Backyard Edition XL Operations
If you have not completed the installation of Backyard, including registration of your serial code to get the unlock key, please see this section.
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Control Setup
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BEXL Menus
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Trouble Shooting
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R/C Basic
About the most important issue for BEXL operation is the Control setup, the connection to your transmitter. Before starting BEXL, connect your transmitter to the PC. Please see this section for hardware connection.
If you have the PIC Serial Interface (Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP), see the immediate section below. For the USB Interface, then skip down below.
PIC-Serial Interface (Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP)
From your system Control Panel, double click on System and you will see the System Properties dialog below, select the Hardware tab and click on Device Manager
Expand the Ports(COM & LPT) by clicking on the + sign which would expand to show your installed ports. Right Mouse click on the port you've plugged in the interface - COM1 in this case - and choose Properties. This would open the COM1 port Properties, make sure you have the selection as below. [9600 - 8 - None - 1 - Xon/Xoff] for the port settings.
You can now skip to Mapping & Calibration.
USB Interface - Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Only
From your system Control Panel, double click on System and you will see the System Properties dialog below, select the Hardware tab and click on Device Manager
Expand the Ports(COM & LPT) by clicking on the + sign which would expand to show your installed ports. Right Mouse click on the port you've plugged in the interface - USB Serial Port COM3 in this case - and choose Properties. This would open the USB Serial Port COM3 Properties, make sure you have the selection as below. [9600 - 8 - None - 1 - Xon/Xoff] for the port settings.
You can now skip to Controls & Calibration
Start BEXL, select Controls from the main greeting screen:
If everything is properly connected, the control dialog below will appear.
Depending on your transmitter type, you can select one of the available Configuration by clicking [Load Configuration] and select your type of transmitter. Most often, one of the predefined configuration will work with your transmitter.
To calibrate any of the control, click on the [Calibrate] button next to that control. For example, click on the [Calibrate] button for Ailerons control. Move your aileron stick (usually right stick) all the way to the left and right, then click OK. Repeat process of other controls. Then click [Apply]
If you would like to assign your own channel for custom stick assignment, you can change the channel number next to each control. There should be no duplication in channel number for the 5 controls. See below for popular Stick Configuration.
Click on [Help] will access the online-help. A quick browse of the topics is recommended.
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Airplane
This will display the aircraft model selection dialogbox. You can see a preview and description of each model. For Advanced Users only, you can tweak the parameters for a particular model by clicking on [Change Aircraft Settings]. Warning: changing parameters may "break" a model.
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Runway (airfield)
This will display the runway/airfield selection dialogbox. You can see a preview and description of each airfield. 
You can change the weather settings by clicking on [Change Runway Settings]. You can then change various environment elements such as Visibility and Wind.
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Restart
Restart the session to the beginning (take off) -
Throw
Hand Launch the model -
Exit
Quit the Flying session
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Pilot F1
Switch to Pilot (cockpit) view. This is not the RC pilot, but rather the view from within the model. -
Chase F2
Switch to chase plane view (behind model) -
Tower F3
Switch to the RC pilot (your) perspective, this is the normal default view.
You can record and playback a flight. This is useful for learning your mistakes. You can also change View (Pilot, Chase, Tower) while playing back a recording.
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Video
Video adapter settings. For [3D Rendering Device], anything less than Direct3D Hardware acceleration may result in poor graphics performance (slow frame rate)
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Controls
This will display the Controls dialogbox, see Controls & Calibration above.
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Sound
This will display the sound control dialogbox where you can control the level of various sound elements. Such as Wind, Engine, etc... -
Misc
Miscellaneous controls, such as Automatic Zoom and Show Explosions.
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About
Copyright Message. -
Keys
This will display the keyboard shortcuts for various menu and control items
Turn OFF hardware acceleration for Sound
Serial Port Connection/Communication
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Since the com ports may not be labeled, try another com port value, such as COM2. Make sure your port setting is [9600 - 8 - None - 1 - Xon/Xoff].
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If you have a palm device, such as a Palm-Pilot, you will need to turn off the "HotSynch" applet, as HotSynch will block communications.
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At times, the default Windows installation of the COM port driver may be faulty. Start the Device Manager, expand Ports, and remove (uninstall) the Communications Port (COMx) device. After rebooting, windows should automatically recognize the hardware and reinstall the driver.
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On rare occasions, a conflict can only be solved by changing the COM port value. This can usually be done by changing the BIOS. Look for "integrated" devices in the BIOS listing and change the Serial port assignment to a different COM value.
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Check this section for USB Driver Installation.
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Please note on the newer "C" chipset, run HidComInst.exe program in the \USBc folder of the CD to install the second stage of the driver (also download the "C" driver here).
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On some (fast) computer, plug-n-play may be too fast for the USB circuitry to "warmed up" in time to response; and an "unknown device" will be reported. Simply unplug and replug after a few seconds, preferable to a different USB port. Keep the plug squarely position against the USB connector during insertion, and plug in slowly (like plugging a device into an electrical outlet) not a fast jab.
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It's been reported that some older bios may have sporadic timing issue with plug-n-play devices. Open the Device Manager and plug in the USB cable, look at the [Ports] listing to see if a [USB Serial Port (COM3)] item is added after you plugged in the cable. You may have to re-insert the USB cable a few times until the [USB Serial Port] is registered.
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If you are still getting an "unknown device" when connecting the USB cable, check your bios settings for: "Enable Legacy USB device" and enable it.
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For Windows XP, open the [Device Manager] and expand the [Univesal Serial Bus Controllers] item. For EACH [USB Root Hub] items, right-click and choose properties, select the [Power Management] tab and UNCHECK [Allow the computer to turn off...]
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If you have a palm device, such as a Palm-Pilot, you will need to turn off the "HotSynch" applet, as HotSynch will block communications.
- If your transmitter is capable of both PCM and PPM (FM), switch to PPM mode. FMS requires PPM mode for operation.
- Unless you are using the power edition cables, make sure your transmitter's batteries are charged, and Turn On your transmitter for FMS operation. Some JR transmitter will turn itself on when the trainer plug is inserted (you still need the charged batteries!)
- You may need to turn off servo reversing on your transmitter for proper operation.
- You may need to turn off mixing on your transmitter for proper operation
- If you have the USB version, plug in the USB cable first before starting FMS.
- If you have a programmable shift transmitter (such as the Hitec Eclipse or the Airtronics RD8000), make sure the shift selection is appropriate for your type of cable (-shift for Futaba/Hitec, +shift for JR/Airtronics)
Stick Configuration for Fixed Wing Aircrafts
There are three stick configurations; known as Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3. By far the most popular is Mode 2:
Mode I
The rudder and elevator being controlled by the left stick while the right stick controls the throttle and ailerons.Mode 2 - Most Popular
The ailerons and elevator being controlled by the right stick while the left stick controls the rudder and throttle.Mode 3
The rudder and elevator being controlled by the right stick while the left stick controls the ailerons and throttle.
