'm having an issue with lines on the vid but it seems intermittent.  It was something that was a real pain with the FY41 so I hope I'm not in for a repeat performance.   It has been suggested it's the immersion 5.8 600mw vtx -   it's certainly always the common factor.

Funny thing Mark, my lines are on the 600mw 5.8 from Immersion, but even worse on the 2.4 Immersion VTX. This is the very first time I'm using a single battery system and I have no filtering. If I can't sort this out I'll change back to a separateb 1000mah for vtx and video... Seems easier to me, but want to first check if it's my fault, or equipment.

I'm posting a video up- later this evening of my MFD AP modes, and the interference can be seen there...

[Billy_boy_2010]

Wow fantastic responses thanks guys.

I have been fiddling with fy31 in another plane today so not looked at the MFD setup yet. Will have a go at it tomorrow hopefully.

Will run the 5V Bec direct to the EzUHF thanks.

Will take both of your advice and gently ease the autopilot in slowly with the modes.

Coyote- can you give me a quick hint on PPM setup for the EzUHF? Will cut down on wiring hugely for me. I believe I plug the PPM into channel 6 of the MFD? And in the immersionRc tools- which channel do I select as PPM MUXed ? 1? Is this all I have to do? Or do I need to mess around with the tx setup too? Most of the setup guides are for quads with other software involved :s

Will start reading the mfd R groups thread for some bedroom reading. Got the fy31 manual to digest too- on the face of it the fy31 seems more straightforward to setup but is more limited as a result. It's confusing doing both at the same time but I want both planes setup this holiday as I will have 10x more time to fly them in the next two weeks than I will for most of the winter.

I'm really not expecting to have the knowledge to help anyone here really- but lines in the video after throttle was helped with an LC filter as suggested by coyote. May be worth looking at? It helped me with a simpler build. It didn't eliminate it though but I think I had other issues.

Thanks again people :)

[Coyote]

Your PPM channel can be set to any receiver channel you want. You select this in ImmersionRC Toolz on the servo mapping tab. On the output channels you have the option of muxed PPM. When selecting that it will output PPM on that channel.

So it would be Servo output ---> ch1 ----> muxed ppm (drop down menu) ---> upload settings to receiver

[ktnch]

got a mfd in the easystar 2 great bits of kit and even has some planes on the autoset up

[BigT]

Anyone know if you can do the firmware update without removing the AP from the plane? Just plug the updater into the gps extension cable?

[Coyote]

Yes just unplug the GPS and plug in the update tool. Its the same wires used so the GPS wire is effectively an updating extension lead.

[BigT]

Thanks, lets hope its easier than Rlink

[Billy_boy_2010]

Hi guys

So I'm a little closer to getting the mfd setup. It's taking me quite a while because the wing is 60" and I can't launch it alone and the gf is way too weak to throw it :D

Anyway- I took it for a flight over the weekend and it was a partial success. I used settings suggested in the manual combined with a summary from a zephyr YouTube vid which seemed to work ok.

The RTH worked flawlessly- except it engaged with the wrong switch.

No other switches worked.

It seems perhaps I have the taranis setup incorrectly?

Could someone give me some idiot proof details of how I should set the taranis up please? +50 or -100 etc.

Want to get voice commands setup too at some point!

[BigT]

Can't help I am afraid as I fly Futaba. Try e mailing Charles at mfd.. I would do it before the Chinese New Year though


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[MarkLloyd]

Hi Billy,

I have switches "SC"  for the manual, auto balance, RTH,   "SD" for the Alt or maybe circle .....   I can't remember without setting the plane up

My settings in the taranis mix page are as per the attached pic.

Hope it helps.

Sorry it's a bit short, just saw your message as I went to turn computer off.

If I can be of more help, let me know and I'll try to give extra info tomorrow.

Regards

Mark

[Billy_boy_2010]

Mark that's fantastic thanks ever so much.

My Tx is in bits as I'm adjusting the throttle and replacing a couple of switches.

Should be back together by Thursday so I will try your settings out then.

Really kind mate thanks- a picture says 1000 words as they say :)