So, you’ve bought your self a Radiomaster TX15? Nice alternative. Now let’s be sure to set it up appropriately and get essentially the most out of it. On this tutorial, I’ll information you step-by-step by means of the radio setup course of and present you configure the necessary settings in EdgeTX. I’ll additionally share some helpful suggestions and methods alongside the way in which.
Nonetheless deciding whether or not the TX15 is best for you? Try my in-depth assessment right here: https://oscarliang.com/radiomaster-tx15-max/
The radio I’ve right here is the TX15 Max Version. When you’ve got the Commonplace Version, that’s positive too—the setup course of is sort of equivalent. The radios are primarily the identical, with just some beauty and gimbal variations.
Understanding the Controls and Switches
Right here’s a diagram of all of the obtainable controls, buttons, and switches. Familiarize your self with it so that you don’t get misplaced. 🙂
Battery Set up
To energy up your radio, you’ll want two 18650 Li-ion cells. The TX15 comes with a battery holder within the rear compartment that holds two 18650 Li-ion cells.
The batteries usually are not included, however they’re extensively obtainable on-line. Listed below are my battery suggestions:
- RadioMaster 3200mah:
- Sanyo NCR18650GA:
- Molicel M35A:
- VTC6:
Potential Begin-up Warnings
To energy on, press and maintain the radio’s energy button for a few seconds.
Ideally, a model new radio ought to fireplace up with none fuss. Nonetheless, in case your display flashes a warning, don’t panic. Right here’s a breakdown of potential alerts and what they imply:
- Throttle Warning: This pops up in case your throttle stick (the left one for Mode 2 radios) isn’t at its lowest place when powered on. Pushing all of it the way in which down will eliminate this warning.
- Change Warning (also called Management Warning): This alerts that some switches aren’t of their default positions. To clear this, guarantee all switches are of their HIGH place
- SD Card Warning: This means a model mismatch between the SD card content material and firmware. Should you get this warning, comply with this information to repair it.
You may get by means of a warning by merely urgent the Enter button (scroll wheel).
If every thing goes effectively, you need to be greeted by the radio’s default house web page.
Radio Settings
The Radio Settings menu is the place you regulate show, audio, and different system-related parameters.
To get there, press the SYS button. This can take you to the Apps web page. Then press the PAGE> button twice to get to the Radio Settings web page.
You possibly can depart most radio settings at their default values, however listed here are just a few I at all times change when establishing a brand new radio:
1. Set Date & Time.
2. Sound
- Mode: Select All if you wish to hear beeps when navigating the menu. Alternatively, select Nokey in the event you favor it quieter.
- Quantity: Most. You possibly can regulate the quantity utilizing the knob, and I’ll present you set that up later.
- Beep quantity/size: Minimal
3. Alarm
- Battery low (that is the brink for audio and haptic warnings):
- For Li-ion battery: 6.2V
- For LiPo battery: 7.2V
- Should you fly long-range, it’s possible you’ll need to set this greater so you’ve sufficient battery left to make it again house.
- Inactivity: 5 minutes (If the radio is left untouched for this lengthy, you’ll hear the inactivity alarm reminder).
4. Backlight
- Mode: Keys
- Inactivity timeout: 5s (The backlight turns off after this period of time if no buttons are pressed.)
- ON brightness: Most (You possibly can regulate display brightness utilizing a knob, and I’ll present you ways later on this information.)
- OFF brightness: Minimal
- Alarm: Enabled (If you get a warning, the backlight activates routinely.)
Why use Keys mode?
By default, each the sticks and buttons can activate the backlight, which is a bit pointless. You aren’t actually wanting on the display whereas flying, so it simply wastes battery. By setting it to Keys, solely the menu buttons will activate the backlight, which helps save power.
5. Different settings:
- Splash display: 1s (This controls how lengthy the startup display stays on if you energy on the radio.)
- Startup Sound: OFF (I don’t need to hear “Welcome to EdgeTX” daily.)
- Energy Off Delay: 0.5s or 1s (You possibly can rapidly flip the radio off. It’s best to not set it to 0s, in case you by accident contact the ability button throughout flight.)
- USB mode: Ask
{Hardware} Settings
Go to the {Hardware} web page by urgent the PAGE> button 4 occasions.
1. Battery meter vary:
- For Li-ion battery: 5.8V – 8.2V
- For LiPo battery: 6.6V – 8.2V
Why these ranges?
This setting controls the on-screen battery indicator, particularly when it reveals as full or empty. When the radio powers on, there’s some voltage sag, so you’ll realistically by no means see 8.4V even when the batteries are totally charged. That’s the reason utilizing 8.2V as the utmost voltage, as an alternative of 8.4V, makes extra sense.Be aware that this isn’t the low-voltage alarm threshold. You set the low battery warning individually within the Alarm part below Radio Settings, as talked about earlier.
2. ADC Filter: OFF (Why? Learn this part. Solely allow it in the event you fly fixed-wing plane with out flight controllers.)
3. Inner RF
This part ought to already be configured appropriately by default, however it’s at all times good to double-check.
