Programming the JR 10X for a eight servo Glider

© 2001 by Michael Lachowski

Version 2.0 (Two mixers were switched to give better control of the inboard aileron travels for landing and the snap-flap curve was lost)

Version 2.1 (Added JR Datasafe file for 10X and channel list)

JR does not advertise the 10X as a sailplane radio. It does have plenty of mixing capabilities built-in including the quad-flap wing type. There are plenty of ways to use these mixers. This document describes the way I currently use the 10X for a Mueller Escape. Some of the mixes are a little creative to fit the program. Since most JR mixes have two different positions available, they sometimes are used for two entirely different, unrelated functions in this program.

The JR 10X Radio:

8 servo programming with the JR 10X configured as explained in this document

This program is designed to use a 9 channel FM receiver. No Y harness is required. You can't use a PCM receiver because the PCM encoding does not have the same resolution for channels 9 and 10.

Switch Assignment

Launch

Flap switch in LAND position (LD).

Or my preference, use the MIX switch. But then you don't have the option of an elevator preset for launching. Or you could also use GEAR if you like the switch on left side.

Camber

AUX2 down if you want to use a switch

or AUX3 lever if you want a slider on the right side

or FLAP lever if you want a slider on the left side

Reflex

AUX2 up if you want to use a switch

or AUX3 lever if you want a slider on the right side

or FLAP lever if you want a slider on the left side

Thermal mixes

Flap switch up (E-F)

Only the tip ailerons are used to turn the model

Normal mixes

Flap switch mid (MID)

Both inboard and outboard ailerons are used for turning.

Landing

Throttle lever used to control crow and elevator compenstation

Channel Assignment:

Make sure the channel assignment is the same as the following diagram:

Make sure the connections to the receiver are as indicated, otherwise the programming will not correctly apply to the model.

Preliminary Settings:

The first thing to do is set up some initial mixers and settings. After this is done, plug in all the servos, adjust the arms and mount the servos in the wing.

Selecting the Wing Type

Code 22 Wing Type:

The 10X has a built-in set of mixers that does a lot of what is needed for sailplanes. Selecting Quad Flap Wing Type causes the aileron stick to control both the AILE (right aileron) and GEAR (left aileron) servos it also makes the FLAP lever controls both the FLAP (aux1, left flap) and the AUX2 (right flap) servos. When working with the mixers, these channels have the following capabilities

AILE - moves left and right ailerons in opposite directions.

GEAR - moves left and right ailerons in the same direction.

FLAP - moves left and right flaps in the same direction.

AUX2 - moves left and right flaps in opposite directions.

The type of tail is also selected in this screen. By selecting V-TAIL the mixing of the rudder and the elevator servo is accomplished.

Hit Page and SEL E-F to POS1. POS1 will be our normal flight mode. This is used this to select the higher differential used for thermal soaring, and launching. POS0 will be the aerobatic or speed setting.

Adjust the aileron differential on this screen. Set an initial value of 30% for POS0 and POS1.

Adjust surface travel limits

Function 12 Travel Adjust:

For the model used in this example the travels are:

THRO H 100, L 100

AILE L 100%, R 100%

ELEV D 100%, U 100%

RUDD L 100%, R 100%

GEAR +100%, -100%

FLAP +100%, -100%

AUX2 +100%, -100%

AUX3, 4 & 5 +100%, -100%

Activating and assigning the flight mode switches

Code 17 Function Select:

This code is used for selecting what switches are active or inactive and what switches are assigned to the different flight modes.

Before the programmable mixers are programmed the functions should read GEAR-ACT, FLAP-ACT, AUX2-ACT, AUX3-ACT, AUX4-ACT and AUX5-ACT.

Set all the functions to INH.

Now ACT AUX4. AUX4 will be used for the initial setup. It will be disabled later. When FLAP, AUX3, or AUX2 are used for camber, the mixers will be using origin mode. The normal functions of these switches and levers need to be disabled.

Couple AILERONS to FLAPS to improve roll response.

