Support/FAQ for RC-Soar templates
This page is for support of the RC-Soar templates. Please scan through the page before configuring your template.
Supported operating systems
The RC-Soar templates are compatible with OpenTX and EdgeTX. More details below:
EdgeTX
- Recommended versions: 2.7.1+
- To minimise the risk of accidental errors, consider disabling touch: create a special function with action = 'No touch' and switch = 'ON'
- For more info visit EdgeTX
OpenTX
- Recommended version: 2.3.15
- For more info visit OpenTX
Use the latest templates
All the templates - except Wingy4S - have been enhanced for easier and more robust configuration.
- Easy control mappings for different transmitters
- Conversion errors in Companion are easy to spot and fix
- Setup guides don't assume any particular make/model of transmitter
It's recommended to use the latest versions for your next install!
Known issues affecting the templates
| Date | Problem description |
|---|---|
| 2024-10-06 | DLG templates sound 'telemetry connected' when pressing Launch button |
| 2024-10-06 | Custom sounds not playing in EdgeTX 2.10 |
Loading a template to your transmitter
Below is the recommended method to load a template into your transmitter. It preserves your existing models and radio settings, including stick calibrations.
- Start Companion and select the profile for your transmitter.
- Open the template file. The data is displayed in a window.
- Connect your transmitter by USB and choose "read models and settings from radio". This will open a second window.
- Make a note of any conversion issues (take a screen shot), but do not fix them yet...
- Drag one or more models from the template window to the tx window.
- Close the template window. There should now be a single window open for the target transmitter.
- Deal now with any conversion issues from step 4 (ignore this step if using the latest version of the templates)
- Choose 'write models and settings' to update the transmitter.
- Copy all model-specific sound files to the target's SD card.
- Disconnect the target transmitter.
How to deal with conversion warnings
When opening a template file in Companion, a popup with warnings may be displayed. If there's a genuine issue you should correct it in Companion before uploading to the tx. Note: If using EdgeTX Companion 2.10, corrections should be made after the template has been copied into your transmitter's model list (see step 7 above), this is due to a bug in Companion (#5602).
In the example below, there are 4 warnings. No correction is required since the 'old' and 'new' columns are identical.
Copy trims to subtrims - not!
EdgeTX and OpenTX both offer a Copy Trims to Subtrims feature. Please do not use this if you're using an RC-Soar template, or any setup which has multiple flight modes. Not only will it confuse your trims, it will also trash your CAL settings.
Using the RC-Soar templates with ELRS
The templates work well with ELRS, however a simple mod is required to handle Channel 5.
Channel 5 as arming indicator
For historical reasons, ELRS maintains an arming state indicated by the state of CH5. The easiest way to deal with this is to:
- Swap CH5 with the first unused (empty) channel using the Channel Changer script.
- CH5 will now be empty. Create a mix, set the source to MAX (='permanently armed'), leave all other fields at their default values.
For further info, see my blog post Introduction to ELRS: Managing Channel 5.
RF configuration
These settings are based on the devs' recommendations:
- Packet rate: 100 Hz
- Max RF power: 100 mW
- Dynamic RF: enabled
- Switch mode: 8 CH full res
- Telemetry Ratio (TLM): affects telemetry data rate - use the default value. Exception: for DLG setups with launch height callout, a lower TLM ratio may be required to capture launch height with sufficient precision.
FAQ
This section has some tips and answers not covered in the list of issues:
- How do I re-order the servo channels?
- Servo channels can be re-ordered using Channel Changer script
- Alt sensor is not resetting
- On the DLG and DLG6S templates, the ALT sensor is reset on launch via a 'Reset' special function. If the sensor fails to reset, go into the Telemetry menu, locate the ALT sensor and set AutoOffset to 'enabled'.
- Motor control (CH7) is not working on G-RX8 receiver
- Make sure that CH7 is configured for PWM output (and not S.BUS out). See receiver instructions.
- Sounds not playing in EdgeTX
- First, make sure that the sound (.wav) files are in the correct location. If that doesn't fix it, then go to the Special Functions menu, and make sure that Enabled is ticked on each line.
- A switch is missing from the dropdown list
- Sometimes, a switch which exists on the transmitter may be missing in the drop-down menus of the radio and/or Companion. To fix this, go to the System>Hardware menu. The chances are that the switch has not been defined. Once corrected, the switch should appear in the dropdown menus.
- Where's the GVARs menu?!
- There's no dedicated GVARS menu on tx's with small mono screens like Q X7, X-Lite, and X-Lite Pro. For these transmitters, the GVARS are set in the Flight Modes menu.
For all other transmitters, the most likely cause is incorrect settings when downloading the OpenTX firmware. Re-flash OpenTx ensuring that the NOGVARS option is unchecked in Companion Settings -> Build options.
- My global functions have disappeared.
- If you have some global functions defined but can't see them in your model setup, then go to the Model Setup menu and make sure that 'Global functions' is ticked.
- I think I've pressed the wrong key - help!
- If you suspect you made a data entry error, then there's no need to start again. In Companion, load a .eepe or .otx file containing a known working version of the template, and use Companion's 'Compare models' tool to identify any differences.
Historical issues
Queries/feedback
Comments and queries are always welcome, I can be contacted by email.
If you've found an issue with one of the templates, please include following info:
- Template name and version
- Transmitter type
- Operating system and version
- Enough info to reproduce the problem
If there's insufficient info to reproduce the problem, I'll just pass it back, so please take the time to document the steps carefully.