FPV Freerider

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Getting your controller connected Sticky

A topic by FPV Freerider created Apr 05, 2016 Views: 171,668 Replies: 317

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FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago (30 edits) (+5)(-4)

There are many types of controllers/dongles/cables that can be used with FPV Freerider.

Most modern RC radios can simply be connected via USB. Make sure you choose Joystick emulation / USB HID as connection method (not mass storage).

Controllers that have been succesfully used include FrSKY Taranis, Spektrum, Devo, Turnigy, Flysky, Jumper, Radiomaster, Eachine, Detrum, Graupner and Futaba RC radios, Realflight and Esky USB Controllers, Xbox, Playstation and Logitech gamepads.

There are some general advice in the user manual:

FPV Freerider user manual

The FrSky Taranis and similar radios generally works connected directly via USB.

(In older versions of FPV Freerider you needed to edit the endpoints on your Frsky radio to get it calibrated correctly on Windows. In the newer versions this is no longer be necessary, in fact it is better to simply use a default model setup on your radio).

Older Spektrum radios generally works best connected via a standard 3.5mm mono audio cable. See this document for more info:

Spektrum tips

(The tips in that document can also be useful for other similar radios connected via audio cable)

The Devo 7E/Devo 10 and other radios running DeviationTX seems to most often work fine with the stock .ini file on MacOS and Android. Select "USBHID" as protocol in the model setup. You may need to select "Re-Init" once connected via USB.

On Windows you may need to set up the endpoints. Here is a custom model ini file that you can try:

Devo model file

Here are some tutorial videos that may be of help:

(Note that some of these videos might be obsolete since the input system of Freerider has been updated. You might find more up-to-date information by searching on Youtube).

Taranis (MacOS)

Taranis (MacOS) (german)

Most transmitters (Smartpropoplus) (Windows)

Jumper T16 (Windows)

Jumper T8SG (Windows) (日本語)

Jumper radios (Android)

Devo 7E/Devo 10 and similar directly via USB (Deviation) (Windows)

Devo 7E/Devo 10 and similar directly via USB (Deviation) (MacOS)

Devo 7E/Devo 10 and similar directly via USB (Deviation) (Android)

Devo 7 and most other transmitters (Smartpropolus) (Windows)

Spektrum and other transmitters (Smartpropolus) (Windows)

Flysky (MacOS)

Turnigy i10 (Windows)

Turnigy 9X (Windows)

Gavin 6A using Detrum simulator dongle (Windows)

Any radio, connected through your quadcopter (Windows)

Taranis Q X7 (Android)

Radiolink T8S (Android)

(This is just a small collection of videos, there are many more tutorials that can be found).

Known incompatible devices:

The HobbyKing 6ch flight simulator USB controller is known to not work with the sim.

The Phoenix proprietary dongle only works with Phoenix.

falerte9 years ago(+1)

I was using my futaba and it was working on the first freerider version. Since I installed the freerider recharged version, my controller doesnt work anymore on both version. What is going on and what should I do to fix it ? Thanks

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago (2 edits) (-1)

Have you tried recalibrating? (That is, to go through the Calibrate Controller procedure found in the main menu).

empbac9 years ago

Same with my Taranis X9D. I've gone through the calibration procedure in the new Recharged version about 10 times and I can't get it to complete successfully. Sometimes one stick or the other swings the circle on the screen way past the edges of its box to either side and the other axis on that stick doesn't register at all. Sometimes it seems to work okay and right at the end the pitch overwrites the input for the roll and it says "DONE!" But there's an axis missing every time. The whole procedure seems buggy.

Thanks for your work on the new version. The graphics look great... but I can't do much with them without my roll axis. :)

falerte9 years ago

Same here !

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

If the automatic stick detection selects the wrong channel, you can try clicking on the circle that you see is the right one. (That is, one of the little circles on the calibration screen).

Recharged uses the exact same calibration procedure as the original version btw, so it's strange indeed...

empbac9 years ago

"If the automatic stick detection selects the wrong channel, you can try clicking on the circle that you see is the right one. (That is, one of the little circles on the calibration screen)."

