32. Editing the Transmitter

Note

This chapter is undergoing revision to describe more transmitter edit features.

Every airplane in the sim flies with specific transmitter settings unique to that airplane (per the Flight Manual). The transmitter programming in SeligSIM mimics programming that is in modern “computer radios” that you can buy. In fact, every airplane in the sim has the programming that is included in the real life counterpart. That said, not all transmitter features are described in this user manual.

Note that “radio” and “transmitter” are used interchangeably in the hobby, but “transmitter” will be use in this manual most of the time. Also, while making changes to your real transmitter, it is usually called “programming”, but here it is called making “edits” because any changes you make are literally editing the setup (a file) already in place for each airplane. (You do not edit the file directly unless you want to do that.)

Topics Discussed

32.1. Copy, Edit, and Delete

If you are going to edit a transmitter, you first have to make a Copy from the Transmitter Selection window. If the transmitter is a stock transmitter, i.e., installs with the simulator, and you instead first clicked Edit, then you will be asked (required) to make a copy so as not to overwrite the original file that should not be changed.

If you have already calibrated, ignore any message about needing to calibrate.

32.2. General Layout of the Editor

After making a copy, the Edit Transmitter window will open, e.g., as shown below for the BD-5J jet.

Image of the Edit Transmitter window for the BD-5J jet transmitter.

Edit Transmitter window for the BD-5J jet transmitter.


As shown below, the sections can be collapsed . The first section is Interface (purple). Nothing should be changed in this section. This section has the inputs that attach to the channels, which are named in the second section (blue) and defined in detail in the third section (green). The receiver section (lime) is simply a pass through of the channel data to the airplane servos. The next two sections are gray. They are gray (cannot be edited here) because they are part of the airplane, and thus not part of the transmitter. The airplane-side info is only available when making airplane edits, e.g., servo edits.

Image of the Edit Transmitter window with sections collapsed.

Edit Transmitter window with sections collapsed.


What is not shown in these panes above are the mixes that also feed into the channels and thereby the servos driving the airplane controls. To actually see the mixes, click on the Mixing button to see the mixes overlay as shown below. The mixes for this airplane are in the right column, e.g., GearToElevatorMix which means that when the gear is deployed some elevator mix is added to keep the airplane in trim. The mixes that name a key take effect if your controller does not have enough axes, i.e., any axes not present have their function transfer to the keyboard keys, which in turn can trigger certain mixes, such as the ones named below. With enough axes on your controller, most all mixes are driven by the axes from your controller (vs from keyboard flight control keys 0 through 9 ). For this airplane, this set of mixes (in the list) taken together make your controls equivalent whether or not you have a full 8 axes controller setup.

Note also that the list below contains 9 mixes for this BD-5J. Some may be active at all times (two are) and others may be triggered depending on your controls (per the Flight Manual). When a mix is active, then its green rectangle (top right, see above) lights up. If you hover the mouse over the green-rectangle mix indicators, that will show the names of the mixes.

Image of the Edit Transmitter window showing the mixes for the BD-5J.

Edit Transmitter window showing the mixes for the BD-5J.


Show the airplane with the Show A/C button. If you have scaled up your airplane to a huge size, it may not appear properly in this airplane inspection pane.

Image of the Edit Transmitter window showing the BD-5J and transmitter expos/rates pane (green).

Edit Transmitter window showing the BD-5J and transmitter expos/rates pane (green).


Generally, from this Edit Transmitter page, it is recommended that you not use the Interface or Calibrate buttons at top. Those functions are best done from a Fly Screen and the Transmitter Selection windows. You can change the Tx icon with the Tx Icon button. Give a description using the Description button.

Caveat and Recommendation

At this point, it should be mentioned that making some Transmitter edits with the sim can have bad side effects, i.e., may not work. In fact, the Flt Modes button (for Flight Mode edits) is presently disabled for this reason. Further, editing mixes (Mixing button) can probably lead to trouble or difficulty, until this manual is expanded along with necessary accompanying software updates.

Edits that can reliably be made are changing expos and rates for each Flight Mode selected. Per mention/section below, use your Flight Mode switch to see the Flight Mode change in this Transmitter Edit window. Expos and rates edits alone cover most all of the changes that an RC pilot might want to make. It is then recommended that your exploration in the Edit Transmitter window be limited to expos and rates edits if any.

Note to Modders

It is worth mentioning that none of the transmitter setups where created using this Edit Transmitter window. All transmitter setups were created directly by editing the files in the ~/RadioEquip/Tx folder in the install directory. Modders might find it more convenient to do the same - edit the files directly. The layout of the transmitter file data and mix tables is largely self-descriptive. The Alpha 40 has an easy transmitter file setup. The Ultra Stick Lite and Supra glider are complex programming examples, using many mixes and not quickly comprehensible.

32.3. Flight Modes

Importantly: When on the Edit Transmitter window (above) and when changing your Flight Modes with your controller (switch or key controls), it will actively change the Flight Mode in this Edit Transmitter window. You will further see changes in the servos (e.g., mixes and presets) with changes in the Flight Mode and stick movements. You can monitor the deflection (in degrees). These are the airplane control surface values (not the servo horn angle). Moreover and most importantly, changing the Flight Mode will update the values in the green transmitter section, i.e., expos and rates will change depending on what has been programmed into the transmitter settings for the airplane.

32.4. Exponentials and Rates

Finally, to change expos and rates, set the Flight Mode for the case that you want to edit. Then click on any expos and rates value that you want to change. Make the change in the box shown in the figure below. Finish the edit, then click OK (top right) and your changes should take effect next time you fly with the transmitter you’ve created, edited, and selected for flight. Further, recall that you will need to manually make your Tx selection to bypass having the sim make the Tx selection automatically.

Image of the Edit Transmitter window showing the BD-5J and expos.

Edit Transmitter window showing the how to edit expos.


In Case You Noticed

The Interface section (purple section) in the main pane above shows something that might appear odd. The axes are numbered 0 to 7. There is no axis 8. But outside of this Edit Transmitter window, the axes are numbered 1 to 8, i.e., in the Transmitter Selection window. Why? Internally, the sim actually “counts” from 0 to 7 for the axes (8 axes). But those same axes are displayed in the main Transmitter Selection window as 1 to 8 because that way of counting corresponds nicely with using Joystick Gremlin for channel remapping where the axes are number 1 to 8.