Help! Buddy boxing Spectrum to RadioMaster TX16 ELRS

[mattsledge]

Can and/or how to buddy box Spectrum (trainer) to RadioMaster TX16 ELRS (student)?
Bought the Radiomaster before finding out the local club uses mostly Spectrum. oops o well.

 

[Foamforce]

There are three ways.

1. If you have both a 4in1 module and an ELRS module, and if you’re flying with the ELRS module, then the 4in1 can be set up as a Buddy box rx. You bind your spectrum to that. It’s really slick.

2. You can get a Spectrum receiver that has SBUS output and plug it into the aux 1 jack in the bottom of the tx16. However you will also need to add an SBUS inverter because the TX16 needs an inverted (uninverted?) signal. The inverter is really cheap but requires soldering a few wires.

3. Use a wire. I think it’s a common mono jack. This is the only method I haven’t tried with the TX16 because a wire is a real hindrance when Buddy boxing. The TX16S mark 1 used some unusual style of cable, I think it was a 4 conductor 1/8” jack, but I think the Mark 2 uses the normal style.

With any of these connection methods, there are a few settings needed in EdgeTX to enable it.

 

[mattsledge]

Thank You

 

[HVB79]

While it is possible I don't think it would be worth the extra effort to use the TX16 as a buddy box. Using a nice radio as the buddy box does not give you anything extra. Many clubs will have an extra Spektrum DXS that you could just borrow while flying with the instructor. Use the cheep Spektrum while buddy boxing and once you have the basics down use the ELRS radio on your own model.

 

[Foamforce]

While it is possible I don't think it would be worth the extra effort to use the TX16 as a buddy box. Using a nice radio as the buddy box does not give you anything extra. Many clubs will have an extra Spektrum DXS that you could just borrow while flying with the instructor. Use the cheep Spektrum while buddy boxing and once you have the basics down use the ELRS radio on your own model.

Oh, I misread the original message where he said he wanted the TX16s as the student radio. I think he actually wants the TX16s as the master radio though, because that’s what will be bound to his own plane. That is, unless he’s flying a club trainer, in which case that will be bound to a club radio. It looks like you can do that way even easier.

 

[LitterBug]

Oh, I misread the original message where he said he wanted the TX16s as the student radio. I think he actually wants the TX16s as the master radio though, because that’s what will be bound to his own plane. That is, unless he’s flying a club trainer, in which case that will be bound to a club radio. It looks like you can do that way even easier.

Except his RadioMaster is ELRS, not Multi-protocol..... He will need an external module that is DSM compatible.

 

[Foamforce]

Except his RadioMaster is ELRS, not Multi-protocol..... He will need an external module that is DSM compatible.

Oh, I missed that too. I‘d definitely recommend getting that 4in1 module @mattsledge. It makes buddy boxing with your TX16s as the master trivially easy (assuming that you’re flying with the ELRS internal module). It also lets you fly almost any other plane with your TX16s, even including cheap Chinese ones.

 

[mattsledge]

Thank you, I have purchased a 4in1 module, we should have everything needed. In the YouTube is the Radiomaster set as student? If so that IS what I want to happen. I that doesn't work the I will see if I can borrow a Spectrum from a club member till I get my wings. Thanks again.

 

[Foamforce]

Thank you, I have purchased a 4in1 module, we should have everything needed. In the YouTube is the Radiomaster set as student? If so that IS what I want to happen. I that doesn't work the I will see if I can borrow a Spectrum from a club member till I get my wings. Thanks again.

Ok cool. So just to double check, you’re planning to fly somebody else’s plane as the student, and that other plane is bound to the Spectrum radio? Then yes, that video is what’s you want. The only difference I can see is that you will be using the external module instead of the internal. At 3:16 in the video, at the bottom of the screen you can see that the left button is internal. You’ll go into that screen and turn it off. Then go into the external screen and turn that on.

Good luck!

 

[mattsledge]

Ok cool. So just to double check, you’re planning to fly somebody else’s plane as the student, and that other plane is bound to the Spectrum radio? Then yes, that video is what’s you want. The only difference I can see is that you will be using the external module instead of the internal. At 3:16 in the video, at the bottom of the screen you can see that the left button is internal. You’ll go into that screen and turn it off. Then go into the external screen and turn that on.

Good luck!

I am planning to fly my plane with the RadioMaster as the student. The instructor will have the Spectrum. Will my plane be bound to my radio ERLS and the Spectrum bound to my radio via the 4in1modual or will the instructors Spectrum be bound to my plane via DSM and my RadioMaster be bound to the Spectrum via the 4in1modual?

 

[HVB79]

... instructors Spectrum be bound to my plane via DSM and my RadioMaster be bound to the Spectrum via the 4in1modual?

This is correct assuming you have a DSM receiver in the plane. The plane must be equipped with a receiver that the instructors radio can connect to. A Spektrum radio can't talk to an ERLS receiver.

The Instructor transmitter is always the radio bound to the plane.
The Student transmitter is always bound to the Instructors transmitter.

 

[Foamforce]

I am planning to fly my plane with the RadioMaster as the student. The instructor will have the Spectrum. Will my plane be bound to my radio ERLS and the Spectrum bound to my radio via the 4in1modual or will the instructors Spectrum be bound to my plane via DSM and my RadioMaster be bound to the Spectrum via the 4in1modual?

What you need to do is to bind your RadioMaster to the plane using ELRS. That means you need an ELRS receiver in the plane, which I expect is what you originally wanted to do since you have the ELRS transmitter. Then you also need the 4in1 module in your radio. Your radio must be set up as the master radio. The radio bound to the airplane is always master. That just means that you’ll have to hand off your radio to your instructor and you’ll use their Spectrum. The instructor will bind their radio to your 4in1 receiver.

If you want the instructors Spectrum radio bound to the plane, then your plane will need to have a DSMX/Spectrum receiver in it and you will bind your radio to their radio, also using the 4in1 module. This would be a bit odd though, since you wouldn’t want to bind other peoples radios to your plane because you would have to go through all the setup for your plane on that persons radio.