Monochrome Remote: Input, 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, and then assigned to a channel for output.

Before the control data is finally sent to the RF module, final adjustments are made (including sub-trims, curves, endpoints, and center values).

The flowchart below provides a visual summary of this control data flow:

I. Inputs

The Inputs screen is where physical transmitter controls (such as sticks, sliders, and potentiometers) are mapped to software inputs for use by the transmitter. After controls are mapped, modifiers can be applied to the inputs, such as weights, offsets, or curves, 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 to be modified through weights, offsets, or curves.

By default, EdgeTX automatically maps the transmitter sticks to aileron, elevator, throttle, and rudder according to the default channel order defined in Radio Settings.

1.1 Input Screen

The Input screen displays an overview of your configured inputs. Each row represents an input line and shows the following information from left to right: Input Name, Weight, Active Switch, Line Name.

1. Select an existing input line and press [Enter] to toggle between Copy/Paste mode and Move mode.

2. In Copy/Paste mode, a copy of the input line is created, which can be pasted to the desired input line.

3. In Move mode, the selected input can be moved to a different line. Press the [Return] button to exit this mode.

4. Select an empty input line and press [Enter] to create a new input and open the input configuration page.

Select an existing input line and long press [Enter] to provide the following options:

• Edit - Open the input configuration page for that input line.
• Insert Before - Insert a new input line before the selected input.
• Insert After - Insert a new input line after the selected input.
• Copy - Copy the selected input line.
• Move - Select the input line to move. The input is moved after selecting a new line using one of the paste commands (i.e., cut and paste).
• Delete - Delete the selected input line.
• Paste Before - Paste a copied or moved input line before the selected input line.
• Paste After - Paste a copied or moved input line after the selected input line.

1.2 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 three characters can be used.

Line Name - The name of an individual line within the input. Multiple physical inputs can be mapped to one input by adding additional input lines under it.

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 this input.

Weight - The percentage of the stick travel that is used (commonly referred to as "rate"). Long press here to switch from a numerical value to a global variable.

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

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

• 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.
• Custom - Assign a custom-defined curve.
• Function

Mode - Specifies in which flight modes this input is active.

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.

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

II. Mixing

The Mixing screen 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 Inputs section, weights, offsets, or curves can also be assigned to channel mixes.

2.1 Mixing Page

The Mixing screen displays an overview of your configured mixes. Each row represents a mix line and shows the following information from left to right: Channel, Weight, Input, Mix Name, Switch.

1. Select an empty mix line and press [Enter] to create a new mix and open the mix configuration page.

2. Select an existing mix line and press [Enter] to toggle between Copy/Paste mode and Move mode.

3. In Copy/Paste mode, a copy of the mix line is created, which can be pasted to the desired channel or mix line.

4. In Move mode, the selected mix can be moved to a different channel. Press the [Return] button to exit this mode.

Select an existing mix line and long press [Enter] to provide the following options:

• Edit - Open the mix configuration page for that mix line.
• Insert Before - Insert a new mix line before the selected mix.
• Insert After - Insert a new mix line after the selected mix.
• Copy - Copy the selected mix line.
• Move - Select the mix line to move.
• Delete - Delete the selected mix line.

2.2 Mixing Configuration Options

When the Edit option is selected for a mix, the following configuration options are available:

• Mix Name - The name of the mix (optional). Up to 6 characters are allowed.
• Source - The source of the mix. Besides inputs, you can also select sticks, knobs, sliders, trims, physical and logical switches, helicopter mix outputs, trainer input channel values, and other channels.
• Weight - The percentage of the source value used. Long press here to switch from a numerical value to a global variable.
• Offset - A 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.
• 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 radio will beep when this mix is activated. You can select Off or Beep modes 1, 2, or 3.
• Composite - Composite settings define how the current mix line interacts with other lines on the same channel. Add adds its output to other lines, Multiply multiplies the result of the line above, and Replace replaces any previous operations with its output.
• Mode - Specifies in which flight modes this mix is active. Visible modes are active states.
• 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.
• Slow Precision - Changes the precision of slow up/down between 0.0 and 0.00.
• Slow Up - Adjusts the transition speed of the source value increasing. Specifies the transition time from -100% to +100% (in seconds). You can specify a range of 0.00 seconds to 25.00 seconds.
• Slow Down - Adjusts the transition speed of the source value decreasing. Specifies the transition time from -100% to +100% (in seconds). You can specify a range of 0.00 seconds to 25.00 seconds.

3. Output

The Output screen is where final adjustments are made to control data (including subtrim, curve, endpoints, and center values), and then the control data is sent to the RF module. Here you set the channel center, limits (to prevent servo stalling), and output direction.

Important

Trims are temporary adjustments to flight control typically made during operation via trim switches. Subtrims are semi-permanent adjustments to flight control typically configured when setting up the model in the output settings.

3.1 Output Screen

The output screen displays all output channels. For each output row, it shows the subtrim, minimum and maximum limits, direction, curve, and subtrim mode values. After the last output row is the option Trims=>Subtrims. When this option is selected, it adds the current trim values to the subtrim values of each configured output. Then the trim values are reset to zero.

Selecting an output row provides the following options:

• Edit - opens the output configuration screen.
• Reset - resets the subtrim value to zero. Trim values remain unchanged.
• Copy Trim -> Subtrim - adds the current trim value to the subtrim value. Trim values remain unchanged.
• Copy Stick -> Subtrim - adds the current stick deflection as a subtrim value.
• Copy Min/Max to All - copies the settings from the selected channel's Min/Max fields to all other channels.

3.2 Output Configuration Page

The output configuration screen has the following configuration options:

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

• Subtrim - subtrim value (max 100). Can also be set as a global variable by long-pressing the [Enter] button to switch to GV mode, then selecting the desired global variable.

• Min - minimum output limit. Typically used to prevent servo stalling in models with servo-controlled surfaces.

• Max - maximum output limit. Typically used to prevent servo stalling in models with servo-controlled surfaces.

• Direction - select --- for normal output value, select INV if you want to reverse the output value.

• Curve - specify a custom curve to use for this output (if any). For more information on custom defined curves, see Curves.

• 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.

• Subtrim Mode - defines how the subtrim value affects the minimum/maximum output values. There are two options:

  • △ (Center Only) - only the center value moves. The upper and lower limits remain unchanged. The stick response is different between the upper and lower halves relative to the center point.
  • = Symmetric - 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 excerpt is from the EdgeTX User Manual: https://zkl2333.gitbook.io/edgetx-user-manual/bw-radios/model-select/inputs-mixes-and-outputs