iRangeX Setup: Flying a HubSan X4 with a Taranis TX
This post shows how to fly a HubSan X4 quadcopter, or a variety of other "toy" quads, using a Taranis X9D or QX7S transmitter. We then show how to set up these two transmitters in trainer mode when the Taranis channel ordering is different from the quadcopter's.
For the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) Drone Workshop that we ran back in August, I had the idea of using a "Buddy Box", or trainer setup for when the students were flying. This was mainly due to having the Olympic Park event a few days later and needing to minimise the damage to the kit.
When learning to fly, instructors often use two transmitters connected together so that they can take over quickly if the student gets into difficulties. We have a Taranis X9D as part of the university equipment, while I have my own Taranis QX7S. This was to be the master, with the students taking control via the X9D. It's configured so that when I pull the top right switch on my transmitter, they have control, while letting go of the spring loaded switch returns control to me.
But first, I need to get the HubSan to fly using my QX7S.
HUBSAN TARANIS HARDWARE
NOTE: while I'm using a QX7S for this example, the method applies equally to the X9D.
The Taranis has a module bay on the back that accepts XJT RF modules. The QX7S and X9D are electronically compatible and can both use the same modules. In order to fly the HubSan we need an external RF module that supports the HubSan's RF protocols. Fortunately, there is a commercial unit available called the iRangeX Pro which supports a number of protocols, including the HubSan.
The HubSan X4 uses the A7105 radio protocol chip, so you need a multi-protocol module that supports this. There's an Internet site called Deviationtx that has reverse engineered the myriad of RF protocols currently being used on small quads and which contains a wealth of information on all types.
Other RF modules can be found by searching the Internet, but I decided to buy the iRangeX IR4 Plus as it looked like it was professionally built, but, most important of all, it has a rotary switch on the back for the protocol. This selects the protocol manually rather than having to install updated OpenTX software on the radio to select the protocol via the menu system. Using this approach, the radio just sees it as a regular RF module, which makes the setup very easy.
I bought my IR4 module from the following website for £47.99:
https://www.flyingtech.co.uk/electronics/irangex-irx4-plus-24ghz-4-1-stm32-multiprotocol-tx-module (NOTE: I've noticed that they're currently out of stock - experience has shown that it's actually quite hard to source some of this equipment). It's also worth mentioning that the "Jumper" range of budget radios have a multiprotocol unit fitted as standard.
RADIO SETUP
Create a new model called "iRangeX" and do all your programming there.
On the SETUP page, make the following changes:
Internal RF Mode OFF
External RF Mode PPM
Then on the Inputs page, define Aileron, Elevator, Rudder and Throttle on channels 1-4 respectively.
This is the main problem with getting the programming right - Taranis channel ordering is TAER, while HubSan channel ordering is AETR (like Futaba).
Finally, define the mixers for the AETR:
I found that I had to reverse the aileron and rudder channels, which is how the weights are -100.
Then on the IRangeX, don't forget to set the dial on the back to the correct protocol. That's all there is to it and you should now be able to bind and fly.
Here's the full video of the setup.
Bind and fly!
The only thing that is slightly annoying is that it will still only auto-bind to the HubSan when you power on the TX followed by the HubSan. It wouldn't normally be a problem, but when you have students constantly crashing the quadcopters so that they power off, you then have to off and on the transmitter to bind again.
TRAINER SETUP
One thing I learned about the Taranis while figuring out how to do the trainer setup is that there is a set of pages that I never knew existed. You have to long press the centre mode button on the left to access, then use the top left page button to cycle through them. It's on the end of the video above, but this is the step by step guide to configuring the Trainer channel allocation to match the AETR we just defined. You MUST do this, otherwise all the channels get mixed up and aileron on the slave radio gets converted into a different channel when the command is received by the master.
Long press the left centre button to get to to the Radio Setup pages. Then top button to page through. Here's the video showing how to access the trainer setup menu:
Make sure that the channel numbers match as follows: CH1=Aileron, CH2=Elevator, CH3=Throttle, CH4=Rudder
Also, define the switch to activate trainer mode as the top right spring loaded release switch.
There are many more features in the trainer setup which I haven't investigated yet. For example, you can give the student only certain functions (i.e. keep the throttle for yourself), and also mix your control to the student, say 50% instructor, 50% student, so you keep some degree of control.
Finally, don't forget to create a model setup for the student's radio, which is the slave radio.
STUDENT RADIO SETUP
Create a model on the student's radio, but TURN OFF ALL THE RF. This might seem strange, but the student radio doesn't transmit. It sends signals via the cable to the master radio, which communicates the commands to the quadcopter.
Then, just copy the same inputs and mixer setup from the master radio.
The lead I'm using to connect the two transmitters together is just a simple audio cable, 2.5 metres long with 3.5mm jack plugs. I got it from here: https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/vivanco-audio-cable-3-5mm-jack-plug-2-5m
I think a mono cable would do fine, but it works with a standard stereo lead. Just make sure to plug them into the right holes. The X9D trainer socket is on the back of the case above the battery box, while the QX7S socket is on the top on the right hand side near the aerial.
That's all there is to it, so enjoy flying your £20 toy quadcopter indoors with a £150 full sized TX that you can hang on a strap.
