Spektrum DX4e transmitter

Irocandroll

New member
Hello, I’m reviving an old Hooby Zone Super Cub, with a Spektrum Dx4E transmitter. It was ground because I sucked at flying and gave up on it. But that is another story!
Anyhoo, I want to try the real flight software to get better. I’m getting conflicting information from nearby hobby store staff on if this works with Real Flight.
One says it will, with the dongle, and one says it won’t.

Can you please confirm? I’ve read posts about this and it’s’ still not clear. I do understand that if I bind the transmitter to the dongle (which I have not purchased yet), I will have to bind it back to the plane when I’m ready for real flight (see what I did there? :) ).

I’m ready to buy the software and the dongle if it will work. Otherwise I’ll look into other options.

Also, it certainly seems like the trainer edition is the one I need, is that correct? It’s for basic newbies.
 
Sorry, but even with the dongle, the Dx4E will be a no go. The problem is only 4 channels.
Real Flight of course uses 4 for the primary flight controls, but then needs to have a channel for each of the additional functions - flaps, dual rates, landing gear, smoke, reset-after-crash, and others. The dongle will pass up to 8 channels, but if the transmitter doesn't have them....

8 channels are moderately limiting, but many get by. A few have struggled to use a 6 ch system, but it isn't very conducive to using the software and leads to frustration. I am unclear as to whether 4 via a dongle will be functional at all (with a cord, for those transmitters that can be configured that way, using only 4 channels will not function at all).

While no one likes spending extra, if you were prepared to buy the dongle, you are already 1/2 way there in getting the Interlink DX that is the most current controller for Real Flight. It allows for all the functions noted, and many more. It just plugs in and works, with no issues on setup, configuring, or needing to decide what functions to give up.

Here's one discussion about the differences between the Trainer and the Full versions. https://forums.realflight.com/index.php?threads/upgrade.57660/

Since the trainer costs ~$40, and you get $30 credit if you later upgrade to the full version, it's only a $10 risk to start with the Trainer version and then later decide to upgrade.
 
From your post, it seems you are saying that it won’t work for a majority of the planes, since new planes use more channels. I was hoping it would work for this plane, and I wouldn’t have a need for a controller, or a different, newer transmitter.

Heck, I might have to do what you are saying, since I cannot even find confirmation that the HZ Super Cub is in any of these versions or content packs. Unless I missed it.

I’m assuming that the other HZ cubs that are included are just newer versions of my plane, and as such will be a decent training experience. So maybe I will. Thanks for responding
 
I couldn't be definitive - as I am away from my dongle (about 2000 miles away!), so couldn't test first as to whether it would work at all with a system that was only sending 4 channels. The Windows game controller that this all depends on behaves badly if nothing is sent on higher channels using a wired connection. Not 100% sure if this applies to a dongle also. In any event, you would not have any way to change rates, operate any secondary flight controls, and be dependent on the keyboard for some other functions.
The Trainer edition seems to favor planes with SAFE and AS3X tech, so missing would be ways to control that, which is important. This includes the Carbon Cub and Sport Cub it comes with.

I also looked, and your Super Cub is not in the full version, either - although there are lots of similar Cubs both stock and in the swap pages that can be downloaded (but not to the Trainer edition).

Overall, ANY variant of a CUB will be fine to use for you for training, especially if it either doesn't have AS3X/SAFE or if you can switch it into "Advanced Mode". The differences between the flight in RF and your actual plane will then be minor, and if you can handle it well in Real Flight, your actual first flights will be pretty seamless.

Search here for information about the STL6 controller that is bundled with some Trainer edition versions. It will be a cheaper package for you, but I have no experience with how well it performs, or not.
 
You can use a transmitter that has fewer channels than the wireless USB receiver. People use six-channel radio with them all the time. On the channels that are not being sent from the transmitter, the corresponding Windows game input will be stuck probably at 50% input. If you have to, you can unassign those unused inputs from RealFlight's Controller Profile.

But I agree with Flapper 100% that your experience with RealFlight will be greatly diminished with only four channels (or even six). There are keyboard equivalents for toggling the value of RealFlight channels 5-9, but it's not the same. RealFlight supports Spektrum's receiver flight modes with SAFE and AS3X, and I think most if not all of the aircraft in the Trainer Edition have SAFE. There's an extra channel right there (channel 8 in RealFlight). And of course you'll want to try other aircraft in RealFlight - that's part of the fun for me, exploring planes I don't own. Odds are that those other planes need more than four channels to operate everything.

SLT6 isn't going to be much better. I wouldn't spend any money on that just for using it with RealFlight.

Spend the $100 on the InterLink DX rather than $45 on the WS2000. Life will be a lot easier, and you'll be a lot happier.
 
Back
Top