I should now this and feel real stupid for not know this. How do you set the throws on a computer radio, do you use the end point or dual rate to set them? I set it using D/R and it seemed to work fine but I wanted to make sure I did it right!

Thanks

yea..i just use my dual rates

Set your radio to 100% travel using the ATV or end point adjustment and leave the D/R alone for now. First, set your control linkage mechanically to give you close to the throw you want and still have mechanical advantage. The servo arm should preferably be shorter than the control horn. You have several holes in the arm and horn to achieve this. Mechanical advantage means the servo doesn't have to work as hard to move the control surface. Now that you have that, adjust the end points of travel for the desired control surface travel.

When that's done, IF you need dual rates, set them now. A typical setting is 60% of full throw.

Dr.1

IMHO, "it depends". I agree with Dr.1 that you should try to keep 100% or a little above that on the EPA on high rates, otherwise you are throwing away servo resolution. However, there are cases where it's more useful to dial down the EPA and not sweat the resolution. (like in some installations, where the sideways movement of the pushrod at the extreme ends of travel get in the way and don't add much throw anyway).

I only use dual rates if I want to change throws in flight. Most of my planes don't have them set, since I normally don't need rate changes. Otherwise I use mechanical setup and EPA.

end point adjustment for fine tuning your throws...you should get as close as you can mechanically....dual rates is used when you want less response from an aircraft such as landings ......then more response while doing aerobatics

Again, Dr.1 is right on... most radio's are set at 100% throw rates. That's a good thing for maiden flights, I just have to be gentle with the controls and not over control my plane. 60% is a comfort zone for me, like many others to start on.

I have to agree - set the throws as close as possible mechanically and then fine tune with End Point Adjustments.
I didn't do this on a recent install for the throttle.
Massive EPA adjustments to get the correct throws.
The throttle stick only worked for half of its throw.
Re did the mechanicals and now the stick works for full throw.
Slight EPA for the max throttle was all I needed.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

I vote with the majority. Rig the airplane first.

One thing to do first when beginning the rigging task. Connect the pushrod to the inside hole on the servo arms, first thing. Only time to do that otherwise is if your assembly manual pictures your exactl servo and arm and shows otherwise AND says otherwise AND explains why. Next, connect the pushrod to the outside hole on the surface's horn. THEN check the throws and go from there.

There is an excellent article in one of this month's RC magazines on rigging. It shows a chart with the different holes connected. The chart shows how doing it the right way increases the servos effect on the surface. It shows also how much you degrade the servo power and speed by rigging the wrong way. Most people who rely first on their computer radios for adjusting throws without starting with the airplane rigging wind up defeating their decently powerful servos before they ever fly them.

One note, if given a choice between going "in" on the servo and "in" on the control arm on the control surface or going "out" on both to get the same throw, I usually go for "out". The torque and mechanical advantage for the servo is the same either way, but going out on the servo arm can reduce the effects of some types of play, and it redues the forces on the pushrod, which can reduce pushrod flex.

Basically, if the servo moves 45 degrees, and the control surface moves 30 degrees, then no matter where the pushrod is on the servo, the torque required will be the same. But the pushrod force will be less the farther out on the arms you are.