09-10-2009, 02:16 PM
REVIEW of the AeoRC XGY-1000 Headtracker
1. Equipment:
1x XGY-1000 headtracker
1x Signal Mixer for low end transmitters
1x external power connector
1x square connector for futaba
1x round connector for futaba
[attachment=204]
2. Technical Data:
The XGY-1000 is with cable about 40g light(1,41oz)
dimensions are: 45x35x18 mm (1,77x1,38x0,71 inch)
it takes, powered with a 2s lipo at 7,80V, 33mA
(my trackR2 takes around 12mA from an 3s lipo at 11,50V)
I have watched the PPM-OUT Signal of the XGY-1000 with my oscilloscope and it gives a good 8 channel PPM Signal out. Only the 2 channels, which are selected for PAN and TILT change their pulses.
Only negative thing i have discovered is the voltage amplitude of the PPM Signal.
powered with 2s Lipo at 7,80V the signal amplitude is about 6,5V
powered with 3s Lipo at 11,90V the signal amplitude is about 10,5V
A little much.
I cannot find specifications about the maximum amplitude transmitters like.
(My trackR2 gives powered with the 3s lipo at 11,90V an signal amplitude of 4,4V out.)
4. Connection:
I have a Futaba FF10, so i don't need the signal mixer. I don't have a low end transmitter to test that.
Futaba square connector for Futaba FF9 or FF10
1 – not connected
2 – Ground
3 – Signal OUT
4 – +V
5 – +V switched (with transmitter power switch)
6 – Signal IN
AeroRC XGY-1000 connector
1 – Ground (black)
2 – +V (red)
3 – Signal IN (white)
4 – Signal OUT (green)
the connector is in the following way connected:
XGY to futaba square
1 to 2
2 to 5
3 to 3
4 to 6
Attention, when you will use the external power connector. see picture below!
Using with external power, you have to cut V+ wire to the transmitter, or you will connect the two power sources together!!!!!
[attachment=203]
5. Programming:
Programming the XGY-1000 is very easy, once you understand it.
Press and hold the button and power the XGY.
Release the button after the LED flashes.
It is now in setup mode in the first menu, the PAN channel selection.
The Led will flash.
Count the flashes. The number of flashes represents the number of the channel.
So 7 flashes means channel 7 for PAN.
Push the button to increase the value.
After channel 8 it jumps to channel 1.
If you have found the right channel press and hold the button until the led flashes and shows you the next setup point.
This is the way how you have to program each setup point.
There are 7 of these:
1. PAN channel selection
2. TILT channel selection
3. PAN angel movment
4. TILT angel movment
5. PAN normal/reverse
6. TILT normal/reverse
7. Default settings
Watch the video to see the programming in action.
6. How it works:
During powering up should not move to calibrate the XGY itself.
After a few seconds the led flashes and the XGY is ready for use.
To set a new centerpoint, because of position change, push the button.
Also to recenter, because of drift, push the button.
The XGY-1000 has really no static drift. The means if you are holding still in the center or at any other position, your cam will stay their.
But the XGY-1000 has a motion drift. If you move your head from left to right, up and down and back to the center, it will not be exactly in the centerposition as you started.
This motion drift is normal for Gyro headtrackers, and thats why you have a recenter button.
If you move very fast, you will have much drift.
If you move your head slowly, you will have less drift, which i prefer for FPV flying, to get a smooth video from the cam.
The motion drift is a little higher compared to my track R2.
But the trackR2 has one advantage thats also an disadvantage, the new anti drift. That cause the HT to go slowly back to center. Thats good, because the HT tries to go back to the center. But what is not good, is when you looking down on something, the HT tries also to go back to center, so it will not stay in this position like the XGY-1000 does.
So, the XGY-1000 has no anti drift like the trackR2, but it will stay in every position with no drift.
You can see the drift and how it works in the video.
7. Video:
shows how to program and how it works:
8. Conclusion:
The XGY-1000 is a nice headtracker and works as promised.
Unfortunately there is no actual manual available, but this may change for the final version.
The motion drift is normal. Compared to my trackR2 a little more.
So you have to recenter many times in flight, but as i said before, this is normal for all gyro based headtrackers.
Here the Damntronics DT3K headtracker outperforms all the gyro headtrackers. Really no static and no motion drift.
Be aware of the external power connector, to connect it in the right way.
The high voltage level of the PPM Out Signal is also a little mystery to me, but maybe AeoRC could explain that.
