RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!!

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!!
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RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/7/2005 9:32:48 AM

oops

Posts: 664
Joined: 2/26/2005
From: Perth, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline

If you cannot get the Zhen Hua controller working...

Some transmitters (especially 5 or 6 channel ones) do not put out the codes...

Go into Hyperterminal, and set for the correct com-port, and 19200 baud. No parity, 8 bits, one stop bit.

If you see a stream of characters when the controller is turned on, then it's OK. Use PPJOY with Serial and virtual.
(It's actually 5 repeating characters which change with the controller inputs).

If you see nothing, then you have a fault, or no serial output.

6 Channel transmitters have no output from what I can tell.

Then you need to hook into the PPM output from the chip, and run into PPJOY via a parallel port. This involves some soldering.

Removing the Xtal only reduces power consumption by disabling the transmitter. It doesn't trigger the signal.

David

(in reply to klausflorida)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/7/2005 9:27:05 PM

Posts: 4
Joined: 3/5/2005
From: , FL, USA
Status: offline

David,

thanks for the info, but I don't get any signals in Hyperterminal. I have a 6 channel TX and it came with the serial cable so I assumed it would work, but it still doesn't.

Anyone knows if there is a working USB hookup available? I'm getting tired of spending hours to get the TX working on the PC.

Did anyone have some luck with the 6 channel serial hookup to XP in this forum?

K

(in reply to oops)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/8/2005 3:10:42 AM

Posts: 18
Joined: 2/9/2005
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Status: offline

To Klausflorida - thank you - you were right - I had a hotsynch program running in my startup using COM1, and when I exited Hotsynch, the error message "error 5 opening port" disappeared and was replaced by "reading serial stream". Unfortunately, regardless of which serial protocol I select next(I tried Zen Hua, and then the others) I get the message "waiting for stream init" If I then turn on the power to the TX, the message under the serial protocol dialog box changes to "Invalid synch byte 0..." Looks like my Tx is communicating, but doesn't have the right translator. Anyone know what to do next?

(in reply to klausflorida)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/8/2005 12:15:44 PM

oops

Posts: 664
Joined: 2/26/2005
From: Perth, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline

If the Six Channel puts out no serial, then a USB adaptor will not work either....

If you really want to get it going, here's what I did.
http://blackice.com.au/heli/
It modifies it for Parallel port connection to the PC.

To get your parallel port adaptor working with PPJOY,
http://www.rc-sim.de/art_engine_en/article.php?article=118

Hope this helps -

David

(in reply to rweller)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/9/2005 3:07:53 AM

Posts: 18
Joined: 2/9/2005
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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My Tx is only a 4 channel model, and it appears that some signal is getting to the PC when I turn it on. I'm still hoping someone has an answer to the serial protocol problem.

(in reply to oops)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/11/2005 5:23:01 PM

Posts: 6
Joined: 2/18/2005
From: loganville, GA, USA
Status: offline

THIS SETUP IS FOR THE BLACK ZHEN HUA PCM-4 TRANSMITTER AND FMS. IT MAY WORK WITH OTHER TRANSMITTERS BUT I HAVE NOT TESTED IT.

I am running XP Prof and had a little bit of a hard time getting things setup properly. I would like to describe this setup in more detail so others can follow setp by-step.

1. Download ppjoy. I don't know if I am at liberty to give the exact URL. Do a google search for "ppjoy dowload" (leave out quotes!)

2. Follow the installation instructions for ppjoy.

3. Launch ppjoy 'Configure Joysticks' application.

4. There should not be any joysticks listed. Click 'Add'. For 'Parallel Port' choose 'Virtual Joystick' . Do not set any other options. Click Add.

5. I'm running XP Prof. My computer then detected a device. Choose to search for and install the device automatically. It will detect a second device. Follow the same auto-setup procedure again.

6. The Configure Joysticks application will now show one joystick (PPJoy Virtualjoystick 1). Click the 'Done' button to close the Configure Joysticks window.

7. Open the PPjoyCOM application.

8. The only option you need to set is 'Serial Protocol' -- set it to Zhen Hua 5 byte protocol. Under that option you should see 'reading serial stream'. DO NOT CLOSE THIS WINDOW. This is the application that will translate the joystick commands to the FMS program.

9. Open FMS, click 'Control'. Choose 'Joystick Interface' and click 'Mapping/Calibration'.

10. Check out the settings I used at this url : http://3dub.com/heli/ . I am not sure why it was necessary for me to re-map some of the controls and reverse some of them, but it took about an hour to figure it out. Hope it works for everyone.

11. Click 'Calibrate' and do the wiggle wiggle wiggle with the controls. Click "Ok" to close the calibration window. Click "OK" to close the Control window. All of your controls will now work!

