Jeti Duplex DS-16 Radio
Written by Jay Smith. This feature-rich radio will tell you all of the things you've been missing. Online bonus video and 360-viewer. Read the complete article and features in the November 2013 issue.
If I had to describe the Jeti DS-16 transmitter in a single word, impressive is the best fit. The first time I held the 44-ounce radio in my hands, I admired its stout aluminum construction. Although the radio is slightly heavier than some other models, it is comfortable to hold thanks to the molded hand grips on the side and back of the radio. I performed the obligatory wiggle of the sticks. I was impressed by the smooth feel. The full metal gimbals have nine ball bearings and feature Hall magnetic sensors with fully adjustable stick movement and tension. The 3.8-inch, backlit LCD screen was situated on the top of the transmitter, which should make it easier to see, especially when flying. Then Zb from Espirit Model turned on the transmitter and it introduced itself in a synthesized female voice. Although it was an interesting feature, other than trying to impress my flying buddies, I didn’t see a practical use for it. That is until I found out that the radio is fully capable of providing voice announcements for any alarms or notifications you could want! You can have the DS-16 tell you any information that is located on the LCD screen, which will help you keep your eyes on your aircraft. It can also tell you a host of things that aren’t typically displayed. The voice you hear is your choice because the transmitter supports any voice or sound recorded as a WAV file. These files are easily transferred to the radio from a PC via the included USB cable. You’re probably thinking the same thing I was at this point—the possibilities are endless! You’ll not have to worry that you flipped an incorrect switch or initiated the wrong function, because the DS-16 can tell you when you have activated retracts, flaps, dual rates, etc. The icing on the cake was the accelerometers. The DS-16 is equipped with an inertial unit that precisely determines the orientation of the device in space. The unit consists of a three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer, and additional mathematic operations. You can freely use this inertial unit to control any function, trigger voice announcements, or even pilot your model. The demonstration radio was set up to work on the X axis. Tilting the radio to the left or right provided an audible voice announcing the remaining time on the timer. When the short demonstration was over at the Espirit Model booth, I reluctantly handed back the transmitter. I knew I was ready to step up to the talking transmitter and what it had to say can be used for so much more than just a gimmick! Layout and Ergonomics Looking at the top of the radio with the sticks facing you, you’ll find the carry handle and three plugs. From left to right they are the Charge Jack, USB PC Interface, and Earphone Jack. The radio can be charged using either the included power supply or with the USB plug connected to a PC.
The Jeti DS-16 comes with all the accessories seen here. Also provided is a nice aluminum case to safely transport it. Photo by Mark Lanterman.
On the top are the carry handle and (L-R) the Earphone Jack, USB PC Interface, and the Charge Jack. All radios sold in the US have FCC certification. Lanterman photo.
The top right quadrant houses one three-position switch, two two-position switches, a momentary spring-loaded switch, and a slider on the side. The switches are removable and completely programmable. Lanterman photo.
The top left quadrant houses three two-position switches and a three-position switch as well as a slider on the side. Lanterman photo.
A look inside the transmitter shows the preinstalled battery. On the top right is the preinstalled micro SD card. Photo courtesy of Jeti Model.
The top left quadrant houses three two-position switches, a three-position switch, and a slider on the side. The top right quadrant houses one three-position and two two-position switches, a momentary spring-loaded switch, and the slider. The switches are removable and completely programmable. Below the 320 x 240 3.8-inch backlit LCD screen are five function buttons which are used to aid in programming and quickly selecting certain options. The neck strap hook in the center of the transmitter is balanced, allowing the transmitter to hang flat when using a strap. Slightly above the neck strap hook are the on/off and charging indicators and below it are two rotary control knobs. The digital trims are located below and to the inside of the sticks. Between them you will find the power button, which needs to be held for two seconds to power the transmitter. On the bottom left of the DS-16 is the speaker and on the bottom right is the menu button, 3D control selector, and ESC button used for programming. The left and right control sticks have completely adjustable lengths. By removing the eight screws on the back of the case, you can also adjust the angle of the sticks, the control stick tension, and the ratchet tension. You can also adjust the throttle stick’s travel and change the Mode of the radio. It is important to remember that anytime you remove the back cover of the radio, the radio should be off and not currently charging or connected via USB. When the cover is removed, immediately disconnect the battery by unplugging the connector to prevent the chance of damaging your radio. If the battery is unplugged for more than a minute, the time and date, if set, will be deleted and need to be reset. No other settings will be affected. Navigation and Basic Programming The Jeti DS-16 is easy to navigate and programing is intuitive and straightforward. Although the manual provides an overview of using the radio and its programming, it can’t cover in-depth all of the advanced programing features. The manual is available online as a PDF and a link to it is listed in the “Sources” section. When you first turn on the transmitter, you will be asked if you want to “Start Transmitter.” You will be given approximately 10 seconds to answer yes or no, or you have the option to go directly into model selection by selecting the middle function button. If