For the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) Drone Workshop that we ran back in August, I had the idea of using a "Buddy Box", or trainer setup for when the students were flying. This was mainly due to having the Olympic Park event a few days later and needing to minimise the damage to the kit.
When learning to fly, instructors often use two transmitters connected together so that they can take over quickly if the student gets into difficulties. We have a Taranis X9D as part of the university equipment, while I have my own Taranis QX7S. This was to be the master, with the students taking control via the X9D. It's configured so that when I pull the top right switch on my transmitter, they have control, while letting go of the spring loaded switch returns control to me.
But first, I need to get the HubSan to fly using my QX7S.
HUBSAN TARANIS HARDWARE
NOTE: while I'm using a QX7S for this example, the method applies equally to the X9D.
The Taranis has a module bay on the back that accepts XJT RF modules. The QX7S and X9D are electronically compatible and can both use the same modules. In order to fly the HubSan we need an external RF module that supports the HubSan's RF protocols. Fortunately, there is a commercial unit available called the iRangeX Pro which supports a number of protocols, including the HubSan.
 |
| The back of the Taranis QX7S and the iRangeX module |
 |
| You have to remove the blue plastic cover and the module simply slots into place |
The HubSan X4 uses the A7105 radio protocol chip, so you need a multi-protocol module that supports this. There's an Internet site called Deviationtx that has reverse engineered the myriad of RF protocols currently being used on small quads and which contains a wealth of information on all types.
Other RF modules can be found by searching the Internet, but I decided to buy the iRangeX IR4 Plus as it looked like it was professionally built, but, most important of all, it has a rotary switch on the back for the protocol. This selects the protocol manually rather than having to install updated OpenTX software on the radio to select the protocol via the menu system. Using this approach, the radio just sees it as a regular RF module, which makes the setup very easy.
I bought my IR4 module from the following website for £47.99:
https://www.flyingtech.co.uk/electronics/irangex-irx4-plus-24ghz-4-1-stm32-multiprotocol-tx-module (NOTE: I've noticed that they're currently out of stock - experience has shown that it's actually quite hard to source some of this equipment). It's also worth mentioning that the "Jumper" range of budget radios have a multiprotocol unit fitted as standard.
 |
| This is the iRange IRX4 Pro module |
 |
| This is the module fitted into the external bay of the Taranis |
 |
| Close up of the module showing the protocol selection dial |
RADIO SETUP
Create a new model called "iRangeX" and do all your programming there.
On the SETUP page, make the following changes:
Internal RF Mode OFF
External RF Mode PPM
Then on the Inputs page, define Aileron, Elevator, Rudder and Throttle on channels 1-4 respectively.
This is the main problem with getting the programming right - Taranis channel ordering is TAER, while HubSan channel ordering is AETR (like Futaba).
Finally, define the mixers for the AETR:
I found that I had to reverse the aileron and rudder channels, which is how the weights are -100.
Then on the IRangeX, don't forget to set the dial on the back to the correct protocol. That's all there is to it and you should now be able to bind and fly.
Here's the full video of the setup.
Bind and fly!
The only thing that is slightly annoying is that it will still only auto-bind to the HubSan when you power on the TX followed by the HubSan. It wouldn't normally be a problem, but when you have students constantly crashing the quadcopters so that they power off, you then have to off and on the transmitter to bind again.
TRAINER SETUP
One thing I learned about the Taranis while figuring out how to do the trainer setup is that there is a set of pages that I never knew existed. You have to long press the centre mode button on the left to access, then use the top left page button to cycle through them. It's on the end of the video above, but this is the step by step guide to configuring the Trainer channel allocation to match the AETR we just defined. You MUST do this, otherwise all the channels get mixed up and aileron on the slave radio gets converted into a different channel when the command is received by the master.
Long press the left centre button to get to to the Radio Setup pages. Then top button to page through. Here's the video showing how to access the trainer setup menu:
 |
| The trainer channel setup screen |
Make sure that the channel numbers match as follows: CH1=Aileron, CH2=Elevator, CH3=Throttle, CH4=Rudder
Also, define the switch to activate trainer mode as the top right spring loaded release switch.
There are many more features in the trainer setup which I haven't investigated yet. For example, you can give the student only certain functions (i.e. keep the throttle for yourself), and also mix your control to the student, say 50% instructor, 50% student, so you keep some degree of control.
Finally, don't forget to create a model setup for the student's radio, which is the slave radio.
STUDENT RADIO SETUP
Create a model on the student's radio, but TURN OFF ALL THE RF. This might seem strange, but the student radio doesn't transmit. It sends signals via the cable to the master radio, which communicates the commands to the quadcopter.
Then, just copy the same inputs and mixer setup from the master radio.
The lead I'm using to connect the two transmitters together is just a simple audio cable, 2.5 metres long with 3.5mm jack plugs. I got it from here: https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/vivanco-audio-cable-3-5mm-jack-plug-2-5m
I think a mono cable would do fine, but it works with a standard stereo lead. Just make sure to plug them into the right holes. The X9D trainer socket is on the back of the case above the battery box, while the QX7S socket is on the top on the right hand side near the aerial.
 |
| This a basic audio jack which is used to connect the master and slave radios together |
That's all there is to it, so enjoy flying your £20 toy quadcopter indoors with a £150 full sized TX that you can hang on a strap.
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