rrTV-PHOTO   New HD TV
HOME   rrTV-PHOTO   GALLERIES   MY GALLERY   HELP-FAQ
myHOME PM pmRR MEMBERS 634 ONLINE 44 EVENTS SEARCH REGISTER  START HERE
 
10 pages [ <<    <     5      6     ( 7 )     8      9     NEXT    >> ]5562 viewsPOST REPLY
ZoomsHobbies . HeliHobby . Ron’s HeliProz South

.
.
Scale Model RC Helicopters > Which lights, Mini-Flasher, RAM, Maxxi, etc.
 
 
mike18421
Senior Heliman
Location: Forest city PA USA

Tom order placed for Mini beacon,mini flash and a few other things and I also PM'd you.
04-27-2008 09:35 PM
 
 
gadgetdude
Senior Heliman
Location: Southern California

I just want to emphasize that the mini flash and LED's take MINIMAL power from your receiver battery. I really don't even think you would see a difference in your run time between charges before connecting the lights and after. I did not notice any at all.
04-27-2008 09:42 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
mike18421
Senior Heliman
Location: Forest city PA USA

Oh I'm sure they don't take much power at all. I just don't like the idea that if there's a short in the lighting system (highly unlikely but still possible) that it could hurt the reciever and cause a crash. This is the reason I'd like to power the lights seperatly. I'm sure nothing like that would happen but you never know.
04-27-2008 09:48 PM
 
 
tomapowa
Heliman
Location: Tiverton, RI (USA)

Hi Mike,
(Just PM'd you)
I hear your concern. Although it does draw little power from your main battery, there is indeed a possibility that a short could be detrimental. But... this concerns goes well beyond the Mini-Flash controller... such as servos, gyros, servo wires/extensions and even the receiver itself. Because the Miniflash uses output transistors and a microcontroller, either would probably fail before you would see an effect on the receivers function. Certainly using a seperate battery reduces the risk, although very inprobable.

Hoverup,
That darn software issue has haunted me since I developed it. It appears to work on some PCs but not others. I'm going to try to work it a bit more with a friend (S/W guru) this week and possibly try to recompile using Visual Basic 6.0 instead of VB5 (alhtough I heard it also has similar issues with distributing s/w developed in VB). If I get any where with it, I'll me sure to post!

But in the meantime, do you have any other PC/Laptop to try it on?

Tom
04-28-2008 01:06 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
gadgetdude
Senior Heliman
Location: Southern California

Hey Tom,
It is not a problem with your software....it is called WINDOZE
04-28-2008 04:43 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
tomapowa
Heliman
Location: Tiverton, RI (USA)

I hear you there! (windoze)
I dug into it (s/w error) a little more last night and what it appears to be is an issue with mismatched DLL/OCX files. In order for some DLLs to work with others, they have to be at certain rev levels. Determining what is needed for what is almost impossible. I recompiled on my buddies VB6 platform and we still got the same error (we are using a laptop of his, running Windows XP, which also pops up the error.. he has since lent it to me for diagnosis).

I'll keep digging... Tonight I'm going to try this VB "Setup" tool that comes with VB5. It is suppose to build a setup file that supposedly includes required DLL and OCX files. My buddy thinks this probably still won't work as these DLLs will probably not over-write the existing DLL on the suspect laptop... (if they are newer, they will not get over-written). I'll try nevertheless to satisfy my curiosity.

Tom
04-28-2008 03:28 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Elgreco
Heliman
Location: Montreal,QC-Canada

Hey,hey....my mini-beacons just arrived !!
I will finish my fuselage and post the vid and also email you Tom a file just in case you want to use it anywhere.

I've kept my father in-law's old PC still at my house so I can reprogram the mini-flash.
Unfortunately it won't work with my vista.Tried everything.Those pesky DLL files...

Well, I'll post as soon as I get around it.

Thanks Tom.

Trex 600E, Sceadu 50, Freya 90 /X9303
04-28-2008 05:36 PM
 
 
Elgreco
Heliman
Location: Montreal,QC-Canada

This a short vid from the flashing pattern I will have. The green steady nav light will also be together on the second output with the red constant. Luckily when you leave them on for a bit, the 2 beacons are slightly off which I kinda wanted.Doesn't look bad the sequence.

Tom,
I tried with the programmer to start the second beacon later by leaving a few check marks off but it will not work. It looses power.Kinda shuts off if not always on. The cycle of the programmer is too fast for the beacon to complete it's cycle if you know what I mean.

But I am happy with the results as is.Will post the fuse later when I get time to work on it.

Thanks again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4McS2bxmLU

Trex 600E, Sceadu 50, Freya 90 /X9303
04-28-2008 09:27 PM
 
 
tomapowa
Heliman
Location: Tiverton, RI (USA)

Elgreco!
Nice... can't wait to see the finished product!
Re: the beacon timing, I compltely understand you. Yeh, the Mini-Flash channel needs to either always be on (all events check-marked), as this powers the Mini-Flash directly. Darn, if I knew you wanted one to delay upon starting, I could had easily programmed this into one of the beacons.

OK! Now onto some hopefully good news!
I HOPE I made some progress with the software issue. A mate at work today helped me recompile the code in VB6 (instead of 5) and then used this "wizard" to build a distributable "package". The package is basically like that what you receive on a CD of a program (setup program with accompanying files, etc...). I built this "package" and just installed it on the laptop (XP Pro) that was having the "error". Well, low-and-behold.... IT NOW WORKS!

