OpenTx Companion Tutorial • How to Setup Dual Rates • Radiomaster TX16s • [Beginners]

This OpenTx Tutorial shows how setup dual rates on OpenTx radios. The example shows the process on a Radiomaster TX16s but will work on any OpenTx radio.
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[@ronm3313]

Thanks so much for your series of videos. I'm a Spektrum guy coming over to OpenTX. I've watched your videos and as a result have my first model almost done within a day of owning my TX16S. I just need to finish the dual rates. Great job. Thanks again.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Great to hear! Good luck with your new radio. It is definitely a different operating environment, but trust me--when the light clicks on you'll be able to do just about anything you want with it.

[@slitespd]

Hellaciously awesome video, as are all of the others I’ve watched so far. Your tutorials are going to make programming a soon to be TX16S nearly as much fun as actually flying.

[@orellanajuan9431]

You’re making this stuff real easy to understand with these videos. Keep it up!!

[@RCVideoReviews]

Glad to hear it. Thanks. Thanks for watching.

[@longjammeriii3323]

This was definitely a 72 yr old light bulb moment for me without a doubt, thanks for sharing and with my best regards from Alan in the UK 😊😊👍👍❤

[@RCVideoReviews]

So glad to hear this kind of feedback. Thanks for watching.

[@jbsmedia4967]

Was having problems with setting dual rates, This has been a great help. Many thanks 👍

[@RCVideoReviews]

You're very welcome.

[@Dochorahan]

I appreciate the videos. These have been a huge help with my tx16s.

[@RCVideoReviews]

I’m glad to hear it. Thanks for watching and writing.

[@tala23ful]

Just what we were talking about at the field today, 'perfect' examples to show how it works and not get mixed up with mixes Cheers

[@RCVideoReviews]

Yeah, lots of people want to add rates to mixes. The problem with that is you'd have to apply a set of rates for every set of mixes. It's not the way to do it. Glad it helped, J

[@JorgeJimenez2020]

@@RCVideoReviews Just the bit I was looking for, why would you want to do it in inputs and not in mixes, thanks!

[@joseracerfpv8796]

excellent tutorials, congratulations and thank you very much !!!

[@RCVideoReviews]

Many thanks!

[@burkhardschmidt7457]

First of all, my humble apologies for my desastrous english. Contrary to almost all of the vids on youtube educating about open tx yours is of incredible value for pilots flying planes. Secondly, the clear and calm manner you communicate is extremly easy to follow even for non-english "students":) I am very glad i found your channel, you got my abo for shure! Greetz and lots of happy flying hours from the Netherlands

[@RCVideoReviews]

Jouw Engels is veel beter dan mijn Nederlands. Bedankt voor het achterlaten van zo'n leuke reactie en ik ben erg blij dat het materiaal je heeft geholpen.

[@marksherman630]

Great stuff! You are very clear and concise - a treat to listen to your tutorials. I am getting my first plane (UMX Turbo Timber) and moving from quads and OpenTx. I wasn't sure I would be able to use my Taranis or Tango 2 for the planes (where is the Betaflight?), but you have given me hope I won't need the borrowed DX6. I'm even learning how OpenTx really works! Subscribed.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Welcome to the channel. There are a lot of video tutorials here for you. I recommend going through all of them because you'll pick up all kinds of operational information in them you didn't even know you needed.

[@jukabalasorocaba]

Solved all my troubles in a fell minutes here in Brazil! Perfect tutorials, congratulations and thank you very much !!! Obs.: But I did it using 3 Lines in IMPUTS and 3 position switch! Perfec, with 3 levels: down / middle / Full! Sabbadin - Sorocaba - São Paulo - Brazil.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Nice work!

[@jukabalasorocaba]

Thanks again!!!!!!!!

[@meakins355]

Very helpful, thankyou!.

[@RCVideoReviews]

You're welcome!

