Steve,
Programming 103 already being "cooked"? Great!
It would be nice if you guys created a flow chart / block diagram of how the system operates when you do the section on programming mixes. A downloadable PDF would be a nice addition to the series. Once I understood that, the radio was MUCH easier to program.
I used mixes on my Super Seven and 9CAPS, but looking at the 12FG, things are ALOT more advanced. The 12/14 series radios have mixes that are extended in several ways:
1) Any channel can be an input (as usual), but you can also specify a hardware control or Virtual channel as the input.
2) Any channel can be an output (as usual), but an output doesn't have to be tied to a physical output servo (use a Virtual Channel).
3) A mix can be activated by a switch setting (pick one, any one), a stick setting (pick one, anyone), or a combination of both. For instance, automatically going to low rates at higher throttle settings, or *****g out rudder throws at low throttle.
Oh, need to use that momentary switch to activiate a mix, but then say, "Nope, when I release the switch the mix will turn off"? No problem - use the "Alt" feature in the switch selection setup screen. Toggle once, mix ON. Toggle again, mix OFF.
4) Instead of merely expressing a percent mix, you can also specify a several types of curves.
Need to experiment with mix values during flight? Before, you used to have to land, adjust the percent, and fly again. Now, just assign a TRIM control to the mix. Make mix adjustments in-flight...
5) More than one mix can affect a mix down the chain (linking).
6) You can specify different mix percents depending on if you are above or below the neutral point (Rate A and Rate B, but NOT to be confused with dual rates...).
7) You can specify the response rate of a slaved output - coming or going (SPEED IN/OUT). For instance, flipping a switch and SLOWLY dropping the flaps.
8) Mixes can be chained together - and timed as well - for instance, flipping a switch and "automagically" sequencing the raising of the landing gear, and then closing the doors (OFFSET vs MIXING, not to be confused with the offset variable within the mix...lol). BTW, you can have A LOT of fun with this feature!
9) Finally, mixes can be tied to a Condition. The same mix (say, Elev -> Rudder) can have different settings for different conditions. Conditions are simply "modes" that mixes can look at to affect whether they are on or off. Conditions can also be triggered based on switch and/or stick positons, and can also be "ganged" together (LOGIC). For instance, having a condition called "Take Off or Landing" (TO/Land) that - when active - disables your ability to raise the landing gear. BTW, you can have up to 8 conditions (9 on the MZ). It is up to the individual mixes to determine (SINGLE vs GROUP) if they are affected by a particular condition. However, since the 12FG has 10 user mixes (not counting the built-in ones...), and 8 conditions, in theory you could have up to 80 different user mixes (try remembering THOSE setups...lol). Oh, and if switching from one condition to another causes drastic changes in the control surfaces - say for instance they had different camber trim settings - you can specify the conditions transition slowly (by a user variable amount, of course...).
Sorry for the ramble... oh yeah... do a flow chart... lol... Roger Parrett