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Buddy Boxing
Buddy Boxing is the facility for an experienced
pilot (The Instructor) to assist a trainee pilot (The Student) in
learning to fly RC Model Aircraft. This has been a facility
available to JR Transmitters for some time. There are various ways
that this can be achieved but as new Transmitters come on to the market,
more and more facilities are being embedded to make training easier.
You can now transfer individual channels over to the Student
or all of them if he/she is capable.
This basic introduction will utilise a top end transmitter
and the entry level transmitter, the PCM 9XII and the X-2610.
All Buddy Box systems fundamentally work the same way
where the Student set sends data signals to the Instructor and the
Instructor's transmitter then sends the signal by RF to the aircraft.
With JR transmitters, it is necessary for the Student set to have
a charged battery fitted and also to have a 3.5mm Trainer connector
/DSC socket. On inserting the Training Lead, the Student transmitter
will power up only the encoder section and NOT the RF, hence it is
essential that the Student set is NOT switched on !
The Instructors set will need to be turned on so that
the RF section is energised and can send RF data to the aicraft, on
inserting the Training Lead on the Instructor set, the transmitter
enters the Trainer Mode. While the Trainer switch is activated, data
from the Student set is sent to the processor in the Instructors set
and is passed to the aircraft by RF. Immediately the Instructor releases
the Trainer Switch, he regains full control of the aircraft.
Let us look at the 9XII instructions regarding Buddy
Boxing.
PCM 9XII Trainer
The Function List is accessed from the Information Display
Screen by pressing the LIST key. From the Function List Menu, rotate
the Scroll Bar to highlight the "Trainer" menu choice and click the
Scroll Bar. The PCM9XII transmitter provides two types of trainer
(Buddy Box) system - the Normal Trainer system where all functions
are controlled by either the Master or the Slave and the Programmable
Function Trainer where only one or more of the four primary control
functions are assigned to the Slave. There is also a special Slave
mode where the modulation is set to PPM and all of the controls are
reset to the default, so that the transmitter can be used as a Slave
in the Programmable Function Trainer mode without having to reset
a Model Memory.
Basic Connections and Conditions for Training
1. The Slave transmitter must be set to PPM (Pulse Position
Modulation) and have a DSC (Direct Servo Controller) jack. (The Master
transmitter may be PCM or PPM to suit its receiver.)
2. The Trainer lead must be plugged into each Transmitter’s
DSC jack. Note: The Transmitters will appear to be “ON” but neither
is actually transmitting.
3. The Slave transmitter must be fitted with a charged
battery, even though it remains switched off.
4. The Master transmitter must be switched ON. Do not
switch on the Slave transmitter. Control is transfered from the
Master to the Slave when the Trainer switch is operated and reverts
to the Master when the Trainer switch is released.
Normal Trainer System
In this mode, all functions are switched from the Master
to the Slave. No function setup is necessary to activate this system.
The Slave transmitter’s Servo Reversing, Dual Rates, End Point Adjustment,
Trims and all mixes must be identical to the Master. This must be
checked by operating the Trainer System on the ground and confirming
that the control surfaces move the correct amount and in the correct
direction. If the control surfaces move slightly as the Trainer switch
is operated, adjust the Slave transmitter Trims until the Trainer
switch can be activated without a change to the control surface position.
Programmable Trainer Function (P.T.F.)
In this mode, the Master may assign functions one at
a time to make learning to fly easier for the student. For example,
the Master may assign only the Rudder and Elevator controls to the
Slave. Thus, when the trainer switch is operated, the Slave controls
the Rudder and Elevator, while the Master controls the Throttle and
Aileron. Please note that all Servo reversing, Travel Adjustments
and mixes etc. will be taken from the Master Transmitter and the slave
Transmitter must be reset to the default settings. This happens
automatically when the PCM9XII is used in Slave mode. Due to slight
errors in setup, occasionally there may be slight control surface
deflection as the Trainer switch is operated. If this occurs, the
movement should be eliminated using the Slave Trims.
PCM9XII used as Master
To activate the Normal Trainer System:
No set-up is necessary, the Normal Trainer System is
automatically activated.
To activate the Programmable Trainer Function, select
the primary control that is to be transferred to the Slave by
rotating the Scroll Bar and click on it to toggle between MAST (Master)
and SLAV (Slave). The black indicator square
moves between the bottom of the box (MAST) to the top of the box (SLAV)
to indicate the current selection. The
selection toggles between the MAST and SLAV positions with each click.