[@dougmcpheters1546]

Ever informative! Thanks

[@RCVideoReviews]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@robertwioch3691]

Hi! Very good Information on the radio. This is Robert Wioch. I will give you always a Thumps up. you are the best out there. AAAAAAAAAA++++++++++ :))

[@RCVideoReviews]

Thanks again!

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Dang! So now I have to add my laptop to the mountain of other junk in my wagon when I head for the flying field. :D Spend a lot of time wondering why things won't work before I come here for the light bulb moment. ;-) Clearly annunciated and lucid. Thanks a bunch Chief! :)

[@RCVideoReviews]

If you spend some time tooling around in Companion, it will help you get familiar with how OpenTx works. The mouse makes it easy to navigate, the interface presents a full screen of options so you can see everything in a glance. If you can learn to move around in Companion, you will easily be able to navigate the radio at the field. Same concept as a flight simulator. Play with the sim at home, and when you get to the field, life is easier.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@RCVideoReviews Oh I know what I should do. It's just that, being so old and cussed tancankerous, I just don't want to change my ways and learn! :D

[@RCVideoReviews]

We both know you’re curious. You can’t resist. You keep watching these videos. Just soak it all in. Do you have Companion installed?

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@RCVideoReviews Not yet. I'll stick it on the old laptop - if I can find it when I dig down through the pile of newspapers/pizza cartons in this old bachelor's hut! :D

[@brucerumrey8894]

I also had a senior moment, I missed when you went back to inputs from mixes. on the video it is hard to tell. also I did not catch the ! in front of the switch name meant not tha! Everything is working a lot better now. I appreciate the videos. A lot of hard work!!

[@RCVideoReviews]

Good to know!

[@proprotornut5389]

Great video. Thanks. I needed that.😊

[@RCVideoReviews]

Glad it helped. It seems so simple to those of us with experience on this radio. It's really easy to overlook as something that needs to be discussed much less make a video about it. In retrospect, I remember when I got my first OpenTx radio. How to setup dual rates was probably one of the first three questions I asked Google. Anyway, glad you found it and that it helped, J

[@proprotornut5389]

@@RCVideoReviews Yes, and your explanation of curves was excellent too. I was having difficulty with that concept.

[@RCVideoReviews]

The best tip I can give is to get in Companion and play around. Once you start moving around in that software things start to become clear.

[@audiogek]

Very clear! Just what I needed. I set it up on the radio directly, don't like to use companion. So I know what to do when I'm at the flying spot. Thanks.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Great! it's not too hard to convert instructions from Companion to the radio directly. There are a few areas where things aren't in the same places (Global Variables come to mind) but otherwise, it should be pretty easy to switch between the two.

[@audiogek]

@@RCVideoReviews Forgot how to do it and forgot the thumbs up apparently 😄, thanks again

[@christopherbell1768]

very helpful. thanks

[@RCVideoReviews]

No worries!

[@davidpiper3652]

Mode 1 difference to mode 2 swaps the Throttle and Elevator, Aileron and rudder are the same in both. Good description of rates, thanks.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Thanks for the clarification.

[@orellanajuan9431]

The light just went on!!

[@RCVideoReviews]

Awesome! I like to hear that.

[@witneydiggersrc3251]

Another brilliant tutorial, thank you. I’ve no idea what duel rates mean in relation to configuring a RC hydraulic excavator, but I’m sure it would be useful🤔

[@RCVideoReviews]

I've operated some heavy equipment in days gone by. Think of dual rates like this: First 10% of travel gives super slow movement. Mid 80% gives normal movement, last 10% gives super fast movement.

