A step by step guide to setting up your ALTA 8 Pro
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ALTA Pro features swan-neck booms that fold compactly for travel. They are secured in an open position for flight using over-center latches.
Remove ALTA from case.
2. Unfold ALTA Pro Remove ALTA from case. Fold down all six/eight boom retention clips.
3. Open ALTA Pro booms. ALTA Pro can become unbalanced and tip over while unfolding booms individually, so unfold opposite boom pairs simultaneously to keep balance.
4. Snap shut all eight boom latches until they click and latch.
5. Visually confirm all latches are seated properly
6. Remove prop protectors.
Secure props with prop protectors.
2. Unlatch all eight booms.
3. Close ALTA Pro booms in opposing pairs to keep balance.
4. Fold up all eight boom retention clips to secure booms.
Care should be taken when storing ALTA Pro in its case to avoid damaging the GPS antenna and the telemetry radio. When storing ALTA Pro in a non-standard case, remove all antennas to ensure there is minimal/no contact between the external electronics and the case.
Batteries may be installed on either the top or bottom of an ALTA Pro and are always mounted opposite of the payload location. In both locations, battery packs are secured with silicone straps tensioned across the packs. The straps are secured using studs located on either side of the packs.
Always secure battery packs with both battery retention straps.
Ensure both battery packs are at a similar state of charge (a full pack voltage difference less than 0.5V) prior to connecting them to ALTA Pro. Plugging in two dissimilarly charged packs could cause one pack to rapidly discharge into the other and damage the batteries or cause a battery fire.
Only use packs that are identical in their capacity and at a similar condition. Using a pack with another that is larger, or has many more charge/discharge cycles, can damage the battery packs.
Always refer to and follow the battery manufacturer’s instructions, recommendations and guidelines for battery handling.
When plugging in battery packs, ensure the polarity is correct. Positive is indicated by a red power lead, and negative/ground is indicated by a black power lead. Reversing polarity will damage ALTA Pro’s electronics.
1.Place battery retention strap studs at the appropriate height to hold the battery packs firmly in position.
2. Adjust battery stops to fit battery packs.
3. Attach the single-hole end of the battery retention straps to the studs.
4. Place battery packs on the battery tray.
Do not install batteries directly on the lower battery tray if a Toad adapter is also installed. Either remove the Toad adapter or use the Quick Release Battery Tray.
5. Tension and secure battery retention straps.
Always completely secure the inverted landing gear by closing the TITH quick release lever. Inverted landing gear that are not completely attached can rotate and unplug battery leads.
Pinch the battery tray handles and slide to remove it from landing gear.
2. Attach the single-hole ends of the battery retention straps to the studs on the battery tray.
3. Place battery packs onto battery tray.
4. Tension and secure battery retention straps.
5. Slide tray with battery packs back into landing gear until the tray latches in place.
6. Ensure tray and battery packs are secure.
MōVI can be attached to either the top or bottom of ALTA Pro via the Freefly Toad In The Hole (TITH) quick release.
ALTA Pro comes pre-configured for GroundView mounting of MōVI.
Prepare your MōVI for GroundView flight (see MōVI manual)
Attach landing gear
Install TITH receiver on MōVI
Connect MōVI to bottom Toad
Prepare your MōVI for SkyView flight.
Remove landing gear (see MōVI manual)
Install TITH receiver on MōVI (see MōVI manual)
Connect and secure the supplied inverted landing gear to the bottom Toad.
Top mounting is not supported by the MōVI M10 without the keyed pan tube upgrade kit. If you are unsure whether your M10 has the upgrade kit, contact Freefly Customer Support for additional info.
Remove Battery Mount Quick Release.
Connect MōVI to top Toad.
If ALTA Pro is purchased as a bundle with a transmitter or FPV kit, these will be factory installed and ALTA Pro will be ready to fly out of the box! For customers installing their own receivers or FPV systems, please follow the instructions below. The guide details the first time setup process for ALTA Pro 8.
