Setting up and creating model images for OpenTX and ETHOS

[@reprieve53]

Dude your the bomb. Me and my buddy are here on the Oregon coast (Cape Blanco) waiting for the rain to stop so we can fly when a notification came through about a new post from you and now we have something to do while waiting for the rain to stop. Thank you for your time and posting these how to videos! You have been a huge help.

[@MrD]

You’re welcome. I hope the rain passes soon and you get some great flights in.

[@FourthWayRanch]

if it wasn't for mr D I would not have figured out the 10 character limit glitch, I fully endorse this video

[@MrD]

Thanks. It’s not really a glitch, just the specifications. The glitch is that those specs aren’t written anywhere 🤣

[@duanehillier4135]

Another fantastic video and tutorial. Thanks for your time and efforts!

[@duanehillier4135]

love the Bob ROSS spoof! Hilarious

[@charlesbutler7220]

Thanks for another clear, informative presentation. I've actually resized images using PowerPoint. Used an original image as a template and reduced my images to the same size. I've done half a dozen this way without any issues. The file sizes are comparable with the original.

[@MrD]

Thanks Charles. I’d have never thought of using PowerPoint. Nice work.

[@DarrenFollows]

Ha ha loving the reference to painting with Bob.

[@MrD]

Thanks 👍🏻 It had to be done.

[@seanhaugen2492]

I’m new to FrSky. I have the X18S. My question is can I do the same image upload line you did in the X20S? Thanks for the great content.

[@A470RCSoaring]

Thanks for this video which I have used to add my own model images. However I did have an issue with the images not being available to add to the models. After making enquiries I had to make a change in the File Manager. So going into Bitmaps, I had to change the file called USER to MODELS. Once I'd done this, the images appeared. I have been faffing about trying to get the vario in the GR8 RX to work as I'd like. I think I'm about there but others may be interested in how to do this. So I have switch SD set up with the up position giving the vario rise & fall beeps and the down position giving me altitude as speech, but I haven't had the opportunity to see if I've set it up correctly.

[@MrD]

Hope the vario switch worked out ok. You definitely want it on a switch 😆

[@DEeMONsworld]

I must be jinxed nothing works for me, I transferred images to the radio. they appear if I look in the sd card location. when I go to edit model no images appear not even the stock images supplied with the radio. it's a blank blue field. edit: Found your other video on changing the directory filename, Thanks!

[@hillscanlon2717]

Great work thanks. Question what do you think is the way to go about opentx or EdgeTx very confusing stuff coming out. 🤔

[@MrD]

Thanks Hill. Personally, I'm sticking with OpenTX at the moment. To me EdgeTX has got some advantages. But, there are some things that aren't quite there yet in terms of usability. For example, I was holding off updating until the configurator is able to download the correct firmware that you want to use, with the options that you want. I know with 2.5 there is a configurator, but the options aren't there yet. Maybe that will come with 2.6 or 2.7. But for the time being, OpenTX ain't broke.

[@DavidGRCand3d]

1,000 points for that title image.

[@MrD]

Thanks. I feel like that thumbnail won the internet for a day 🤣

[@hectorpiercey7852]

Darren, Is it worth mentioning about file size, when I first made images for my Tx16s they became very slow to load and after plenty of head scratching I realised that my images had large file sizes and by redoing the images at a far smaller file size the loading of images is now instant Always watch your videos they're always useful.

[@MrD]

To be honest, I don’t really see how a 192 x 114 pixel image would produce a file with a large size. Were you using large images and the transmitter scaling them down? I can see that causing problems.

[@hectorpiercey7852]

I was taking pictures with my phone and then only resizing them, with about 30 images they took 3 to 4 seconds to load. I've now reduced the file size and this has cured the problem of slow loading.

[@emilkaempeable]

WOW Just needed this video!!! Were looking for a video!! THX Fantastic as always!!! :D

[@MrD]

Awesome timing then. I’m glad it was helpful.

[@ianwaters7195]

Darren another very informative and well presented tutorial - thank you. Have put it to great use already with both Ethos and OTX. Have you any thoughts on doing something for the Ethos flash screen? I've had a brief look and can't see where it might be located.

[@MrD]

Hi Ian. I'm glad you found the video useful. Unfortunately, at the moment the boot logo on ETHOS is built in to the firmware, so can't be changed. I did request this when ETHOS was new, but told no. However, I've seen the request again recently, and the reply was a bit more positive. So maybe in the future we will be able to change this.

