Model Boat Mayhem
Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Radio Equipment => Topic started by: Chameo on August 03, 2012, 12:21:39 pm
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I just saw the FlySky GT3B (and GT3C) in stock at GiantShark, so I decided to tell a little more about it's conversion from a 3 channel into an 8 channel transmitter. It's really easy...
What do you get?
- programmable 8 channel pistol grip tx with 63 model memory
- several mixers availabe e.g. steering with two motors
- trim switches can be used for proportional servo movements
- keymapping specific for each model
- subtrims, settable servo speed, timers, dead zone for steering and throttle
- and much more...
What do you need?
- the FlySky GT3B (or GT3C) -> £32 (or £40) http://www.giantshark.co.uk
- a FlySky FS-R8B 8 channel receiver -> £9 http://www.giantshark.co.uk
- the STM8s discovery evaluation board -> £7 http://uk.farnell.com
- some cable, 4-pin headers and plugs -> £1 http://uk.farnell.com
- the STM programmer software for windows (sttoolset.exe) -> £0 http://www.st.com
- the alternative firmware -> £0 http://github.com/semerad/gt3b
- a soldering iron and some solder
First you have to open the transmitter and solder in the connection for the programmer. There are 4 holes in a row near the bind button for this connector. I've used a 90° offset 4-pin header and made a slot-shaped hole in the transmitter housing to connect a cable from outside. Others used a 4 wire cable and installed it through the grip into the battery compartment. That are all hardware changes needed!
Now it's time to prepare the programmer. The upper part with the USB port is the programmer, the lower part is the evaluation board (we don't need). Remove the solder from the solder bridges SB1 and SB2 on the programmer board to disconnect it from the evalution board. That's it!
Solder a 4 wire programming cable. The pinning is the same on both ends.
Now install the ST toolset software and connect the programmer to your pc. Start ST Visual Pogrammer and configure it as seen on page 8 as described in the PDF linked below. Connect your tx to the programmer in the way that the wire next to the bind button on the tx connects to the pin above the SB1 solder bridge on the programmer.
Download "gt3b-0.6.1.s19" and "MANUAL-0.6.1.txt" from the "Releases" Folder on http://github.com/semerad/gt3b (click on the file name and choose "save target as.." on the "Raw" button). Follow the programming instructions in the manual file.
For detailed intructions with pictures have a look at http://www.overkillrc.com/GT3B/GT3B%20Hack%20Kit%20Install%20Instructions,%20Draft%202.1.pdf
Although most modelers consider their tx as a holy cow, I hope there's someone out there who will like this post. ;)
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Very interesting.
Do you have any pictures please ?
ken
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There are a lot of pictures in the PDF from the last link. :-))
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:-)) :-)) :-)) O0 O0 O0
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Yes indeed, very interesting.
Thank you for that. :-))
ken