Radio Controller Receiver
ALTA Pro requires the installation of a radio control system. S.Bus, S.Bus2, DSM2, and DSMX receiver types are supported. Some ALTA Pro emergency control modes (Return-to-Land and Autoland) may vary depending on the type of radio. Refer to the Flight Controller Modes section of this manual for additional details.
Additionally, ALTA Pro supports radio receiver diversity using S.Bus, S.Bus2, DSM2 and DSMX receivers. This means two receivers may be installed, and the Autopilot flight controller will automatically use the receiver with the best signal quality. Using two receivers requires the radio controller to be bound to both receivers. Refer to the instructions provided with your radio controller to complete the binding process. For Spektrum radios a receiver is required to bind the satellites to a radio controller.
Locate the noted closeout panels used for receiver installation (between booms 2 & 3 and 6 & 7).
2. Remove side closeout panel with radio wires using a 2.0mm hex driver.
3. Plug signal wire into receiver.
4. If using telemetry, plug the telemetry wire located in the closeout between booms 2 & 3 into the primary receiver (refer to the Voltage Telemetry section).
5. Feed receiver antenna into lower antenna tube.
6. Secure receiver using the provided double-sided tape to inside of receiver housing.
7. Reattach closeout panel.
8. Route antenna wires into the two antenna tubes below ALTA Pro chassis.
9. Repeat installation process for dual receivers (if applicable).
Locate the noted closeout panels used for Spektrum receiver installation (between booms 3 & 4 and 7 & 8).
2. Remove side closeout panel using a 2.0mm hex driver.
3. Feed signal cable through panel grommet.
4. Reattach closeout panel.
5. Plug in receiver/satellite into signal cable.
6. Attach receiver/satellite to exterior using double-sided tape.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for dual receivers (if applicable).
ALTA Pro supports battery voltage telemetry on Futaba radios when using a receiver that supports an external voltage sensor, such as the R7008SB. Installing the telemetry wire is easiest when initially installing the receiver. To set up ALTA Pro with voltage telemetry for Futaba radios:
Installing Voltage Telemetry for ALTA Pro 8
Remove the closeout panel between booms 2 and 3 with a 2.0mm hex driver and locate the radio receiver wire bundle.
2. Identify the voltage sense wire and connector in the bundle. It is the small, 2-pin connector attached to a black and red wire pair.
3. Connect the cable to the voltage sense port on the primary Futaba receiver.
4. Reattach the closeout panel.
ALTA Pro can power a variety of first person view (FPV) cameras and transmitters, as well as add informational on-screen display (OSD) elements to aid in FPV flying. Using an FPV ground station display can be a useful method of monitoring status, performance, and flight parameters of the ALTA Pro during flight.
Three FPV transmitter cables are included with each ALTA Pro. Each supplied cable has one side with a connector that mates with a cable located in the closeout panel between booms 1 & 2. The other end of each supplied cable has specialty connector(s) to run Immersion RC, Fatshark, BOSCAM, or BOSCAM compact FPV transmitters. For cable identification, refer to the FPV Transmitter installation instructions.
A single camera cable is provided and is configured to run a Ready Made RC camera (model RMRC-700XVN recommended). This cable mates with a pre-installed cable located behind the closeout panel between booms 1 & 8.
Camera and transmitter cables follow this wiring scheme:
FPV Camera ALTA Pro 8 Remove the front closeout panel with a 2.0mm hex driver.
2. Locate the FPV camera cable included in the ALTA Pro package.
3. Pass the FPV cable through the closeout panel grommet and connect to the mating FPV camera lead inside ALTA Pro. Connect the other end directly to the camera.
4. Replace front closeout panel.
5. Mount FPV camera on the FPV mount on the front ALTA Pro using the provided hardware.
Mount FPV transmitter on the provided carbon fiber accessory mount plate
Attach accessory mount to boom 2 with M3x6 flathead bolts.
3. Locate the appropriate FPV transmitter cable. The following cables are included:
a. ImmersionRC/Fat Shark (cable with two connectors)
b. BOSCAM/SkyZone (cable with one large connector)
c. Compact BOSCAM (cable with one small connector)
4. Use a pair of dykes to cut the zip tie holding the braided transmitter cable to the corrugated tube on boom 2
5. Pass transmitter cable through the underside of the hinge, connect to the correct FPV transmitter cable, and plug into the FPV transmitter.
