rrTV-PHOTO   New HD TV
HOME   rrTV-PHOTO   GALLERIES   MY GALLERY   HELP-FAQ
myHOME PM pmRR MEMBERS 815 ONLINE 73 EVENTS SEARCH REGISTER  START HERE
 
4 pages [ <<    <     1      2     ( 3 )     4     NEXT    >> ]4944 viewsPOST REPLY
Autography FlightPower . Advantage Hobby . Revolution Models

.
.
Computer Flight Simulators > iVol is Here! Quick review.
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

iVol is much "thinner" than say Futaba 9c or 9Z. The rubber grips extend farther to the back than the plastic body, and even they are thinner than 9C or 9Z. If you lay iVol on the desk on it's back resting on the rubber grips, there is a free space of 1-2 cm aprox between the desk and the back of the iVol depending on the zone. Not to forget the space between the "wings". The module seems to be fixed on the back, but that does not mean that all the module will be there. In theory, we'll see it this summer; not much time to wait.
As far as the hardware quality, the only part I don't like at all for now is the aluminium logo over the screen

Is there a life outside the sim?
05-10-2007 Over year old.
 
 
nheather
Veteran
Location: Horsham, West Sussex, UK

Quote 
As far as the hardware quality, the only part I don't like at all for now is the aluminium logo over the screen

Yep that did look weird in your pictures.

It's not on any of the official photos so I did wonder what it was.

Looks better without.

Cheers,

Nigel
05-10-2007 Over year old.
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

Another "thinking": The module is expected for summer, and the programming software for winter...
Will they provide us at least a reduced version of the programming software this summer to at least be able to test it?
Or we'll be able to do basic programming from the iVol itself with the module attached? Without module, iVol does not show anything about that in the menu.

Is there a life outside the sim?
05-10-2007 Over year old.
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

Switches are available now at Reflex web. They come in three sizes, two positions, the longest one with 2 or 3 positions. I ordered some, but don't plan to install them yet.

Is there a life outside the sim?
05-14-2007 06:58 PM
 
 
nheather
Veteran
Location: Horsham, West Sussex, UK

@Pelos

Can you do anything with the switches yet or are they for future use as the iVol evolves?

Cheers,

Nigel
05-15-2007 10:00 AM
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

As far as I can see, you can install them and make iVol detect them (present or not and number of positions), and use them for the functions the simulator supports: landing gear, flaps, gyro sensisivity, throtle hold (autorotation) and the trainer mode activation. This is asuming iVol has a channel asigned by default to all those 4 new switches. I'll test it when they arrive.

By the way, I played a little with trainer option, but I wanted to wait for the switches to order the adapter cable for my futaba (), so couldn't really test it. Without any radio connected to the iVol, the simulation stops with an alert when you activate the trainer mode.

So by now I use a switch for autorotation, the other one for trainer, one rotary knob for gyro sensitivity(heli)/flaps(plane) and the other one for landing gear. All controls present are used, but no need for more. I cannot see any use for aditional switches/knobs/.... until you can program the iVol and set traditional features as flight modes, dual rates, mixes.... or any other innovative (I hope) thing the reflex programming interface would allow.

Even then, you will have 2 knobs and two switches, that depending on the "versatility?" of the programming interface, might be enough for many setups (in theory you could set 2 flight modes + autorotation mode with the 2 standard 2-position switches, program all settings for each of those flight modes, throtle cut with trim down, and still have two knobs free for adjusting anything (gyro sense, rpm, flaps... ).

As I said in a previous post, I don't see the 2 central switches location easy to reach, but I'll see when I can put a switch on them.
Maybe useful for functions not used in flight (throtle hold for bench testing...)?.

Is there a life outside the sim?
05-15-2007 02:57 PM
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

I recently upgraded my computer to Vista.
I like to make always clean instalations, so i don't know how an upgrade of XP would afect to reflex, but zero issues with a clean installation on Vista.
Both vista and reflex work well, despite my graphics card is not one of the best (2 points rated by vista performance test). It's a Radeon X300-X500.

I also played a little with the joystick feature of reflex, and worked fine for controling FMS simulator (far better than the playstation pad I used before I bought reflex three years ago :-))
I didn't like the calibration-setup, but works ok.

Is there a life outside the sim?
05-19-2007 01:50 PM
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

The switches are here.
I test-fitted them (couldnt solder them yet) and the two standard ones and the twonext ones are very easy to reach and actuate. The other two (the ones nesr to the screen) are a little more difficult to reach, but not as bad as I thought. Anyways not comfortable for a function you would use often in flight.
I still haven't decided what type of switch will fit in each position. Probably (except throtle hold switch) will be 3-pos switches, but would have to unsolder the standard ones.

I received a pair of red covers too (well... some bling does not harm ). They fit perfect but you must be careful with the plastic parts where the self-tapping screws fit. I (or probably my little daughter) managed to break one of them in the black covers that I retired to fit the red ones and thet were laying on my desk.

A cable for my futaba 9C was ordered too, and tried it with no problems. Again, I felt the gimbal springs too hard (softened as much as it is possible). It's funny how you get used to a new tool and the old one seems not to be the same again.
The external transmitter takes control over the iVol as soon as it is connected, and when you disconnect it, the iVol takes control again.
Not tried yet the trainer function. Do you think a 2 1/2 years old girl will be able to help me try it?

I'll try to upload some photos to my gallery next monday with the red covers and the switches in their locations (not soldered).

Is there a life outside the sim?
05-23-2007 11:03 PM
 
 
ForrestGump
Veteran
Location: Sevilla, Spain

Hola Pelos,

I made the mistake to order the upgrade with iVol and I really regret I did, but that's a different story.

