Mavlink doesn't work with switch in the flight position (away from pins)

Arducoper NG or ACM?
What steps will reproduce the problem?
1.Everything is connected for flight (ie. receiver, battery pack) GPS light 
stops flashing, which we can assume it has a lock.
2.Plug in USB and push connect @ 115200BAUD verified to the system's Baud for 
that port
3.Nothing happens, weights 30secounds and displays error like may need to make 
GPS link. Something about a boolean getparam or something.

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?
Windows 7 using Full Ardupilot Mega Traditional Heli Code

Please provide any additional information below.
The only thing I can do is get it to connect with the switch in the forward 
position(switch toward the servo leads) and it will display no data but I can 
edit parameters in the terminal mode.
rotorfreak7@gmail.com

Original issue reported on code.google.com by mclau...@uah.edu on 11 Jul 2011 at 3:19

coby7016 / arducopter

Mavlink doesn't work with switch in the flight position (away from pins) #205