GENERAL LINK-Module 2.4GHz Operating Instructions NE480133
The GENERAL LINK SYSTEM GENERAL LINK is a Plug-and-Play module that may be used with your FUTABA radio control system to control models from the Nine Eagles range. It is available as an individual set or with selected models from the Nine Eagles intermediate and expert ranges of models. This module is also compatible with transmitters made by Spektrum, Hitec, Walkera and JR. The GENERAL LINK module can also be used in conjunction with older 35 or 40 MHz transmitters to create a 2.4 GHz system. The module can be used for all Nine Eagles models which are equipped with a J4 (not FTR version), J5 or J6 type radio control system. Important information Observe the instructions provided by the battery manufacturer. Overcharged or incorrectly charged batteries may explode. Take care to maintain correct polarity. Protect the equipment from dust, dirt and moisture. Do not subject the system to excessive heat, cold or vibration. Use the recommended charger only, and charge the batteries only for the prescribed period. Check your equipment for damage at regular intervals, and replace defective components with genuine spare parts. Do not re-use any devices which have been damaged in a crash or by water, even when they have dried out again! Either send the equipment to the robbe Service Department for checking, or replace the parts in question. Crash or water damage can result in concealed defects which may lead to failure in subsequent use. Use only those components and accessories which we specifically recommend. Do not carry out modifications to the radio control system components apart from those described in the instructions. Contents Page Contents 2 Important information 2 Safety Notes regarding LiPo batteries 3 Set contents / Specification 4 1.0. Module functions and controls 5 2.0 Initial Setup 6, 7, 8 Liability Exclusion robbe Modellsport is unable to ensure that you observe the assembly and operating instructions, or the conditions and methods used for installing, operating and maintaining the model components. For this reason we accept no liability for loss, damage or costs which are due to the erroneous use and operation of our products, or are connected with such operation in any way. Regardless of the legal argument employed, our obligation to pay compensation is limited to the invoice value of those robbe products directly involved in the event in which the damage occurred, unless otherwise prescribed by law. This does not apply if the company is deemed to have unlimited liability according to statutory regulation due to deliberate or gross negligence. 2
Safety Notes regarding LiPo batteries: Only use the supplied charger in the set to charge the Lipo battery! Do not place the battery in water or any other liquid. Never heat or incinerate the pack, or place it in a microwave oven. Avoid short-circuits, and never charge the battery with reversed polarity Do not subject the battery to pressure or shock loads, and never distort or throw the pack Never solder directly to the battery Do not modify or open the battery Batteries must only be charged with a suitable charger; never connect the battery directly to a mains power supply. Never charge or discharge a battery in bright sunlight, or close to a heater or open fire. Do not use the battery in areas subject to high levels of static electricity. Any of these errors can result in damage to the battery, explosion or fire. Keep the battery out of the reach of children If electrolyte should escape, do not expose it to fire, as the material is highly inflammable and may ignite. Do not allow fluid electrolyte to come into contact with eyes. If this should happen, flush with copious amounts of water and contact a doctor without delay. The fluid electrolyte can also be removed from clothing and other objects by rinsing with copious amounts of water. LIABILITY EXCLUSION Since robbe Modellsport is not in a position to monitor the handling of these batteries, we expressly deny all liability and guarantee claims where the batteries have been incorrectly charged, discharged or handled. 3
Set contents: GENERAL LINK module Three cable sets for connecting the module to various makes of radio control system 3.7 V LiPo battery for powering the module USB charger for 3.7 V LiPo battery Caution: If the GENERAL LINK module is an integral part of a model set which includes a 3.7 V LiPo battery charger, then no separate USB charger is supplied. Summary lists with parameter settings for FUTABA and other radio control systems can be found on our website using the link http://www.robbe.de/general-link-modul- 2-4-ghz.html Module specification Operating frequency: 2400-2483 MHz Spread-Spectrum Mode: DSSS FM rate: 250 Kilobits per second Number of channels: 6 Operating voltage: 3.3 to 4.2 V Current drain: less than 150 ma Radiated transmitter power: 0.01W Operating duration: approximately 2 hours Audible warning after five minutes without operating the transmitter. (visual warning: all mode LEDs flash simultaneously!) Important Notes The GENERAL LINK module's power supply includes an automatic power-on and power-off function: if the transmitter is switched on, the module's power supply is automatically switched on when it is plugged into the transmitter. The module is also automatically switched off when the transmitter is turned off. (This only applies to cable C! If you are using cables A + B and the transmitters connected to them, plugging the cable into the transmitter automatically switches the transmitter on, which then operates in PPM mode. The transmitter and the GENERAL LINK module switch themselves off when the cable is disconnected.) If you wish to carry out protracted software adjustments on the transmitter, we recommend that you disconnect the cable between the module and the transmitter, as this also switches the module off. You will hear an audible warning if the module's operating voltage falls below 3.25 V. If this should happen, cease operations immediately and recharge / replace the battery. 4
1.0. Module Functions and Controls F A W A = Transmitter carry handle mounting B = Battery Box C D E C = Mode display D = Mode switch button E = Binding button G F = 2.4 GHz-Aerial G = PPM Signal socket 1.0 Fixing The module can either be fixed to the transmitter carry handle or to the rear of the case using hook and loop tape. See the illustration opposite. 5
