MSI 2000 Owner's manual

Programming the MicroStar 2000
Version 1.1
Gordon Anderson
December 18, 2004
Rev 1.1

2
Dedication
I would like to dedicate this project to my Dad, Richard C. Anderson and my brother Dave.
My Dad created my interest in RC at a very young age. This interest in RC sparked my
interest and career in electronics.
Without his love and support this would not have been possible.
And to Dave, my big brother, who’s life was cut short by cancer, at an age of only 37.

3
Table of contents
Transmitter Front Switches…………………4
Transmitter Top Switches…………………..5
MicroStar startup………………………….. 6
MicroStar TEST IO startup option………… 7
Tachometer Module………………………...8
MicroStar 2000 Menu Options…………….. 9
Entering the Calibration mode…………….. 10
Select Aircraft………………………11
Aircraft Name……………………… 12
Timer………………………………. 13
Timer notes…………………14
SNAP………………………………. 15
Servos……………………………….16
Centering servo setup……… 17
Throttle servo setup……….. 18
Non-centering servo setup… 19
CH8 servo setup…………… 20
MIXER…………………………………….. 21
General Mixers…………………….. 22
General Mixer parameters…………. 23
VTAIL…………………………….. 24
ELEVON………………………….. 24
Dual Aileron………………………. 25
Throttle Hold……………………… 26
Idle Up…………………………….. 27
SWITCH……………………………………28
Options…………………………………….. 29
Options parameters notes………….. 31
Auto Trim………………………….. 32
Copy Aircraft……………………… 33
Shared Options……………………………. 34
Buddy Box………………………… 35
Table selection…………………….. 36
Table setup………………………… 37
System Setup……………………………… 38
System Setup notes…………………40
Voltmeter Calibration………………41
SPROM……………………………. 42
Configure………………………….. 43
JoyStick Cal……………………….. 45
Select Frequency…………………………... 47
Transmitter Switch Definitions, Front…………….. 48
Transmitter Switch Definitions, Top……………….49

4
CH7
OptionPreset
Mixer1
Mixer2
Mixer3
AIL DR
ELE DR
RUD DR
THT Trim
AIL Trim
ELE Trim
RUD Trim
Transmitter Front Switches

5
CH6 CAL RUN
CH5 CH8
SNAP L
SNAP R
ALT ARFT
AUTO TRIM Charge/Comms
Transmitter Top Switches

6
MircoStar 2000
Version 1.1a
When power is first applied you will
see the following signon message for
about one second.
53.3 MHz
Accept? Yes(No)
Retracts are UP!
Press Option
10.5 RA--- 00:00
CUB
Transmitter battery voltage
On time, or down counter. The down counter
is started by pressing the Option button. The
timer will beep three times at 1 minute, twice
30 seconds, once at 10 seconds and every second
starting at 5 seconds.
Aircraft name
R indicates RF is on, only applies when my RF deck is used.
A indicate alternate aircraft is selected
These three dashed (---) indicate the status of the mixer
switches. If mixer number 2 is on your will see -M-.)
After a 1 second delay this retract warning will be displayed
if it has been enabled in the Options menu.
Option
The second line of the display will also show a message
any time a function switch is changed. For example if you
switch the aileron dual rate switch to low rate, the second line
will read “AIL D/R LOW” for about two seconds then
return to the aircraft name.
MicroStar startup
When my
RF deck is
used, this option
will allow you to
start up the transmitter
without any RF output.
To startup using a default setup, bypassing
the data in the configuration SPROM, press
the Auto Trim and Option buttons then
apply power. Wait 5 seconds then release
the Option and Auto Trim buttons.
165 RA--- 00:00
CUB
Pressing the Auto Trim button will change the battery
Voltage display to the total on time of the transmitter
in minutes.
Auto Trim

7
MicroStar TEST IO startup option
OptionPreset
Hold down the Option and
preset buttons and apply
power. Hold the buttons for
5 seconds then let go.
ADC CH 00 = 022F
ADC CH 0C = 0200
Press option button to
advance from digital IO
to analog input testing. Then
press option button to
advance through all ADC
channels. The channel number
and the value are displayed in
HEX, base 16 notation.
Turn the MicroStar off and
back on to escape this mode.
Ignore this line
1 means the switch is off or
released if it’s a push button.
Digital IO lines
Port C Bit
7 CH5, SWH
6 Mix 3, SWG
5 Mix 2, SWF
4 Mix 1, SWE
3 Preset, SWD
2 Rud DR, SW
1 Ele DR, SWB
0 Ail DR, SWA
Port D Bit
7 SNAP L, SWM
6 SNAP R, SWL
5 ALT AKFT, SWK
4 CH8C, SWJ,C
3 CH8A, SWJ,A
2 Option
1 Auto Trim,SWI
0 RUN/CAL
Analog input channels
Channel Channel
0 Vpos monitor 7 Throttle
1 Gnd 8 Aileron trim
2 CH7 9 Elevator trim
3 CH6 A Rudder trim
4 Aileron B Throttle trim
5 Elevator C +5 volt monitor
6 Rudder
Port C Port D
1111000011000011
1111111111111111
0123456701234567

