Hi, my question is for the 14SG and the R6203SB. I want to utilize port#2 for an off/on switch operation. So under "Function" when I assign the switch option say "SB" I do not see the option for the "ON/OFF" condition selection. Please fill me in as to that procedure. Thanks, Dale

There is no "on/off" condition selection. When you select a switch to operate a function, you have an "either-or" situation. The channel will be at either one endpoint or at the other endpoint. Whatever the channel is driving must be able to take the position information and use it to make an on or off operation. You cannot just plug a device into the channel for the channel to be the switch. Something must interpret the receiver's output signal and then turn the device on or off.

Thank you for your quick reply,
My application is that I am adding a downed aircraft buzzer switch with an on/off condition to port#2. I moved the elev channel to chan#12 and made changes in the S-bus, the Elev works fine. But the buzzer I plugged into port #2 with Aux#3 does not.

When I read the 14SG manual for switch setting on page#166 it seems to indicate that I will receive an on/off menu option when I select a switch as in my case with "SA".

So, why do I not see the on/off option and how may I complete my buzzer switch installation to port #2?

Thanks
Dale

There is no "on/off" menu option. Page 166 in the manual details operation of the timer function. There, you can determine which switch can be used to turn the timer on, off, and also reset. But that's within the timer function.

If you are setting an auxiliary channel to a switch, you have a two-position analog channel. The device takes the signal information for one switch position and interprets it as "off", and takes the other switch position and interprets it as "on". Your buzzer should be able to operate off of any channel, such as one with a slider or knob, and interpret on/off as one of the ends of the channel's position. However, you cannot just decide to use the switch and think that it is automatically an on/off switch. If a switch is tied to a channel function, such as one of the aux channels, then you have a "one end/other end" travel positions, and not "on/off." To turn the buzzer on and off, you will either need a servo connected to the switched channel that will open and close a switch in the model, or a device that will do the same thing electronically. Here's such a device:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...2312&search=Go

Thanks, but now I'm really confused.

The 14SG manual item#1M23N27907 has on page #166 "Switch Setting Method" on which it shows the on/off/off options of a switch.

Maybe you do not understand my question. Can you describe to me the method of assigning a switch to a device such as a "Switchglow" that has a off or on state.

Thanks,
Dale

Again, page 166 details operation of the TIMER and how to set a switch to turn it on or off. It is not a general switch-setting instruction.

If you have a device that turns something on and off, it needs a control signal from the receiver that has two states: All one way, all the other way. You can select a channel in the Function section of the Linkage Menu and assign an aux channel to it. Then select a switch to operate that channel. The switch will then move the channel to one extreme or the other. If you connect a servo to that channel, it will move from one extreme of its travel to the other when you move the switch. An electronic on/off device uses the same signal, it just replaces a servo that physically moves a switch in the model. With some devices, you'll need to adjust the endpoints so that the device operates properly.

A glow plug device like a Switchglo is just plugged into any available channel in the receiver. You would take a channel, such as channel 9, assign it to an aux channel in the function section of the Linkage Menu, and then assign the desired switch to operate that channel. You're done.

Bax, It appears that you and McXtreme are looking at different veraons of the manual. The PDF that I have, Doc #1M23N27902 has the Switch Setting Method on page 166 and the Timer functions on page 165

If I understand correctly, the Switch Setting Page CANNOT be accessed when you say, assign a servo to do whatever to channel say, 8 using the Linkage Menu>Function page. The Switch Setting Page is ONLY available when you access the switch assignments via the Model Menu>Prog. Mix page. Is this correct?

My next question would be, WHY???????? I want to do this:
1. Set air brakes CLOSED when switch SD is UP.
2. Set and tail hook to retracted when switch SD is UP -OR- MIDDLE.
3. Set air brakes OPEN when switch SD is MIDDLE -OR- DOWN.
4. Set tail hook DOWN when switch SD is DOWN.

Seems pretty straight forward to me. Switch UP, air brakes closed and tail hook retracted. Switch MIDDLE, air brakes open and tail hook retracted. Switch DOWN, air brakes open and tail hook extended.

Is there some way that I can do this? If not, is the firmware available to me so I can make the modifications to allow this? All the mixes in the Model Menu>Prog. Mix page seem to be assigned at the factory. Pretty much makes them useless to me. I'd really like to be able to use the whole radio.

Just asking'.

OK. For the last time, there is considerable confusion going on here. The "SWITCH SETTING" instructions detail how to set a switch when you are turning on or off a function, not a control channel.

If you set a channel to a switch, you have only a few things happen:

With a 2-position switch, you have controls that work as "one end/other end".
With a 3-position switch, you have controls that work as "one end/middle/other end".

