Technical Review - 2004/06

Airtronics VG6000
Radio System
MY FEBRUARY 2004 contribution to
the Model Aviation “From the Ground Up”
beginners’ series was “Advanced Radio
Control Systems.” The idea was to
indoctrinate the beginner into the next step
up in RC equipment—namely the
computer-driven radio systems. In that
article I mentioned the new Airtronics
VG6000 RC system, and in this article I
will explore it in depth.
The VG6000 is simple to operate and
inexpensive (less than $200), and it offers
many extra features compared to a basic
system. You can selectively employ the
added features as you gain experience in
the RC hobby.
What the VG6000 Includes: As received,
this system includes a six-channel control
function, a dual-stick FM transmitter
(including a 700 mAh Ni-Cd battery
pack), a receiver, four 94102 servos, a
dual-output battery charger, a switch
harness, a four-cell 700 mAh Ni-Cd
airborne battery pack, an aileron extension
cable, an assortment of servo mounting
hardware and output arms, a frequency
flag set, and an excellent instruction
manual.
The systems are intended for fixedwing
aircraft and sailplane control, and
they are available on all 50 RC channels
operating on the model-aircraft 72-73
On top left corner of transmitter case is
retract switch (for retractable landinggear
system). Trainer button is at extreme
left. To right is elevator dual rate/expo
rate (on/off) switch.
On top right corner, three-position switch
can be used to operate flaps or spoilers,
or it could be used for three-speed
electric motor, such as for a powered
sailplane. Below is “THROTTLE CUT”
push-button switch.
The author points to one of the four
digital trim levers surrounding both
control stick assemblies.
66 MODEL AVIATION
At top center is six-channel transmitter. At right is dual output charger, in front are
four servos, to their left is receiver, below that is receiver battery pack, to right of
that is aileron extension cable.
Highlights:
• Six-channel-function FM system.
• Four-model memory position, but can’t
name!
• Simple-to-use single menu that is visible
on the LCD screen all the time.
• Comes with full Ni-Cd battery packs
and dual-output charger.
• Comes with four servos.
• Control features include dual rate and
exponential rate on elevator and aileron,
end point adjust (EPA), servo reversing,
and a variety of mixing functions.
• Trim is auto saved in each memory
position, and the trim position is
displayed graphically on the LCD
screen.
• Battery icon gauge, low-voltage alarm,
and voltage readout available on screen.
• Timer function is provided, which can
count up or down and display on the
LCD screen.
• Instruction manual is available in PDF
format on Airtronics Web site.
• Current street price is $179.95.
Bob Aberle
Te c h n i c a l R e v i e w
E-mail: [email protected]
06sig3.QXD 3/24/04 1:41 pm Page 66
Photos courtesy the author
Menu has been highlighted for “REV,” or servo reversing.
Elevator (“EL”) function has been selected, and that servo is
operating in the normal (“NOR”) direction.
LCD screen shows menu across top. To see this display, set
menu to “BATT.” Then transmitter battery voltage (10.3) appears
with model memory position in use (3). At extreme right is
battery monitor icon, showing full charge here.
Expo rate control has been selected for aileron (“AI”) function
and set to 25%: an average starting point to desensitize control
movement around neural position.
Pen points to trim position icon, which shows where trim is set.
Here, pointer shows close to full down-elevator. Aileron trim is
set for full right aileron.
“EPA” (end point adjust) has been highlighted and “EL” function
selected. Here, elevator is indicated as 100%, or full control. You
could use “DEC–” key to reduce control to zero or no movement.
And you could do that selectively for up- or down-elevator.
June 2004 67
MHz band. Airtronics FM systems operate with deviation on the
high side, meaning that they are also compatible with JR
receivers but not other brands.
The connectors are the Airtronics “Z” type with the positive
pin in the center, which is compatible with most other systems
on the market. Older-style Airtronics connectors (of more than
eight years ago!) require a special adapter to permit operation
with the newer “Z”-type connectors.
VG6000 Transmitter: The heart of this new system is the
computer-driven, six-channel-function transmitter. It provides a
total of four model memory positions, but you can’t name the
aircraft; you must refer to them by numbers (1-4).
Digital trims are employed on the four basic flight channels
(aileron, elevator, rudder, and throttle). A fifth-channel, twoposition
switch for retract landing-gear operation is located on
the top left corner of the transmitter case. On the right side is a
three-position switch that operates a sixth channel function for
accessory controls such as flaps and spoilers.
At the very left, front, upper portion of the case is a
“TRAINER” push-button switch. It can be used in conjunction
06sig3.QXD 3/24/04 1:43 pm Page 67
with a trainer cable (optional) and another
Airtronics transmitter.
At the extreme right side of the case is
a push-button switch designated for
“THROTTLE CUT.” This is a real
convenience when employing digital
trims. You land your model at low
throttle. Then after taxiing back to the pit
area, press this “THROTTLE CUT”
button and the engine carburetor will
close a bit more to cut off or kill the
motor. By doing this, you don’t have to
disturb the position of the throttle trim.
On either side of the LCD screen is a
dual rate/exponential (expo) rate switch.
The one on the left is for the elevator
function, and the one on the right is for
the aileron function. You can turn dual
rate cutback and/or expo rate sensitivity
on or off separately for elevator or aileron
control. You can set each switch to
operate the function in the up or down
position—whichever is best for you.