I've been trying this and I still can't get it to work, I'm also doing this on the new version you just put out.

Yaw and throttle works fine. The next circle is roll, and the arrow shows the right stick to the left, as it should. However, my pitch channel moves this third circle, not my roll. Still wouldn't be a big deal here as I could always swap my roll and pitch channels on the Taranis. If I move my pitch up and hit OK it is saved as roll and the roll turns green; finally, when it asks for pitch (4th position), my roll channel acts like a two-position switch, when I move it left it activates the 4th circle to the top, but there is no in-between range. I press OK when it's in the high (bright white) position and the circle does not update -- it's still a gray circle, yet the wizard moves on, and he channel is not recognized in the final test screen.

After I switched pitch with roll in the Taranis I noticed that the third circle showed properly, but also acted like a 2-position switch. And when it was in the high position (bight white circle) I pressed OK and nothing happened and the wizard moved on. Then the same happened with pitch -- it acted like a 2-position switch, and after I finished the calibration both axes were inactive.

It seems that for some reason some channels are being read as a two-position switch, or something has changed in the way we're supposed to configure the transmitter. This happens consistently on the roll channel.

This all worked with legacy Freerider... I don't know what's causing it, but I've done my best to explain the issue I'm seeing.

empbac9 years ago

And if I click on a circle directly it seems to work unless it's the third or fourth, in which case it skips to the next screen in the wizard without allowing me to set an input.

SewageJoe9 years ago

Hey Guys,

Similar Problem here with getting my Taranis X9D to calibrate. Worked flawlessly before but now my throttle control seems to be bugging out. It will only detect inputs on the upper and lower end of the throttle, basically either full throttle or no throttle. In calibration, I'm not able to center the throttle stick, all other inputs calibrate just fine. For whats it worth, the level inputs on the Taranis display fine in Channel Monitor with 0 to 100 for throttle, and 50 as the mid point for all other channels. I'm using the same profile that worked not 2 months ago in Legacy Freerider. Not sure if its something on my end with the Taranius, but any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

empbac9 years ago

I'll let you TeamViewer in if you want to see what I'm talking about.

falerte9 years ago

Yes I did it severa time.. Can have my throttle working.. Its like its doesnt recognize yaw and throttle separately. Roll and pitch work fine tho.

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago(-1)

If the automatic stick detection selects the wrong channel, you can try clicking on the circle that you see is the right one. (That is, one of the little circles on the calibration screen).

Strief8 years ago (1 edit)

having this same issue - latest osx build - calibration is just awful. seems to assign the yaw incorrectly and so some sticks work, others don't. my current models worked perfectly. seems to be an issue just on OSX

Edit: Clicking the circles is the only way to get this working on a new macbook. Was using a model that previously worked connecting to a windows install.

Note: one issue I am still having is that FPV freerider takes a moment to detect the sticks are centered instead having them all at min range. So you can get it working in calbration by just wiggling the sticks - they will center out. You must do this during calibration and before each takeoff in the sim.

FLAWLESSKRUSH9 years ago

Please help. I got my XBOX One controller connected and I can play the game, but all my controls are inverse! I go through the custom calibration and everything, but still reveresed. Is there not a way to change this in the game somewhow? It's killing me being this close to playing properly

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

Try to simply pull the stick in the other direction than what you are supposed to. That should reverse it.

FLAWLESSKRUSH9 years ago

Unfortunately that doesnt solve the issue. I just tried that. ITs only inverse on the left right stick movements, not up/down which is odd

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

So if you pull the stick in the opposite direction to what is shown when calibrating left/right,

and in the correct direction as shown when calibrating up/down, does that work?

FLAWLESSKRUSH9 years ago

I get the logic behind it, but it doesnt matter what I do, I cant get all to be in the correct direction. I have calibrated the same way several times in a row, and each time get a different result. Like it doesnt make sense. example: left stick says up, I push up; right stick says up, I push up. Then afterwards one stick goes up, and the other goes down. Then another calibration cycle they both go up, or sometimes they go down. It's real odd and I dont think it's user error. Should I re install?