[@witneydiggersrc3251]

@@RCVideoReviews thank you, appreciate that, your tutorials are brilliant,

[@dronedaze]

nice video

[@RCVideoReviews]

Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@graywoulf]

Great tutorial and I thank you for it! May I suggest that you find a way to enlarge your mouse cursor so that it is easier to follow your movements and go a little bit slower when you are selecting things as well. And may I suggest as well that when you are showing which switches to select such as "the anything but" switch for example, please take a moment to describe the switch icon appearance for those of us that are not as knowledgeable about OpenTX as you are. Please don't take those suggestions as criticism of your teaching talents. I sincerely thank you for your most helpful and educational videos. 👍👍

[@RCVideoReviews]

I have made changes to the desktop video practices including setting the mouse to be massive, but the screen recording software apparently doesn't see that. The current setting does highlight the mouse when I click with a red ring. I'll try to keep icon descriptions in mind, but I hope you understand if I covered every last little detail of programming these radios I would lose a lot of viewers. I appreciate your point but at some point I have to take it on faith that you can look some things up.

[@scatteredparts296]

Great Video, thank you for always providing such amazing tutorials! I have been adding D/R and Expo directly into the tx with each model I add. If I try your method of entering D/R and Expo through Companion will it automatically assign the D/R and Expo to each model I add, if so that would save me a lot of work when entering a new model? Thank you

[@RCVideoReviews]

The best thing to do is create a template and use that for all your models. So I do a basic setup with my rates, audible clues, throttle lock, gain for stabilizers, mode switch for stabilizers, trims to zero, subtrims to zero, etc....With all the basics set, when I'm ready for a new model, I select my template, then click copy, and start applying the differences from my new model and the template. Basically a bind, rate/expo adjustments, control surface changes (dual ailerons, flaps, gear, etc) and I'm done very quickly with the initial radio setup.

[@janspoelstra8309]

If I want to use the three position switch for two Dual Rates, say 100%, 75 & and 50%, is that different to what the video shows, regarding switch designation?

[@RakishRc]

Hi, I want to setup dual rate for steering using alireno in mode 4 for my rc car but I want to assign a pot to adjust the weight from 0 to 100 so I can control the throw of the steering servo. How do I do that? It's a very common feature on most pistol style rc car radios which come with a dual rate pot.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gX-7c6p-rMl5jbc

[@flyingernst]

Did I do something wrong when I set up the different Weight and Expo rates inside the mixer tablet with mixers which replace each other? Is there something I can do better when I make this settings in the inputs? Thanks for your work and your tutorials!

[@RCVideoReviews]

I always use inputs for dual rates. It can be done in the mixer, but then you have to repeat all mixes you setup. It's best just to set dual rates/expo in inputs.

[@fc1133]

Nice video. Question: I obviously do not need expo, right!? Thanks.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Expo is a personal choice. It's not required to fly.

[@darthflyer3427]

Question, when you have two aileron and two elevator channels they will only be reflected in the Mix? Elevator 1 and Elevator 2 will be +100 & -100 respectively. Is this correct?

[@RCVideoReviews]

"When you have two aileron and two elevator channelsthey will only be reflected in the Mix?" I don't really understand this question. You can put Aileron1 and 2, and Elevator 1 and 2 in the Mixer, and/or Inputs. The Mixer is what specifies the channel. The Mixer can use physical controls like the stick itself or an Input definition. The Input definition can include one aileron or two, and one elevator or two. "Elevator 1 and Elevator 2 will be +100 & -100 respectively." All control surfaces have a range of -100 to +100 with 0 as center.

[@ianyuzon791]

Hello there, is there a way to have variable rates? like adgust on the spot with S1 or S2?

[@RCVideoReviews]

Of course: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gX-7c6p-rMl5jbc Here's a playlist with lots of topics on OpenTx: kzbin.info/aero/PLy3TC1ILJYThzwReZComrM-LFTa2wfiUW

[@troydriggers]

So let me say I’m a Futaba and Spektrum guy who just got the RadioMaster TX16S today. Have you made a video showing where to get this “companion” software and how to get it from the laptop to the transmitter? Thank you.