6. Zip tie the FPV transmitter lead to the boom 1 cable bundle and the FPV Transmitter mount for strain relief. The boom should be fully folded when the transmitter lead is zip-tied to cable bundle.
A number of properties and components can be adjusted or added to the FPV On Screen Display (OSD) using QGroundControl. To access these settings go to the the ALTA settings group in the Parameters tab of the Vehicle Setup menu.
The following components are displayed as text items, and can be configured to display as big or small letters, or no letters, effectively turning off the display.
The artificial horizon displays pitch and roll information in the center of the FPV display in the form of a horizon line and accompanying elements.
The following components can be turned on or off. These components do not have adjustable settings.
The folding propellers include two balanced carbon fiber propeller blades attached to propeller hubs, which are themselves secured to the motors. The propellers installed on booms 1, 3, 5, and 7 spin clockwise when viewed from above ALTA Pro, and the propellers installed on booms 2, 4, 6, and 8 spin counterclockwise when viewed from above.
For information on propeller installation and maintenance, refer to the Maintenance section of this manual.
Over time, the bolts that hold the propeller blades to the propeller hub can loosen due to vibration. To check propeller bolt tightness, twist the propeller about its length. If there is free play, the propeller bolt is too loose. Use the provided 2.5mm hex driver and wrench to tighten the bolt and nut that secure the propeller blade just enough to remove the play.
ALTA Pro’s Flight Controller comes pre-tuned for a wide variety of payloads and flying conditions. Generally, additional tuning is not required to fly ALTA Pro, and will only need to take place if more customization of control feel is desired. Default tuning values are included in Appendix A, Default Tuning Values.
Parameters fall into three categories: Rate, Attitude, and Position. Typically, tuning should take place in that order, ensuring Rate parameters are set first, then moving to Attitude parameters, and finally Position parameters.
Before tuning, users should read and become familiar with the .To tune ALTA Pro, open the ALTA Pro QGroundControl connect to your ALTA Pro and navigate to the Multicopter Attitude Control and Multicopter Position Control parameters groups under the Parameter Tab in the Vehicle Setup menu. Once you have found the parameter pages follow the instructions in the .
Cable Color
Function
Red
+12 VDC
Black
Ground
Yellow
Video signal
Name
Options
Description
OSD_ENABLE
Enabled/Disabled
Turns OSD on or off
OSD_PAL_NTSC
PAL / NTSC
Indicates the FPV video camera format to PX4
OSD_UNITS
Metric / Imperial
Changes the displayed units
OSD_HOR_OS
Min: 1
Centers the OSD components horizontally
OSD_VER_OS
Min: 1
Centers the OSD components vertically
OSD_LEFT_OS
Min: 1
Controls the margin to the left of the OSD
OSD_LOWER_OS
Min: 1
Controls the margin underneath the OSD
OSD_RIGHT_OS
Min: 1
Controls the margin to the right of the OSD
OSD_UPPER_OS
Min: 1
Controls the margin above the OSD
OSD_BAT_ALARM
3.000 - 4.200
Sets battery cell levels that trigger an on screen warning
OSD_MAX_ALTITUDE
Min: 1.000
Default: 121.900
Creates an on screen warning when exceeding the set max altitude (meters)
OSD_MAX_CLIMB
Min: 0.000
Default: 3.500
Creates an on screen warning when exceeding the set max climbing rate (meters per second)
OSD_MAX_RANGE
Min: 1.000
Default: 1000.000
Creates an on screen warning when exceeding the set max range (meters)
OSD_MAX_VELOCITY
Min: 1.000
Default: 20.000
Creates an on screen warning when exceeding the set max velocity (meters per second)
OSD_GND_BRIGHT
0 - 16
Increases of decreases the brightness of the ground
OSD_SKY_BRIGHT
0 - 16
Increased and decreases the brightness of the sky
Name
Description
OSD_SHOW_HEIGHT
Displays the height of ALTA Pro from its starting point in meters or feet
OSD_SHOW_VARIO
