Tag Archives: futaba

Using “Program Mixing” or “Power Mixing” on Futaba T6K….!!

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A few days ago, we published a piece on a relatively advanced idea of using the Program Mixer function (also known as “Channel Mixers” and “Power Mixers”) and on the Futaba menu it is shown as “P.MIX”.

We have a feeling that maybe only recent Futaba T6K transmitters have P.MIX software built in. My own transmitter is a T6K Version 3. It has P.MIX. The manual that came with the transmitter in 2023 turns out to be a manual for Version 2…. so no P.MIX instructions.

We’ve looked online for a version 3 manual without success, so far.

If you want to read up about P.MIX instructions, what you do is find a manual online for the T10J transmitter. The “Program Mixing” instruction pages start at Page 53. The T6K seems to have the first four channel mixers, though not the 5th and 6th mixer (with curves) that the T10J transmitter has. So if you feel happier using a Futaba manual as you tweak, then use these pages to guide you.

Receiver Experiment Comparisons….

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At least three of us at Datchet are experimenting with receivers that come with Radiomaster. It’s interesting to compare with the regular Futaba Receivers.

You’ll notice that the Radiomaster unit has only channels one to three that we need. The first implication seems to be a substantial physical size reduction.

The next thing that caught my attention was the absence of dangly wire radio antennae. I know, I know – we shall see how it goes and report back!!

Like the Tour de France cyclists, we are in a sport which recognises the sum of marginal gains. If you’re in a weight sensitive class like Marblehead, you might also be intrigued by the weight comparison:-

Interesting!

Transmitter Mode – Mode 1 or Mode 2?? What’s That About ??….

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So you have started radio sailing and need to get a transmitter sorted out for yourself…

If you have bought a second hand boat, quite likely the previous owner has kept the transmitter and you need a new one. Obviously, if you buy a new boat, you probably want a new transmitter – or did you know you can share one transmitter across a number of boats. (The transmitter manufacturers call this “multiple models”)

So you have selected which transmitter you want, then the online ordering page asks you which “Mode” you want! Drives you mad, doesn’t it!!?? Well, for radio sailing you want Mode 2.

On that photo of a box lid above, you will see it says Mode 2 in the top right hand corner.

So what is all this about??

It’s all about which way around the joysticks are arranged. For Mode 1, the throttle (‘mainsheet’ to you and me) is on the right, with Mode 2 the throttle/mainsheet os on the left. The convention for radio sailing is that we all use “Mode 2″…. mainsheet on the left, rudder on the right. So buy a Mode 2….

This seems true for both Flysky and Futaba transmitters. Why?? I had wondered if it was all about being left handed or right handed, but it doesn’t seem to be that reason. As you have probably twigged, radio sailors are in the minority for using these transmitters. The major applications will be drones, helicopters, planes, gliders, race cars. I think that some of those require the joysticks the other way around. Or as I just learned, combat robots use the sticks the other way around.

If any reader has re-written the manuals for Flysky and Futaba solely for radio sailing, would you donate them to this website? Else, I shall I have to re-write them someday. I was just reading a piece by somebody reading a Flysky manual and he said, “Half of it is in Chinese, and the other half may have well been…”

Anyway – purchase “Mode 2″…..