CODE 51 Programmable mix 1

Using code 51 select 2 and 7 for AILE->AUX2 mix (the AUX2 servo was already linked to the FLAP servo by the QUADFLAP function). This setting will allow for the roll coupling between the tip AILERONS and the inboard ailerons (FLAPS) as previously described where the flaps turn similar to the ailerons but with less travel. Select 0% for the POS1 mix and –80% for the POS0 mix. Hit PAGE and select E-F to POS1 and all the other modes to the POS0 (down) position. Hit PAGE again and select MASTER = NORM and trim = ON and DIFF =ACT. I'm not sure how much value there is in flying this way.

Couple AILERONS to RUDDER to coordinate turns.

CODE 62 AILE-RUDD MIX

Using code 62, PAGE and SEL E-F, LD, MX to POS1. POS1 is the high rate aileron to rudder mix for thermal flying. POS0 is the low rate mix for speed and aerobatics. Select a value of 10 for POS0 and 40 for POS1 for an initial setting. POS1 should be set to provide a nice coordinated turn when flying slow. POS0 should be adjusted to minimize the amount the model yaws when rolling left or right at higher speeds. This is easy to see if you dive the model towards yourself and move the ailerons stick alternating left and right.

Check the travel directions for all your servos now.

Function 11 Servo Directions:

Check the servo directions. Check all the tip ailerons, inboard ailerons, flaps, rudder and elevator for proper travel. Flap travel will be adjusted later.

Set neutral points

Function 15 Sub Trim

Set all the servos for zero. Set FLAP to - 200 and AUX2 to +200. The wing servos will be recentered again later during program setup.

Mount your servos

At this point, mount all the servos in the model. Check to make sure the travels are OK. Adjust the aileron travel and differential. Adjust travel on the tail. The flap travel will be adjusted after creating a few more mixes. If the wing servos will be glued in, just hold the servos in with some tape until more of the programming is completed.

Create Camber mix and Launch mix for the wing

The AUX4 channel is used to move the entire trailing edge. The mix values are adjusted so that the ailerons and flaps both move the same amount. AUX4 will be mixed into FLAP. The FLAP channel moves both flaps in the same direction. AUX4 will also mix it into GEAR. The GEAR channel moves both ailerons in the same direction.

Code 52 ->AUX4 -> AUX3

Program AUX4 into AUX3. Turn on INCLUDE mixing. Set the initial values to +100 in both directions. AUX3 and AUX4 will be used for the inboard flaps. Travel may need to be adjusted to get fill flap travel.

Code 56 ->AUX4 ->FLAP

Program AUX4 into FLAP. Turn on INCLUDE mixing. Set the initial values to +100 in one direction and 0 in the other direction. Rotate the AUX4 knob and test the throws on the inboard ailerons. At one extreme, they will be reflexed. At the other extreme, the inboard ailerons will be partially down for landing.

Your normal curve is adjusted to control how fast the inboard ailerons drop as well as the limits of dropping them. Start with a curve like:

Now put in a launch curve:

Code 57 ->AUX4 ->GEAR

Program AUX4 into GEAR. Turn on INCLUDE mixing. Set LD to POS1. (or MX or GEAR to use the Mix or Gear switch for launch preset). POS0 will be used for Crow mixing on landing and POS1 will be used for dropping the tip ailerons on launch.

For POS0, set a curve with

Set AUX4 knob to 100%. Go to Code 15, sub trim, and adjust the trailing edge. Set the entire trailing edge so that it is evenly reflexed. 5 to 10 degrees.

Check the flap travel by moving the AUX4 switch to - 100. This is full flap travel. Adjust the servo travel and linkage so that the flaps go to their full landing travel.

Return to Code 57. Move AUX4 to the 85% setting. Adjust the curve so that the ailerons and flaps drop down to the same camber position.

At this point the trailing edge should move in unison when AUX4 is between 100 and 85%. This should exceed the travel needed for camber and reflex trailing edge settings for the airfoil. When at - 100, this is the landing position. Adjust the crow part of the curve to suit your preferences.

The next step is to create a launch setup.

Set the switches to POS1 for Code 57 and set the POS1 curve.

For POS1, set a curve with

Adjust the values for 70 and 50 to get your launch preset. For an initial setup, try to adjust the entire trailing edge to drop 16 degrees. The flaps, inboard ailerons and tip ailerons should be down to get the best possible launch.