What I now need is some of you (preferrably those that have a machine that has the error) to try this new "setup". Go to the following webpage and download all the files including the support directory. Now, click the "setup" icon and let it roll. It'll ask a few questions (install directory, etc...), just use the defaults. It might also ask you if you want to overwrite support files already on your computer. I choose "no" and after the installation was complete, the program worked like a champ. (If it seems like it is stuck.. let it be... it;s probably installing numerous files... be patient). This install will NOT put a Mini-Flash icon on your screen unfort... you will have to run it from Start, Program files, Mini-Flash... etc...)

Please let me know how you all make out... real curious!

OK... the link:

http://www.diyrc.com/MINIFLASHREV3.zip

Download this zip file and install/unzip it in a directory/folder and then click on (run) the "setup.exe" file.

Tom
04-29-2008 02:30 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
DBlum
Heliman
Location: Raleigh NC

Hey all, looking for some help with my mini flash. I get the unit and it looks great. I go to download the programming software and of course I get the dreaded parrameter incorrect message. I load it onto computers at work, same problem. Just for grins I try it on my wife's laptop and it runs fine. I'm just gonna program these lights and go fly. I go to hook up the programming cable to the serial port and what do ya know, no serial port, only USBs. Fine. I then go to 6 different stores looking for a 9 pin to USB adapter, finally find one and hook it up. I go through the programming sequence, lights on then out, back on, hit the ok button within 3 seconds and it downloads, only nothing ever changes regardless of what sequence or port I try. Any suggestions?

Dave
04-29-2008 02:31 AM
 
 
DBlum
Heliman
Location: Raleigh NC

I guess Tom posted his fix while I was writing my post. I just downloaded it and it appears to run ok on a computer it previously hadn't. I'll try programming next.
04-29-2008 02:38 AM
 
 
tomapowa
Heliman
Location: Tiverton, RI (USA)

(Wow... talk about crossing/simulataneous posts...)
Dave,
I would highly recommend you try the software link above... using a real rs232 port might help.. maybe not.

Can you tell me one thing... when you go to program the Mini-Flash, you connect it to the prog. cable, power up the Mini-Flash, it flashes quickly (on/off), you wait for around 7 seocnds, them ALL the LEDs come on... while they are on, you hit the OK button in the software. Is this what you are doing, and if so, do you see all the LED extinquish (go out) right after you hit the OK button in the s/w? If not, the com port (or prog. cable) is not working correctly. Some USB-to serial com port adapters assign some funky port #s to the adapter. You will need to set the s/w comm port to this # (you might be able to determine this by looking at your hardware config).

Neverthelsss,... I'm hoping the new software compile works! Please tell me it does guys!!!

Tom
04-29-2008 02:40 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
tomapowa
Heliman
Location: Tiverton, RI (USA)

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

GOOD NEWS !!!!!!

Dave, can you tell me how you downloaded the "FIX"... the ZIP or via the setup.exe link ? (just curious). ALSO... just curious what Operating System you are using... XP, Vista, etc...

Tom
04-29-2008 02:42 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
mike18421
Senior Heliman
Location: Forest city PA USA

I've tried bot fixes on my desktop and neither work. My laptop loaded it fine before the fixes so at least I have it.
I have windows XP
04-29-2008 02:58 AM
 
 
Elgreco
Heliman
Location: Montreal,QC-Canada

Tom, PERFECT !!!

It worked on my Vista. If only I had it a couple of hours ago I wouldn't have to unplug my PC and work with my father in-law's

Just downloaded the zip, installed it by running setup.exe and voila!!

Thanks again for a great product.

Trex 600E, Sceadu 50, Freya 90 /X9303
04-29-2008 03:36 AM
 
 
tomapowa
Heliman
Location: Tiverton, RI (USA)

OH GOOD !!! Works on Vista?.... WOW! An added bonus I did not expect!
I WILL CERTAINLY SLEEP BETTER TONIGHT !
(and I owe that buddy of mine at work a beer or two... or three)



Tom
04-29-2008 03:40 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
DBlum
Heliman
Location: Raleigh NC

Tom, it works fine now, thanks a bunch. I loaded it via the Zip file onto an XP machine. The only anomaly seems to be that it won't remember the port assignment. When I click on settings it shows the correct port, but I have to actually use the drop down and click the port number (even though it's the same one) or I get an error. Whatever, I can live with it.

As far as the cable goes, I knew there was the possibility that it wouldn't work with the adapter, but I figured with all the other stuff that had gone wrong the law of averages would be in my favor. I guess not. Oh well, I'm a happy camper now.

Dave
04-29-2008 04:21 AM
 
 
tomapowa
Heliman
Location: Tiverton, RI (USA)

Awesome Dave!
That was a good catch re: the com port saving/opening thing... I think I found the problem and have it fixed... I'll try to post it soon... as I'm still debugging a few other minor things.

Tom
04-29-2008 05:06 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
tomapowa
Heliman
Location: Tiverton, RI (USA)

Just updated it Dave... try that setup and tell me if it works better (I just was not setting the port correctly upon a program load...)

http://www.diyrc.com/MINIFLASHREV3.zip

Tom
04-29-2008 06:13 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
mike18421
Senior Heliman
Location: Forest city PA USA

I wonder why I can't get it to run on my XP machine. I keep getting the same errror.
04-29-2008 12:54 PM
 
 
10 pages [ <<    <     5      6     ( 7 )     8      9     NEXT    >> ]5562 viewsPOST REPLY
Century Helicopter . MTA Hobbies . MRC/Altech Marketing USA

.
.
Scale Model RC Helicopters > Which lights, Mini-Flasher, RAM, Maxxi, etc.
  UPDATE SCREEN   PRINT TOPIC Advertisers 

Subscribe to This Topic

Monday, July 7 - 1:29 am - Copyright © 2000 - 2008 runryder.com | email | link to rr | runryder needs cookie