The fourth day of construction starts with preliminary radio programming. Based on A LOT of information floating around on the web, I’m going to start off with the following settings for the bird. The manual for the radio itself is 139 pages, 80% or more of which are specific to the two primary programming modes, AEROCRAFT and HELICOPTER. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. The advances in R/C radios and equipment over the last 10 years is staggering.

NOTE: It turns out some of these preliminary settings were DEAD WRONG – Those in red were changed. See DAY 5 Setup for the corrected values!

DX6i EXI-450 Programming
Dual Rate & Expo
	Aileron		Elevator		Rudder
	100%	INHibited	100%	INHibited	100%	INHibited
Travel Adjust
	Throttle	Elevator	Gyroscope	Aileron	Rudder	Pitch
	↓100%	↑100% ↑125%	↓100% ↑100%	←100% ←125%	→100%	↓100% ↓125%
Sub Trims
	Throttle	Elevator	Gyroscope	Aileron	Rudder	Pitch
	0	↓32 ↓10	0	→40 →38	→23 0	0 ↓16
Gyro
	INHibited
Throttle Curve
		Low	1/4	1/2	3/4	Full
Normal		0 %	40% 25%	75% 50%	85%	95%
Stunt		100% 0%	90% 20%	80% 40%	90% 40%	100% 40%
Pitch Curve
		Low	1/4	1/2	3/4	Full
Normal		50 %	50%	67%	82%	100%
Stunt		15 %	27%	62%	80%	100%
Swash Mixing
Swash	Aileron		Elevator		Pitch
	+ 60% – 60%		+ 60% – 60%		+ 60%
Channel Mixing
	Master	Slave	Rate D	U	Sitch	Trim
Mix 1	Throttle	Throttle	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Aileron	Aileron	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Elevator	Elevator	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Rudder	Rudder	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Gyro	Gyro	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Pitch	Pitch	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
Mix 2	Throttle	Throttle	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Aileron	Aileron	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Elevator	Elevator	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Rudder	Rudder	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Gyro	Gyro	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
	Pitch	Pitch	0%	0%	ON	INHibited
Revo Mix
			UP		DOWN
Normal			0 %		0 %
Stunt			0 %		0 %
DX6i EXI-450 Setup
	Throttle	Elevator	Gyroscope	Aileron	Rudder	Pitch
	Normal	Normal Reverse	Normal	Normal Reverse	Normal	Reverse Normal
Swash Type
	CCPM 120°
Throttle Cut
	POSITION – ACTIVE
Dual Rate Combination Assignment
	Dual Rate Switch: – INHibited
Power Setting
	B-US 247

Once the Transmitting programming was complete, continuation of wire routing was undertaken. A quick trip to the electronics store for a bulk pack of tie wraps and large diameter heat shrink tubing got things back underway.

With the larger diameter shring tubing, I was able to put add it to both the motor and ESC wiring harnesses where they run along or through the frame. Better safe, adding a few grams of weight, than watching a helicopter catch fire because of a short.

7 wires from the Gyro are protected with the shrink tubing, where they will run through the frame. This is before using the heat gun to shrink.

My plan to apply shrink tubing in all areas where wiring is on or near the frame is working out well. The combined Gyroscope and elevator servo wire groups are protected where they will run between sections of the rear frame.

Preparing for first adjustments to blade tracking. Battery, canopy, ESC, motor all connected. Radio is not yet mounted because final tail servo setup has to be completed before finishing Gyro wiring and final radio installation.

Gyroscope and elevator servo wiring runs completed and secured. Radio will be mounted inside the frame just below re-entry point of the wiring harness. Shrink tubing covers wiring were it is near or in contact with frame.

More wiring work completed. Final securing of motor wires and ESC control harness (center to right), and primary AR6200 Receiver box with control wiring installed. Final radio installation has to wait for final servo setup, travel tuning and Gyro preliminary configuration.

30A Electronic Speed Control (ESC) secured to nose of frame. ESC is place are far forward as possible to help balance aircraft.

At this point, the blade tracking can be adjusted. Here is a video of the three runs in the shop to check and adjust blade tracking. One blade required 2 full turn reduction on connector length, the other blad required a single turn of extension to get blades tracking equally.
VIDEO: