Flysky FS-i4X User Manual

Introduction

The FS-i4X transmitter and FS-A6 receiver constitute a 4-channel 2.4GHz AFHDS 2A digital proportional computerized R/C system. It is compatible with fixed-wing, glider, and helicopters.

System Features

• AFHDS 2A: Automatic Frequency Hopping Digital System Second Generation, developed and patented by FLYSKY. Offers superior protection against interference, lower power consumption, and high receiver sensitivity.
• Bidirectional Communication: Capable of sending and receiving data, including sensor data (temperature, altitude), servo calibration, and i-BUS support.
• Multi-channel Hopping Frequency: Operates between 2.4055GHz and 2.475GHz, divided into 140 channels. Hops between 16 channels (32 for Japanese and Korean versions) to reduce interference from other transmitters.
• Omni-directional Gain Antenna: High efficiency Omni-directional high gain antenna cuts down on interference, uses less power, and maintains a strong reliable connection.
• Unique ID Recognition System: Each transmitter and receiver has its own unique ID. Once paired, they only communicate with each other, preventing other systems from accidentally connecting or interfering.
• Low Power Consumption: Built using highly sensitive low power consumption components, maintaining high receiver sensitivity while consuming as little as one tenth the power of a standard FM system, dramatically extending battery life.

Safety

Safety Symbols

Pay close attention to the following symbols and their meanings. Failure to follow these warnings could cause damage, injury, or death.

• ⚠️ Danger: Not following these instructions may lead to serious injuries or death.
• ❗ Warning: Not following these instructions may lead to major injuries.
• ? Attention: Not following these instructions may lead to minor injuries.

Safety Guide

Prohibited ? Actions:

• Do not use the product at night or in bad weather like rain or thunderstorm, as it can cause erratic operation or loss of control.
• Do not use the product when visibility is limited.
• Do not use the product on rain or snow days; any exposure to moisture may cause erratic operation or loss of control.
• Interference may cause loss of control. To ensure safety, do not operate in the following places: Near any site where other radio control activity may occur, near power lines or communication broadcasting antennas, near people or roads, or on any pond when passenger boats are present.
• Do not use this product when you are tired, uncomfortable, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Doing so may cause serious injury to yourself or others.
• Never grip the transmitter antenna during operation, as it significantly degrades signal quality and strength and may cause loss of control.
• Do not touch any part of the model that may generate heat during operation or immediately after use, as the engine, motor, or speed control may be very hot and can cause serious burns.
• Misuse of this product may lead to serious injury or death.
• Make sure the product is properly installed in your model. Failure to do so may result in serious injury.
• Make sure to disconnect the receiver battery before turning off the transmitter. Failure to do so may lead to unintended operation and cause an accident.
• Ensure that all motors operate in the correct direction; adjust if not.
• Make sure the model flies within a certain distance, otherwise, it could cause loss of control.

Mandatory ✅ Actions:

• The 2.4GHz radio band is limited to line of sight. Always keep your model in sight, as a large object can block the RF signal and lead to loss of control.
• Always store the battery in a cool, dry place.
• Do not use the battery if damaged.

Getting Started

Transmitter Battery Installation

⚠️ Danger: Only use specified batteries. Do not open, disassemble, or attempt to repair the battery. Do not crush/puncture the battery, or short the external contacts. Do not expose to excessive heat or liquids. Do not drop the battery or expose to strong shocks or vibrations.

Follow the steps to install the transmitter battery:

1. Open the battery compartment.
2. Insert 4 fully-charged AA batteries into the compartment, making sure they have good contact with the battery compartment's contacts and correct polarity.
3. Replace the battery compartment cover.

Connecting the Receiver and Servos

Connect the receiver and the servos as indicated below:

[Diagram: A receiver unit with ports labeled BAT and CH1-CH6. The BAT port is connected to a battery via a switch. CH1-CH6 ports are connected to servos labeled Rudder, Throttle, Elevators, and Ailerons.]