[@RCVideoReviews]

You'll want to start with this list: kzbin.info/aero/PLy3TC1ILJYTjqDXFB84oXVWZG14zyMYYt

[@timoneil6582]

Is this also do-able in the radio menus? I just want to change the rates in the radio while watching the difference it makes in the throws on the plane. All this tweaking in the computer and uploading the the radio seems really cumbersome compared to just doing it real-time at the field. This is in no way a knock on your videos, the content is awesome and I'm working my way through all of them. Thank you!

[@RCVideoReviews]

Anything I do in Companion can be done on the radio directly. I use Companion for videos for a couple of reasons: 1) It's much easier to navigate and use as a demonstration/teaching tool. You have to imagine how much editing I would do for every scroll click nav press click bang on the radio for these setups. It would be annoying to viewers, and would take me a lot of time to remove all the nonsense in edit. 2) I think Companion is one of the best features of these radios, so by putting it out there and using it, I'm trying to demystify it for people who aren't familiar with it. 3) I've only been using OTX for about 7 years now and I much prefer building configurations in Companion and pushing to the radio. It's far far easier and it saves wear and tear on the buttons/knobs/wheels. 4) Configuring on Companion is absolutely *ridiculously* faster than configuring on the radio. I can add labels (text), navigate drop downs, move to different menus and test things so much faster in Companion it's not even a contest. Using Companion makes me like FLASH when I'm setting up a model. Of course, the beauty of all this is that you have choices. If you don't want to use Companion, you certainly don't have to. Just apply whatever it is I'm saying about Companion to your radio. Companion is a mirror app to the radio, so if I say go to the inputs tab, you can do the same on the radio.

[@timoneil6582]

@@RCVideoReviews Thank you for the very thorough reply. I was able to find another video that showed how to edit in radio. It's not super-intuitive coming from Futaba and Spektrum, but now that I'm starting to wrap my head around the icons and menus it's coming together. Thanks again!

[@RCVideoReviews]

Sure thing. You'll find like everybody else that switches to OpenTx there are many many paths up the hill. Some paths are better than others, but you'll eventually get to the top. I can offer this help for Navigation: Think of OpenTx on these touch screen models as having two major trunks: 1) System 2) Model Each trunk as main menu items. Once you learn the main menu items that fit under each trunk, moving around will become much easier. The system trunk has system related options like sd card contents, radio setup, global functions, etc... The model trunk has model specific functions like the general model settings, inputs, mixes, outputs, curves, logical switches, special functions, telemetry. Just keep that in mind and ask yourself: "Am I trying to do something to the radio or am I trying to do something to a model" When you answer that, it gets you in the right ballpark.

[@JEK134]

Can you set up DR in the transmitter itself or do you have to do it on a computer?

[@RCVideoReviews]

Anything you can do on Companion you can do on the radio and vice verse.

[@eg2driver]

Great video! Quick question, did you mean to set up elevator as "diff" , or are both as "Expo" in regards to the curve?

[@RCVideoReviews]

I usually don't setup elevator with diff--that's usually for ailerons. Not saying never, just not usually. This video was made some time ago, so without watching it again---not sure. Do you have a time index?

[@eg2driver]

At the 7 minutes mark you can see the elevator dual rate is set as "diff". Just wondering if this is the desired setup or as "expo". Again I can't emphasize how helpful your videos have been to me. The TX16s is such a steep learning curve, I'm glad I found your videos!

[@RCVideoReviews]

That's "video typo" At 6:46 I said out loud "and I'll set the expo to be...."

[@joeg986]

Being new to opentx and the radiomaster tx16s, once you set dual rates in companion, then how do you get it to the transmitter? Thanks.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Writing Companion files to the radio is covered in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5acipSglM-Id5o

[@FS_Performance]

I don`t get it working with trimswitches T5 / T6 is that possible?

[@tvz857]

Can I do something similar to throttle limits meaning set one of my 3 position switches to 33%, 66%, and 100%?