FLAWLESSKRUSH9 years ago

nevermind, I figured it out lol thanks, works great and bought the full version. Now just need to try and get my Radiolink to work, I think it will be better than my XBOX One controller. Good practice tho

petivel8 years ago

my xbox usb 360 controller works fine

FLAWLESSKRUSH9 years ago

I also have a Radiolink AT9, got the proper drivers for Windows 10, but doesn't seem to be working at all in Freerunner, any advice on how to get that setup as I would rather use my AT9 than an XBOX controller...Thanks

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

Most people generally have success using a 22-in-1 universal flight simulator dongle or similar. Don't know if it works with the Radiolink AT9 though. If it has a standard 3.5mm trainer port you could try to use that one as described in the manual.

Atonimo9 years ago

can someone help me get my ps3 controller to work? thanks

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

Are you able to move some of the circles on the calibration screen up and down using the analog sticks?

Atonimo9 years ago(+1)

No I get nothing.I downloaded the other files that were suggested on other sites to get the ps3 controller to work but I don't know anything about computers so I don't know what to do next.I'm using a PC with Windows 10 if that helps.I also have a radiolink at9 is there a cord that I can use to make that work? Thanks

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago(+1)

If you installed Smartpropolus and/or vJoy you could try uninstalling that, it might cause a conflict. Also, make sure you don't have any other joysticks/controllers connected, that might cause a conflict.

As for the AT9 - most people generally have success using a 22-in-1 universal flight simulator dongle or similar when connecting the radios. Don't know if it works with the Radiolink AT9 though. If it has a standard 3.5mm trainer port you could try to use that one as described in the manual

papaiatis9 years ago

Hi! I would like to suggest to extend the Controller Calibration process by not only asking for moving each stick to one end but to both ends. That case the software could detect the entire working interval of each stick and automatically set Trim and Scale. I always having a hard time calibrating both my controller and FPV freerider to work good together.

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago (1 edit)

Yes, I will keep that in mind and possibly change the calibration in some future update.

It's very hard though since every single controller/transmitter/radio gives different output, along with all the different dongles/cables etc. and operating system that there is. So often it is unavoidable to do some manual setting up on the radio itself anyway.

Atonimo9 years ago

thanks but it does not detect any movement at all on the calibration.any cheap easy to use controllers that someone can suggest? Thanks

stacemanfpv9 years ago

So I have a Devo 7 (uses the 3.5mm audio plug), and I have a Mac. What do I need to get this connected? I'm sure I need some sort of 3.5mm audio plug to USB conversion, but not sure which one. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

Generally most people have luck using a "22-in-1" universal flight simulator USB dongle.

You can have a look at this for some hints and tips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIoECPKLJ-4

blacklion799 years ago

I have some old 4 channel controller connected via (again, old) ATMega64-based USB "dongle" (really, it is embedded into controller case, so not exactly dongle). It shows at Windows as standard joystick (without any 3rd party drivers), but with unusual channel mapping (I don't know why): Throttle (left hand, vertical) is "X Axis", Yaw (left hand, horizontal) is "Rudder", Pitch (right hand, vertical) is "Y Axis" and Roll (right hand, horizontal) is "Throttle" according to windows standard "Game controller properties / Test".

I'm trying Demo and it doesn't see any channels but "Throttle" (left hand, vertical) which it maps to "Yaw" and show complete garbage, even draw circle out of big square (it can not be trimmed right). So, my controller is unusable :(

Basically it is dumb old full-analog FM controller, it doesn't have any mixers, channel maps or any other settings you could find in modern digital controllers.

Could it be used with FPV Freerider with some software channel remapping? I'm using it successfully with Aerofly Deluxe fixed wing / heli simulator.