At this point, go back to Code 17 and disable the AUX4 switch. At this point, the entire trailing edge will still be reflexed.

Enable the throttle stick for landing.

The throttle mixes will be used to move the TE for landing and launching. It also mixes out the reflex in the TE from setting the previous mixes.

Code 53 ->THRO -> AUX4

Mix the throttle stick into AUX4. Set INCLUDE mixing. Set the mix values. The upper position will be less than 100, probably between 80 and 90. Adjust this value until the trailing edge of the wing is neutral. Now move the stick down. Adjust the mix to 100 and check for full travel on the flaps. In the first few clicks of stick travel, the trailing edge of the entire wing will be cambered. Moving further, the ailerons stop moving down around the middle of the stick travel. Then the ailerons start moving up and end up in the crow position at full travel on the throttle stick.

Expect to play a bit with the travels and mixes since they all interact. You should be able to get everything to move together. Switch back and forth between the curves that set the travels for camber and checking full travel for landing.

Add elevator compenstation for landing

Code 58 THRO->ELEV

Use a curve for elevator compensation. Sometimes more down elevator is needed in the middle ranges. Here are some initial values for the curve.

Setting launch flap preset

This is a really "creative" mixer application. One programmable mixer is used to provide both a snap-flap curve and a launch flap preset.

Code 55 ELEV->THRO

Set LD (MX or GEAR if you are using one of those switches) to POS1. Set POS0 to zero and POS1 for the launch preset.

ot the ailerons.

Now flip the launch switch and set a POS1 to about +60 for a start. Push the elevator stick to the full down position and store the offset. It will probably be around +65. With the offset, the mix percentage can be used to create a preset.

Adjust the mix to get the trailing edge to the launch preset position. Pulling more up elevator will also increase the amount of travel for the trailing edge.

Code 66 FLAP System:

The JR 10X has a FLAP switch that can be used to select three pre-programmed flap positions. In a sailplane, the entire trailing edge must move. If the FLAP system also gave you settings for the ailerons, then it would be ideal. Since it does not, it is only useful for elevator presets. Adjust the CG and towhook should eliminate the need for presets so you should not need elevator presets.

Selecting how the FLAP and ELEVATOR channels are going to respond when each FLAP switch position is selected is done by using the Code 66 function FLAP SYSTEM:

The FLAP switch has three positions 0, MID and LAND. 0 is inactive. Use the MID position for fast and aerobatic flying. Use this setting to put one or two clicks of down trim if needed. To use this switch for launching, use the elevator for a little up preset if the towhook is too far forward. If possible, adjust the towhook so that no elevator preset is needed.

ELEV: MID = D 0 and LAND = 0

We will not use the FLAP settings.

FLAP: MID = U 0 and FLAP = 0.

Other mixes are used to achieve flap settings for launch or reflex.

Trailing edge camber

CODE 54 #AUX3->AUX4, #FLAP->AUX4 or #AUX2->AUX4

For sliders, use #AUX3 or #FLAP. For presets, use #AUX2. Remember to use Origin mixing since the inputs come directly from the switch or slider.

Use #AUX2 -> Flap to get fixed presets. You can use two different mixes. POS1 is set when the Flap switch is in the MID position. Use MID for fast flight and aerobatics mixes. In this mix, both the up and down positions on AUX2 reflex the trailing edge. This prevents accidentally using positive camber when it's not desirable. This can be done with the sliders by changin the sign of the mix..

Tuning your model

Launching

If the towhook is not adjustable use the LD switch for launch. Use code 66 and the LD elevator setting to get the preset without taking another mixer. The Escape is limited in how far back you can move the hook and how finely you can adjust the hook. The steps in the hook for adjustments are too coarse so some elevator preset might be required.

Flap Presets

Use code 55. Adjust the elevator mixing into throttle to control the TE position. You should be able to move it up and down.

If there are problems with the amount of travel , then straighten out the TE using code 56 and the curve for code 57.

Camber and reflex settings

Adjust the mixes in code 54.

JR DataSafe Settings

Escape Program for JR 10X

Escape CG and Towhook

These settings may be a little far back for the average pilot.

CG 106mm from LE

Towhook 116mm from end of nosecone