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 on colour screen radios, consider disabling touch: create a special function with action = 'No touch' and switch = 'ON'
- For more info visit EdgeTX
OpenTX
- Mature and stable, but no longer supported
- Recommended version: 2.3.15
- For more info visit OpenTX
Use the latest templates
All F3x and F5x templates have been updated for easier configuration.
- Easily adaptable 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 |
Using the templates with EdgeTX Companion 2.11
EdgeTX 2.11 is a major upgrade, and is the first to break ties with OpenTX. Some important differences:
- Companion 2.11 has dropped support for OTX (OpenTX) files.
- In order to open an RC-Soar template in Companion 2.11, it must be first converted to an .ETX file using an earlier version of EdgeTX Companion - see below.
- The method of managing conversion warnings has changed in 2.11 - please see 'How to deal with conversion warnings' below.
How to convert a template file from .OTX to .ETX format
The template files are in .OTX (OpenTX) format. These are not compatible with EdgeTX Companion 2.11. To open a template in EdgeTX Companion 2.11, it's necessary to first convert them to .ETX format. This can be done using EdgeTX Companion 2.10.6 or earlier:
- If you don't have it already, download an older version of EdgeTX Companion (version 2.10.6 recommended).
- Start Companion and set a profile for the FrSky X9D. (Do not convert to your target tx at this stage.)
- Open the template file, and immediately save as a .ETX file. This is now your working template for EdgeTX 2.11.
How to deal with conversion warnings
The RC-Soar templates originally target the FrSky X9D. When using a different tx, Companion will warn you of any conversion issues. The procedure for fixing these depends on the environment.
- EdgeTX 2.11. If the model contains conversion errors then two things happen: first, the model will be marked in red. Secondly, the '"Write Models and Settings" menu will be greyed out. The errors must be fixed before the model can be uploaded to the transmitter. To view the errors, right click on the model and choose 'Show model errors'.
- EdgeTX 2.10. After opening the file, Companion will display any warnings. Fix these after uploading to the tx.
- OpenTX2.3, EdgeTX 2.9 and before. Companion will display a list of warnings. Fix these in Companion before transfer to the tx.
Note: conversion issues are easier to fix with the latest versions of the templates (just a couple of inputs will need to be edited as described in the Setup guides.
Loading a template to your transmitter
Below is the recommended method to load a template into your transmitter. It merges the template into your existing model list without disturbing your stick calibration and radio settings.
- Start Companion and select the profile for your transmitter.
- Open the template file.
- You may now see a list of conversion errors, and/or the model will be marked in red. If so, see previous section on how to fix these issues.
- Connect your transmitter by USB and choose "read models and settings from radio". This will open a second window.
- Drag one or more models from the template window to the tx window.
- Close the template window (and optionally save the file). There should now be a single window open showing the modified model list.
- 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.
The version of Companion should always match the version of OTX/ETX on the transmitter!
Copy trims to subtrims - not!
EdgeTX and OpenTX both offer a Copy Trims to Subtrims feature. Please do not use this with any 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 for CH5.
Channel 5 modification
For historical reasons, ELRS maintains an arming state indicated by the state of CH5. The arming state impacts operation of dynamic RF power, and CH5 should be always be 'armed' (> 1500 mS) when the model is flying. The easiest way to deal with this is as follows:
- 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.
Note that this applies to all switch modes including the hi-res modes. It applies to all types of sailplane, including those without motors. For further info, see my blog post Introduction to ELRS: Managing Channel 5.
ELRS recommended configuration
The following settings are recommended for all templates. They provide 10-bit proportional control on 8 channels with excellent range, while minimising current draw:
- Packet rate: 100 Hz
- Max RF power: 100 mW
- Dynamic RF: enabled
- Switch mode: 8 CH full res (CH5 is reserved as the arming indicatior, regular servo channels are 1-4 and 6-9)
- Telemetry Ratio (TLM): affects telemetry data rate - use the default value. Exception: for DLG setups with launch height callout, a higher ratio (lower number) 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:
- Write Models and Settings is greyed out
- Starting with EdgeTX 2.11, 'Write Models and Settings' is greyed out if the setup contains conversion errors. See above how to identify and fix these.
- How do I re-order the servo channels?
- Servo channels in your EdgeTX/OpenTX setup can be re-ordered using Channel Changer script. Also, if you're using an ELRS receiver, the channel order of the pins can be altered in the ELRS configuration 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, open a known working version of the template in a second window, 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.