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

You could try vJoy but I don't know if it will help at all.

http://vjoystick.sourceforge.net/site/

wannabefpv9 years ago

First off, FreeRider is awesome! I have it on my tablet and have installed it on my windows 10. I can not get either of my controllers to work with the game, I have a devo-10 and a sprektrum dx6. I have tried using the usb and audio cable, I have downloaded smartpropoplus and it won't recognize either controller. I have also taken it to a computer repair shop and they couldn't get anywhere with it either.

At this point I would be happy to buy a cheap usb flight simulator controller if you can recommend one that you would know would work with windows 10 and freerider.

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago (2 edits)

Thanks!

If you have Deviation installed on the Devo 10 you should be able to just connect it straight via USB, using the model file that is mentioned in the manual. (You might have to uninstall smartproplus for that to work)

The Spektrum should work with a mono audio cable and smartproplus. There are some videos and documents in the first post which might be of help.

I know several people including myself have successfully used a cheap old 4 channel Esky usb controller such as this

but I don't know if you can still get one of those. (The 6 channel HobbyKing variant is known to -not- work with Freerider).

MrScotte8 years ago

I just purchased the RC TECH DYNAM 6 Channel USB. Freerider callibration does not see it. Any suiggestions on how to get it to work? It does work with RDS PreAlpha but not real smooth (I think it's the sim and not the controller. FreeRider received so many good reviews I was hoping it would work so I went ahead and purchased it. Now I've got nothing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321894835341?_trksid=p2057...

HELP!

MrScotte

Campbell259 years ago

I too have a Devo10 and had issues getting it to work initially.

Use the model file that is included in the instructions above.
Your model freq will be USBHID.
This should get the computer to acknowledge your xmitter and let you get it set up.

One thing I did notice though was a hinky connection. Windows would continually tell me "USB Device Not Recognized" (Or malfunctioned) ... Once I got Windows straightened out, all went better.

Rzar9 years ago

I have a DX6. Did you ever get it to work?

ElectriSean9 years ago

I'm having problems getting either of my controllers working with SmartPropoPlus/vjoy. Both appear to be working properly in Smartpropoplus, but in FPV Freerider the throttle and roll channels are ignored on the Spektrum DX9, and the roll and pitch channels are ignored on the Tactic TTX610. Anything I can try?

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

You can keep an eye on the little circles on the calibration screen. If you are able to move four of the circles individually with the sticks you should be fine. If the automatic stick detection selects the wrong circle, you can click on the one that you see is the correct one (instead of clicking "ok").

If you are not able to move four of the circles individually you might try to remap the channels to another output in the menu of the radio itself.

ElectriSean9 years ago

Re-mapping the channels worked perfectly, thanks :)

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

I'm glad to hear that!

FPVDUBE9 years ago

Hi there,

I just got the Orange DRX transmitter from hobbyking with the simulator dongle package, and cannot get it to work/recognize it for free rider. I am running the latest Mac OSX as well. Just wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to use this with fpv freerider and if not, other simulators that would work!???

cheers

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

You might find some useful info among the Spektrum hints and tips posted in this thread.

You could also try and email HobbyKing and see if they have some ideas.

kowabunga7 years ago

Did you manage to get this working? have the same issue.

Andymid9 years ago (1 edit)

FYI, with a Turnigy 9X on Mac with Wireless 9 in1 Simulator Adapter (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__52145__...) works fine set up like this:

1) USB to SIM box does NOT requiere (or work with) a Rx - just connect red SIM box via USB to computer the only way possible

2) set SIM box switch to "Wire", and connect audio cable from SIM box to Tx - REMOVE Tx module from Tx (or place some paper behind it and tape in place!)

3) I've found 3 of the 4 program switch positions work, with various levels of additional channels also working depending on the switch & the program your using (crrcsim, heli-x, fpv freerider) you can get between 4 and 6 channels working (remember to set up in the Tx first!!).