Displays the vertical speed of ALTA Pro in meters per second or feet per minute
OSD_SHOW_HEADING
Displays the magnetic heading of ALTA Pro and is measured in degrees
OSD_DISTANCE
Displays the horizontal distance along the ground ALTA Pro is from the initialization position in meters or feet
OSD_GROUNDSPEED
Displays the ground speed of ALTA Pro in meters per second or knots
OSD_SHOW_BATTERY
Displays the voltage of the flight battery packs
OSD_SHOW_TIME
Displays the time of the flight in minutes and seconds
OSD_SHOW_GPS
Displays the number of GPS satellites in view
OSD_SHOW_GPSHACC
Displays the horizontal accuracy of the GPS signal in meters or feet
OSD_SHOW_LATLON
Displays the GPS derived latitude and longitude coordinates of ALTA Pro
OSD_ROLL_MARKER
Adds indicators to the artificial horizon that indicate changes in roll
OSD_SHOW_ATT
Adds an attitude indicator on screen
OSD_SHOW_BATTERY
Adds a battery voltage indicator on screen
Name
Options
Description
OSD_ROLL_MARKER
Off-Small-Large
Turns off all artificial horizon components
OSD_PITCH_SCALE
1 - 200
Allows for scaling of the artificial horizon markings to compensate for FPV cameras of different field views
OSD_PITCH_IN
1 - 180
Sets the number of degrees between pitch markings when the artificial horizon ladder is used
OSD_ROLL_SCALING
1 - 200
Allows for scaling of the artificial horizon markings to compensate for FPV cameras of different field views
Name
Description
OSD_HEADINGARROW
Displays an arrow that points in the direction of north
OSD_HOMEARROW
Displays an arrow that points in the direction of the initialization point
OSD_VARIOGFX
Displays a bar on the right of the screen that scales with vertical speed. The bar will increase in length up to indicate a climb, or down to indicate a descent
OSD_SPEEDGFX
Displays a bar on the left of the screen that scales with the forward/rearward velocity component
The bar will extend up to indicate forward velocity, or down to indicate a rearward velocity
OSD_SIDESLIPGFX
Displays a bar on the bottom of the screen that scales with the side-to-side velocity component
The bar will extend left to indicate leftward velocity, or right to indicate rightward velocity
This wire is already connected to an in-line fuse. Soldering a fuse into this wire is not required.
It is the responsibility of the pilot to see and avoid other aircraft, people, or obstacles. Always maintain direct line of sight with ALTA Pro during flight, use visual observers as operations require, and follow local regulations regarding see-and-avoid requirements.
Do not short the pins of the FPV transmitter connector located on the pre-installed FPV transmitter lead in the ALTA Pro. Doing so could damage the on-screen display circuit. If using a multimeter to check the pins, first connect one of the provided transmitter cables, then take voltage readings from the transmitter cable.
Only use propellers supplied by Freefly on ALTA Pro. Use of third-party propellers can cause motor instability, overheating, and failure.
In rare cases propellers can experience icing, this occurs when ice begins to form on the tips and underside of the blades due to temperature and humidity. This will cause the props to become unbalanced, increases drag and reduces lift. Flying with iced blades can be dangerous and is not advised
Do not overtighten, or the propeller may fail to unfold completely during motor start up, leading to excessive vibration.
Tuning can change the fundamental flying characteristics of ALTA Pro. It is possible for ALTA Pro to become unstable or even uncontrollable if values are set too high or too low. Only change tuning parameters in small increments and with caution. Always test new tuning configurations in open areas away from people or obstacles.
While ALTA Pro QGroundControl allows users to tune their ALTA Pro in the air we suggest changing tuning values while ALTA Pro is on the ground as a precautionary measure.
When making configuration changes with ALTA Pro QGroundControl, make sure to save each parameter as you change them!
