Vector RTH Setup and Test

[@bebel25a]

I have learned many features about the Vector from your videos. Thanks for the education. As a habit I engage RTH right after launching and as soon as I reach a comfortable altitude (200' ish) and as I am headed away from myself. I check to see that plane responds in turning back towards me at proper altitude and then once satisfied that RTH is properly working I then switch into 2DH and resume my flight out. Only takes a few moments and is an easy check to assure me Vector is working properly.

[@bonafidepirate]

Yep, I do the same, it's a good habit to have... lol I usually set my failsafe at the same time too, just to be sure it's set properly.

[@rogergravel6638]

So well explained i just buy a used vector very powerful fc only down side is the unique monting orientation direction a million thanks

[@kaichristiansen8110]

Great landing

[@cozzy206]

Great video thanks

[@lesjack137]

Of course, the only way to be sure the setup is correct is to switch off the Tx in flight. Then you know when a real life incident occurs, you're covered. A little nerve racking the first time, but you have to have confidence RTH will actually work. Some interesting discussions on the Vector thread recently about RTH settings.

[@bonafidepirate]

I often test this too, mostly when switching my UHF antenna on the transmitter in flight. I have faith in the DL failsafe, and as long as I've tested my RTH set up too, I would be surprised if something went wrong when powering down the radio. ;)

[@Starbuckin]

Just used this tutorial vid today to set my Home position out in the fields behind my place and well away from town and the waypoint is close enough to my launch platform to work. Thanks again for the nice tutorial!

[@bonafidepirate]

Nice! That option is one my favorite features in the RTH options... lol If I were flying from the middle of an open field, having the plane circle home would be just fine. With my house and the trees and all that just north of my runway though, I like having my plane circle a waypoint just south of "home" so the north side of the turn is overhead, and the rest is out in the open fields. If I ever found myself with no control of the plane and watching it circle waiting for the battery to die, I'd be glad to have this... lol Circling home, there's a good chance it would end up in the top of a tree.

[@Starbuckin]

That's EXACTLY why I did this! I'm sure you saw the PM I sent you a while back. thanks to you and several others but mainly you, I built an in Home cockpit/mission control to fly from. I launch my plane from a wooden launch platform in my backyard. If it were to circle without any control 'till the battery died I want it to come down in that field and not over my backyard which sets at the edge of town...

[@mabadajo]

Good info here to check across to my own settings and to see how way points work. Would you be able to make a video on setting the failsafes between the radio and the vector and testing? This is where I'm having issues. I enjoy watching your videos.

[@rodneys9805]

Found my binary fixed it back up and took your advice and she flew great, do you take off in low rates, do you take off in 2d hold and do you land in 2d hold

[@bonafidepirate]

That's great! I usually take off in middle rates, I have 100, 75, and 50% on a 3-pos switch. It's not critical though, just use what feels best for your... lol Having too little throw can be just as bad as too much, should you need to get out of a bad situation. I usually take off in 2D with no hold, and have a bit of "up" elevator mix on a switch too, so it climbs out on it's own. I think I have about 10% up if I remember right. None of that is absolutely needed though. It will take off just fine in a manual mode too, just requites more piloting on your part... lol

[@rodneys9805]

@@bonafidepirate thanks a bunch, also do you land in 2d no hold

[@bonafidepirate]

@@rodneys9805 Yes, more often than not.

[@samiroraut]

@bonafidepirate How to use a head tracker along with Eagle tree vector ? you can either map those respective channels on your radio for Head tracker or use them to assign Autopilot modes of Eagle tree.

[@bonafidepirate]

I run my pan and tilt servos directly off the receiver, they work independent of the Vector. My mode and submode are on two channels, pan and tilt are on two different ones.

[@samiroraut]

@@bonafidepirate which headtracker system are you using ?

[@rangefinder83]

I've been enjoying your channel for some time and have been learning a lot while setting up my vector. I'm using eagle tree vector and Dragonlink V3 through SBUS. Can you please explain to me how to set up the RSSI channel correctly. I have ran the RX wizard but my RSSI either shows 100% when connected or 0% when it isn't. Using the telemetry on the tranis is see it fluctuate but for some reason it won't show on the OSD. Thanks.

[@bonafidepirate]

I'll have to double check all my config, it's been a while since I set it up... lol You'll have to set up the Dragonlink receiver to put digital RSSI on an unused channel in the sbus stream, then the Vector should see that channel as RSSI. If I remember right, it should find it when doing the R/C wizard. Let me know if you need help with it I can check over mine again!

[@rangefinder83]

@@bonafidepirate I really appreciate your help with this. It's the last thing I need to set up and it's been bugging me. If you have a screen grab of your DL receiver settings that would do the trick. I've tried tinkering around in there but just haven't got it to work yet, I'm sure it's something simple. Am I needing to make changes to my TX outputs & RX or just RX?