2.0 Initial Setup 2.1 Connecting and charging the battery Option 1 The LiPo battery is charged using the supplied USB charge adapter. Plug the LiPo battery into the USB charge adapter. "+" and "-" are marked on the USB charge adapter and on the LiPo battery. Now connect the USB charge adapter to any vacant USB socket on your PC. During the charge process the red monitor LED glows constantly. The charge process is complete when the red monitor LED goes out. If it flashes red once when connecting, then the battery is full! Option 2 When the GENERAL LINK module is delivered with a model with 1S flight battery, the supplied charger is used. Connect the charger to the mains supply. Connect the GENERAL LINK battery to the Molex socket. The charger beeps 2 x. Using +/- buttons, adjust the charger to 0.4 A charge current and press START. The LED flashes when charging using the set charge current. When the charge process is finished, all five LEDs on the charger flash, and you will hear an audible beep. Open the battery compartment of the GENERAL LINK module. Plug the battery into the battery retainer and ensure correct polarity is maintained. Important note: Make all the following work for the initial setting up of the module with the model switched off and with the flight battery disconnected! 2.2 Connect the leads from module to transmitter The GENERAL LINK module functions with many transmitters from different manufacturers. Depending on the manufacturer, there is a choice of three supplied adapter leads to connect the module to the trainer socket of the transmitter. Lead Transmitter A (Auto-on) JR ZG8, SPEKTRUM DX8 (from DX7) B (Auto-on) FUTABA (all current transmitters with more than 6 channels) C SPEKTRUM DX6, HITEC AURORA 9, WALKERA DEVO 8S You can find a list of all suitable FUTABA transmitters at http:// www.nine-eagles.de After selecting the suitable lead, connect this between module and radio transmitter according to the following illustration. A W C 6
2.2.1 Preparing a Futaba transmitter (programming) Ensure that your transmitter is generating a PPM signal. Many transmitters require the Trainer socket to be activated in the software. 1. Select a new model memory or delete an existing one. 2. As model type select Heli without swashplate mixer (H-1). 3. Trainer menu: Select Pupil mode "ON", "8 CHANNEL PPM. Important: please read and observe the information in the operating instructions supplied with your radio control system regarding use of the transmitter as Pupil transmitter in Trainer mode. 2.3 Selecting operating mode Switch the transmitter on: the GENERAL LINK module switches to operating mode. Press the mode change button once using a pointed tool (e.g. ballpoint pen): you will hear a warning beep and the model display flashes. You can page between the various operating modes by pressing the mode change button again. Select the appropriate operating mode for your make of transmitter. F - FUTABA transmitter H - HITEC transmitter J - JR transmitter W - WALKERA transmitter S - SPEKTRUM transmitter P - Other transmitter types You can check that the correct mode is selected by disconnecting the lead from the module and plugging it in again: the selected operating mode should now be displayed. If this is not the case, repeat the procedure described above. 2.3.1 Transmitter-specific operating mode "P Switch the transmitter on: the GENERAL LINK module is ready for use. Disconnect the motor from the speed controller Press the mode change button until the LED adjacent to P flashes. Set the transmitter sticks and trims to centre. Press the Bind button: the GENERAL LINK module switches to "calibrate mode" The LED flashes at a lower rate after the Bind button is pressed Move the transmitter roll stick fully right and then fully left Move the transmitter elevator stick fully forward and then fully back Move the transmitter throttle stick fully forward and then fully back Move the transmitter tail rotor stick fully right and then fully left Set the transmitter sticks and trims to centre. Release the Bind button: the GENERAL LINK module quits "calibrate mode" The LED flashes at a high rate again after the Bind button is pressed Switch the transmitter off and then on again: the GENERAL LINK module is now ready for use. The GENERAL LINK module settings are stored when power is switched off; they do not need to be entered again. 7
2.4 Binding the module to the model Disconnect the motors from the speed controller. If this is not possible, remove the main and tail rotor blades. Insert the battery in the GENERAL LINK module and connect the signal lead to the transmitter ONLY. Switch the transmitter on, and move the THROTTLE to the minimum position. Locate the Bind button on the module, and hold it pressed in. Connect the signal lead to the module: the module now switches itself on. Release the Bind button. Bind mode is now active: all LEDs flash in sequence to indicate this. Switch on the receiver in the model. In some models (SP 287, SP 290), it is necessary on the receiver by pressing the bind button and then switched on, to enable the bind mode. The Bind process is complete when the operating light on the GENERAL LINK module goes out and the LED adjacent to the previously set letter glows constantly. Check all the model s functions, and adjust channel assignment, servo directions and travel where necessary. Connect the motors / re-install the main and tail rotor blades, and check that they work correctly - Caution: injury hazard! robbe Modellsport GmbH & Co. KG hereby declares that this device conforms to the fundamental requirements and other relevant regulations of the corresponding EC Directive. You can read the original Conformity Declaration on the Internet at www.robbe.com: click on the "Conformity Declaration" logo button which you will find next to the corresponding device description. This symbol means that you should dispose of electrical and electronic equipment separately from the household waste when it reaches the end of its useful life. Take your unwanted equipment to your local council collection point or recycling centre. This requirement applies to member countries of the European Union as well as other non-european countries with a separate waste collection system. Disposal of batteries Batteries must not be discarded as domestic refuse. To protect the environment, always return exhausted or defective cells to your local recycling centre. These include retail sales outlets for batteries, and communal toxic waste disposal centres. Cover any bare wires with insulating tape in order to avoid short-circuits. robbe Modellsport GmbH & Co.KG Metzloserstraße 38 D-36355 Grebenhain Technical hotline: +49 (0)66 44 / 87-777 hotline@robbe.com Commercial register: Gießen Regional Court HRA 2722 Partner with personal liability: robbe Modellsport Beteiligungs GmbH Gießen / HRB 5793 Managing Directors: E. Dörr Errors and technical modifications reserved. - Copyright robbe-modellsport 2013 Duplication and copying of the text, in whole or in part, is only permitted with the prior written approval of robbe-modellsport GmbH & Co. KG 8