ALTA Pro can be used with a variety of radio controllers. Different radio controllers can map functions to different channels, so properly mapping controller channels to ALTA Pro functions is an important step before flying. Radio calibration and channel mapping are performed using the ALTA Pro QGroundControl program or app.
If you are uncertain about your radio channel mapping, obtain assistance from an experienced pilot or from Freefly Customer Support.
Calibrating any compatible radio is done using the ALTA Pro QGroundControl app. This only needs to be done when using a new radio with the ALTA Pro; ALTA Pros that were bought with a radio have already gone through the Calibration and Mapping procedures.
Power the ALTA Pro by plugging in a USB-C cable to the expansion port.
The expansion port is located under the closeout between booms 1 and
Once connected, the ALTA electronics will be powered and you may turn on the radio.
Open the ALTA QGroundControl program, navigate to the Radio tab in the Vehicle Setup menu, and then initiate the radio calibration.
Make sure to reset all trims and subtrims to zero before continuing with calibrating and mapping your radio.
Set the transmitter mode radio button that matches your radio configuration (this ensures that QGroundControl displays the correct stick positions for you to follow during calibration).
Move the sticks to the positions indicated in the text (and on the radio image). Press Next when the sticks are in position. Repeat for all positions.
When prompted, move all other switches and dials through their full range (you will be able to observe them moving on the Channel Monitor).
Press Next to save the settings.
Radio channel mapping is accomplished with the Alta Pro Qgroundcontrol App. Prior to mapping channels, ensure your radio controller and receivers are properly installed and calibrated. Refer to the Radio Installation section of this manual and your radio controller’s documentation.
Power the ALTA Pro by plugging in a USB-C cable to the expansion port. The expansion port is located under the closeout between booms 1 and 2
Once connected, the ALTA electronics will be powered and you may turn on the transmitter.
Open the ALTA QGroundControl program, navigate to the Flight Mode tab in the Vehicle Setup menu for access to the channel mapping.
Channel mapping can be customized by the user on this menu to fit their preferences. Below is a quick description of the items mapped to the transmitter and suggested channels for each mapped item.
The following functions can be mapped to radio controller channels. These are found in the Radio section of the Configurations menu in ALTA QGroundControl. Each function is also represented by a chart that responds to control input allowing for quick verification of mapping settings.
Use this to select the appropriate receiver. The following guide is compiled for convenience. For complete specifications and which mode will work with your receiver, refer to your radio controller or receiver manuals. DSM2/DSMX are typically used by Spektrum controllers SBUS is typically used by Futaba controllers
The Pitch, Roll, Yaw and Throttle controls are the basic flight controls and are mapped to the two radio controller sticks.
The required Mode Switch selects between the three different flight modes: Manual, Altitude, and Position. A three-position switch is recommended to select the three different modes. However, a two-position switch may be used, but will only allow for selecting between Manual Mode and (depending on radio controller mixes) either Altitude Mode or Height Mode
The optional Return to Home Switch selects between the different Return-to-Land (RTH) functions. At minimum a two-position switch is required for the Home Switch functions to select between RTL Off, and initiate RTL functions.
The following radio channel mapping configurations are recommendations only and can be set in ALTA QGroundControl. Depending on exact radio models, these may help as an initial configuration. However, it is up to the pilot setting up ALTA Pro for flight to determine if these settings are appropriate.
Function
Channel Number
Direction
Pitch
2
Normal
Roll
1
Normal
Yaw
4
Normal
Throttle
3
Reverse
Mode Switch
5
Normal
Home Switch
6
Normal
Function
Channel Number
Direction
Pitch
3
Reverse
Roll
2
Reverse
Yaw
4
Reverse
Throttle
1
Normal
Mode Switch
6
Reverse
Home Switch
7
Normal
DO NOT CHANGE FLIGHT CONTROLLER TUNING VALUES WITHOUT A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE TUNING PROCESS. A poorly tuned sUAV is dangerous and can result in property damage, injury, and death.
ALTA Pro QGroundControl allows users to save, load, and reset all of ALTA Pro’s parameters. This is useful when trying to save certain parameters that will need to used again in the future or when troubleshooting and needing to get back to a known good state.