no selection is made, the transmitter will power off. You can choose to disable the startup question in the Configuration Menu. The main screen provides a wealth of useful information including the transmitter signal strength, selected flight mode, throttle lock, current time, transmitter battery status, model information, programmed alarms, and telemetry data. The more user-defined information you select will determine the number of pages for the main screen. Additional pages will automatically be added and can be accessed with the function keys. When you depress the menu button on the transmitter, the LCD screen will display the following options: Model, Fine Tuning, Advanced Properties, Timers/Sensors, Applications, and System. The 3D Control Selector, a wheel with a select button in the middle, makes moving through the programing screens, selecting options, and making changes quick and easy. To test some of the features and how intuitive the programming is, I created a basic five-channel model (using two aileron servos) without even reading the manual! The radio walks you through the process when you select Model from the Main Menu. When you select New Model, the basic setup includes Name, Model Type (Aero, Heli, General), Wing Type and Tail Type, Functions Assignment, Servo Assignment, and Servo Setup. Although I wouldn’t recommend skipping reading the manual before setting up a model, I confirmed that the programing is logical and basic setup parameters with provided illustrations, such as the wing and tail type, further simplify the process. Binding a receiver to the transmitter is done using a bind plug inserted into the EXT port on the receiver. Power the receiver first and then turn on the transmitter. The transmitter will display “Unregisted Receiver” on the LCD display and ask if you want it to bind. Select yes and the process is complete. At this point you are able to setup the Fail Safe if you wish, and then remove the bind plug. Safety is a key component of the DS-16 with its Throttle Lock feature. The throttle lock can be activated or deactivated from the Main Menu using the Function 1 button. It can also be set up to work from any switch on the transmitter. The LCD screen displays the status of the function to allow for visual confirmation of its status.
The Configuration screen is where you set the date and time. Distance and temperature can be set to Metric or Imperial..
The Home screen shows the author’s timer and currently selected model. Off indicates the throttle lock is activated.
The Main Menu shows the various programming options. The throttle lock on the bottom left can be activated or deactivated using the Function 1 button.
The Home screen view shows the capacity alarm, which is set for 1,620 mAh. According to the telemetry on the screen, the capacity is at 1,723 mAh.
Telemetry allows the pilot to review post-flight data. This is a graph view of the ampere draw during a flight.
The Accelerometer is an inertial unit that can be used to control any function, trigger any voice announcements, or even pilot your model. The author’s is set up to utilize the X axis. Tilting the radio to the left or right, it announces the remaining time on the timer.
Telemetry The radio I received for review did not include telemetry sensors or a Jeti Mezon ESC, so only the receiver pack voltage could be monitored via the receiver. I asked Joe Smith, who is a Jeti sponsored pilot, to provide an overview of Jeti’s telemetry options and a little insight into his experiences using it. Here is what Joe had to say:
As you may have guessed from the name Duplex, Jeti’s radio control system is bidirectional, allowing two-way communication with telemetry sensors that provide data on a model’s performance. Telemetry sensors are currently available to measure temperature, airspeed, GPS data, voltage, current, and capacity. Also available is a variometer that provides real-time data on altitude and rate of climb and descent. These sensors can be added to any setup and can be utilized in a few different ways. The Jeti DC-16 and DS-16 transmitters can program, monitor, and log data from all of these sensors. However, owning a Jeti radio is not the only way to take advantage of the company’s telemetry system. A device known as the JetiBox Profi allows users to employ Jeti’s telemetry system with any brand of radio. All four of these devices can program the telemetry sensors and Jeti ESCs. Each allows the user to adjust the settings of the individual sensors as needed. The Jeti radios and JetiBox Profi are capable of receiving inflight data, which can be logged and analyzed. Alarms can be set up to give warnings during the flight under certain conditions. For example, the MUI (current/capacity/voltage) sensor monitors main pack voltage, the current the system is pulling, and also the milliamps (mAh) that have been used. I set up an alarm for capacity so when it senses that a programmed number of milliamps have been pulled from the battery, it will give me an audible warning. This removes the need for a timer, so you can actually fly until the battery is discharged and not worry about damaging your battery packs. I also set up a voltage alarm, and this keeps me from flying with a discharged pack. Jeti is now including telemetry in some of its other devices. These devices will have a label of EX in the description. Some of these devices include receivers, Mezon ESCs, and voltage regulators. For example, the receivers all have a built in voltage sensor so you can monitor your receiver pack voltage. Although Jeti telemetry has advanced features, the system remains simple for the end user to program and utilize to monitor a model’s performance.Advanced Programing and Helicopter Setup The Jeti DS-16 is a feature-rich, advanced radio and I have only scratched the surface of its abilities. Look for the conclusion of this review in the December issue where I will cover some of the more advanced programing features and options, as well as an overview of the helicopter functionality. —Jay Smith [email protected]
360 Viewer
Video
Bonus Photos
This Month's Issue
Join the AMA
4 comments
DS-16 Best Radio I Have Owned
XMas Wish List
DX-8
How hard can it be.......
Add new comment