Park Zone Radio Hacks?

[dtknowles]

I will start with a little FYI for those that don't already know. The 5 wire servo's that come with Park Zone RTF planes (SLO V, J-3 Cub, Stryker) have no electronics internally just gears, motor and Pot. Electronics are in the RX/ESC module.

Anyone know a source replacement crystals for the Rx or Tx and crystal frequency for each of the 27 mhz channels. The crystal in these radios are soldered in but I have a mismatched Tx/Rx pair.

Other interesting unexplored issues with the Rx. Add on feature port (4 pin connector) for sonic module, bomb drop module, etc. another 4 pin connector for what maybe servo mixing or reversing using jumpers. Any info on these.


Tim

[JayFrancis]

Has anyone hacked or come up with a method to use a Buddy Box with these aircraft? We've had visitors to our club field asking if we can give instruction using the Park Zone or Aerobird type planes. Our current answer is "No", but I'd love to be able to change that...

Does anyone know if they use standard PPM, or is it something custom?

Thanks,
Jay

[Mr.RC-CAM]

Does anyone know if they use standard PPM, or is it something custom?
The HobbyZone signal is totally custom. Sadly, the responsible Far-East engineers must not have known that there is a standard they could have easily followed.

The signalling is a combination of variable pulse rates and pulse widths. The Tx's encoder is all analog (simple ring counter using caps, resistors, and diodes). From my experience, the exact pulse timing is all over the map due to the components' tolerances. It is a wonder they even work as well as they do.

RC-CAM

[dtknowles]

I have opened up the Rx's and Tx's I have and the crystals are marked as follows. Does anyone know what the missing numbers are and where to get these crystals. Crystals seem normal size and are soldered on the boards.

Channel Freq. ----------Rx markings ------------- Tx markings

1-----26.995 mhz ----------------------------- 1KT-15----13.4975

2 ----27.045 mhz ----------------------------- 2KT-15----13.5225

3----27.095 mhz ----3FZ-15---26.640----------3KT-15----13.5475

4

5 ------------------ 5F2-15---26.740

6 ----27.255 mhz----6BF-15---26.800----------6BK-15----13.6275


Any help with this or the jumper config. For servo reversing or mixing and any info on outputs of the sonic module port is appreciated

Tim

[dtknowles]

I have filled in the table based on the patterns but would like it confirmed and still looking for a source for crystals

Channel-----Freq.-----------Rx markings-----------Tx markings

---1-----26.995 mhz-----1FZ-15---26.540------1KT-15----13.4975

---2-----27.045 mhz-----2FZ-15---26.590------2KT-15----13.5225

---3-----27.095 mhz-----3FZ-15---26.640------3KT-15----13.5475

---4-----27.145 mhz-----4FZ-15---26.690------4KT-15----13.5725

---5-----27.195 mhz-----5F2-15---26.740------5KT-15----13.5975

---6-----27.255 mhz-----6BF-15---26.800------6BK-15----13.6275

Thanks

Tim

[Mr.RC-CAM]

another 4 pin connector for what maybe servo mixing or reversing using jumpers. Any info on these.
The jumpers are described below:

[dtknowles]

Thanks RC

My Rx only has Jumpers 1 and 2 but this help confirm what the jumpers are for. Did you read the instructions? The explaination for Jumpers 1 and 2 were the same but the titles were different. The legend was most helpful.

Thanks again

Tim

[Mr.RC-CAM]

The Jumper 2 instructions are incorrect, but the title is right. From what I understand, it configures mixing for conventional or V-Tail mixing.

There is a good chance your jumpers are not same, but these instructions will give you a place to start.

[dtknowles]

Yes, with those instructions I have some ideas to test.

now if someone could help with Crystals and the X-port

Thanks RC

[Mr.RC-CAM]

The X-port's four pins are:
Pin-1: BAT+
Pin-2: Throttle Kill (motor disable) input.
Pin-3: Demodulated R/C signal (X-Port sig) output.
Pin-4: Bat Gnd.

RC-CAM

[dtknowles]

Hey

Dude

Your knocking them off, Thanks. I will try to test my X-port outputs and see if they match you post and reply this weekend. I will hope that the demodulated output will drive a small relay or is it more like a servo signal. Maybe I will have to send it to a friend who has a scope.

Tim

[Mr.RC-CAM]

I will hope that the demodulated output will drive a small relay or is it more like a servo signal. It is a messy pulse frame with all data to all servo channels. The basic format depends on which Tx is being used. You will definately need a scope to reverse engineer it.

RC-CAM

[Windrider53]

Digging up a bit of an old thread here.

A coworker recently found and gave me a Park zone transmitter and receiver (yes, they match) that he thinks came out of the P-51. He did not get the servos with it. Now, I had already guessed, and this thread has confirmed, that the servos are simply a motor and a pot, but does anyone know what the connections to the motor and the pot are?

Also, does anyone know what amps / volts the motor controller on this receiver can handle?

Thanks in advance,
Greg W.

[xtal]

Crystals--- You could try RS xmod crystals...they might work but are plug in type
atomicmods.com had good prices 3-4$ per set