8
Tachometer Module
When the optional Tachometer module is plugged into the accessory jack on the side of the MicroStar
the second line of the display will read the detected RPM. The MicroStar detects the presents of the
Tach module automatically!
10.5 RA--- 00:00
2Bld RPM = 2430
Example display
The number of prop blades can be defined
in the MISC parameters, Different aircraft
can have different Tach parameters
Another unique feature of the MicroStar is
direct servo drive. Through the same accessory
jack any channel can be used to drive a
servo. This is helpful during programming
and testing.

9
[Select Aircraft] [Aircraft name] [Timer] [Snap] [Servos] [Mixers] [Switch] [Options] [Shared Options] [System Setup] [Select Frequency] [Exit]
[Mode]
[Minutes]
[Seconds]
[Enable]
[Throttle]
[Exit]
[SR Ail]
[SR Ele]
[SR Rud]
[SR Tht]
[SR Ail ?]
[SR Ele ?]
[SR Rud ?]
[SR Tht ?]
[SL Ail]
[SL Ele]
[SL Rud]
[SL Tht]
[SL Ail ?]
[SL Ele ?]
[SL Rud ?]
[SL Tht ?]
[Exit]
[Aileron]
[Elevator]
[Rudder]
[Throttle]
[CH5]
[CH6]
[CH7]
[CH8]
[Exit]
[Mixer 1A]
[Mixer 1B]
[Mixer 1C]
[Mixer 1D]
[Mixer 2A]
[Mixer 2B]
[Mixer 2C]
[Mixer 2D]
[Mixer 3A]
[Mixer 3B]
[Mixer 3C]
[Mixer 3D]
[VTAIL]
[ELEVON]
[DUAL AIL]
[THT HOLD]
[IDLE UP]
[Mixer order]
[Exit]
[AIL DR]
[ELE DR]
[THT DR]
[PRESET]
[MIXER 1]
[MIXER 2]
[MIXER 3]
[CH 5]
[AUTO TRIM]
[CH 8 A]
[CH 8 B]
[CH 8 C]
[ALT AKFT 1]
[ALT AKFT 2]
[SNAP R]
[SNAP L]
[Throttle Hold]
[Idle Up 1]
[Idle Up 2]
[CROW]
[Trigger Points]
[Exit]
[Auto Trim]
[Reset Auto Trims]
[Trim Zero]
[Clear Trim Zeros]
[Alt Aircraft 1]
[Alt Aircraft 2]
[Copy Aircraft]
[Set Defaults]
[Num prop blades]
[Retracks Warning]
[AUXOUT Control]
[Exit]
[Buddy Box]
[Tables]
[Exit]
[TX Volt Meter]
[TX Alarm Voltage]
[Reset Batt Timer]
[RX Volt Meter]
[Servo Min Pulse]
[Servo Max Pulse]
[Number Channels]
[Sync width]
[Shift Invert]
[SPROM]
[Configure]
[JoyStick Cal]
[FMS]
[Exit]
MicroStar 2000 Menu Options
These two menus apply to ALL aircraft!

10
10.2 R --- 08:23
KAOS
CALIBRATE
Select Aircraft
CALIBRATE
Press Option
CALIBRATE
Aircraft Name
CALIBRATE
Timer
CALIBRATE
EXIT
CALIBRATE
Snap
CALIBRATE
Servos
CALIBRATE
Mixers
CALIBRATE
Options
CALIBRATE
Shared Options
RUN CAL
Press
Option Moving Aileron stick
to the right advances in
the direct of the arrows.
Moving Aileron stick
to the left reverses
the direction.
Press Option from any
selection to enter the
selected function.
You can move the
Mode switch back
to RUN to exit the
Calibration mode
at any point.
The PC interface utility can
only communicate with the
MicroStar when this is on
the display!
Entering the Calibration mode
Typical Run mode display
CALIBRATE
Select Frequency
CALIBRATE
System Setup
Top level calibration menu, select the category of items
you would like to adjust.
CALIBRATE
Switches

11
CALIBRATE
Select Aircraft Aircraft #1 “name”
Aircraft #2
“name”
Aircraft #7
“name”
Aircraft #4
“name”
Aircraft #5
“name”
Aircraft #3
“name”
Aircraft #6
“name”
Aircraft #8
“name”
Press
Option
CALIBRATE
Press Option
Press
Option
Select Aircraft
Moving Elevator stick
up to advances in
the direct of the arrows.
Moving Elevator stick
down to reverses
the direction.
Press Option from any
selection to define
the aircraft.
When the Option button is pressed
the new aircraft parameters are loaded.
The RF deck frequency will not change
even if the new aircraft is on a different
frequency. You must cycle power to enable
the new frequency.
“name” will display
the aircraft name defined
for the selected configuration.
If the optional secondary
SPROM is enabled then
16 aircraft option will be
selectable.

