To be able to support many different types of radio transmitters, EdgeTX uses a generic control data flow that can be applied to any radio transmitter. In this data flow, any of the radio's physical controls (sticks, switches, sliders, pots) can be mapped to an input in the software. These inputs can be directly assigned or combined with other inputs into a single mix. These mixes can be modified by applying weights, offsets, and curves and are then assigned a channel for output. Final adjustments to the control data are made (including subtrims, curves, endpoint, and center values) before finally sending the control data to the RF module. The flowchart below depicts a visual summary of this control data flow. Detailed information about the flow is provided in the following sections Inputs, Mixes, and Outputs.
The Inputs screen is where you map your physical radio controls (for example: sticks, sliders, and pots) to a software input to be used by the radio. After the control has been mapped, it is then possible to apply modifiers to the inputs, such as a weight, offset or curve, which will then be applied anywhere that input is used. Although it is possible to also assign switches as inputs, it is normally not needed as switch outputs seldomly need to be modified by a weight, offset or curve. By default, EdgeTX will automatically map your controller sticks to Aileron, Elevator, Throttle, Rudder based on the default channel order defined in Radio Setup.
Your input channels may default to a different order based on the settings defined in Radio Setup.
The Inputs section is also commonly referred to as "Dual Rates" as it was previously called this in earlier versions of OpenTX.
The inputs screen shows you an overview of your configured inputs. Each row represents an input line and displays the following information from left to right: Input name, weight, activation switch, line name. These items are described in the Input configuration page area below.
Selecting an existing input line and pressing [Enter] will toggle between Copy/Paste mode and Move mode. In Copy/Paste mode, a copy of the input line is made which can be pasted in the desired input line. In Move mode, the selected input can be moved to a different line. Press the [Return] button to exit this mode.
Selecting an empty input line and pressing [Enter] will create a new input and open the input configuration page.
Selecting an existing input line and long-pressing [Enter] will give you the following options:
Edit - opens the input configuration page for that input line.
Insert before - Inserts a new input line before the selected input.
Insert after- Inserts a new input line after the selected input.
Copy - copies the selected input line.
Move - selects the input line to be moved. The input is moved using one of the paste commands after a new line is selected (i.e. cut & paste).
Delete - deletes the selected input line.
Paste before - pastes the copied or moved input line before the selected input line.
Paste after - pastes the copied or moved input line before the selected input line.
The input configuration page allows you to edit the input configuration parameters. To the right of the configuration parameters, you can see a live graph that shows how your configuration options will affect the slope of the input.
Input Name - Name for the input. Three characters are possible.
Line Name - Name of the individual line in the input. Multiple physical inputs can be mapped to one input by adding an additional input line under the input.
Source - The physical control used for the input. In addition to physical controls, you can also specify MAX (always returns 100), cyclics, trim switches, channel values and more. Moving the physical control after the source has been selected will automatically map it to that input.
Weight - Percentage value of the stick travel to use (often referred to as "rates"). Long-pressing here will switch from numerical value to a global variable.
Offset - The value added to or subtracted from the input source.
Curve - Specifies the type of curve that will be used. The following curve options exist:
Diff - Multiplies only the range above or below the middle (0) by the specified %.
Expo -The input value is changed exponentially. Increasing the % will result in a gentle slope near the middle(0). Decreasing the % will result in a steep slope near the middle (0). With a % of 0, the slope will be linear.
Func -
Cstm - assigns a custom-defined curve. See Curves for more information about custom-defined curves.
Values for weight, offset and curve % can also be defined by a configured global values Selecting the GV button will display a list of configured global values to select from.
Modes - Specifies which flight modes this input is active for.
Switch - The switch that activates the input line. If no switches are defined, then it is always active.
Side - Specifies the input range for which this line setting is valid. If you select ---, it will be valid in the entire range of Source values. If you select x>0, it will be valid in the upper half of the value of Source. If you select x<0, it will be valid in the lower half of the value of Source.
Trim - Specifies whether or not to include the trim values in this input. Additionally, you can select a different trim to use for this input.
Pressing the [PAGE>] button will take you to the Mixes screen.
The Mixes screen is where several Inputs can be combined into one "Channel Mix". These mixes are then assigned to a radio channel for output. This is also the place where switches, knobs or sliders are assigned to a channel for output. Similar to the Input section, it is also possible to assign a weight, offset or curve to a channel mix.
The Mixes screen shows you an overview of your configured mixes. Each row represents a mixer line and displays the following information from left to right: channel, weight, input, mix name switch. These items are described in the Mixes configuration options area below.
Selecting an empty mix line and pressing [Enter] will create a new mix and open the mixes configuration page.
Selecting an existing mix line and pressing [Enter] will toggle between Copy/Paste mode and Move mode. In Copy/Paste mode, a copy of the mix line is made, which can be pasted into the desired channel or mix line. In Move mode, the selected mix can be moved to a different channel. Press the [Return] button to exit this mode.
Selecting an existing mix line and long-pressing [Enter] will give you the following options:
Edit - opens the mixes configuration page for that mix line.