Remember that the dual rate and expo rate
controls only apply to the first two
channel functions: elevator and ailerons.
At the rear of the transmitter is a
battery-compartment cover. Removing it
exposes the eight-cell 700 mAh Ni-Cd
rechargeable battery pack. This pack has
its own cable and connector and can easily
be unplugged and removed from the case.
You can purchase a pack with a larger
capacity (1100 mAh) but the same
physical size from Airtronics, but you will
need a charger capable of 110 mA current
to recharge this higher-capacity pack.
On the LCD screen, if you set the
menu to “BATT” you will see a readout of
the transmitter-battery voltage in large
numerals such as “10.0.” Also on the right
side of the LCD screen is a batterycapacity
icon. As the battery voltage
decreases, so does the bar on this icon. An
alarm will sound when 9.1 volts is
reached, advising you to stop flying and
recharge or substitute with another battery
pack.
Menu System: With the hobby newcomer
in mind, Airtronics has designed this
transmitter with a single menu system.
Then to make it even easier, you don’t
have to call up the menu on the LCD
screen. All control-feature options are
visible in the upper portion of the LCD
screen at all times.
Turn the power on, and then refer to
the five push-button input switches on the
control panel at the bottom, right, front of
the transmitter. The two “FUNCTION”
buttons allow you to scroll around the
whole menu in either direction (which
saves a great deal of time).
Use the “INC+” and “DEC–” (increase
and decrease) buttons to input control
commands to selected menu items.
Pressing both buttons at the same time
clears the selected control back to the
factory-default position.
Last, press the “CH/TIMER” button to
scroll around the channel functions. If you
select “EPA,” then you press the “CH”
button to scroll through “EL” (elevator),
“AI” (aileron), “TH” (throttle), “RU”
(rudder), etc.
Let’s say you select “RU.” Next, press
the “INC+” or “DEC–” buttons to set the
exact endpoint position of your rudder
servo. You can set this independently for
left and right rudder. More specifically,
you could set the rudder for more left than
right control if you wanted it. Whatever
command you set was saved in whichever
model-memory position was selected. So
you essentially have automatic saving into
the computer memory.
When you want to change from one
model-memory position to another, go to
“M-SEL,” for model select. Then press
“INC+” or “DEC–” to select model
position 1, 2, 3, or 4. Since you can’t
name these positions, for identification
purposes it is a good idea to keep a list on
the rear of the transmitter case noting
which aircraft uses which position. Also
remember that setting the transmitter—in
any computer-radio system—to the wrong
model position could result in a crash!
Usually when you turn on a computer
transmitter, a “normal” or “basic” display
will come up on the LCD screen that
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Web Site: www.sigmfg.com • Phone: (641)623-5154
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06sig3.QXD 3/24/04 1:43 pm Page 68
includes the current selected memory
position and the battery voltage. The
VG6000’s screen will indicate the memory
position, but you must set the menu to
“BATT” to obtain the battery-voltage
reading.
Dual rate control allows you to cut back
on the amount of elevator and/or aileron
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control with the flip of a switch. The idea
is to have a lot of control throw for
takeoffs and landings when the model is
flying slowly. Then when at high speed
during the flight, you set the dual rate
switch for less control so the model
won’t be as sensitive to commands.
Expo rate provides less or slower
control response around the neutral
position. The more expo rate percentage
you input, the “softer” and less sensitive
the controls will feel near neutral. But
remember that you only have these
features for elevator and ailerons.
The timer can be set to count up from
a zero start or it can be set to a time
period such as 10 minutes and then count
itself down to zero, when an alarm
sounds. The timer function will not work
for elapsed time.
When you set the trim levers for level
flight on one memory position, those
control positions are saved in the
memory. Whenever that position is called
back up, the trims will be where you left
them on that model’s last flight. The
LCD screen has four icons that actually
show you the position of each of the four
basic control trims. Move a trim lever,
and a little bar on the icon will also
move. Surprisingly, this nice extra
feature is not even mentioned in the
instruction manual.
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purchasing the VG6000 system,
Airtronics has posted the entire 23-page
instruction manual on its Web site, in
PDF format, at www.airtronics.net/
VG6000%20Manual.pdf. You can even
print out a copy if you like to study the
various instructions.
Airborne Components: The airborne
components have been thoughtfully
selected for the beginner and average
sport flier. The components’ total
airborne weight is 10.7 ounces, making
it suitable for .20-size and larger glowengine
power and 10- to 12-cell (and
more) electric power.
Airtronics offers a complete set of
components in various sizes to cope with
the needs of your particular model’s size
and weight. The number 92777 FM
receiver (weighing 1.1 ounces) is small
and has dual-conversion circuitry. The
standard number 94102 servo weighs 1.5
ounces and is claimed to have 42
inch/ounce of output torque. The fourcell
battery pack employs the same
Sanyo 700 mAh cells as the transmitter
does.
I’ve created a “Highlights” list for this
and future MA technical reviews. I urge
you to look at it. The menu concept that
Airtronics developed for this system is
perfect for the beginner who is
transitioning to the next level of RC
equipment. Ease of operation and an
excellent instruction manual make this
system especially attractive. The best
news of all is that you can buy the
complete system with full Ni-Cd batteries
and four servos for only $180. MA
Manufacturer:
Airtronics Inc.
1185 Stanford Ct.
Anaheim CA 92805
(714) 978-1895
Fax: (714) 978-1540
[email protected]
www.airtronics.net
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