Tips n Tricks
How to Register and Update Firmware on Spektrum Transmitters
First you need the serial number of the DX6/7/8/9, etc. to register and update.
1. Make sure the SD memory card is plugged in the transmitter, then turn the TX on
2. Click the roller and scroll down to “System Settings”. Click “Yes”
3. Click “System Settings” again
4. Scroll down to “Next” and click it
5. Scroll down to “Next” again and click it
6. Click on “Export”. Spektrum will write the s/n on the memory card
7. Back all the way to the main menu, turn the transmitter off, and remove the SD Memory card.
8. Go to Spektrumrc.com on your PC. If you already have a user name go to #11
9. At the top right click on “Sign Up”
10. Create a user name and password. I made my user name Jack_K
11. Log in
12. Click on “My Spektrum”
13. On the left, under “My Account” click on “Product Registration”
14. If you have two or more TX’s I’d name one TX-1 and other TX-2 or whatever names you want
15. Enter all the information, verify the funky text on the bottom, and click on “Register”
16. Insert the SD Memory card into your PC
17. On the registration page click on “Select” under the “Upload Serial Number From XML File”
18. Select the memory card drive on the PC
19. Your serial number will automatically be entered.
It’s now time to get the latest firmware for the transmitter.
20. At the top of the Spektrum home page click on “My Spektrum”. If you’re already at “My Spektrum” ignore this step
21. You’ll see the TX entry you created. To the right of it click on “Download updates”
22. You’ll then be on the Software Update Instructions page. Read the instructions so you’ll understand what’s going on.
23. Scroll down about half way to “Spektrum™ DX AirWare™ NO CROSSFIRE Version 2.09 (25 January 2022)”
24. Click on “download”
25. When it shows the file, click on “Save”
26. The SPMTX.SAX file will be on your PC. To find it, click on the down arrow with the underbar at the top right of the PC screen. Click on the little black box on the right of the file name. That will take you to the folder that holds the file.
27. Copy the file to your SD memory card.
28. Plug the memory card into the TX and turn it on. The update will start. It takes several minutes.
29. You’re finished.
30. If you’re going to register and update another TX you must delete this SPMTX.SAX file from the PC.
Each transmitter uses a different SPMTX.SAX file. You’ll have to repeat all the steps starting at #12.
Flight Trimming
BASIC MODEL TRIMMING
Once a model is built, it is vital that time be taken to correctly trim the model. All too often modelers forget the needs of the model once it is built. The difference between a good and bad model or fast and slow model is often the trim and attention to detail.
FLIGHT TESTING
Once the new model has been basically trimmed for hands off flying, the first surface to trim (and usually the one least checked by sports pilots) is the rudder.
We will assume you have control throws, rates, and exponential set up as you prefer. It is best to have only enough movement to do what you require of the model, and no more. We suggest 20+ % of expo.
ly away from yourself, wing level and into the wind. Pull to a vertical climb (reasonably sharp turn), if the model veers left or right adjust the rudder trim to suit. Re-trim for level flight (it may affect aileron trim) and repeat. When correct, try again from inverted. It should also be vertical. If not, you have an uneven wing tip weight or warped elevator. Keep adjusting until the model will go vertical from both upright and inverted.
To test for wing tip weight, obtain straight and level flight with correct aileron trim, then roll to inverted. If the model (when inverted) shows a need for the aileron trim to be changed, it is a good indication of a heavy wing tip. Push a large nail into the light tip and try again, and again.
One of the checks for engine side thrust is how the model behaves at the top of a vertical climb. After an initially straight climb the model’s speed will diminish and the engine thrust will take effect. If, at the top of the climb, the model starts to go left or right, adjust the engine thrust line to suit. If, at the start of the climb, the model appears to roll slightly, it is often a sign of warp or uneven deflection of the elevators.
Pylon models are usually best with a slight right rudder bias (and right thrust). The test for this is to bank the model vertical and pull elevator to do a sharp turn, as per pylon turn. Adjust the rudder trim until the model will turn flat, (i.e., no loss of height). Quite often a pylon model will turn flat to the left but dive slightly to the right. If the thrust line is correct, turns both ways should be flat.
Too much right rudder and the model will fly crooked ... the model may be heading straight but is pointing 5+ degrees off line. Such a trim is obviously wrong, and should be corrected with right thrust.
To test for down thrust trim, fly in straight line at 90 degrees to the wind and suddenly go to idle. The model should continue in a straight line, eventually it will lose height due to gravity. If the model dives when the power is cut, add down thrust. If the model climbs (rare), decrease down thrust.
A difficult aspect of model flying to trim is knife edge flight, especially as very few models except pattern aircraft do it well. Models tend to either continue to roll or roll out of knife edge and or pitch towards the top or bottom of the model. Most pilots can cope with correcting one but not both problems.
The easiest to fix is the rolling tendency. Roll to knife-edge and apply rudder as normal. Make sure you are not holding any extra elevator or aileron. If the model rolls back to the way it came, decrease dihedral. If the model continues to roll, increase dihedral.
To correct pitching towards the top of the model in knife edge, increase wing incidence, decrease tail incidence, or move CG rearward. Do the opposite if the model pitches toward the bottom of the model.
Snap rolls, many models have difficulty snap rolling. The best cure is to increase control throw or move the CG rearward. If you have difficulty controlling a fast snap, decrease aileron and rudder throw.
The above is only a basic trim guide, quite often the correct fix is to alter the model’s design, i.e., lower or raise tail or wing, angle of rudder, change fuselage areas etc.
Remember, do all tests at least twice before making a change, and for every change there will be a reduction that may also need re-trimming, i.e., changing CG will change many knife edge, thrust lines, and snap set-ups you have.
It is best to perform most tests in calm weather and flying the model away from the pilot.
Good models are well trimmed models, bad models are often good models badly trimmed.