How to setup your knife edge mixes - Frsky Ethos tutorial

[@7demo7review]

Now, I’m going to be a pro level pilot… Watch out! Thanks so much for the video

[@skyboundrc]

Haha, thanks for watching! Hopefully it helps!

[@markwest759]

This is exactly the video I wanted to see and my favorite mixes for precisely tuning my plane. Huge thanks for this. Knife edge mixing is just essential.

[@skyboundrc]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@smokeymcbongwater3561]

Thanks for another awsame video

[@skyboundrc]

Thanks for watching!

[@joeytavora1270]

I love tht you name your curves, my god I get lost on some of my older builds which I didn't name curves or logic switches on

[@skyboundrc]

haha, oh yeah, I can't imagine leaving them without a name. I would have a hard time remembering what's going on :-)

[@17kevin68]

Thanks Again Juan!

[@skyboundrc]

My pleasure!

[@Colt-4570]

Great info Juan! I set up a knife edge mix through a free mix the other day and my way was harder to figure out. Thanks for explaining Vars as well, I had no idea how to use them.

[@skyboundrc]

I'm glad you found it helpful! Yeah, vars are a pretty nice feature once you get the hang of it

[@BarsErdal]

A very usefull video as always thank you!

[@JustPlaneChris]

Very helpful! I have the mixes already tuned for my Flex RV-8, but the Var trick is great! I will definitely be using that in the future.

[@Cubanito_RC]

Excelente video 👌. Esperamos más contenido como este y también un canal en español 😅

[@cx9drvr]

Excellent video. Very clear. Thank you!

[@davidhall4398]

Brilliant tutorial Juan👍 I have knife edge mixes already setup in my X18SE however really interesting how you used the VAR and the momentary switches to dial in the mix...I just click on the Points and use the Scroll wheel in flight to adjust them but love your way more ...thanks for this really cool video ...took me ages to suss this out at 1st when I moved over to FRSKY I'm sure this will be a highly appreciated video 👍

[@skyboundrc]

Thank you!

[@mscibek]

Great video Juan!!!

[@skyboundrc]

thanks!

[@stephencantbewrong8250]

Fantastic!

[@davidhall4398]

Where did you get the large FRSKY and 'Lets You Set The Limits' stickers on the Ailerons ? They are cool

[@Sivaneswaran]

How to do it in spektrum ix series

[@joaquinpachon8002]

Juan excelente video, se podrían usar estas mezclas teniendo un Gyro instalado? gracias...

[@skyboundrc]

Por supuesto! Exactamente igual

[@neilradcliffe9140]

Do you know please which source Ethos uses for the rudder input? Is it simply 'raw' rudder stick, else is it after any rates and expo have been applied? The latter would presumably be more aerodynamically correct, but I *think* I've seen something which suggests it's the former. (In Open Tx this distinction was easier to work with given its separate 'inputs' page).

[@skyboundrc]

if you're using "Analogs->Rudder" that is the raw stick value. If you wanted to take into account rates, expo... you'd want to use the channel is the source instead.

[@N2RIT]

I've been doing Knife edge with out a mix, using this mix should improve my Knife edge 100%. I will have to try this on one of my foamie first. Question are you using a switch to turn ON/Off this mix? I watch the video a couple time to see if I miss something you don't fly your plane with this mix active all the time do you?

[@skyboundrc]

I should say I'm often too lazy to set up mixes :-) But when I do setup a knife edge mix, I keep it on at all times. The biggest benefit is not just for knife edge (as you can easily compensate manually), but for any other precision maneuvers where you use rudder (basically anything involving rolls). For 3D, the amount of aileron/elevator applied is so small that it doesn't have any impact.

[@obeid45]

Hloo freand are you coming to the iMac competition in the UAE in abril this year

[@skyboundrc]

That would be really cool! But seems like the trip would be way too expensive. Someday I'd love to visit and getting some flights in :-)

[@mr.y1965]

I always wanted to buy the iX14+ Spektrum because it was easy to program, but I was persuaded to buy the FrSky x20s because it had more functions, security, compatibility and price. Does ethos really make the transmitter easier to program? That still scares me. Do you recommend buying the frsky x20RS instead of FrSky x20s? What's the difference?

