JR Datasafe
Adrian

Simon promised a while ago that I could have a play with Mark Christy's Data Exchange program. When he eventually handed over the PC-Tx interface and then a week later, handed over the software, it became clear that this was in fact a request for an article for Little Rotors and not just a friendly favour. Some people just don't know how far a friendship can be pushed.

DataXchange v1.3 is a package that allows data from your Tx to be uploaded to a PC, stored, edited and downloaded back to the Tx (or another Tx). This may be useful if you find your Tx screen and input mechanism a little clunky and awkward to navigate. Pilots with more models than their Tx is capable of storing might also use DataXchange to selectively load their Tx with the data for the models they intend to fly on a given day. If you are nervous about data loss, DataXchange can also be used to backup model memories in the event of a catastrophic radio problem.

One of the nice things which Mark has built this application to do is allow data to be transferred between different models of JR radios which has not been previously possible. This would have been useful a couple of weeks earlier when attempting some buddy boxing at the field using an X3810 and 10X.

DataXchange is designed for and will only work with JR radios. The list of supported models are 10X, XP9303, 9X, X8103, X8103ADT and X783 radios. Of course not all radios support the same functions and DataXchange needs to apply some intelligence when shifting data between radios of differing capabilities. Always double check the transferred data is as you expect.

(Note that the X783 is the same as the X378 and the X8103 and X8103ADT are the same as the X3810 and X8103ADT)

Easy to navigate menus

Test Environment
I first evaluated version 1.0 under Windows 98 at 800x600 and then Version 1.3 under Windows NT at 1152x864.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to move data between different models of radio.

I’ll concentrate on V1.3 here as it is easily available from www.macgregor.co.uk and so there is no need for anyone to still be using earlier versions.

I should also note that I only tested using a Helicopter (My JR Ergo 50) memory taken from my x3810 and also the Vigor CS sample data file from the website. This package also supports Aircraft and Gliders, which I did not play with.

Hardware
DataXchange runs on a PC with one spare serial port and any version of Windows.

There is an interface cable that has a DB9 coming out of one side of a black box and female DSC cable jack on the other.

Installation
Hardware installation is a no brainer. plug the DB9 into a spare serial port and a DSC cable into the jack.

Software installation is incredibly simple and almost isn’t worth mentioning.

User interface

Using the Program
The first thing you will no doubt want to do after running DataXchange is upload one of your model memories to your PC. Click the, "Receive Model From Transmitter" button, and follow the onscreen instructions.
Next, have a look at your data. Under the "Edit Data" menu, you will find Model Name, Dual Rates, Travel Adjust, SubTrims and Servo Reverse. Selecting any of these options, will show you the appropriate data and allow you to edit it.

Dual Rates will only show you one of Aileron, Elevator or Rudder at any time. You can select channels using a drop down box. I would prefer that all three channels were visible together, there is more than enough screen space to accommodate it all. In fact, I would prefer to see all Model Name, Dual Rates, Travel Adjust, SubTrims and Servo Reverse data on one screen. I think that even at 800 x 600, there is enough screen space to do this.

Modifying your values is accomplished by clicking up/down arrows to increase and decrease as required.

If you have a Helicopter model loaded, you also get Throttle/Pitch Curve, Gyro Gain and Swashplate Type menus.

For Aircraft, you get Landing System, Flaps, Wing Type and Snap Roll.

Glider’s have Wing Type and Butterfly Mixing menus available.

As I only own Heli’s I did not have the opportunity to play with the other two model types.

The Throttle/Pitch Curve option is fantastic and it overlays your Throttle and Pitch curves from each Stunt Mode rather than viewing them individually as you would on your radio.

Once the data has been loaded, manipulated onscreen, and saved to disk, downloading it to the Tx is every bit as easy as the upload. Mark has made this really simple.

I think Mark’s product is great. If you have more models than your radio allows or would like to back up your model memories, you will certainly love DataXchange. If you are an instructor (and carry a PC to the field with you) this product might also make your life a little easier.

In the future, I would like to see manufacturers release radios that can programmed from a PC without the need to go through the upload/modify/download procedure. This would make setting up our models on the bench a piece of cake.

I would also like to see JR build CAMPAC style functionality using generic memory cards to make life even simpler still. Hmm, Maybe I’ll patent that idea.

For more information, see www.macgregor.co.uk

Adrian