Wingstabi flashes green then flashes red continuously

[frustrated_1]

I have what was sold to me as a new Wingstabi easy 7 channel. When powered on the green LED flashes green for a few seconds and then flashes red continuously. Instructions suggest this means that the WST is not receiving a signal. I have connected another SBUS (not SBUS 2) device to my receiver using the same patch cable and there was no problem. Any ideas?

[max_z]

This looks like the Wingstabi is expecting the "learning"-procedure. Have you got anything connected to the MSB input (the learning plug maybe)? Has it gone through the procedure before? If it is still in virgin condition you may have to go through that first.

Max.

[frustrated_1]

Hi Max,
The Wingstabi is fresh out of the box as it arrived to me. Unfortunately I'm quite certain that the item had been out of it's box before leaving the retailer. The learning plug is connected to the MSB port as directed but when powered up the LED flashes green immediately, indicating that it's looking for a signal then flashes red continuously and doesn't go beyond this. There is no output to any servo so no data is getting through. As you'll know, this is the first step in the learning process but it can't get past this stage. I have proven that the signal from the receiver is good.
Cheers.

[max_z]

The learning plug is connected to the MSB port as directed

That is what I was trying to say, with the learning plug in, the flashing pattern that you described is normal for the start of the procedure.
Do you read Dutch by any chance? I have just helped out a friend in programming the WST, and made a 1 page description of the process in Dutch.

Cheers,
Max.

[frustrated_1]

Hi Max,
The learning plug is in the MSB port but the flashing sequence is not normal. Under normal circumstances it should flash green until the signal is found and then flash green in the patern of 1,2,3 etc until you reach the end of the sequence. This one can't get past the first step of finding the signal so can't continue. Unfortunately I don't speak Dutch or German so this whole process is difficult. The retailer is German but doesn't offer any help and has directed me to this site.
Cheers and thank you for your interest,
David.

[max_z]

Hi David,
We still have a misunderstanding here: with the plug in, the WST expects a redo of the learning procedure, with the plug out it should find the signal and work the servo's, but initially without stabilisation. The led should be constant, I believe initially orange.
I will write up a shortened version of my little manual in English, but it will take some time.

Cheers,
Max.

[frustrated_1]

Hi Max,
When I say that the LED initially flashes green, I don't mean that it's going through the teach-in steps. It just flashes green continuously for a few seconds and then switches to flashing red endlessly. Nothing else happens.
Cheers,
Dave.

[max_z]

Hi,
Here is my procedure description:

Tx:

Assign channels as usual

set all mixers, dual rates or expo concerning the three main control directions, aileron, elevator and rudder, to off.

assign a free control slider/knob to a free channel, this will control the stabilisation gain ( and type: damping or heading hold) (I will name this channel AUX further down).

Rx:

Connect the patch cable between Rx (B/D) and WST (IN)

Connect your servo’s for AIL, ELE and RUD to the WST. Maintain the same channel numbers as on your Rx.

Connect your other servo’s to either the Rx or the WST (Not necessary for learning, can be done later).

Learning:

Plug the learning plug into the WST (MSB).

Switch on Tx.

Move the AUX channel to one extreme.

Switch on Rx and WST, the led will blink fast initially.

Wait until you see the led blink twice in succession, then move AUX to the other extreme.

After a few seconds, the led will start to blink fast again.

Wait until you see the led blink three times in succession, then move AIL to the right, and hold.

Hold until fast blink again, and you see the servo move to neutral. Let go of the stick.

Repeat this cycle for AIL left, ELE down, ELE up, RUD right, RUD left. The number of successive blinks between fast blinking increases every time (don’t try to count them, just stick to the sequence above)

If all is well, the led will continue to blink fast (green).

If at any point you missed a step, the led will start blinking in red, and you have to repeat the procedure from the start, i.e. where you switch the Rx/WST on. Remember to repeat the AUX-step as well.

Switch off the Rx/WST, and take out the learning plug.

Operation:

Where necessary, reinstate mixers, dual rates and expo.

Switch on Tx and Rx/WST, and wait until the led stops blinking.

Move your AUX slider into position and check the color of the led, red is Heading Hold mode, orange is Off, green is Damping mode.

Avoid heading hold mode for fixed wing aircraft, I advise to modify your AUX channel curve in the Tx in such a way that HH is disabled permanently and cannot be enabled by mistake.

Cheers,
Max.

[frustrated_1]

Hi Max,
It looks like we both posted at the same time so you might miss my last communication because it appears before your reply above. I have carried out all of the steps in your manual that you have very kindly translated into English for me.The problem that I am experiencing happens at the moment of switch-on. When I say that the LED flashes green initially, I don't mean that it's flashing teach-in steps. It just flashes green continuously in a steady beat for a maybe 3 or 4 seconds and then switches to flashing red in a steady endless beat. Absolutely nothing else happens. It doesn't enter into the teach-in at all. There are no green flashing patterns only continuous and endless red. The instructions indicate that an error in the teach-in will result in the red LED flashing 3 times in a repeated pattern but that's not what I'm seeing and as I say, the teach-in doesn't even start.
Cheers and thanks again,
Dave.

[max_z]

Hi Dave,
Understood. I don't have a Wingstabi myself, I had just borrowed it from my friend to sort out and help him program it. So I am afraid I cannot help you solve it. One thought: does it have the EASY firmware installed, or has it possibly been upgraded with the "CLASSIC" firmware? You could upgrade it with the Launcher to EASY and try again.
Cheers,
Max.

[frustrated_1]

Hi Max,
It's a Wingstabi Easy so no PC connection cable included. I am really grateful to you for all the time that you have spent on this for me. If somebody from Multiplex had jumped in on this they could probably have saved both of us a lot of time. Seems to be that Multiplex have no more interest than the retailer had.
Cheers and may the force be with you.
Dave.

[FrankS]

What receiver are you using, there was another thread on problems with some Frsky receivers.

Also it's not shown clearly in the manual, but the connection of the servos etc is upside down to most normal receivers, the signal line needs to be at the bottom of the receiver with the ground at the top (sorry if you've already done this, just trying to eliminate all possibilities)

[frustrated_1]

Hi Frank,
Thank you for joining in here. It's a Futaba FASST receiver. The connectors are wired correctly although it would have been easier if Multiplex had put that little illustration on the side rather than the top.
Cheers,
Dave.

[FrankS]

Dave, the only thing I can think of, if it is not faulty, is somebody has hooked it up to a PC and changed the settings so it's looking for something other than SBus. I use MPX Mlink so my Wingstabis are all with the built in Rx so haven't tried a link to another receiver. Do you know anybody with a MPX lead, you can check the Wingstabi very easy that way and also go through the Easy setup process on the PC, which is easier than following the lights.

[frustrated_1]

Hi Frank,
Unfortunately I don't know anybody with a lead. I bought the WST online from what I thought was a German retailer but it could actually be Austrian. It's a .at region whatever that is. The packaging was definitely opened before it was shipped to me so anything could have happened to it. Even though they are a big retailer, they have shown absolutely no real interest in resolving this issue. I had really hoped, indeed expected, a Multiplex Technician would respond here but they seem to be just as much lacking in interest
Thanks for your continued support,
David.

[FrankS]

David, whereabouts are you?

[frustrated_1]

Hi Frank,
I've made contact with a gentleman who has a direct contact path with the Multiplex Tech Dept and has agreed to raise my case directly with them. I'm going to leave the WST exactly as it is because it looks like it will end up going back to them and I want it to be just as I received it.
Thanks for your input.
David.