FPV-Community Reviews

Welcome all to my overdue review of the DT-3K Hybrid Head tracker!

This is my first review for the FPV-Community and I got really excited to be part of the review team! So I was kindly sent a DT-3K Head tracker unit from Flytron who builds and designs these head trackers (along with loads of great electronic FPV/AP devices).

Specifications

DT-3K is first hybrid (magneto-gravity) tracking device on the market. It supports Basic or Pro level transmitters with our revolutionary PPM-INJECT and PPM- CREATE technologies.

It Features:

• Rock solid zero drift system with high repeatability
• Extra (2) channel generator on PPM-INJECT mode
• 6-24v voltage range, (compatible with 7.4V transmitters like 14MZ)
• Futaba Micro trainer connector
• Compatible with all 2-6 channel Basic transmitters with PPM-INJECT technology
• Compatible with all 7+ channel Pro transmitters with PPM-CREATE technology
• Pan/Tilt reverse for different pan/tilt mechanisms
• Easy and Fast, one click gain and centering system
• Selectable channels from 1 to 9
• Easy to use with 1 button and 1 led interface

FUTABA 4EXA or HITEC Laser 4

If you are using a 4 channel transmitter, you can configure the DT-3K to add an extra 2 tracking channels with PPM-INJECT. You can use your transmitter with a 6 channel receiver.

FUTABA 6EXAP or HITEC Laser 6 or ESky

If you are using a 6 channel transmitter, you can configure the DT-3K to insert 2 tracking channels with PPM-INJECT. It will erase the last 2 channels to insert further tracking channels.

FUTABA 9CAP / 7CAP

If you are using Pro Transmitters, you can configure the DT-3K to simulate the Trainer Box. It uses a PPM-CREATE system in this mode, and sends blank (centred) channels before the tracking channels. You can ignore the blank channels from your transmitter’s trainer Configuration Menu.

General

My radio system is a Futaba FF7 / 7CAP.

Fltron.com sent my unit for the square Futaba Plug that fits into my radio system, and it arrived within around 6 days! Perfect service.

This is how the DT-3K Head Tracker unit was delivered!

As you can see it come sealed in protective silver foiled electronic bag, also there was a small green envelope. Inside the green envelope was a personal instructional sheet just for me, on how to programme the DT-3K. Kindly my DT-3K was programmed for channel 5 & 6.

Personal service at its best!

Ok, On with the review!

There are a few things that I recommend you should get to compliment this DT-3k Head tracker. Firstly Is a mini compass, this unit works best facing North, or South – But I will say I have found this unit very accurate if you are not 100% North or South.

Also, a hat, any old hat will do! I got this hat for £5 from my local factory shop – looks ok I think! Just make sure it fits well and you will be fine!

I have also tested this unit, fixed onto the top of my fatshark video goggles with double sided tape, works very well either way you mount this unit!

Here is a picture of the unit, next to my Futaba FF7.

As you can see, it is a very nice and small compact unit. It measures around 2 Inch x 1 Inch and the cable length is just over 1 meter in length. This is well thought out as its long enough for use, but not too long that it gets in the way!

As you can see, this DT-3K Head Tracking unit has been designed and built for the FPV Pilot in mind!

This is how neatly the Futaba plug fits into my radio; it is very neat and tidy! The Futaba plug fitted is a very good fit for my radio system;  It won’t fall out with normal use, but if the cable were to get caught on something, it would come out safely with no damage.

Let’s see how easy the programming is…

Programming Procedure

Well, the first time you go to program it, you will be slightly confused. But once you go through the menu system once, it will be clear as day how to program it.

Ok, Firstly to enter the program mode, you must attach the DT-3K to your radio system while your radio system is OFF. Now this is the important step, you MUST hold down the orange button on the Head Tracker and then turn on your radio system. The Red led with flash rapidly 10 times to notify that it is now in programming mode.

Right another important bit of information for you!

You must complete all steps even if you only need to change one.

First Mode

CHANNEL SELECTING

Press & Hold the button wait for 1 second and The LED will blink every second.

You must Count the blinks and release the button when the blinks equal to your selected channel numbers (I set my radio channels to 6 and 7, I will show you this part later).

1 Blink = Channels 1 & 2

2 Blinks = Channels 2 & 3

3 Blinks = Channels 3 & 4

And so on….

As I used channels 6 & 7 I released the button after the 6th Blink.