(in reply to rweller)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/12/2005 2:03:50 PM

Posts: 18
Joined: 2/9/2005
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Status: offline

To ppatram: Thanks for the instructions. I have uninstalled PPJoy and reinstalled after making sure I exited another program that was using COM1. Everything works according to your instructions until step 8, where instead of "reading serial stream after I choose Zen Hua 5 byte protocol, I get "waiting for stream ini". (my Tx is off at this point) If I then turn on the Tx power, the "waiting" message immediately changes to "Invalid synch byte 0..." . (It does still say "reading serial stream" next to the COM1 dialog box at the top) The uninstall/reinstall hasn't helped, and I haven't gotten past this point. I'm still waiting for some repair parts so I hoped I could get this simulator working, but it's been 2 months now!

(in reply to ppatram)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/12/2005 3:43:10 PM

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From: loganville, GA, USA
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I have the batteries out of my transmitter and took out the crystal as well (it is possible that the crystal somehow tells the electronics inside the transmitter that it is in 'transmitter' mode and not 'joystick' mode. Hope that helps. You should not need batteries in the transmiter. Devices using the COM port get power from the port itself (like the older mice).

(in reply to rweller)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/12/2005 4:14:59 PM

Posts: 18
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From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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Thanks for the suggestion. I tried it, but unfortunately, I just get the endless "waiting for stream init..." after I open the PPJoy Com dialog box.

(in reply to ppatram)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/12/2005 4:39:07 PM

Posts: 6
Joined: 2/18/2005
From: loganville, GA, USA
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An earlier post suggested checking the COM port settings. Look at the screenshot at http://3dub.com/heli and match the COM port on your computer to the same values. There was also some mention of 'hardware flow control' -- read this whole post.

Hope it works. I've been jamming on FMS for the last few days. I set the trim on the controller way off whack and the heli now behaves very erratically (more like the real thing). It's a lot of fun. Hope you get your FMS working soon. What OS are you running on your computer?

(in reply to rweller)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/12/2005 8:13:53 PM

Posts: 18
Joined: 2/9/2005
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Status: offline

Thanks for your comments. I changed my port settings as per the earlier post, and tried with both fif buffer off and with lower settings, but no luck. I still get the "waiting for stream init.." When I compare my settings to the site you mentioned, Instead of "sending joystick updates to PPJoy" on the top line, mine just says "successfully opened joystick". Still hoping for solutions. I'm using XP Pro as my O/S, and it sounds as if others have had success with it.

(in reply to ppatram)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/17/2005 9:44:52 PM

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Joined: 3/5/2005
From: , FL, USA
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RWeller,

I followed all the steps too and have the same problem. What TX do you have? I have the original esky 6CH and serial cable it came with. Already contacted esky, they are just referring me to the their instruction on their website. I'm trying to get another cable (LPT or USB), but it looks like there's really nothing out there with the little s-video connector, it's all just the DIN connector. Your last post was on 3/12, did you have any luck so far getting it working? I haven't, only had 5 crashes and I need a cable to learn to fly that thing.

K

(in reply to rweller)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/17/2005 10:19:15 PM

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Joined: 2/18/2005
From: loganville, GA, USA
Status: offline

check out this other site -- it has more detailed instructions than the post I submitted. Good luck:
http://www.radio-controlled-toys.com/jabo_fms.htm

(in reply to klausflorida)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/18/2005 1:30:14 AM

Posts: 18
Joined: 2/9/2005
From: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Status: offline

I don't really know what TX I have since the only label on it says "Dragonfly." My helicopter is a 4 channel model (Dragonfly #4), so I think I have a Zen Hua 4 channel Tx. I've used the website and directions in the post by ppatram, and I've sent emails to the individual who developed these detailed instructions, but he has not been able to help me either. I'm still stuck at the message "invalid synch byte 0" on the PPJoy Com dialogue box. I've received my repair parts, so I'm back to flying/skimming around the garage floor until I either learn the controls or wreck it again.

(in reply to klausflorida)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/18/2005 2:00:16 AM

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Joined: 2/18/2005
From: loganville, GA, USA
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My instructions worked for the Jabo heli. I'm not sure what protocol the Dragonfly uses but it must not be Zhen Hua since that is proprietary to the Jabo manufacturer. Sorry it doesn't work.

(in reply to rweller)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/19/2005 12:50:04 AM

oops

Posts: 664
Joined: 2/26/2005
From: Perth, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline

It might just be broken ???

Also, try another PC. It might be an issue with your PC.

David

(in reply to rweller)

RE: Zhen Hua Radio and FMS really works!!! - 3/26/2005 10:12:29 PM