Insert before - Inserts a new mix line before the selected mix.
Insert after - Inserts a new mix line after the selected mix.
Copy - copies the selected mix line.
Move - selects the mix line to be moved.
Delete - deletes the selected mix line.
The right portion of the mixes configuration page contains a graph that shows the channel range for the mix.
When the edit option is selected for a mix, the following configuration options are available:
Mix Name - Name of the mix (optional). Up to 6 characters are allowed.
Source - The source for the mix. In addition to inputs, you can select sticks, pots, sliders, trims, physical and logical switches, heli mixer outputs, trainer import channel values, and other channels.
Weight- Percentage of the source value to use. Long-pressing here will switch from numerical value to a global variable.
Offset - The value added to or subtracted from the source.
Trim - Specifies whether or not to include the trim values in this mix. For the trim values to be included, the trim field for the relevant input must also be enabled on INPUTS screen.
Curve - Specifies the type of curve that will be used. See the curve section on the Inputs page for detailed explanations of the different curve types.
Switch - The physical switch that activates this mix line (optional). If no switch is selected, then the mix will be active by default.
Warning -when selected, the radio will beep when this mix is active. You can choose from OFF or beep patterns 1, 2, 3.
Multiplex - The multiplex setting defines how the current mixer line interacts with the others on the same channel. Add will add its output to them, Multiply will multiply the result of the lines above it, and Replace will replace anything that was done before it with its output.
Modes - Specifies which flight modes this mix is active for. Visible modes are active.
Delay up - Creates a time delay in seconds between when the source value increases and when it is output.
Delay down - Creates a time delay in seconds between when the source value decreases and when it is output.
Slow up - Adjusts the transition speed for source value increases. Specify the time to transition from -100% to + 100% in seconds. You can specify a range from 0.0 seconds to 25.0 seconds.
Slow down - Adjusts the transition speed for source value decreases. Specify the time to transition from -100% to + 100% in seconds. You can specify a range from 0.0 seconds to 25.0 seconds.
Pressing the [PAGE>] button will take you to the Outputs screen.
The Outputs screen is where final adjustments to the control data are made (including subtrims, curves, endpoint, and center values) before finally sending the control data to the RF module. This is where the channel center, limits (to prevent servo binding) and output direction are set.
A Trim is a temporary adjustment to a flight control normally done while in operation with a trim switch. A Subtrim is a semi-permanant adjustment to a flight control that is normally configured when setting up the model in the output settings.
The output screen shows all the output channels. For each output line, it displays the values for the subtrim, minimum and maximum limits, direction, curve, and subtrim mode. After the last output line is the option Trims=>Subtrims. When this option is selected, it adds the current trim value to the subtrim value for each configured output. The trim value is then reset to zero.
Selecting an output line will give you the following options:
Edit - Opens the output configuration screen.
Reset - Sets the subtrim value back to zero. The trim value is not changed.
Cpy Trims -> Subtrim - Adds the current trim value to the subtrim value. The trim value is not changed.
Cpy Sticks -> Subtrim - Adds the current value of the stick deflection as the subtrim value.
Cpy min/max to all - Copies the settings in Min / Max field of selected channel to all other channels.
The output configuration screen has the following configuration options:
Name - Name for the Output up to 6 characters.
Subtrim - The subtrim value (max 100). It can also be set to a global variable by pressing the ldong-pressing the [Enter] button to switch to GV Mode and then selecting the desire global variable.
Min - Minimum output limit. Commonly used to prevent servo binding on models that use servos for the control surfaces.
Max - Maximum output limit. Commonly used to prevent servo binding on models that use servos for the control surfaces.
Direction- Select --- for normal output value, INV if you want to invert the output value.
Curve - Specify the custom curve (in any) that you want to use for this output. See Curves for more information about custom-defined curves.
PPM Center - Specify the pulse-width value for the center value of the output channel (between 1000 - 2000). Changing this will shift the entire output range, including upper and lower limits.
Subtrim mode - Defines how the subtrim value affects the min/max output values. There are two options:
â–³ (Center Only) - Only the center value shifts. The upper and lower limits do not change. The reaction of the stick differs between the upper half and the lower half from midpoint.
= Symmetrical - Both the upper and lower limits will shift according to the shift of the center value. The reaction of the stick is the same on both sides of the midpoint.
Pressing the [PAGE>] button will take you to the Curves screen.
Function | Slope Behavior |
---|---|
---
The slope will be linear.
X>0
The range below the middle (0) is always 0. Above the middle (0), the slope is linear.
X<0
The range above the middle (0) is always 0. Below the middle (0), the slope is linear.
|X|
The range above the middle (0), the reaction is linear. The sign is inverted in the range below the middle (0). The curve draws a V-shaped graph.
f>0
The range above the middle (0) is always +100. The range below the middle (0) is always 0. The output value will always be either 0 or +100.
f<0
The range above the middle (0) is always 0. The range below the middle (0) is always -100. The output value will always be either 0 or -100.
|f|
The range above the middle (0) is always +100. The range below the middle (0) is always -100. The output value will always be either +100 or -100.