Radio Range Checking:
Range checking is a very important procedure to follow every time you go fly. It's especially important flying outside, where the helicopter can get farther away from you than inside.To do a range check with a standard controller (not a 2.4Gz one), such as that provided with most beginner coaxials and some FP helis, first turn on the controller and collapse the mast (or antenna) to its fully condensed form. Then turn on or plug in your heli and walk away about 100 ft. If you're in a confined area (such as a garage, room, or court) that is smaller than 100ft, then walk away as far as possible.
If you have a vertical tail rotor (such as on coaxial helicopters), first increase the throttle to about 15% of full. Then slowly push on the forward stick until the tail propeller begins to spin. If the main rotors or the tail rotor does not spin when you are this far away then you have a range problem; see the fix below to correct this.
If you have a swashplate or 4+ channel heli, with the main motor(s) off push on forwards, backwards, left, and right cyclic each in turn, making sure the swashplate moves correctly with each command.
If you have a collective pitch heli and this is your first range check since getting the heli or after doing a major repair, and your helicopter has a throttle hold / cut function programmed or programmable to 0% throttle, you should do a collective test. Once programmed to 0% throttle, engage throttle hold and check cyclic movement. Pushing up on the throttle / collective stick should increase the angle of the blades (collective).
With a 2.4GHz radio (such as a Spektrum), place your heli 100 ft away (or as far as possible if inside) and then enter the range check screen and follow the instructions in the manual to range check your heli (usually by pulling a switch, such as the trainer switch on Spektrum Radios). Like above, push cyclic in all directions, making sure the heli responds correctly. In addition, collective pitch heli owners performing a first time range check since getting the heli or performing a major repair should do a collective test.
The Fix:
A range problem is likely caused by bad controller batteries. Either recharge your controller batteries or get new ones. It is possible that a range check is caused by a defect with your controller, but either way do not fly until the range check is passed. From personal experience I know it is never wise to fly an rc heli with a range problem.
If the swashplate does not tilt in the correct direction, then you have a different problem. For example, if you push on the forward control and the swashplate tips backwards or tips diagonally forward. This is cause by an incorrect servo reverse and / or some sort of mixing (computerized radios only) on your controller. Do not fly until you have adjusted your reverses / mixing to make the helicopter respond correctly. IMPORTANT: Try to get the swashplate to respond correctly with reversing first. Mixing is complicated, avoid it if possible. If you do have to tweak mixing, then be sure that each value is at 0%.
If you have a vertical tail rotor (such as on coaxial helicopters), first increase the throttle to about 15% of full. Then slowly push on the forward stick until the tail propeller begins to spin. If the main rotors or the tail rotor does not spin when you are this far away then you have a range problem; see the fix below to correct this.
If you have a swashplate or 4+ channel heli, with the main motor(s) off push on forwards, backwards, left, and right cyclic each in turn, making sure the swashplate moves correctly with each command.
If you have a collective pitch heli and this is your first range check since getting the heli or after doing a major repair, and your helicopter has a throttle hold / cut function programmed or programmable to 0% throttle, you should do a collective test. Once programmed to 0% throttle, engage throttle hold and check cyclic movement. Pushing up on the throttle / collective stick should increase the angle of the blades (collective).
With a 2.4GHz radio (such as a Spektrum), place your heli 100 ft away (or as far as possible if inside) and then enter the range check screen and follow the instructions in the manual to range check your heli (usually by pulling a switch, such as the trainer switch on Spektrum Radios). Like above, push cyclic in all directions, making sure the heli responds correctly. In addition, collective pitch heli owners performing a first time range check since getting the heli or performing a major repair should do a collective test.
The Fix:
A range problem is likely caused by bad controller batteries. Either recharge your controller batteries or get new ones. It is possible that a range check is caused by a defect with your controller, but either way do not fly until the range check is passed. From personal experience I know it is never wise to fly an rc heli with a range problem.
If the swashplate does not tilt in the correct direction, then you have a different problem. For example, if you push on the forward control and the swashplate tips backwards or tips diagonally forward. This is cause by an incorrect servo reverse and / or some sort of mixing (computerized radios only) on your controller. Do not fly until you have adjusted your reverses / mixing to make the helicopter respond correctly. IMPORTANT: Try to get the swashplate to respond correctly with reversing first. Mixing is complicated, avoid it if possible. If you do have to tweak mixing, then be sure that each value is at 0%.