new to deviation - what do I need to install it?

Hi there,
I'm a Futaba user, but totally new to Walkera radios and Deviation.
I'm looking for a radio to fly helis on DSM2 and have just learned I can do that (and much more) with Deviation.
So, I'm thinking of buying a Devo 7E or 8 and install Deviation on it.
What do I exactly need to have in order to do so?
Do I need the Walkera UP02 Adapter, for example?
Thanks for any help.

hi,

Thanks for your reply. I'm still learning about the devention radios. i knew nothing about them until a few hours ago.

I've just watched a review about 7e on youtube and learned just what you said, I mean, it is a short range radio. So, I'll need a devo 8s or 10. Unfortunately I can't find 8s to buy.

How friendly is the deviation system? I mean, how easy to use is it? It seems the original devention menus are more user friendly, correct?

Thanks.

hilarious wrote: How friendly is the deviation system? I mean, how easy to use is it? It seems the original devention menus are more user friendly, correct?

Depends on the user. I think the deviation menus are friendlier, because I can do things with them I simply cannot do with the devention system, like configure a three-channel yacht.

The devention software (like most proprietary Tx systems) abstracts the details of the radio away and lets you set things up for your aircraft. If they provide a way to do what you want, it's a lot easier than deviation because you don't have to translate from aircraft controls to radio channels to do things. But if they don't, then deviation is a lot easier because you don't have to translate from the aircraft controls they provide to radio channels and then to the things you want to control. In some cases - as with my yachts - what you want to do may not even be possible.

For that yacht example, the rudder is on the rudder channel and has a standard DR rudder setup. No problem with either system. But the main & jib sheets need to be on the same control stick (throttle) with different trims since they control different sails. This is easy to do with deviation. I never even tried with devention, but I've never seen proprietary aircraft firmware that could handle that. The solutions I've seen - even commercial ones - all involve physical modifications to the gimbal.

hilarious, you said you were a Futaba user.

The ability to control virtually every model out there with Deviation (and the appropriate RF modification) is it's central claim to fame. Just be aware that you have to add RF modules to unlock the full potential of Deviation. This involves minor (to major) soldering skills depending which RF module you're adding to which Devo transmitter.

Out of the box, you can control any model that uses the CRFY6936 RF chip that comes with the Devo transmitters. This includes DSM2 and DSMX, which are the ones you specifically mentioned wanting to use it for.

However, Futaba FASST is of the few protocols that is NOT yet supported. Futaba S-FHSS may work with a CC2500 RF module. So plan on using your existing Futaba transmitter on those models.