12
CALIBRATE
Aircraft name Aircraft name CUB
This blinking cursor can be moved to the right or left
using the aileron stick. The character defined at the
cursor can be changed using the elevator stick. After
the model name is defined, press the Option button
to accept the changes.
CALIBRATE
Press Option
Press
Option Press Option
Aircraft Name

13
CALIBRATE
Timer
Timer
Press Option
to select
Press Option
No
Yes
Use Aileron stick to
toggle between yes
and no. Press Option
to accept.
Moving Aileron stick to the
right advances in the direct
of the arrows. Moving
Aileron stick to the left
reverses the direction.
Press Option from any
selection to enter the
selected function.
Timer
Minutes 008
Timer
Minutes
Timer
Seconds
CALIBRATE
Timer
* Use elevator stick to
increase or decrease
value, press Option
to accept.
Timer
Mode
Timer
Seconds 015
Timer
EXIT Yes(No)
This function allows you to define the flight timers parameters. This counter is started by pressing the option
button when you are in the run mode. Pressing the option button again will stop the timer. When the timer is started
again, it will start counting down from the starting value defined in this function.
In this example the counter
is set to 8 minutes and
15 seconds.
Timer
Enable Switch
Timer
Throttle
Timer
EXIT
Timer
Throttle 50%
Enable Switch
ON
Mode
Down Timer
*
# Use elevator stick to
toggle through all of
the selections. Press
Option to accept.
#
Please refer to Timer
notes for a
discussion of these
parameters.

14
Timer notes
The Flight Timer is started by pressing the Option button. The timer will beep three times at 1 minute, twice 30 seconds, once at
10 seconds and every second starting at 5 seconds. The Timer can be stopped by pressing the Option button while the Timer is
counting. Stopping the Timer will reset the count and when the Option button is pressed again the Timer will restart.
The flight timer supports three modes of operation.
Up Timer
In this mode the timer starts at 0 and counts up. When the time limit has expired the buzzer will sound warning
the pilot that its time to land. After the alarm has sounded the timer will continue to count up, this allows you
to determine the total flight time.
Down Timer
The Down Timer is the default mode. In this mode the counter starts at the programmed time limit and counts
down to zero. At zero the alarm will sound and the counter will start counting up. After the alarm has sounded
the count value indicates how long after the time limit expired that the flight continued.
Down Stop Timer
The Down Stop Timer works similar to the Down Timer except the counting stops when the limit is reached.
The timer can be enabled and disabled in using both the throttle position and a user programmable switch function. The two
methods are described below:
Throttle
Flight time is generally a function of the fuel consumption and this is controlled by the throttle setting. To allow
the pilot to factor the throttle setting into the flight time, the throttle stick position can be used to enable and
disable the timer. This setting is in percent of full throttle, if the throttle setting is above this value the timer
will run. The default value is 0.
Enable Switch
The Enable Switch option allows the pilot to define a switch to be used to enable and disable the timer. The
default value for this switch is “ON”.

15
CALIBRATE
SNAP SNAP SR AIL
SNAP
SR ELE
SNAP
SR RUD
SNAP
SR THT
SNAP
SR AIL ?
SNAP
SR ELE ?
SNAP
SR RUD ?
SNAP
SR THT ?
SNAP
EXIT
Press Option
Press Option
SNAP
SR AIL 50%
SNAP
SR ELE 50%
SNAP
SR RUD 50%
SNAP
SR THT 50%
SNAP
SR AIL ? Yes(No)
SNAP
SR ELE ? Yes(No)
SNAP
SR RUD ? Yes(No)
SNAP
SR THT ? Yes(No)
SNAP
EXIT Yes(No) No
Yes
CALIBRATE
Press Option
Moving Aileron stick to the
right advances in the direct
of the arrows. Moving
Aileron stick to the left
reverses the direction.
Press Option from any
selection to enter the
selected function.
The selections shown are
for the Right Snap button,
you will see the Left Snap
options as well, they are
not shown here for
simplicity.
SNAP
Use Aileron stick to
toggle between yes and
no. Press Option to
accept.
Use Elevator stick
to increase or decrease
the percentage. Press
Option to accept
changes.
The selection such as
SR AIL ? Allow you to
enable this channel (Yes)
or disable (No) this channel.
A disabled channel will not be
effected by the SNAP button.