[@bonafidepirate]

You just need to set it up on the Dragonlink receiver. Here's a shot of the settings I use in mine - i.imgur.com/yJWl3WZ.jpg The important part is the PPM/S-bus outputs. I'm just pushing channels 1-11 out as normal, nothing special there. Then I have Digital RSSI in channel 12, that's just in the S-bus stream, or PPM also if you're using that. It replaces channel 12 in the stream with the RSSI level instead. Receiver outputs can be whatever you need. On mine I have the upper channels mapped to the output pins, just so they're available if I needed them. I'll often plug in pan and tilt servos directly to the receiver on those pins. On the CH7 pin I have S-bus to the Vector, which brings in channels 1-11 and the digital RSSI. CH8 pin is Analog RSSI, just left over from my older setups that used it. You don't need to set that up with the Vector, just for older flight controllers that only have an analog input for RSSI. Once the receiver is set up, re-run the R/C wizard in the Vector and it should find the RSSI and use it. Double check the channel assignments after it runs. One more quick tip I almost forgot... lol When running the wizard, make sure you're on 100% rates if you have dual or tripple rates set up. If not the Vector will "learn" your lower rates as full rates and will react accordingly. You'll get full stick input on low rates as if you were on high, and high rates will get you full throw within a smaller range of the gimbal, and anything outside that is just ignored and holds full throw until you get the stick back down in that smaller range... lol I found that out the hard way once, I couldn't figure out why my plane was flying funny!

[@rangefinder83]

bonafidepirate Hey, been busy for the past few weeks but I got round to messing with it and with your help I finally got it working. Just wanted to say I appreciate you kindness spending time helping me out. It was really getting under my skin.

[@Q8TsyQ8]

were is you CG with your mini talon ?

[@bonafidepirate]

I don't remember the measurement from leading edge, but I know it's directly on the main spar, the large one.

[@richardcoggins739]

Thank you for making this video. I'm in the process of setting up an FX61 using a Taranis X9D Plus with Dragon Link and a Vector so I really appreciate these kind of videos that give me how to tips on making things work.

[@bonafidepirate]

Thanks, glad it might help! :) There's still a lot of other stuff that goes into setting up the Vector, but none of it is hard to figure out. The manual covers everything pretty good. I was just going over my RTH stuff, sort of a checkup, and thought I'd share it.

[@kentuckybigcats7641]

Man thanks for the video I have had the vector for over a year an half just been waiting for the rite bird I think I’m going to put it in the elite opterra 2m wing I just got it bout 2 weeks ago flew it twice an esc burnt out an the motor so I upgraded them Horizion hobby sending out new motor an esc dam the luck but I been watching around trying to learn the vector hopefully I will be able to get it done at least I got your video here for this part down if you have anymore videos I could sure use them thanks again I subscribed #fan lol

[@foamaxmore]

Very nicely done!

[@sweetieinsf]

Another great vid! I did notice that you are using "RTH Mode Switch" as the Vector failsafe detection method. I know you are using DL and I highly recommend you use Sbus DLRX->Vector and use the Sbus failsafe detection. Set your DLRX failsafe to "no output" . This is by far the fastest, most robust failsafe setup for the Vector. You won't have to remember to reset the RX failsafe if you make any changes and the Vector detects the loss of signal in 2/3 (about 1 sec vs 1.8) the time it takes using RTH Mode Sw. It also covers you in the unlikely event the RX dies or the connection between RX and Vector fails or falls off. It's also worth noting that testing regularly in the air using RTH Test (mode switch) is a good thing BUT you also need to test on the ground by turning the TX off - either connected to the PC software or confirming in the OSD that it displays RTH in both the Status line and mode notification area. Especially important in the case of a repeater setup like you use.

[@bonafidepirate]

I'm using PPM not sBus. I don't like using "no output", because sometimes I set my f/s NOT to trigger RTH for various reasons. Mostly when I power down the transmitter to swap antennas. If I'm flying far/low, I'll swap to the wall mounted UHF antenna one the plane is in the air and I'm settled down in the ship to fly. I'm honestly not concerned about the extra 0.8 seconds it takes to trigger f/s when there's an actual loss of signal. I've honestly NEVER had a failsafe trigger when I didn't do it manually. If it ever does, my plane can fly just fine for that extra less than a second it takes to trigger RTH. I prefer being able to instantly take control back using the switch method while testing. Powering off to test means waiting for the Taranis to boot up, bypass the switch/throttle warnings, and boot the DL before I get control back. The best best best part of all this, either way, is that we have all the options! :D Pick what you like and go with it. ;)

[@phoeij]

Great tutorial. You are truly the End Boss of all Vectorish things ;) This helps me out a lot. The vector is expensive. So I want to be absolutely sure that I get it back when something goes wrong

[@bonafidepirate]

Thanks for the kind words, but I know there's a LOT of info I could cover in videos, if only I was patient enough to film it all and edit it... Maybe the right word is lazy... haha I like to think there's some value to learning things yourself reading through the manual too though. Everything is covered in there, and you'll learn a lot more going through it and learning as you go.