[@RCVideoReviews]

Sounds like a heli throttle curve. Yes, you can. There are lots of ways to do it. Any easy way would be special function override channel value. Remember the range is -100 to +100 so 200 points. So 33% would be -33. 66% would be 33.

[@rckeith]

Hi great video but mode 1 aileron is on the right it's throttle and elevator that are switched. I flown mode 1 for over 20 years. Just in case it confuses any one.

[@RCVideoReviews]

Thanks

[@jerryzito6840]

Help I'm lost. I have the inputs and mixes in as you have shown. When you switch to your radio, is it plugged into your computer? While I'm plugged in, I have no button functions. Also, In the simulator, I have stick movement on the throttle, and rudder. No ailerons or elevator.

[@RCVideoReviews]

I would recommend watching my OpenTX playlists: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5acipSglM-Id5o

[@spiroskatsikas]

This is harder than I thought because u need to do it with your hand controller, lot of people don't have computers like me

[@RCVideoReviews]

It's not that big of deal to navigate on the radio itself. I do it pretty regularly.

[@fc1133]

Nice video! Quick question? My Left stick (Mode 2) is off center to the right. Not by much, but I can see it for sure. This was not an issue at all since calibrating worked great, however, after using the radio with a Flight Sim, the Sim told me that Channel 4 is off center??? Is there a way to center the stick using some "Gimbal Adjustments" in the inside??? Thanks.

[@RCVideoReviews]

If you're saying a spring tension stick (rudder) is physically off center with no hands on the stick, you definitely have a mechanical issue. I would take the cover off to figure out what's going on. All of your sprung sticks should always physically center.

[@fc1133]

@@RCVideoReviews Hi. I did open it but I could not figure out how to mechanically center it. Probably because there is no way to do so with this radio. Thanks for the fast reply.

[@RCVideoReviews]

@@fc1133 There is no centering adjustment. I would look at the hardware inside to see if any of the runners are off, if the spring is latched correctly, if there are any bushing out of line, or if the stick itself is bent. It should center perfectly.

[@fc1133]

@@RCVideoReviews I contacted the seller and asked to send it back. I don't feel like messing with a brand new radio. However, if the next one has the same issue, I sure know what to do. : ). Thanks.

[@RCVideoReviews]

@@fc1133 Did you order a replacement? If so, let me know what you find out. The sticks should center perfectly.

[@Bluebird_Farm1]

One thing that killed me was when I was setting rates on the inputs - I wasn't setting a switch for the first line (default rate 100%), I was only setting switches for the 2nd and third lines of a 3 line rate setting eg. 100/80/70. So rates wouldn't change as I flipped my assigned switches, they would always be 100%... If I don't set a switch for the 3rd line (rate) (70%) , the rates all work as if all 3 lines(rates) had switches assigned. If I don't set a switch for the middle line (rate) (80%) , the rates default to either 80% or 100% , if I don't set a switch for the default rate you always get 100% regardless of how the rest of your rates /switch assignments are set.

[@dayatgendut1645]

Great. do you have problem with switch SA,SB,SC,SD normali in 3 position. But in actual my TX only 2 position.. in hardware setting in 3position..Thanks.

[@RCVideoReviews]

I'm sorry I don't understand the question.

[@dayatgendut1645]

Maaf merepotkan terimakasih sudah merespon. Saya ada masalah dengan tombol SA, SB, SC dan SD. Dimana seharusnya berfungsi untuk 3 pisisi. Tetapi ini berfungsi cuma 2 posisi. Di setting hardware sudah saya setting 3 posisi tetapi cuma fungsi 2 posisi.. saya hargai sekali atas respon dan sharingnya.. terimakasih..

[@RCVideoReviews]

@@dayatgendut1645 Radio apa yang Anda gunakan?

[@dayatgendut1645]

@@RCVideoReviews jumper t16

[@khorenulikyan7692]

Is it possible to set up a rates switch using Global Functions?