NOT "ON/OFF"

For your hook and air brakes, you basically set two channels to be operated by one control, the desired switch. Then, you set the positions for each control as necessary. There's nothing that says you cannot set two different channels to the same control. You don't need to use a mixer.

You sounded very frustrated in your last response. I apologize for giving you a face-palm moment; that was not my intent. But try to imagine our frustration in not being able to understand this programming. We are confused and frustrated as well. I'll try to explain my position a little better.

I guess this is where I'm having difficulty understanding the concepts Futaba has established for how to program the radio. Yes, I have the two controls set on separate "ports" on the radio (air brakes on 7 and tail hook on 9.) BUT, I cannot figure out a way to "set two channels to be operated by one control, the desired switch". Yes, I can set one switch so that both air brakes and tail hook are UP when the switch is UP, and both at half when the switch is in the middle, and both full when the switch is down. But that's not the way I wanted to do it. (I have since put air brakes on the right slider and the tail hook on the left dial. It works.) For a moment I thought I understood what you were talking about in functions vs. channels. But I remind you that the switch setting page cannot b accessed from the FUNCTION menu. I cannot set the switch positions for the AUX5 function. I can only assign a switch, and it will only do what you described, 'a 3-position switch, you have controls that work as "one end/middle/other end'." I cannot assign the middle position to move function AUX5 to the full position. The Switch Setting page is only accessible for program mixes, and I point out that you said "You don't need to use a mixer."

I guess the reason that you keep getting these questions is that some of us cannot seem to figure out the process to to do what I described in my first post, yet it seems we should be able to do so. I have read the entire manual more than half a dozen times, and still don't get it, and from the post by McXtreme, I am not alone.

I don't consider myself to be an idiot - I have 30 years experience in IT and a master's degree. The president of my club is a 30 year Army chopper pilot - Huey's in Vietnam to Apaches in Afghanistan. He understands complex equipment and has been flying RC for decades, yet he can't figure much of this out either. We get together and it's like a couple of monkeys trying to figure out a PC.

It would be VERY helpful to all of us if Futaba could create some videos on YouTube showing how to do these things, and clearly explain what can and cannot be done. The manuals are very hard to follow. We are not trying to exasperate you, we just want to get the most out of our equipment.

I misunderstood. Here's a solution.

I created channels 9 and 10 to be AUX1 and AUX2. I set them both to be activated by switch E.

I then set up programmable mix #1 as Aux1->Aux1 with one endpoint at -100 and the "Y" offset at +100. If you look at the numbers vertically, along the side of the graph, they are: +0, -100, X is 0 and Y is +100

I set up programable mix #2 as Aux2->Aux2 with one endpoint at -100 and the "Y" offset at -100. If you look at the numbers vertically, along the side of the graph, they are: -100, +0, X is 0 and Y is -100.

When I look at the servo graph, I have channel 9 at one endpoint with the switch at one side, and channel 10 at its midpoint. When I move the switch to the midpoint, channel 9 does not move, but channel 10 moves to its endpoint, and when I move the switch to the other end, channel 9 moves to its midpoint, but channel 10 stays at its endpoint.

This is somewhat less than desirable, since you don't get full movement of the servos, but you do have one servo not move for two positions of the switch, so you can have your hook up until the switch is at one end; hook up and airbrakes when switch is in the middle; and hook down with airbrakes when the switch is at the other end.

I'm not sure how to get full movement of the servos with that kind of combination without getting a middle position. The more advanced transmitters do it easily, but there are limits to the 14SG.

Interesting - and very complicated. But using your instructions and a little creativity, I am able to do what I wanted.

Recognizing that I could not get -100 to 100 without first stopping at 0, I set up two mixes, one for the air brakes and one for the tail hook. Both are attached to switch SE, with mix 1 (Aux 4) set to Off/On/On, and mix 2 (Aux 3) set to Off/Off/On. With that I set up the function for mix 1 as -100 to +100, which creates a "V" curve in the Prog. Mix window. Now, when the switch is OFF, the servo is positioned at +116, and goes to 0 when the switch is ON, in either ON position.

For Mix 2, I set the function to 0 to +100. I then set the end point for the channel to 0 on the left and 140 on the right. This creates a linear curve starting at the mid point and to-140.

This gives me 1/2 servo travel for each function, but with clever mechanical set up, (longer arms, for instance) I can reach the full movement for the controls and have the switch setup I wanted.

Having been a software developer for 25 years, I wonder why Futaba decided to add these restrictions into their operating system, but whatever. This is an overly complicated way to do something, but it is at least possible.

Thanks for the tips.