[@alltheflyingthings1075]

Are there any advantages of using vector over fc with inav? I can buy omnibus fc and gps for less than $50 and use inav. The vector costs 5 times more. I think they can do the same: stabilization, osd, rth. So why does anybody want to pay more for it?

[@kabturek]

Its more polished, more user friendly, it has a graphic osd.

[@alltheflyingthings1075]

Thanks for answer. So is it worth paying $250? You wrote it has graphic osd. Inav doesn't have it?

[@kabturek]

is it worth it? it depends ;-) IMO its a good price for what it offers. I'm not using it because of the price - i do prefer inav for my cheaper crafts (flying wings mostly) and pixhawk/pitlab for the long range/more expensive ones. Like you say - the basic feature set is similar and inav is getting a lot of traction (and features) quick but its not really where Vector/Arduplane(pixhawk) is. As for the graphic OSD - inav has a character osd - look at the video above in the bottom right corner - inav isnt capable of that kind of plot (the best it can do is cheat the artificial horizon using some icons). Don't get me wrong - the osd in inav works ok and does the job but its not nearly as nice. I see vector as Apple of flight controller (and that's a good thing in my book)

[@alltheflyingthings1075]

Now I see what you meant by graphic osd. And I think it looks so much better. I'll be using inav for now. But if I would like to build some long range plane maybe I'll buy something better than it, maybe vector. I think it's the same situation like with fatshark - you can buy ordinary goggles or fatsharks.

[@Starbuckin]

Well, I wouldn't even think of using any other FC/OSD than Eagle Tree Vector, it's simply the best invention for FPV flying since the VTX. I don't understand why anyone would ever consider using anything else, it would be a major downgrade IMO from the vids I have watched and my own flight experiences for years now, unless of course someone just simply can't afford it.

[@Hyprmtr]

I'm curious if there is way to set fly home altitude to current altitude. I believe I had it setup to fly home at current altitude with an altitude figure of zero in the beginning a few years ago but, I have since changed my fly home altitude to 400ft. There doesn't seem to be documentation on fly home at current altitude in the manual. I'm afraid to set fly home altitude to zero and test lol. Do you know how to set fly home altitude to current altitude when RTH in triggered and if it is possible?

[@bonafidepirate]

Look on page 84 of the current Vector manual (eagletreesystems.com/Manuals/vector.pdf) for some explanation of the available options for RTH altitude. I think "Mountain Mode" will do what you want when the RTH alt. is set to 0. In Mountain Mode, when RTH is triggered it climbs to whatever altitude you have set, relative to what alt. you are when it's triggered, rather than relative to the home alt. So if you set it to 0, it should just maintain the alt. it's at when triggered. Normally if you had it set to say, 100ft, it would climb 100ft above where you were when RTH is triggered and hold that on the way home. You'll need to set up the "second" altitude, or the home RTH one. Once the plane gets within that radius of home it will either climb or decend to hold the home altitude in this mode.

[@EnglishTurbines]

Nice job, I have my iNAV FC set to RTH at 300 feet (or 100mtrs)...I can still see the plane at this height when it arrives home....The Vector has such a nice, fully developed GUI for sure....Yes, that Radio Mast is definitely a hazard worth avoiding...:)

[@bonafidepirate]

One day I'll try iNav, it looks so fun to set up and tune... lol I just need an excuse for another airframe first.

[@EnglishTurbines]

Hi m8, yes is pretty easy to set up once you type in those lines into the CLI....Its perfect for small wings as its very light and compact...and cheap too...lol

[@wad5uk]

Excellent informative video. I am at present using the FY 31 autopilot system with the Hornet OSD which I find very good for its age. I have been looking at getting another system and am leaning towards the Vector set up. Thanks for your input.

[@bonafidepirate]

I've never flown the FY-31 to compare, but I personally like the color OSD with the Vector, and the software is nice too. I like being able to plug in and make quick changes without messing with the stick menus, but it's nice having the menus too as a backup, or in flight changes. The logging is a nice feature too!

[@evertonms2024]

@bonafidepirate In the Mini Talon, you use the same configuration? Seems 25mph very near stall on MT

[@bonafidepirate]

I don't recall right off hand, but I'm sure it's probably the same. I don't use the closed loop speed control on either plane, I haven't taken the time to set it up since they added that. I have them both using cruise and climb throttle settings.

[@Starbuckin]

THANKS for this upload! Awesome tutorial!

[@calypsoairfpv8655]

thnx very insightful!

[@thrillhillairlines4526]

Great job. I've learned a lot from your vids. I have Eagle Tree Vector and Dragon Link V3 looking forward to getting a nice FPV flight.

[@franklee90]

As always, very nice instructive video for FPV guys. like 👍

[@DrFrantic77]

good tutorial, thx man