Repeat the selection for all channels that are to
be transferred. Notice that when one or more channels are selected
as Slave, the screen changes from NORMAL T. to
PROGRAM T. To reset the Trainer system to normal, press the CLR key
on the left of the display screen.
All channels selected as Slave are transferred to the Slave transmitter
when the Trainer switch is operated.
PCM9XII used as Slave
To set the transmitter to be a Programmable Trainer Function Slave,
select "MASTER" by rotating the Scroll Bar and click on
it to toggle between MASTER (transmitter to be used as a Master) and
SLAVE (transmitter to be used as a Slave). When SLAVE is selected,
a message shows confirming that to continue with the set-up, the DSC
lead should be connected and the transmitter switched off. The transmitter
should remain turned off when used as a Slave as only the encoder
section is required. Inserting the DSC lead switches on only the required
parts of the transmitter. In Slave mode, the modulation is automatically
set to PPM and all channels are automatically reset to default values
ready to be used with the Programmable Trainer Function. To return
to the Function List menu, press the LIST key or highlight and click
on the LST menu choice.
Now we will look at the X-2610 Trainer section.
The X-2610 offers a programmable trainer function with
3 trainer options.
Normal. In this mode the transmitter acts
as a conventional buddy box, the transmitter can be used as a slave
or as a master.
However, in this mode all trims and reversing etc must be matched
to the master transmitter.
In normal mode, when the trainer switch is activated, the student
has control of all functions and switches.
Pilot link. When Pilot link is used with
the master transmitter, the slave transmitter must be adjusted to default
settings. The slave transmitter can be programmed to an unused model
memory and reset to factory defaults.
When the Pilot link is in use, the student
controls the 4 primary channels while the master retains control of
the others . This then allows a student to be able to
fly more complex aircraft without needing to know or remember
complex switch settings.
Pilot link + Slave. This mode is used
ONLY when the 2610 is being used a slave transmitter and the Master
has a Pilot Link program active. By selecting this mode, the transmitter
is automatically set to the correct programming mode for use as a
slave with another transmitter equipped with Pilot link even if the
model memory is set to SPCM.
From the above it can be seen that the best option for
buddying with a beginner is for the 9X to be set to the Programmable
Trainer Function until such time as the student becomes proficient
and then change to Normal. And for the 2610 to
be set to Pilot Link + Slave.
Buddy Boxing is the facility for an experienced pilot (The Instructor) to assist a trainee pilot (The Student) in learning to fly RC Model Aircraft. This has been a facility available to JR Transmitters for some time. There are various ways that this can be achieved but as new Transmitters come on to the market, more and more facilities are being embedded to make training easier. You can now transfer individual channels over to the Student or all of them if he/she is capable.
This basic introduction will utilise a top end transmitter and the entry level transmitter, the PCM 9XII and the X-2610.
All Buddy Box systems fundamentally work the same way where the Student set sends data signals to the Instructor and the Instructor's transmitter then sends the signal by RF to the aircraft. With JR transmitters, it is necessary for the Student set to have a charged battery fitted and also to have a 3.5mm Trainer connector /DSC socket. On inserting the Training Lead, the Student transmitter will power up only the encoder section and NOT the RF, hence it is essential that the Student set is NOT switched on !
The Instructors set will need to be turned on so that the RF section is energised and can send RF data to the aicraft, on inserting the Training Lead on the Instructor set, the transmitter enters the Trainer Mode. While the Trainer switch is activated, data from the Student set is sent to the processor in the Instructors set and is passed to the aircraft by RF. Immediately the Instructor releases the Trainer Switch, he regains full control of the aircraft.
Let us look at the 9XII instructions regarding Buddy Boxing.
PCM 9XII Trainer
The Function List is accessed from the Information Display Screen by pressing the LIST key. From the Function List Menu, rotate the Scroll Bar to highlight the "Trainer" menu choice and click the Scroll Bar. The PCM9XII transmitter provides two types of trainer (Buddy Box) system - the Normal Trainer system where all functions are controlled by either the Master or the Slave and the Programmable Function Trainer where only one or more of the four primary control functions are assigned to the Slave. There is also a special Slave mode where the modulation is set to PPM and all of the controls are reset to the default, so that the transmitter can be used as a Slave in the Programmable Function Trainer mode without having to reset a Model Memory.