For radios with an inner ExpressLRS RF module, use:
- Sort: CRSF
- Baudrate: 5.25M
Sooner baudrate = quicker communication between the RF module and the radio. However that doesn’t imply each radio assist greater baud charges, it relies on the RF module and radio functionality. In keeping with ExpressLRS Wiki, Radiomaster Inner ELRS module can deal with 5.25M baudrate. Should you’re experiencing fixed Telemetry Misplaced/Recovered even with the receiver close by and/or if the Lua Script fails to load correctly after growing baudrate, then it’s an indication your radio and/or module can not work on the chosen Baud Charge. Decrease it down a notch and take a look at once more.
Battery Voltage Calibration
To ensure your radio reveals an correct battery studying, take a second to examine and calibrate the battery voltage.
Utilizing a digital multimeter, measure the voltage of the Li-ion batteries inside your radio.
Necessary: Measure it whereas the radio is powered on.
Because the cells are related in sequence, it’s best to count on a studying someplace between 6V and eight.4V. The aim is to verify the voltage proven in your multimeter matches the voltage displayed on the radio.
If the studying is off by greater than 0.05V, it’s best to calibrate it.
To calibrate the voltage, go to the {Hardware} web page, discover Battery Calibration, and enter the voltage proven in your multimeter.
Show Battery Voltage On Residence Display
To see the precise battery voltage of your radio at a look, add the voltage studying to the house display.
To do that:
- Go to UI Setup by urgent the TELE button
- Click on the primary icon on the highest bar, subsequent to 1
- Click on Setup widgets subsequent to Prime bar
- Click on on a sq. within the prime bar so as to add a widget
- Choose Worth, then select Batt
Gimbal Rigidity Changes
To customise how stiff the sticks really feel, you may regulate the gimbal spring pressure from the skin of the radio with out taking it aside. For these changes, you’ll need a 1.5mm hex screwdriver or Allen key.
Here’s a breakdown diagram of the AG02 gimbals, displaying the strain adjustment screws for roll, pitch, yaw, and throttle, in addition to the stick journey adjustment factors.
When you’ve got the usual Corridor gimbals, consult with the official information for directions.
Gimbal Calibration
Earlier than flying along with your brand-new radio, it’s best to at all times calibrate the gimbals, particularly after adjusting spring pressure. You may additionally need to recalibrate them after updating EdgeTX firmware.
Go to the Radio Setup web page, then press PAGE> just a few occasions till you attain the {Hardware} web page. Scroll down and discover the Calibration choice. This can begin the calibration course of for the sticks and sliders (knobs).
The on-screen directions are clear, so simply comply with them rigorously.
Be sure you solely transfer the sticks as proven on display. For the most effective outcomes, keep away from shifting the sticks in circles. Be as light as doable when pushing the sticks to the top factors, so the radio can learn them precisely.
And don’t neglect to calibrate the knobs too.
Creating Fashions
I’ve a separate information that explains create a mannequin profile in your quads step-by-step: https://oscarliang.com/create-new-model-profile-edgetx/
Personally, I favor creating one profile for every radio hyperlink, after which binding that profile to all of my quads utilizing that hyperlink. It’s simply simpler that manner when you’ve 10 or extra quads that you simply fly repeatedly.
Tips on how to Entry ExpressLRS LUA Script
Within the ExpressLRS Lua script, you may configure your radio hyperlink parameters.
To entry it:
- Press the SYS key
- Go to Apps
- Choose ExpressLRS
You normally don’t want to alter these settings fairly often. For most individuals, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it sort of factor. Nonetheless, it’s helpful to grasp the important thing settings:
- Packet price: Greater charges imply decrease latency however much less vary. Decrease charges imply extra vary however greater latency. I like to recommend 150Hz or 250Hz as an excellent steadiness.
- TX Energy: This relies on how far you propose to fly. 100mW to 250mW is sufficient for most individuals and is able to greater than a number of miles.
- WiFi Connectivity: Helps you to activate the module’s WiFi so you may entry its WebUI out of your cellphone or laptop computer.
- Bind: Places the module into bind mode.
If you need a deeper dive into each setting, try my ExpressLRS tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/setup-expresslrs-2-4ghz/
Brightness & Quantity Adjustment Utilizing Knobs
In Particular Capabilities, create a brand new operate for backlight management:
- Set off: ON
- Operate: Backlight
- Supply: S1
- Allow: checked
Then create one other operate for quantity management:
- Set off: ON
- Operate: Quantity
- Supply: S2
- Allow: checked
RGB LED (Gimbal Rings and Customizable Switches)
You possibly can customise the RGB LED rings across the gimbals with totally different lighting patterns and stable colours, or flip it off.
To do this, go to World Capabilities. It’s also possible to use Particular Capabilities if you would like it to use solely to a selected mannequin profile.
- Create a brand new operate
- Set off: ON
- Operate: RGB leds
- Worth: [any lighting effect you want]
- Repeat: On
- Allow: checked.
That’s it.
Should you don’t need any LED in any respect, simply don’t add this international operate.
If you don’t use the flight mode buttons — the 6 buttons above the display — you may disable them and have them show the identical lighting impact because the gimbal LED rings.
To do this, go to Mannequin Settings → Customizable Switches, and set the Sort of every change to None.
Backup/Restore Settings and Fashions
Information: https://oscarliang.com/backup-restore-models-radio-settings-edgetx/
EdgeTX Firmware Replace
Information: https://oscarliang.com/flash-edgetx/
Conclusion
I hope this information has been useful for establishing your Radiomaster TX15 radio. I’ll hold updating it if I uncover extra helpful mods, settings, or upgrades for the TX15.