Saving parameters can be done in the Parameters tab of the Vehicle Setup menu. Navigate to the ‘Tools’ menu in the top right hand corner of the window and select ‘Save to file…’ from the dropdown. Then select a file name and folder to save to.
Loading parameters is also done from the Parameters tab of the Vehicle Setup menu. Navigate to the ‘Tools’ menu in the top right hand corner of the window and select ‘Load from file…’ from the dropdown. Then select the desired .params file to load.
To reset all ALTA Pro’s parameters to the ALTA Pro defaults follow the Loading Parameters instructions and load the ALTA Pro Default Parameters file. This can be found on the ALTA Pro support page.
Selecting the ‘Reset all to defaults’ option in the Tools menu will reset all parameters to the QGroundControl defaults. These are not the same as the ALTA Pro default parameters. To reset to ALTA Pro defaults load the ALTA PRO Default Parameters to the aircraft.
Different Isolator Cartridges can be used to fine tune vibration damping performance for different payload weights or ambient temperatures. Three isolation cartridge styles are provided with ALTA Pro. The cartridges have colored o-rings: red for light payloads or cold ambient temperature, teal for medium payloads or typical ambient temperature, and black for heavy payloads or hot ambient temperature. Flight testing may be required to determine the optimal isolator for a given setup.
To install, place the cartridges between the top chassis plate and the battery plate. Ensure they are engaged in the track features and are parallel with the chassis and battery plate. Push inwards fully until they click, indicating the cartridges are locked in place. Pull outwards on the cartridge to ensure it is locked.
To remove, pinch the cartridge latch to unlock it from the battery and chassis plate, and slide it outwards to disengage. Simultaneously pull the battery and chassis plate apart while pulling the cartridge outward.
ALTA Pro QGroundControl allows users to alter many additional parameters that do not affect the Flight Controller characteristics of ALTA Pro. These parameters are used to select neutral points using trim or to set maximum or minimum values for a variety of different settings. These settings can be found under the Tuning and Parameters tabs in the Vehicle Setup menu.
We have compiled a list of the most important ALTA Pro Flight parameters in the Tuning Tab under the Vehicle Setup Menu. Ensure you have an understanding of what the characteristic of the ALTA Pro a parameter effects before changing it.
QGroundControl allows users to customize ALTA Pro’s fail safes and safety parameters. These options are found under the Safety tab in the Vehicle Setup menu.
This set of parameters allows users to select when battery levels warnings are triggered and what the aircrafts failsafe is when this threshold is met.
This parameter determines the flight mode ALTA Pro will enter if it detects a Loss-of-Signal (LOS). Selecting ‘Land at Current Position’ will cause ALTA Pro to Autoland in place when the LOS is detected. Selecting ‘Return to Land’ will cause ALTA Pro to Return-to-Land and then Autoland when the LOS is detected.
Used to set the RTL altitude, loiter time, and RTL behavior.
This adjusts the descent rate of the ALTA Pro during Autoland in meters per second. This value is applied to the Autoland descent profile for the final 15 meters above the ground until landing. This option also provides the option to automatically disarm ALTA Pro after landing.
Always ensure isolator cartridges are locked in place before flying ALTA Pro. Isolator cartridges that are not locked can cause the payload to loosen and change ALTA Pro’s fundamental flying characteristics.
Users should understand the effect of parameter settings before changing them. Incorrect or poorly chosen parameters can result in crashes, injury, or death. You can always reset all parameters to defaults by following the Reset to Default instructions.
Use the search bar at the top of the Parameters tab to quickly find any settings!
You may need to update the Hover Throttle when changing payloads to optimize ALTA Pro’s flight performance. The Hover Throttle settings can be found under the ALTA Configuration Setup tab or in the Parameters tab.
If you are unsure of what characteristics a parameter effects please reach out to Freefly’s Customer Support Team for clarification.
ALTA Pro features a highly sensitive 3-axis magnetometer, gyroscope, and accelerometer that measure specific force, angular rate, and earth’s magnetic field to infer heading and maintain stability. Occasionally, the sensors will require recalibration.