[@ianwaters7195]

@@MrD Thanks Darren would be good if it can be done

[@grumpyrse]

Another top useful video, thankyou Darren

[@MrD]

You’re welcome. Thank you 👍🏻

[@paulc99]

Another great video. Very helpful. Thanks.

[@MrD]

Thanks Paul. I’m glad it is helpful.

[@gorilahive]

Thanks for the new video, brilliant as always 😀

[@MrD]

Thanks Pio. I’m glad you found it entertaining.

[@maverik314]

Hello Daren, As usual still a good vidéo... Dave.

[@MrD]

Thanks Dave.

[@audiogek]

I've been using paint3d that comes with windows. Easy to cut your model out and make the background transparent. I got a question though: Regularly the pictures don't show when I want to change to and load another model to fly. Why would this happen?

[@MrD]

Thanks for the tip with Paint3D. I’ll add that to the description to give folks more options. I don’t really know why you’re having issues with model switching. I can’t say that I’ve seen it. Has it always happened, or only since updating the transmitter’s firmware. Or conversely, is there a newer firmware for your transmitter?

[@audiogek]

@@MrD I have the latest firmware but been having this problem for way longer. Tried just about everything. It's not a problem really, just annoying.

[@flyboywbl]

Thanks for the help!

[@MrD]

You're welcome :)

[@udxpierre]

Hello Mr D. This is going to be off topic. Number one love your content about x20's. Been a Spektrum fan boy for 16 years. Now i am a Fr"y"Sky x20's owner. Channels for Africa or UK and nowhere as dear as Spektrum to have all my giant scale birds channeled up. If i can ask, please make a vid about widgets, i.e timer, voltage etc, maybe i am just missing something but for the life of me i can not get my timer to run with throttle stick or as per Spektrum, timer start at 15% throttle.

[@FourthWayRanch]

you have to setup a reset switch too

[@Colt-4570]

Resized and saved 2 photos, 1 as a png and 1 as a bmp and they appear in the X20S list but they won't appear when i try to apply them to the specific model in the Tx?

[@fastrack59]

Just learned, for the new firmware version. Personal plane images should be saved in: (SD card drive) bitmaps- models file. No longer into user file which was for the older firmware 1.0 - 1.1 . Just fyi.

[@stuweFPV]

Since I don't use openTX i couldn't care less about the content but the thumb you created gave me such a laugh... outstanding bro!! very very creative and dead funny.. Mr. Ross :)

[@MrD]

Yes!! My work here is done 🤣

[@SeasonalPro]

sky raccoon shows what people don't know and that what receiver goes with what fixed or drone.

[@petersoki]

Do you know of a website that has non-flying vehicles? I need machine icons.

[@leobot4024]

ethos how to setup different travels for example aileron , elevator ?

[@chiprobertson3094]

How do you add the picture to the model select page?

[@flyboywbl]

So I can see the image in the bitmaps/user folder in the ethos file manager. There are lots of generic models in that folder too. Nothing shows up when I go to "edit model" and select "picture". There is just "---" any ideas?

[@flyboywbl]

Ok so I figured it out. I had to add a "models" folder in my bitmaps folder. Then the image could be seen. Now my 18x won't work I'm assuming it takes a different image size but I can't find that anywhere. Any idea? Thanks!

[@MrD]

Sorry, I was late replying. The answer was in the video description by the way, plus I have another video on that topic 😉 As for the X18. Check on the System > General screen. Scroll down to the Storage location section. There will be an option for User bitmaps. If this is on Radio, the files need to go in the NAND storage. If the toggle is on SD Card, the images on the SD Card will be used. The other thing I have noticed on the X18 is that PNG files do not seem to work for model images. BMP works fine. The default images that come with ETHOS are the same size as on the X20. But, no doubt they should be smaller, due to the X18 having a smaller screen. I have submitted an issue to the ETHOS team to try and answer the questions on PNG usage and model image sizes.

[@flyboywbl]

@@MrD thanks a ton! I'll give that a go for the x18

[@MrD]

The size for the model images on the X18 are 180 x 166 pixels.

[@flyboywbl]

@@MrD thank you sir!!! Works perfectly now.

[@Davyorr]

Brilliant thumbnail 😂

[@MrD]

Thanks Davy. Once I had the idea, I couldn’t not do it 🤣

[@Frolv]

Thanks! Cognitive.

[@MrD]

You’re welcome

[@DeeJayEll]

I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when I found out it wouldn’t be Bob Ross showing me how to create model images in OpenTX and Ethos. 😂I then found out he died in 1995! 😞 ……..I’ll get my coat….

[@MrD]

He may be gone, but his legend lives on.