Futaba Buddy System Question
 

Will this radio:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXEFJ4**&P=0

Connect to this one with the buddy cord and work?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXSEJ8&P=0

The reason I ask is because I already have the 7c and I tried to connect it to my computer with a usb to square simulator cord and could never get it to work. Someone told me I have to put the radio in PPM mode in order for it to work but I don't see any PPM mode. Bottom line is will a 2.4 GHz connect to a regular FM?

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

Those two boxes will work given the corect cord and the corect setup. If you are planing on using the 7C as the transmitting box and the other as the student box, you only need to activate the trainer switch on the 7C. The student box will not even be turned on. That radio is a PPM radio, It would say PCMon the box and receivers if it were PCM. If you hook your 7C up to say a 9C as the student transmitter, the 9Cwould need to be set to PPMmode.

Ifound that a basic TX as a student box will not take advantage of any of the transmitting boxes computer setup, if the TX is a 6eax. I'm sure that there are other TX's that have the same issue. You end up with just raw stick movements from the trainer box, no end points, or expo, or any mixing. The 9C incorporates all the mixes and stuff and any of the old conquest or Attack boxes that were FMmode worked well. I expect the 7C would be close to the 9C in this manner. I would suggest that you check with Bax on the Futaba forum to see if there are any issues between these tow tX's. Botom line is that even if there isn't computer utilization, you can still use them the same as two basic boxes will work.
Now for the simulator cable, You are probably using one of the free simulators, IEFSM, and all those requie the Tx to be in PPMor FM, one in the same, mode. On your 7C, the setting is probably under "Prameters", that is where you set up the mode in both my 9C and 10C transmitters. You also have to setup the USB driver that comes with the software.

Don

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

its a 2.4 ghz 7C system; the pcm ppm jargon doesn't apply

the trainer system will work just fine either way. Your only problem would be model set up since the non computer radio has to have a more precise setup as far as physical linkage is concerned

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

Just be sure you buy the right cable. There are three different Futabe buddy cords.

David

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

Thanks everyone!

So Redfox since the PPM does not apply do you know if that means it will not work with the usb to sim cable?

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

The SIm requires the tx to be set to PPM. It is an entirely different issue than the buddy box setup, even though it uses the buddy box port. The driver for the cable will not handle the PCMdata stream, it was designed for PPM. Your 7C is a non modular TX, so you will not have the option to switch between PPM and PCM, Your mode is 2.4 7ch. Your question has me wondering, I'll have t dig out my USB cable and startup FSM and see if it will work or not with my 10C in 2.4 mode.

The answer to the sim question could probably be found un the SImulator formum.

Don

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

OK, turns out I don't have FMS on my PC anylonger, but the USB to Futaba TX calibration program was.

Here is what happed with my 10C which I put the 2.4 module into before starting.

When I plugged the sim cable into the TX, the tx powered on but without RF showing, The screen show PCMmode. When I started the calibration program, stuff was flashing and blinking, just like it does in PCMmode. I went to Pramaters and changed to PPMmode, pulled the cable and the put it back in. Istarted the calibration program again and this time I could calibrate the sticks, knobs and switches.

I then pulled the cable and powered on again and this time It came up in 2.4 mode. I powered off an pluged the cable back in and it powered on to PPMmode again, even with the 2.4 module in, still the RFwas off.

SO, for my 10C, Ican use it eithere with a 72 module or a 2.4 module, or no module at all. It will be curious to see what happens when you plug the USB cable into the buddy box port on your TX as it is a 2.4 only TX. See if it shows the mode on the screen then, Best way to tell though is to start the calibradion program and see if you can move the stick on the screen,and see if the display isis jumping/flickering around.

I'm not going to be able to test in your environment.

Don

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

don't know I've never plugged it into the PC, but I've trained people going both ways so I know that works

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

for the 7c go into the main menu, scroll up, and select the trainer option
now if you are useing a realflight sim cable the 4yf MUST be turned on (not sure about other sim cables but try turning it on anyways)
then on your 7c scroll up to the INH symble turn it, if should be able to change to off. if not your trainer cord connection may be bad/4yf not turned on/ect.
if it turns to off the left hand snap roll switch is now your trainer switch.

i forgot how to change it to pcm ill go check for you if you want

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

I actually use this Exact set-up. I use the 7C as the master. Doing this will allow the expo you have programmed in the 7C to be used on the trainer box also.

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

Thanks for all the responses! I still haven't been able to get the sim cord to work with FMS! Two questions:

Is 4yf a setting on RealFlight or on the tx? I am using FMS so if it's a setting in RealFlight I might be out of luck...


Where can I get th e USB to Futaba TX calibration program?

Thanks again!!!!

RE: Futaba Buddy System Question
 

The calibration program came with FMS, or was avaiable on their site. You don't turn on the TX, but when you plug the cable in, it will turn it on but without RF, at least on my 9C and 10C.The instructionsin the manual for the 4YF states that the student box "MUSTBEOFF". The Tx used with FMS is like the Student box, so don't turn iton. You do need a charged battery in it though.

Did you get a cable for FMS, or areyou using some other cable. Now that Ithink of it, the calibration software came with the cable, in any case, ontheFMS screen,clickControls, then select Analog Control.A select box comes up and here youhighlight Joy Stick. Then click Resoruces. The controls will not match the TX, you will do thatlater, it is just to see what controls youcan feed FMS. Wiggle you four controls and makesure four bars move, Then go to the Mapping/Calibration screen as asign the controls to the right channel.Movethe stick and see what channel bar moves, then assign that channel tothe stick you move.

Beyond that, there is not much Ican add other than it is a useless program. The models do not respond in a manor consistant witha real airplane. There is considerable lag in controls and movements, and they keep applying control after you center the stick. I've got a1/4 scale Su-31 and theFMSSu-28 handles nothing like the actual model handles. Bottom line,the program is a good toy,but it will not helpyou develop the musle memory you need and will cost you a plane if youuse itfor training. Likemost things, you get whatyou pay for. In this case, not much.

Don