New TX/RX (FS-GT3B) setup & calibration

[Kobur]

I got an old beater RC10T2 a few months ago. I'm 52 and have never owned a hobby-class RC vehicle of any kind. I completely disassembled it and cleaned it, then reassembled it. It was necessary to replace several small pieces along the way--hinge pins and e-clips, for instance. I had to order parts and rebuild all four shocks (one actually still had about 50% of the oil, the rest were basically empty).

It came with an all Futaba electronics setup that's in my signature. The old TX was not in great shape, and my efforts at improving it didn't go well. After some quick research, I purchased a FlySky FS-GT3B TX/RX combination. I wanted a cheap set up since I am a beginner, but one that I can grow into and use for added cars in the future. Now I have some questions about how to get it all working well together.

When i drive the car, it is WAAAY to sensitive. The very smallest steering results in the truck careening off to the side, or doing a 180. Is there a way to tone down the steering?

Also, and I don't think this is related to the new TX/RX, the car tends not to track straight. I have the steering trim set to neutral, but the truck always veers to the right. After the rebuild, it did this with the Futaba TX/RX setup too. I didn't know enough to look for that before I rebuilt it, to I don't know it it has always done this.

Can anyone help me with this, or point me to an existing thread or website with information with which I can educate myself?

[Coelacanth]

With your GT3B radio, you should be able to decrease your steering servo throw in either direction, that would significantly reduce the amount that your wheels steer left/right.

[Kobur]

So I have read the manual, which is skeletal at best, and I've narrowed the options down to three. There is a setting for "E. Point," for "D/R," and for "Trim." I am working on the assumption that E. Point stands for end point and would limit the farthest movement of the servo, that D/R is for dual rate, which I completely do not understand, and "Trim" is just like trim on a boat or an airplane--holding a non-neutral setting as the new default or neutral position. Is that correct? If so, I presume that Trim is not the option I am looking for, but E. Point or D/R, but I'm not sure which is the right one.

[Coelacanth]

So I have read the manual, which is skeletal at best, and I've narrowed the options down to three. There is a setting for "E. Point," for "D/R," and for "Trim." I am working on the assumption that E. Point stands for end point and would limit the farthest movement of the servo, that D/R is for dual rate, which I completely do not understand, and "Trim" is just like trim on a boat or an airplane--holding a non-neutral setting as the new default or neutral position. Is that correct? If so, I presume that Trim is not the option I am looking for, but E. Point or D/R, but I'm not sure which is the right one.

I went through this same exact issue with my GT3B; indeed, the manual is pretty sparse and a bit hard to understand. This will probably be helpful; I describe how to adjust the endpoints so that your steering throw is reduced. I asked if anyone knew how to do it, and nobody answered--so I eventually figured it out on my own.

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=25221

[Kobur]

I went through this same exact issue with my GT3B; indeed, the manual is pretty sparse and a bit hard to understand. This will probably be helpful; I describe how to adjust the endpoints so that your steering throw is reduced. I asked if anyone knew how to do it, and nobody answered--so I eventually figured it out on my own.

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=25221

Thanks so much for that. I will try adjusting the endpoint settings and see what that does for me. I still don't get the exp or the dual rate settings. I will play with it some and see what I can find out on my own.

After my first post I started having an issue with the wheel not self-centering after any movement, but that turned out to be the rubber on the wheel getting pushed against the transmitter housing and binding. Moving the rubber ring back out away from the black plastic housing and up against the chromed wheel rim fixed that.

[Coelacanth]

Don't bother with the Exp or DR settings...the Exp I believe has to do with making the servo throw at an exponential rate, i.e. not at a consistent speed throughout the throw range...and from what I remember researching, DR (Dual Rate) hardly even worked with the original GT3B, if at all. Neither feature is really that useful for a vintage buggy, IMO.

[Kobur]

Don't bother with the Exp or DR settings...the Exp I believe has to do with making the servo throw at an exponential rate, i.e. not at a consistent speed throughout the throw range...and from what I remember researching, DR (Dual Rate) hardly even worked with the original GT3B, if at all. Neither feature is really that useful for a vintage buggy, IMO.

Oops, too late. spent the last about 45 minutes fiddling with settings on the Exp. You are right that it makes the response non-linear in relation to the amount of actual throw range. For the throttle, it seems to be verry useful to set an amount of negative Exp. to gain better fine control over slow speed maneuvers. Without that, it was zero to 100% very quickly. With the neg. Exp. it was much easier to control a smooth take-off from a stop and to accelerate at slow to moderate speed. I would be willing to bet that for beginners (like me) this would be very useful in learning control.

The end point adjustments are helpful in just the way you described. if you go too far, you can't make a sharp turn, but as you said, about 75% makes for good turning without immediate jerking.

I am wondering if setting negative Exp. on the steering servo would help with fine steering control. I didn't get to play with that. Began to wonder if the neighbors were being bothered by my near-midnight driving school and decided I wouldn't chance provoking anyone to actually complain. I'll have to try it next time in the daylight hours.

just out of curiosity, any idea what dual rate would do for a modern truck? I have an Arrma Granite on the way and am curious if it has any usefulness there?