ALTA Pro’s compass should be regularly calibrated, especially when traveling between different geographic locations. For best results, it is recommended to perform manual compass calibrations away from ferrous objects, buildings and vehicles. In addition, concrete can contain steel rebar which may influence compass calibrations
Perform calibration without a payload attached and all motor booms extended and latched. Folded booms will cause an inaccurate calibration.
It is recommended to use two people to perform the compass calibration as it requires handling and rotating ALTA Pro.
Mount a pair of batteries onto ALTA Pro.
Plug in the batteries to power up the aircraft.
Open the ALTA Pro QGroundControl and connect to ALTA Pro.
Navigate to the Sensors tab under Vehicle Setup.
Available sensors are displayed as a list of buttons beside the sidebar. Sensors marked with green are already calibrated. Sensors marked with red require calibration prior to flight.
Click on the button for each sensor to start its calibration sequence and follow the instructions provided in the ALTA Pro QGroundControl.
Start by selecting Set Orientations and set the autopilot orientation
Autopilot Orientation: ROTATION_YAW_270
Follow the instructions below to perform a compass calibration on ALTA Pro. Compass calibrations should be done when flying in a new location or when ALTA Pro QGroundControl prompts a calibration.
Click the Compass sensor button.
Click OK to start the calibration.
Place the vehicle in any of the orientations shown in red (incomplete) and hold it still. Once prompted (the orientation-image turns yellow), rotate the vehicle around the specified axis in either/both directions. Once the calibration is complete in that orientation the associated image on the screen will turn green.
Repeat the calibration process for all vehicle orientations.
Follow the instructions below to perform an accelerometer calibration on ALTA Pro. Accelerometer calibrations should only be done when prompted by ALTA Pro QGroundControl.
Click the Accelerometer sensor button.
Click OK to start the calibration.
Position the vehicle as guided by the images on the screen. This is very similar to compass calibration.
Follow the instructions below to perform a level horizon calibration on ALTA Pro. Horizon calibrations should only be done if the horizon (as shown in the HUD) is not level after completing Accelerometer calibration.
Click the Level Horizon sensor button.
Place the vehicle in its level flight orientation on a level surface.
Click OK to start the calibration.
Connect to ALTA Pro using the Radio Modem or USB
Go to the System Parameters under the Parameter tab in the Vehicle Setup menu and find the SYS_COMPANION parameter.
Change the SYS_COMPANION parameter to ‘ESP8266 (921600 baud, 8N1)’ and restart ALTA Pro to enable the WiFi connection.
To enable WiFi connectivity follow the steps below!
Please read this entire section if you intend to use the WiFi feature of ALTA Pro.
When flying multiple aircraft with WiFi enabled, take extreme caution to ensure that the aircraft connected to the laptop/mobile device is the desired craft. Failing to connect to the correct device may result in an inadvertently arming a aircraft or disarming one that is inflight.
ALTA Pro allows users to update the system’s WiFi password and SSID. All ALTA Pro’s initially come with WiFi disabled for safety reasons.
Once you have enabled ALTA Pro’s WiFi, change the password and SSID from their defaults!
Connect to ALTA Pro’s WiFi using the initial password listed below
SSID: [off] AltaPro-<serial number>; eg. [off] AltaPro-781880
Password: altaalta
Open your prefered web browser and go to 192.168.4.1
Select setup, then update the SSID and password. Make sure to make the password is eight characters long, secure, and noted down somewhere in case you forget!
Do not change any of the other menu items!
ALTA Pro passwords must be longer than eight characters and should be unique for each ALTA Pro. Do not use the same password on multiple machines!
We suggest not selecting ‘Connect Automatically’ when using WiFi to connect to ALTA Pro and clearly labeling each 900/868MHz RX/TX pair.
4. Once the password and SSID have been updated, hit the save button at the bottom of the menu. 5. Power cycle ALTA Pro and ensure you can connect to ALTA pro using the new password. 6. Connect to Futaba radio system and confirm both receivers work and system arms.
