Color Screen Remote Controller: Input, Control Mixing, and Output

To support various types of radio transmitters, EdgeTX uses a universal control data stream that can be applied to any radio transmitter. In this data stream, any physical control on the radio (sticks, switches, sliders, knobs) can be mapped to an input in the software.

These inputs can be directly assigned or combined with other inputs to form a single mix. These mixes can be modified by applying weights, offsets, and curves, then assigned to a channel for output. Before the control data is finally sent to the RF module, the control data undergoes final adjustments (including sub-trims, curves, endpoints, and center values).

The diagram below shows a visual summary of this control data flow. Detailed information about the data flow is provided in the following sections: Input, Mixing, and Output.

Input

The Input screen in the model settings is where physical RC transmitter controls (such as: sticks, sliders, and potentiometers) are mapped to software inputs used by the radio. After controls are mapped, modifiers can be applied to the input, such as weight, offset, or curve, which will be applied wherever that input is used.

Although switches can also be assigned as inputs, it is usually not necessary because switch outputs rarely need modification through weight, offset, or curve. By default, EdgeTX automatically maps the transmitter sticks to aileron, elevator, throttle, and rudder according to the default channel order defined in Radio Settings.

After selecting an input, the input configuration page for that input will open. Selecting an existing input will provide you with the following options:

• Edit - Opens the input configuration page for that input line.
• Insert Before - Inserts a new input line before the selected input.
• Insert After - Inserts a new input line after the selected input.
• Copy - Copies the selected input line.
• Move - Selects the input line to move. Inputs are moved by using one of the paste commands after selecting the new line (i.e., cut and paste).
• Delete - Deletes the selected input line.

1.1 Input Configuration Page

The input configuration page allows you to edit input configuration parameters. To the right of the configuration parameters, you can see a real-time graph showing how your configuration options will affect the input's slope.

• Input Name - The name of the input. Up to four characters can be used.
• Switch - The switch that activates the input line. If no switch is defined, it is always active.
• Side - Specifies the input range for which this line is effective. If --- is selected, it is effective over the entire range of the source value. If x>0 is selected, it is effective in the upper half of the source value. If x<0 is selected, it is effective in the lower half of the source value.
• Curve Name - The name of an individual line within an input. By adding additional input lines under an input, multiple physical inputs can be mapped to a single input.

Example of multiple input lines under one input:

• Input Source - The physical control used for the input. Besides physical controls, you can also specify MAX (always returns 100), MIN (always returns -100), Cycle, Trim Switch, Channel Value, etc. After selecting a source, moving the physical control will automatically map it to that input.

• Scale - The percentage of the stick travel used (commonly referred to as "rate").

• Offset - The value added to or subtracted from the input source.

• Trim - Specifies whether to include trim values in this input. Additionally, you can choose different trims to use for this input.

• Curve - Specifies the curve type to be used. The following are curve options:

  • Differential - Only multiplies the range above or below the center (0) by the specified percentage.
  • Exponential - The input value changes exponentially. Increasing the percentage will produce a gentle slope near the center (0). Decreasing the percentage will produce a steep slope near the center (0). When the percentage is 0, the slope is linear.
  • Function - Functions as follows

• Custom - Assign a custom-defined curve.
• Flight Mode - Specifies in which flight modes this input is active.

Mixing

The Mixing screen in the model settings is where multiple inputs are combined into a "channel mix". These mixes are then assigned to a radio channel for output. This is also where switches, knobs, or sliders are assigned to channels for output. Similar to the Input section, weights, offsets, or curves can also be assigned to channel mixes.

Selecting an existing mix will provide the following options:

• Edit - Opens the mix configuration page for that mix line.
• Insert Before - Inserts a new mix line before the selected mix.
• Insert After - Inserts a new mix line after the selected mix.
• Copy - Copies the selected mix line.
• Move - Selects the mix line to move; mixes are moved by using one of the paste commands after selecting the new line (i.e., cut and paste).
• Delete - Deletes the selected mix line.

Show Mix Monitor - Selecting this option will display a bar graph on the mix channel showing the current value of that mix channel.

The upper right portion of the mix configuration page contains the channel monitor for the selected mix line. It displays the output (top) and mix (bottom) values. The following configuration options are also provided:

• Name - The name of the mix (optional). Up to 6 characters are allowed.
• Input Source - The source of the mix. Besides inputs, you can also select sticks, potentiometers, sliders, trims, physical and logical switches, helicopter mix outputs, trainer imported channel values, and other channels.
• Scale - The percentage of the source value used.
• Offset - The value added to or subtracted from the source.
• Trim - Specifies whether to include trim values in this mix. To include trim values, the trim field for the relevant input must also be enabled on the Input screen.
• Curve - Specifies the curve type to be used. For detailed descriptions of different curve types, see the Curve section on the Input page.
• Mode - Specifies in which flight modes this mix is activated.
• Switch - The physical switch that activates this mix line (optional). If no switch is selected, the mix will be active by default.

• Warning - When selected, the transmitter will beep when this mix is activated. You can choose Off (0) or Beep modes 1, 2, 3.
• Up Delay - Creates a time delay in seconds between the source value increasing and the output.
• Down Delay - Creates a time delay in seconds between the source value decreasing and the output.
• Up Slow - Adjusts the transition speed of the source value increasing. Specifies the transition time from -100% to +100% (in seconds). You can specify a range from 0.00 seconds to 25.00 seconds.
• Down Slow - Adjusts the transition speed of the source value decreasing. Specifies the transition time from -100% to +100% (in seconds). You can specify a range from 0.0 seconds to 25.0 seconds.

III. Output

The Output screen in Model Settings is where control data is finally adjusted (including sub-trims, curves, endpoints, and center values), then the control data is sent to the RF module. Here you set channel centers, limits (to prevent servo binding), and output direction.

Selecting an output row will give you the following options:

• Edit - opens the output configuration screen.
• Reset - resets the sub-trim value to zero. Trim values remain unchanged.
• Save current stick position as center point - adds the current stick deflection value as a sub-trim value.
• Save current trim button value to center point - adds the current trim value to the sub-trim value. Trim values remain unchanged.

Important

Trim is a temporary adjustment to flight control usually made during operation via trim switches. Sub-trim (center point) is a semi-permanent adjustment to flight control typically configured when setting up the model in output settings.

Clicking Edit, the output configuration screen has the following configuration options:

• Name - name of the output, up to 6 characters.

• Center point - sub-trim value (max 100). Can also be set as a global variable by pressing the 'GV' button, then selecting the desired global variable from the dropdown menu.

• Minimum value - minimum output limit. Typically used to prevent servo binding in models with servo-controlled surfaces.

• Maximum value - maximum output limit. Typically used to prevent servo binding in models with servo-controlled surfaces.

• Reverse - select this option if you want to reverse the output value.

• Curve - specify the custom curve you want to use for this output (if any).

• PPM Center - specify the pulse width value for the output channel center value (between 1000 - 2000). Changing this value will move the entire output range, including the upper and lower limits.

• Trim mode - defines how the sub-trim value affects the minimum/maximum output values. There are two options:

  • Center only - only the center value moves, upper and lower limits remain unchanged. The stick response is different between the upper and lower halves of the center point.
  • Symmetrical - the upper and lower limits will move according to the center value movement. The stick response is the same on both sides of the center point.

——This article is cited from the EdgeTX User Manual: https://zkl2333.gitbook.io/edgetx-user-manual/color-radios/model-settings/inputs-mixes-and-outputs/outputs**