Basic Connections and Conditions for Training
1. The Slave transmitter must be set to PPM (Pulse Position Modulation) and have a DSC (Direct Servo Controller) jack. (The Master transmitter may be PCM or PPM to suit its receiver.)
2. The Trainer lead must be plugged into each Transmitter’s DSC jack. Note: The Transmitters will appear to be “ON” but neither is actually transmitting.
3. The Slave transmitter must be fitted with a charged battery, even though it remains switched off.
4. The Master transmitter must be switched ON. Do not switch on the Slave transmitter. Control is transfered from the Master to the Slave when the Trainer switch is operated and reverts to the Master when the Trainer switch is released.
Normal Trainer System
In this mode, all functions are switched from the Master to the Slave. No function setup is necessary to activate this system. The Slave transmitter’s Servo Reversing, Dual Rates, End Point Adjustment, Trims and all mixes must be identical to the Master. This must be checked by operating the Trainer System on the ground and confirming that the control surfaces move the correct amount and in the correct direction. If the control surfaces move slightly as the Trainer switch is operated, adjust the Slave transmitter Trims until the Trainer switch can be activated without a change to the control surface position.
Programmable Trainer Function (P.T.F.)
In this mode, the Master may assign functions one at a time to make learning to fly easier for the student. For example, the Master may assign only the Rudder and Elevator controls to the Slave. Thus, when the trainer switch is operated, the Slave controls the Rudder and Elevator, while the Master controls the Throttle and Aileron. Please note that all Servo reversing, Travel Adjustments and mixes etc. will be taken from the Master Transmitter and the slave Transmitter must be reset to the default settings. This happens automatically when the PCM9XII is used in Slave mode. Due to slight errors in setup, occasionally there may be slight control surface deflection as the Trainer switch is operated. If this occurs, the movement should be eliminated using the Slave Trims.
PCM9XII used as Master
To activate the Normal Trainer System:
No set-up is necessary, the Normal Trainer System is automatically activated.
To activate the Programmable Trainer Function, select the primary control that is to be transferred to the Slave by rotating the Scroll Bar and click on it to toggle between MAST (Master) and SLAV (Slave). The black indicator square moves between the bottom of the box (MAST) to the top of the box (SLAV) to indicate the current selection. The selection toggles between the MAST and SLAV positions with each click. Repeat the selection for all channels that are to be transferred. Notice that when one or more channels are selected as Slave, the screen changes from NORMAL T. to PROGRAM T. To reset the Trainer system to normal, press the CLR key on the left of the display screen.
All channels selected as Slave are transferred to the Slave transmitter
when the Trainer switch is operated.
PCM9XII used as Slave
To set the transmitter to be a Programmable Trainer Function Slave,
select "MASTER" by rotating the Scroll Bar and click on
it to toggle between MASTER (transmitter to be used as a Master) and
SLAVE (transmitter to be used as a Slave). When SLAVE is selected,
a message shows confirming that to continue with the set-up, the DSC
lead should be connected and the transmitter switched off. The transmitter
should remain turned off when used as a Slave as only the encoder
section is required. Inserting the DSC lead switches on only the required
parts of the transmitter. In Slave mode, the modulation is automatically
set to PPM and all channels are automatically reset to default values
ready to be used with the Programmable Trainer Function. To return
to the Function List menu, press the LIST key or highlight and click
on the LST menu choice.
Now we will look at the X-2610 Trainer section.
The X-2610 offers a programmable trainer function with 3 trainer options.
Normal. In this mode the transmitter acts as a conventional buddy box, the transmitter can be used as a slave or as a master. However, in this mode all trims and reversing etc must be matched to the master transmitter. In normal mode, when the trainer switch is activated, the student has control of all functions and switches.
Pilot link. When Pilot link is used with the master transmitter, the slave transmitter must be adjusted to default settings. The slave transmitter can be programmed to an unused model memory and reset to factory defaults.
When the Pilot link is in use, the student controls the 4 primary channels while the master retains control of the others . This then allows a student to be able to fly more complex aircraft without needing to know or remember complex switch settings.
Pilot link + Slave. This mode is used ONLY when the 2610 is being used a slave transmitter and the Master has a Pilot Link program active. By selecting this mode, the transmitter is automatically set to the correct programming mode for use as a slave with another transmitter equipped with Pilot link even if the model memory is set to SPCM.
From the above it can be seen that the best option for buddying with a beginner is for the 9X to be set to the Programmable Trainer Function until such time as the student becomes proficient and then change to Normal. And for the 2610 to be set to Pilot Link + Slave.