The question here is I cannot find the Heli folder with the models, you mentioned previously they had moved to Documments and settings under all users but they are not there in my PC it was a clear install since I've recently upgraded my PC also. Any clue or alternate destination?

Thanks in advace.
Antonio

Best way to predict the future, is to Invent it.
06-01-2007 08:56 AM
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

If upgraded to vista, they are in c:\users\all_users\Reflex (o en español, c:\usuarios\All_users\reflex). Or something similar. See where are your profile (documents, etc) stored by default and the all users profile must be in the same folder.

In windows XP, c:\documents and settings\all_users

Is there a life outside the sim?
06-01-2007 10:42 AM
 
 
ForrestGump
Veteran
Location: Sevilla, Spain

Found them. Folder was marked as hidden

Thanks
A,

Best way to predict the future, is to Invent it.
06-01-2007 10:48 AM
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

One thing I noticed recently when testing my 9c connected to iVol is that it seems to be some "delay" in the controls when using 9c compared to using iVol. Not sure if that's caused by 9c or iVolor it is just a matter of "feeling"; when switching between Reflex and Phoenix I always notice a huge difference in the "feeling" of the controls, and both seem bad after using the other one for some time.

Sorry for not uploading more photos, but after upgrading mi PC to Vista cannot transfer them from my camera (no Pentax drivers for my model and vista yet ).
I decided to solder the 4 3-position-switches after test-fitting them and the task was easy. You just have to keep the switches straight in the correct position untill you solder (i used a piece of a foam bag arround the switch) so that later the switch is well centered in the cover's hole.

By default in iVol each switch is asigned to a channel from 7 to 12 (1 to 6 are gimbals and pots). 2 pos switch gives values of 0 / +-100, and 3 pos switches values of -+100 / 0 / +-100
The switch detection option works perfectly (you move every switch to every position and it stores each switch type).

Is there a life outside the sim?
06-01-2007 10:59 AM
 
 
JasonD
Heliman
Location: san diego

I just got my Ivol in and I'm pretty impressed with it. Very nice feel to it. Pelos how do I change the left throttle to rachet. Right now it seems to be centered with a spring. Would buy again, its like having a minature computer as your practice simulator box.

Jason
06-08-2007 06:01 AM
 
 
JasonD
Heliman
Location: san diego

I just figured out everything on the back of the Ivol. There are little screws in the back which you adjust with a tool that Reflex gives you to determine the tension type of movement of the transmitter gimbals. I have to say the controller just feels right in your hands. I also like the way it looks.

I asked my wife if she thought it was good looking she said no. But heck beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The engineering that went into the Ivol is incredible, big thumbs up Wolfgang. With shipping and everything I paid 143 Euros with turn in of my old dongle, what a steal.

Anyways report back later after I've used it for a while.

Jason
06-08-2007 03:33 PM
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

Hey, Now I don't feel lonely!

Is there a life outside the sim?
06-08-2007 10:13 PM
 
 
JasonD
Heliman
Location: san diego

Pelos my Ivol serial number was like 621. So it sounds like he is still producing low volumes of the controller. Wasn't the box that it came in impressive? I really feel that this controller is a work of art and engineering excellence.

Looking forward to enjoying it more in the future.
06-08-2007 10:16 PM
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

Mine's 293. I ordered it the first day, just couldn't help it

Yes, the box is sexy , but of no use for the field. I sure agree with you about the mix between art and engineering. Still some things to get it perfect, but it's near enough.

The few things I don't like so far:

- The screws that hold the covers. They are so small that you have to manage them carefully and with a good key/screwdriver to avoid damaging them. I didn't find a screwdriver so small, the key that I used is of low quality and one of the screws probably has suffered. I like more the bigger hex and philips screws that futaba normally uses.

- I couldn't manage to get the friction and ratchet perfect in the throtle stick. At maximum throw of the friction screw the stick does not hold in the upper section, and the ratchet is lighter too in the upper section. How well does yours work, Jason? Maybe a defect in mine, maybe something to redesign. Some day I'll open the thing and watch if I can find what's wrong.

Things to improve for the "next generation":

- The screen. while perfectly functional, I recently bought an iron (unfortunately not RC, just manual mode ) with blue lcd screen that is cool. Just bling, but...

- A provision for fitting a cyclic ring in the right stick. I wonder why radio manufacturers don't do something about that. A soft press fit so you can remove it without the need of tools would be perfect for me and does not seem difficult to manufacture.

- As I said before, the aluminium logo over the screen. At least should be flush with the surface. Maybe painted?

Enjoy it...

Is there a life outside the sim?
06-09-2007 03:37 AM
 
 
JasonD
Heliman
Location: san diego

Hi Pelos I appreciate you telling me about your IVol. yes the friction setting on the throttle does not work perfectly all the way at the top. It doesn't really seem to botheer me, in fact I wasn't aware of it untill you told me about it.\

Jason
06-10-2007 12:41 AM
 
 
nitro
Senior Heliman
Location: Las Vegas

IVOL

Hello,
Is the IVOL transmitter available in the US??
Nitro
06-11-2007 11:39 PM
 
 
Pelos
Senior Heliman
Location: Bizkaia (Spain)

Ask to the US distributor. Modelrectifier.com or something like that.

Is there a life outside the sim?
06-12-2007 09:19 AM
 
 
4 pages [ <<    <     1      2     ( 3 )     4     NEXT    >> ]4944 viewsPOST REPLY
CarbonXtreme . Midland Helicopters . HeliProz

.
.
Computer Flight Simulators > iVol is Here! Quick review.
  UPDATE SCREEN   PRINT TOPIC Advertisers 

Subscribe to This Topic

Tuesday, May 13 - 6:21 pm - Copyright © 2000 - 2008 runryder.com | email | link to rr | runryder needs cookie