Operation Instructions

Power On

Follow the steps below to turn on the system:

1. Check the system and make sure that: The batteries are fully charged and installed properly. The receiver is off and correctly installed.
2. Toggle the power switch to its upward position.
3. Connect the receiver power supply to the BAT port on the receiver.

The system is now powered on.

Switching Between AFHDS 2A and AFHDS

To switch between AFHDS 2A and AFHDS, hold both sticks at the bottom left corner and turn on the transmitter's power at the same time. Wait for 1 second, then turn the power off again to save the new setting.

• AFHDS: The LED will light up for one second.
• AFHDS 2A: The LED will light up for one second followed by a sound.

Binding

The transmitter and receiver have been pre-bound before delivery. If you are using another transmitter or receiver, follow the steps below to bind the transmitter and receiver:

1. Connect the supplied bind cable to the BAT port on the receiver.
2. Insert power into any other port. If the receiver has successfully entered bind mode, the LED will begin flashing quickly.
3. Hold the bind key while powering on the transmitter to enter bind mode. (If the LED on the receiver starts flashing slowly, it means that the receiver has exited bind mode).
4. Turn the transmitter off and on again.
5. Remove the power and bind cable from the receiver. Then connect the power cable to the BAT port. (If the TX and RX have successfully bound, the RX's LED will be solid red).
6. Check to make sure the servos operate as expected. If anything does not work as expected, restart this procedure from the beginning.

? Attention: This procedure only applies to the FS-A6 receiver; different receivers may require different steps to complete the binding process.

Switching Between PWM and PPM Output Modes

This function allows the receiver to select two different output modes: PPM and PWM. When set to PWM output mode, all channels will output PWM signal. When in PPM output mode, channels 1-8 output a standard PPM signal. Setup:

1. Hold the left stick to the bottom left and hold the right stick to the upper right.
2. While holding the sticks in position, turn on the transmitter. After power on, if the transmitter's status indicator flashes green once per second, and the buzzer beeps twice quickly on startup then continues to beep in sync with the light, PPM is selected. If there is only a single beep on startup, PWM is selected.
3. Turn the transmitter off and on again.
4. To switch back, repeat the steps above.

? Attention: Some receivers either only have PPM or PWM, as such they will only work with their respective output modes.

Pre-use Check

Before operation, perform the following steps to check the system:

1. Check to make sure that all servos and motors are working as expected.
2. Check operating distance: One operator holds the transmitter, and another moves the model away from the transmitter. Check the model and mark the distance from where the model starts to lose control.

⚠️ Danger: Stop operation if any abnormal activity is observed. Make sure the model does not go out of range.

? Attention: Sources of interference may affect signal quality.

Function Descriptions

Flight Controls (Default Mode 2)

The sticks are used for controlling the aircraft; each stick has 2 functions. The right stick controls pitch and roll, the left stick controls throttle and yaw.

• Pitch (Right stick Up/Down): Moving the stick up controls pitch up (e.g., nose up), and moving it down controls pitch down (e.g., nose down). [Diagram: Right stick shown with Up/Down arrows and corresponding aircraft pitch movement.]
• Roll (Right stick Left/Right): Moving the stick left controls roll left, and moving it right controls roll right. [Diagram: Right stick shown with Left/Right arrows and corresponding aircraft roll movement.]
• Yaw (Left stick Left/Right): Moving the stick left controls yaw left, and moving it right controls yaw right. [Diagram: Left stick shown with Left/Right arrows and corresponding aircraft yaw movement.]
• Throttle (Left stick Up/Down): Moving the stick up increases throttle (e.g., engine power up), and moving it down decreases throttle. [Diagram: Left stick shown with Up/Down arrows and corresponding throttle control.]

Reverse Function

Channels 1-4 can be reversed. To reverse a channel:

1. Test the servo/throttle to make sure that the action corresponds as expected with the transmitter's controls.
2. If the direction of travel is wrong, toggle the corresponding switch located at the bottom of the transmitter, labeled as AIL (Aileron), ELE (Elevator), THR (Throttle), RUD (Rudder). Up position is reverse, and down position is normal.
3. Test the servos again to make sure the direction of travel is correct.