[@RCVideoReviews]

No.

[@QippysChannel]

Is there a way to do it via a mac?

[@RCVideoReviews]

Yes, OpenTx Companion is available for Mac too.

[@jerryzito6840]

Nice video. On the dual rates You have high rates switch SB up and low rates SB up. Why would you not assign low rate to SB down?

[@RCVideoReviews]

At 6:09 it shows !SBup, not SBup. There is a big difference. This is what I refer to as defensive programming. Since I use a 3 position switch I want to make sure either high or low rates are ALWAYS selected. So I use SBup for high, and ANYTHING BUT SBup for low. So that means if I stop in SB middle I don't turn off the control surface. This is all explained in the video starting at 6:00.

[@jerryzito6840]

@@RCVideoReviews I'm watching your video. I see the input page, but I lost you where you clicked to get there on the companion page. Sorry. I am so new to this radio. Been using Spektrum for 7 years.

[@jerryzito6840]

I'm sorry. You can disregard I figured it out. Thank again!

[@jerryzito6840]

I aplogize for being so needy. I followed you step by. The simualtor shows no movement at all. Nothing responds. I missed something.

[@jerryzito6840]

@@RCVideoReviews Makes sense. Good work on the video. I appreciate the time and effort you must have put into it. ****

[@oded_10]

The TX18S for sale is the new version of the TX16S

[@RCVideoReviews]

TX18s? Do you have a link for this radio?

[@oded_10]

@@RCVideoReviews mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#trash/FMfcgxwJXftRTlmTKQsxbkfKjGDbqmXs

[@RCVideoReviews]

That's a link to gmail. That would just open my gmail trash folder. Do you have a public link?

[@oded_10]

@@RCVideoReviews Site name MAKERFIRE

[@RCVideoReviews]

I saw it. Looks sketchy. I'd let others be the guinea pigs on this one.

[@tcgliderguy1]

I'm puzzled.... I've got a brand new Radiomaster TX16S, and OpenTX Companion 2.3. I was able to successfully set up a three position, dual rate switch.... but in my Companion, I cannot find the pop-up window that you show that starts with "Lines", and has some other items listed. If I right click on a line in the Mixer display, I can access the "Duplicate" item.... but the new line that is created has a tiny plus and minus symbol at the beginning of the line... which your lines don't show. Am I missing something? Do I have a slightly different version of Companion? Thanks for a great series of videos. As a guy who started in R/C with 10 channel reed radios back in 1962, I am learning a LOT!

[@RCVideoReviews]

I only see a lines item in the inputs tab, not in the mixer tab. Sounds to me like you're operating in the mixer tab where I'm operating on inputs.

[@tcgliderguy1]

@@RCVideoReviews Yes.... that was the problem. But now that I think about it, (and having successfully programmed a 3 position Dual Rate within the Mixer tab), doesn't it make more sense to set up Dual Rates in the Mixer... to accommodate things like V-tails, etc. that are mixed to be able to function? And while I am asking "noobie" questions, am I correct that you are recommending setting up the basic controls in Inputs with "Ch1:Aileron" .... rather than just the "Aileron" option?

[@RCVideoReviews]

@@tcgliderguy1 No. Dual rates belong in Inputs. If you put rates in mixers then you need to duplicate every mix. That's not the right way to do things. The flow of information is INPUT -> MIX -> OUTPUT. Use mixes to assign inputs to channels and mix controls. Use inputs to apply rates. You can do it other ways, but I promise, rates in inputs is the correct approach. No, Inputs should use the raw source. Not CHx:yyyy CHx:yyy is an output, unless you're sure you know what you're doing I don't think you want to create loops like that. Inputs use raw source.

[@tcgliderguy1]

@@RCVideoReviews Thanks! I appreciate the help!

[@RCVideoReviews]

@@tcgliderguy1 Sure thing.