I hope you enjoyed my review.
1. Equipment:
1x XGY-1000 headtracker
1x Signal Mixer for low end transmitters
1x external power connector
1x square connector for futaba
1x round connector for futaba
[attachment=204]
2. Technical Data:
The XGY-1000 is with cable about 40g light(1,41oz)
dimensions are: 45x35x18 mm (1,77x1,38x0,71 inch)
it takes, powered with a 2s lipo at 7,80V, 33mA
(my trackR2 takes around 12mA from an 3s lipo at 11,50V)
I have watched the PPM-OUT Signal of the XGY-1000 with my oscilloscope and it gives a good 8 channel PPM Signal out. Only the 2 channels, which are selected for PAN and TILT change their pulses.
Only negative thing i have discovered is the voltage amplitude of the PPM Signal.
powered with 2s Lipo at 7,80V the signal amplitude is about 6,5V
powered with 3s Lipo at 11,90V the signal amplitude is about 10,5V
A little much.
I cannot find specifications about the maximum amplitude transmitters like.
(My trackR2 gives powered with the 3s lipo at 11,90V an signal amplitude of 4,4V out.)
4. Connection:
I have a Futaba FF10, so i don't need the signal mixer. I don't have a low end transmitter to test that.
Futaba square connector for Futaba FF9 or FF10
1 – not connected
2 – Ground
3 – Signal OUT
4 – +V
5 – +V switched (with transmitter power switch)
6 – Signal IN
AeroRC XGY-1000 connector
1 – Ground (black)
2 – +V (red)
3 – Signal IN (white)
4 – Signal OUT (green)
the connector is in the following way connected:
XGY to futaba square
1 to 2
2 to 5
3 to 3
4 to 6
Attention, when you will use the external power connector. see picture below!
Using with external power, you have to cut V+ wire to the transmitter, or you will connect the two power sources together!!!!!
[attachment=203]
5. Programming:
Programming the XGY-1000 is very easy, once you understand it.
Press and hold the button and power the XGY.
Release the button after the LED flashes.
It is now in setup mode in the first menu, the PAN channel selection.
The Led will flash.
Count the flashes. The number of flashes represents the number of the channel.
So 7 flashes means channel 7 for PAN.
Push the button to increase the value.
After channel 8 it jumps to channel 1.
If you have found the right channel press and hold the button until the led flashes and shows you the next setup point.
This is the way how you have to program each setup point.
There are 7 of these:
1. PAN channel selection
2. TILT channel selection
3. PAN angel movment
4. TILT angel movment
5. PAN normal/reverse
6. TILT normal/reverse
7. Default settings
Watch the video to see the programming in action.
6. How it works:
During powering up should not move to calibrate the XGY itself.
After a few seconds the led flashes and the XGY is ready for use.
To set a new centerpoint, because of position change, push the button.
Also to recenter, because of drift, push the button.
The XGY-1000 has really no static drift. The means if you are holding still in the center or at any other position, your cam will stay their.
But the XGY-1000 has a motion drift. If you move your head from left to right, up and down and back to the center, it will not be exactly in the centerposition as you started.
This motion drift is normal for Gyro headtrackers, and thats why you have a recenter button.
If you move very fast, you will have much drift.
If you move your head slowly, you will have less drift, which i prefer for FPV flying, to get a smooth video from the cam.
The motion drift is a little higher compared to my track R2.
But the trackR2 has one advantage thats also an disadvantage, the new anti drift. That cause the HT to go slowly back to center. Thats good, because the HT tries to go back to the center. But what is not good, is when you looking down on something, the HT tries also to go back to center, so it will not stay in this position like the XGY-1000 does.
So, the XGY-1000 has no anti drift like the trackR2, but it will stay in every position with no drift.
You can see the drift and how it works in the video.
7. Video:
shows how to program and how it works:
Video 6515313 on Vimeo.
8. Conclusion:
The XGY-1000 is a nice headtracker and works as promised.
Unfortunately there is no actual manual available, but this may change for the final version.
The motion drift is normal. Compared to my trackR2 a little more.
So you have to recenter many times in flight, but as i said before, this is normal for all gyro based headtrackers.
Here the Damntronics DT3K headtracker outperforms all the gyro headtrackers. Really no static and no motion drift.
Be aware of the external power connector, to connect it in the right way.
The high voltage level of the PPM Out Signal is also a little mystery to me, but maybe AeoRC could explain that.
I hope you enjoyed my review.