[Diagram: Transmitter front panel showing SERVO REVERSER switches labeled REV./NOR. for RUD, ELE, THR, AIL.]

V-Mix

The V-Mix function is used for models that have no rudder. It creates a mix between channels 1 (Aileron) and 2 (Elevator).

[Diagram: V-MIX label.]

System Customization

The FS-i4X's switches and knobs can be moved to other channels. Or if using receivers with more channels, the system can be expanded with extra switches or knobs.

By default, from left to right, the switches and knobs are channels 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Switching Channel Assignments

To change a switch or knob's channel, the system must be taken apart. The first step is taking the back cover off.

1. Remove any batteries from the system and replace the battery cover.
2. Remove the screws marked in green. ? Attention: Make sure the screwdriver you are using is not too big or too small. Failure to do so could damage the head of the screw.
3. Carefully pry the front and back apart; this may take some force. ? Attention: Don't pull the pieces too far apart, doing so could damage cables connecting the front and back together.
4. Carefully disconnect the cables connecting the front to the back.
5. Carefully remove the screws marked below in red (as shown in page 15 diagram). ? Attention: Make sure you keep the screws in a safe place.
6. Remove the power button cover from the front side of the system by inserting the end of a screwdriver under it and gently lifting it off.
7. Carefully pull the circuit board out and towards you. ? Attention: Remember that there are wires on the other side of the board. To avoid damage, do not pull or put any tension on the wires.
8. Make sure that the wires are fitted along beside each of the gimbals as shown above. ? Attention: Make sure that all switches are installed with the correct orientation shown above.
9. The connectors for channels 5 - 10 are marked in red on the diagram. On the circuit board, each channel is labeled, making it easy to find the correct channel. Follow the cables leading from each connector to identify which switch or knob goes to each channel.
10. Carefully remove the desired connectors from the board. ? Attention: Do not pull on the wires themselves, doing so may damage the connector or wire.
11. Replace the desired switch/knob connectors into the corresponding channel slot.
12. Put the circuit board back in place and replace the screws.
13. Put the back cover back in place, and squeeze the handle until the two pieces click together.
14. Replace the cover screws.
15. Replace the power button cover.

Adding a Switch or Knob

To add a switch:

1. Remove the sticker located on the front of the system and replace it with the new sticker with holes.
2. Remove the locking nut from the new switch.
3. Insert the new switch through the hole, making sure it is orientated to the same direction as the other switches. Replace the lock nut and tighten by hand or using a flathead screwdriver.
4. Insert the new switch's wire into the connector on the board.

[Diagram: Three views showing switch installation.]

Adding a knob:

1. Remove the plastic top of the knob by firmly pulling up, then unscrew the hexagon nut.
2. Put the top of the knob through the hole in the front cover of the system. Then attach and tighten the nut again and place the cover back in place.
3. Connect the knob's wire to the connector on the board.

[Diagram: Knob installation illustration.]

Customization Selection Sheet

This sheet allows selection of switch and knob additions for customization.

Knob Colors:

• Black
• White
• Silver Plating
• Silver Injection

[Diagram: Transmitter with labels pointing to Left Side SW 2, Left Side SW 1, Knobs, Right Side SW 1, Right Side SW 2.]

Package Contents

The package typically includes the following items:

• Transmitter (FS-i4X) [Image: Flysky FS-i4X transmitter]
• Receiver (FS-A6) [Image: Flysky FS-A6 receiver]
• Quick Start Guide [Image: Quick Start Guide cover]
• Update cable FS-SM100 [Image: Update cable]

Product Specification

Transmitter Specification (FS-i4X)

Receiver Specification (FS-A6)

Appendix 1: FCC Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment causes harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

To assure continued compliance, any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment. (Example: Use only shielded interface cables when connecting to computer or peripheral devices).

This equipment complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Caution! The manufacturer is not responsible for any radio or TV interference caused by unauthorized modifications to this equipment. Such modifications could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.