16
CALIBRATE
SERVOS SERVOS Aileron
SERVOS
Elevator
SERVOS
CH5
SERVOS
CH6
SERVOS
Throttle
SERVOS
Rudder
SERVOS
CH7
SERVOS
CH8
SERVOS
EXIT SERVOS Save? Yes(No)
CALIBRATE
Press Option
Press Option
Press Option
Press Option
Press Option
Press Option
Press Option
Servos
To centering servo
setup.
To Throttle servo
setup.
To non-centering
servo setup.
To CH8 servo setup.
Use the aileron stick
to toggle between Yes
and No. Press option
button to make selection.
If Yes is selected the
new calibration parms
are written to SPROM.
Moving Aileron stick to the right
advances in the direct of the
arrows. Moving Aileron stick to
the left reverses the direction.
Press Option from any selection to
enter the selected function.

17
SERVOS
Aileron Aileron RT/DWN
Aileron
Center
Aileron
LT/UP
Aileron
Dual Rate
Aileron
Trim
Aileron
AT RST
Aileron
EXIT
Press Option
Aileron
RT/DWN 1.546mS
Aileron
Center 1.000mS
Aileron
LT/UP 1.976mS
Aileron
Dual Rate 065%
Aileron
Trim 025%
Aileron
AT RST Yes(No)
Aileron
EXIT Yes(No) No
Yes
SERVOS
Aileron
Press Option to select
Centering servo setup
# Use Elevator stick
to increase or decrease
the value. Press
Option to accept
changes.
Use Aileron stick
to toggle between
yes and no. Press
Option to accept.
Moving Aileron stick to
the right advances in the
direct of the arrows.
Moving Aileron stick to
the left reverses the
direction.
Press Option from any
selection to enter the
selected function.
This line will indicate
the selected channel
*
* Pressing the Auto
Trim button just before
the Option button will
cause the system to
calculate the LT/UP
position to result in
symmetrical values
about the center.
Auto Trim Reset
Aileron
Expo Hi
Aileron
Expo Low Aileron Expo Low 00%
Aileron
Expo Hi 00% #

18
SERVOS
Throttle Throttle High
Throttle
Low
Throttle
Trim
Throttle
Trim Mode
Throttle
Preset
Throttle
Exit
Throttle
High 1.944mS
Throttle
Low 1.134mS
Throttle
Trim 025%
Throttle
Trim Mode NORMAL
Throttle
Preset 0.975mS
Throttle
Exit Yes(No)
Press Option
to select
No
Yes
SERVOS
Throttle
Press Option
Moving Aileron stick to
the right advances in the
direct of the arrows.
Moving Aileron stick to
the left reverses the
direction.
Press Option from any
selection to enter the
selected function.
* Use Elevator stick
to increase or decrease
the value. Press
Option to accept
changes.
Use Elevator stick to
toggle between NORMAL
HIGH and LOW, use
Option button to make
Selection.
*
Use Aileron stick to
toggle between yes and
no. Press Option to
accept.
Trim Mode determines how the trim control will respond. NORMAL will result
in equal trim control at all stick position. HIGH will result in trim control only at
high throttle settings and LOW will result in trim control only at low throttle settings.
Throttle servo setup

19
SERVOS
CH5
CH5
Low/DWN
CH5
High/UP
CH5
EXIT
Press Option
to select
Press Option
CH5
Low/DWN 0.983mS
CH5
High/UP 1.540mS
CH5
EXIT Yes(No) No
Yes
SERVOS
CH5
Use Aileron stick to
toggle between yes and
no. Press Option to
accept.
Use Elevator stick
to increase or decrease
the value. Press
Option to accept
changes.
Moving Aileron stick to
the right advances in the
direct of the arrows.
Moving Aileron stick to
the left reverses the
direction.
Press Option from any
selection to enter the
selected function.
Non-centering servo setup

20
SERVOS
CH8 CH8 A
Press Option
to select
Press Option
CH8
B
CH8
C
CH8
EXIT
CH8
A 2.111mS
CH8
B 1.675mS
CH8
C 0.896mS
CH8
EXIT Yes(No) No
Yes
SERVOS
CH8
Use Aileron stick to
toggle between yes and
no. Press Option to
accept.
Use Elevator stick
to increase or decrease
the value. Press
Option to accept
changes.
Moving Aileron stick to
the right advances in the
direct of the arrows.
Moving Aileron stick to
the left reverses the
direction.
Press Option from any
selection to enter the
selected function.
CH8 servo setup