[@skyboundrc]

I used to fly with Spektrum. The main reason I switched to FrSky was reliability and better programming. I started having RF transmission issues with Spektrum, particularly with smaller planes, and at the time, I was getting ready to move into jets. With jets being a significant investment-often $10,000 or more-any risk of signal loss became unacceptable. Beyond the financial aspect, there’s also the safety concern when flying larger, faster aircraft. That experience pushed me to look for a system with more robust reliability, and after researching my options, I landed on FrSky. The other option I had in mind was Jeti. Here are the main reasons FrSky worked for me: - 2.4GHz to 900MHz Failover: The redundancy system gives me peace of mind, especially when flying high-stakes models. Also, the way Frsky handles this is better than Jeti. - Ergonomics: FrSky transmitters feel great in my hands, which makes long practice sessions more comfortable. Jeti felt very awkward to use. - Programming Flexibility: The Frsky Ethos system allows for advanced customization that was harder to achieve with Spektrum. - Cost: While not the main factor, FrSky transmitters and receivers are more affordable compared to other high-end systems. If you’re mainly flying Bind-and-Fly planes from Horizon Hobby, Spektrum’s compatibility and ease of use are hard to beat. However, if you’re planning to move into jets, large gas planes or other expensive models where reliability is crucial, or if you’re interested in leveraging FrSky’s advanced programming capabilities, switching could be a great investment. There’s a bit of a learning curve with FrSky, but once you get the hang of it, the system offers tremendous flexibility. Honestly, I think the only downside I found about Frsky is that they release a lot of firmware updates very often. With that, you get a lot of great functionality improvements over time (good), but it requires you to do a couple of updates every year (a bit annoying). Ultimately, both systems have their strengths, and many top pilots (like Jase Dussia) continue to use Spektrum successfully. It comes down to what you’re flying now and where you see yourself in the future.

[@skyboundrc]

I'd say that doing very basic things with FrSky will feel a bit harder at the beginning. After that, doing simple things will be as easy as Spektrum, but you'll also be able to do much more complex things in FrSky that you wouldn't be able to in Spektrum. Regarding X20RS vs X20S, they are very similar. They all have pretty much the same software. It's just a matter of form factor and a few bells and whistles: www.frsky-rc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/X20-Series-Comparison.jpg

[@mr.y1965]

@@skyboundrc Thank you very much for the detailed answer. You have no idea how much you helped me make the decision.I'm preparing to get back into the game, I'd like to slowly get into symulator high wing then aerobatics in different sizes up to the 104" extra.If I couldn't cope with 3D, I'd stick with classic aerobatics. What worried me was the ease of use. I'm now very interested in Jeti and wondering what makes it so popular that I should pay double. Is it because of the workmanship or because of the better user-friendliness? I've heard that the gimbals are the best on the market and feel the finest. The Jeti DS16 II has dual channels! So 2.4Ghz and 900Mhz. Now I have to decide between FrSky x20s and Jeti DS-16II. 500€ vs 1600€.Since I need a lot of money, especially at the beginning (hobby workshop, accessories &&&), I would like to spend up to €1000. If this is a Jeti, then only a used one. I had just had two new, fully equipped ones in the area for €800-1000. As far as I know, with a module for €40 I can use almost all receivers at FrSky, including those from Horizon, the same should be possible with jeti. Thank you again for the help. I hope my motor skills are still intact and will last me for years, I'm in good shape. One more thing... The Spektrum takes a very long time to start. It has a large display but that shortens the running time.

[@felopg]

Gracias Juan, perfectamente explicado y me ha gustado el tema de las variables, estaba teniendo el problema de que a derechas o izquierdas la cantidad requerida de mando era distinta, y sobre todo... tener que bajar para hacer cada cambio era un coñazo. Una pregunta... usas algún interruptor para activar el mix, o lo tienes activo todo el vuelo? gracias!!

[@skyboundrc]

Hola! Las mezclas las llevo siempre activas. Para vuelo de precision, siempre vienen bien. Para 3D, el movimiento es tan poco que no afecta.