After you release the button, the LED will fast blink 10 times to notify you have moved onto the next programming mode.

Second Mode

PPM Mode

Press & Hold the button wait for 1 second again.

The LED will blink every second Again.

After 1 blink the tracker will work on the PPM-INJECT mode.

After 2 blinks will work on the PPM-CREATE mode.

After you release the button, the LED will fast blink 10 times to notify you have moved onto the next programming mode.

Third Mode

PAN Servo Direction

Press & Hold the button wait for 1 second again.

The LED will blink every second again.

After 1 blink, the pan servo will work on the normal mode.

After 2 blinks the pan servo will work on the reversed mode (This will be trial and error, as pan systems work differently).

After you release the button, the LED will fast blink 10 times to notify you have moved onto the next programming mode.

Fourth Mode

TILT Servo Direction

Press & Hold the button wait for 1 second again.

The LED will blink every second again.

After 1 blink, the tilt servo will work on the normal mode.

After 2 blinks the tilt servo will work on the reversed mode (This will be trial and error, as tilt systems work differently).

After you release the button, the LED will fast blink 10 times to notify you have moved onto the next programming mode.

The tracker will record the configuration and reboot automatically after 2 seconds.

That is the end of the configuration modes. It sounds all complicated on paper, but as soon as you go through it once you will clearly work it out i promise! I can programme and re-program in less than 30 seconds!

Centring & Gain Procedure

1. Put the Head-tracker on your baseball cap or attach to your goggle system
2. Look north OR south, looking at the horizon
3. While holding the trainer switch in the ON position, Press the button and release
4. Turn your head to the left, then to the right, then look up and down
5. The Head-tracker will sense the maximum & minimum positions for Servo gain & centre
6. Press the button again to save the setting

It is easy as that! So far I have only needed to do this twice! Once while I was testing and the second time was to set it up for flight! Remember here is no drift.

Futaba FF7 / 7Cap Set Up

Ok, here is how I set up my radio system to use with the DT-3K Head Tracker.

As you can see, Im at the start screen on the radio computer – model named DT-3K just for this review.

Now I went into the “Basic” Menu system on my radio (Hold down the select dial for 5 seconds).

Now I scrolled all the way down too “Trainer” and then push the select dial to enter the “Trainer Menu”.

This is the “Trainer menu”, First thing to do is to change “INH” (Inhabited) to “OFF”.

You might think this part is strange as you want to turn it “On” Right? Well by default the Futaba trainer switch is “Off”, and will always return to “Off” once you release the training switch.

Ok, so I have set up my DT-3K to work from channels 6 & 7 – so I need to turn these channels to “N” (Normal).

Now when you hold on the trainer switch, the head tracking will work!

And that’s it, like I said on paper it all looks confusing, but get your hands on it, it all comes together perfectly.

Flying with the Flytron.com DT-3K Head Tracker Unit

Wow, this is a whole new way of flying! The DT-3K works 100% perfectly for 100% of the time! There was no drifting, no stopping, and no jerking at all! Where my head went, so did my camera all thanks to the DT-3K!

This head tracker is so precise, I tried to fool it – I moved my head in rapid movements to see if the heat tracker would get confused, but it did not skip a beat; It had NO problem keeping up with me! The unit is only restricted to the speed of the servos. Unfortunately, I don’t have any means of recording the flight right now – I was hoping to have my ground station built in time to post this review.

*I will add videos as soon as they come*

Pros and Cons

+ Small Unit

+ Futaba Plug Very Good Fit

+ Postage & Packaging is Good

+ Cable Between Unit And Plug Is Very Sturdy

+ Different Mounting Options

+ Good Detailed Instructions

+ Electronics Are Well Protected

+ NO Drift

+ Can Be Used Indoors

+ Perfect Customer Support

- North Or South Facing Only

- Button & LED Could Be Bigger, But Not A Major Problem

Summery

Not having another head tracker to compare with, or never using one before, I think this DT-3K is one of the top head tracking system made for FPV use. The reason I think this is because I found it simple and easy to set up and it does what it was designed to do – track your head. I could not fool this unit to give me false movement, it responded to every input I gave it. I really recomend this DT-3K to anyone who is looking to buy a head tracker, or want to upgrade to a newer one – I think this is it! Along with the great customer service, I feel you cant go wrong.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 at 7:00 pm and is filed under Reviews, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.