Excellent SIM, my only problem is GPU (and therefore battery) use - even on worst res, temp and fan speed shoot up to max on start up, whilst Crrcsim (admittedly a more basic sim) does nothing at all to temp and battery life - I'd be prepared to sacrifice some (a lot?) GPU power to be able to use the laptop more than 1 hour with FPV Freerider! With Crrcsim it's like I'm not even using a SIM, GPU is almost unused, lasts almost 7 hours instead of 1!!.

Cheers!

Andy

:-)

PD WTF! After downloading the full version, I tried the SIM on best GPU, and the heat has gone? Not sure yet if more problem of the Demo, but the machine no longer heats up so much ;-)

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

Thanks for sharing the information!

Glad to hear that you didn't have the heat issue when going over to the full version, hope it keeps working that way!

midelic9 years ago

I use FPV freerider with my own USB wireless dongle .It is working very nice.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2117239

wei482219 years ago (1 edit)

Hi,

I've modified an open source project called Unojoy to interface my DEVO 7E and RX601 with my computer via an Arduino Uno board so I could play FPV Freerider using my DEVO 7E and RX601 and I've posted a how-to guide together with the source code and other references on my blog at http://wei48221.blogspot.tw/2016/06/interfacing-rc...

I believe this will work for any kind of controller + receiver as long as the receiver is using PWM signal to control the servo motor. So, you may want to give it a try if you are stuck..

If you have any comments / questions, please feel free to leave them on my blog. I would love to hear from you.

W.H.

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

Awesome, thanks for sharing the info!

Rzar9 years ago

THRO = forward 100, AILE = left 100, ELEV = 100 up (or forward, I suppose), RUDD = left 100. These will get a Spektrum

DX6I user most of the way there. You can get the rest of the way there with the DX6I basic trims (below and to the side

of each stick). I did give TRAVEL ADJ - ELEV forward 125% and back 50%.

Where do I find the above settings. ^^^^^^^^^^

Complete newb here.

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago (1 edit)

Don't own a spektrum radio myself but you should be able to find those settings in the manual:

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/749598/Spetrum-Dx...

KC3FPV9 years ago

FPVFreerider worked fine with my RealFlight controller under the previous version of OSX. Upgraded to El Capitan and then upgraded FPVFreerider to the Recharged version. Now the controller is not being recognized by FPVFreerider. The controller is being seen by the OS fine (InterLink Elite: Product ID: 0x0e56 Vendor ID: 0x1781 Version: 61.00 Manufacturer: GREAT PLANES Location ID: 0x00300000). I'm missing not being able to use the sim.

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

Sorry to hear that it doesn't work after your OSX update. Hopefully some Mac user will be able to help (I'm not one myself)

KC3FPV9 years ago(+1)

The Mac sees it fine. FPVFreerider no longer is seeing it.

YXE9 years ago

Turnigy 9xr Pro Setup on Mac el Capitan - Because it didn't exist completely anywhere else, and I am sure I will forget and need this again.

Frimware = ersky9x-pr219

Radio Setup -> Trainer 0 -> Source -> Jack, Trainer 1 -> Source -> Jack

Model -> Mixer -

CH1 -> Src - Thr - 100
CH2 -> Src - Ail - 100
CH3 -> Src - Ele - 100
Ch4 -> Src - Rud - 100

Protocol - PPM2 = On, Follow = 8CH

Module - On

Proto = PPM = 8CH = 300 uSec, PPM FrLen = 22.5Sec, Drive = OpenDrain, 1st Chan =1, Polarity = Neg

General - Trainer = 1

On my USB dongle it is set to G5-G7 as the others never gave me all the channels or worked properly.

Good luck and have fun, I love this program and it has helped b=me so much I cant even describe it. From noobie to pubie :)

FPV FreeriderDeveloper9 years ago

Thanks for posting the info, I'm sure that will be of help to some people!

YXE9 years ago

one last comment to my previous post. It was working flaky with the above settings and after more troubleshooting I found that with the module out of the back of the tx I needed to start everything up connected and then turn my tx on and then off and then the blue light started flashing and all works every time.

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Getting your controller connected Sticky