[@felopg]

@@skyboundrc oook entendido, probaré, ya que el 3D todavía es algo que no domino al 100%... bueno, ni al 50%... pero en eso estoy!, gracias de nuevo y buenos vuelos!

[@DanielZamoranoArancibia]

Saludos Juan ! Un comentario : La mezcla que viene pre definida en la radio usa el valor análogo del stick , eso trae como consecuencia que siempre es igual, independiente de si usas dual o triple rates , mi sugerencia es usar como fuente (source) el canal del rudder en una mezcla libre (free mix); asi la mezcla será proporcional a la cantidad de mando definida en cada posición del switch de tus rates

[@skyboundrc]

Hola! Ese es una muy buena observacion! Yo no utilizo dual rates, asi que no habia pensado en como dual rates afectaria. Tienes mucha razon, lo mejor seria utilizar el canal del rudder como 'source'. Gracias!

[@DanielZamoranoArancibia]

@@skyboundrc Feliz si es un aporte , Saludos !

[@바탕화면-q2o]

Ruder=> Elevator Mix It's accurate and convenient for knife edge But it's more natural to have no mix in Rifle Roll Should I use mod to turn it on and off? There are always good videos that come up, so it's good

[@skyboundrc]

I don’t always set up these mixes, but when I do, I keep them permanently. For maneuvers like the rifle roll, the rudder input is minimal, and the mix percentage is usually very low-around 2%. This means the elevator barely moves at all due to the mix during the roll, so it doesn’t have any impact on the maneuver.

[@바탕화면-q2o]

@@skyboundrc Thank you~ I'll try again

[@zackriden79]

your plane should require zero ke mixing if its any good

[@logo10flyer]

Maybe. Maybe not. Since CG impacts rudder to pitch coupling, you may get your CG just where you like it but that isn’t the zero rudder to pitch coupling CG. So now you use a mix to compensate.

[@B0767]

Wrong explanation in the video! With a right turning prop when making a left knife edge the plane will always pitch up to the canopy because the blade rotating to the right (“down”) wil have an increased airflow, so a pitch up of the plane. The inverse happens with a right knife edge; the plane will always pitch down to the landing gear

[@skyboundrc]

Thanks for your comment! A couple of notes though: - In my experience, this is not correct at all. Position of wings, stabs, engine (thrust line) and center of gravity have much more impact than anything related to the propeller airflow in regards to rudder causing the plane to pitch up/down. - The plane going up or down is not particularly relevant in this video. The video is more about explaining how to setup the mix to counter whatever tendency the plane has, regardless if its up/down. This is applicable even to turbine jets or gliders.

[@B0767]

@@skyboundrc i know it’s not relevant to the video that’s right…. Nevertheless it’s basic aerodynamics as I can guarantee you as a aeorobatics instructor on full size planes. With a properly built plane and set-up left knife edge will ALWAYS pitch up right knife edge will ALWAYS pitch down. The truth is that almost no pilots are aware of this. It’s not as you state “related to the propeller airflow in regards to the rudder”….it’s because your flight path is making an substantial angle with the longitudinal axe causing a substantial lift increase or decrease on one of the propeller blades!!!

[@skyboundrc]

that's pretty interesting. This has been totally different from every RC plane I've flown. Almost every time, the plane will go in the same direction (up or down) during both left and right rudder knife edges (but at slightly different rates). In your experience, does it not matter if the plane is high/mid/low wing? All those planes still go up during left knife edge and down during right?

[@B0767]

@@skyboundrc of course the set-up angle of the wing and curvature of the wing will play a role in terms of generated lift. A high lift plane like a Piper will have an extreme pitch up with a left knife edge and a very small pitch up with a right knife edge; of course under the assumption that the power is sufficient. All aerobatics plane have the behaviour I described and especially planes with a 0 set-up angle like eg a CAP. Again it’s basic aerodynamics. Also the slower you fly the more profound the effect (also logical). If you fly very fast the effect is less noticable.

[@3120DownForce]

Real men fly knife edge with no computer mixing