Quickie On Using My Transmitter For A Sim...

[Minimole]

Hi guys,

Im about to get a USB sim cable for my Hitec Eclipse 7.

I was just wondering if any of you know if I will need to have the TX on while using the sim?
If so, I was recommended to take the cystal out to save the battery, as it doesnt try and send out signals.
I know that when I am charging the battery (throught the charging jack in the TX case) I cant switch on the TX, but will I be able to have it charging while Im using the sim?

Its just that I dont want to drain my pack in the TX, as its the TX for all my models.
Or does using a sim use up very little power, if the TX odes have to be on?

Cheers, Duane :D

[safebet]

Don't know about Hitec, but I do not turn on my JR. I have found that working on the simulator uses very little juice from the battery. I wouldn't want to be trying to charge and use the sim at the same time.

You better check with someone who is familar with Hitec.

[Minimole]

Which is why I posted in this forum :)

(If I cant get an answer in here, Ill ask in the Hitec forum.)

Cheers, Duane :D

[KurtHübener]

Sims use the student mode and the student mode is not emitting HF (that's waht the teacher radio does). Therefore, radios in student mode suitable for the sim use far less power compared to a radio on the field. My 9c is running about 1 hr on the field but 10 hrs on the sim. Hitec, Futaba, JR and MPX cut the HF part by plugging-in the student (sim) cable. Sanwa has a different approach. With Sanwa RD you have to remove the chrystal.

When you are getting your radio, charge it and play on the sim. When going to the field, charge it again. Personally, I would behave irresponsible to go to a field without a fully charged tx, especially, as batteries are getting smaller and smaller these days.

[slipstick]

Your Hitec may need to be switched on or not.....you'll have to try it.

Despite what Kurt says most Futaba and Hitec Txs do not cut RF just because a cable is plugged in. It all depends on exactly how the cable is wired. In some cases they depend on the Tx being powered from the master but as sim cables can't provide power that doesn't help. You'll need to test it, or ask whoever you got the cable from.

If you find it does need to be switched on then you should take the crystal or module out. Oh and no you can't run it while connected to the charger.

Steve

[Malc C]

The general "rule" when using a simulator is not to power the TX from the recharger. The amount of current drawn from the transmitter when using the interfaces with the crystal removed is typically no more than 100mA or so, so there really is no need. There is also a chance of damage to the PIC micro as their supply voltages are typically limited to 5.5v and some TX's could end up putting the full 9.6v through them !

Best advice would be to remove the crystal to prevent the transmitter from transmitting and save battery power, and don't power the TX from its charger.

[KurtHübener]

"just because a cable" - certainly not! As this was a sim question, I was talking about sim cables and the sim cable in question does it as well as all the othe sim cables I know of INCLUDING the student cable.

"Tx being powered from the master" - I don't know of any system doing that. It would be against FCC/CE rules as this way, a problem in the student could endanger the power in the master. If that would happen with a 50 lbs model in the air, nobody would like it.

Student socket wiring is a pretty open story and there are tons of sources giving you the correct diagrams and I'm pretty shure that all the major suppliers read all that. Besides, it really is VERY simple (2 wires and a bridge for Futaba and Hitec).

Don't try to make a simple story more complicated than it really is.

[slipstick]

"just because a cable" - certainly not! As this was a sim question, I was talking about sim cables and the sim cable in question does it as well as all the othe sim cables I know of INCLUDING the student cable.
How do you know exactly what sim cable Duane has when he didn't say ? Anyway 3 of the 5 different FMS interface cables I've seen recently have not as standard had the RF suppression link. Also that link doesn't work on many older Futaba Txs.

"Tx being powered from the master" - I don't know of any system doing that. It would be against FCC/CE rules as this way, a problem in the student could endanger the power in the master.
Sorry but that's rubbish. The standard Futaba and Hitec training leads are both set up so that they work with basic buddy boxes which do not contain batteries. They do this by providing power to the encoder from the master Tx on Pin1. JR does not provide power from master to slave but Futaba and Hitec do. The one-way Hitec lead contains the RF suppression link, the Futaba one, which does not distinguish between master and slave ends, does not.

Don't try to make a simple story more complicated than it really is.
Don't over-simplify a relatively complex story based on your own painfully limited knowledge ;).

Steve

[KurtHübener]

"USB sim cable for my Hitec Eclipse 7" - sounds to me like this article:

USB Transmitter interface (http://www.hitecrcd.com/Radios/SIC/SIC.htm)

"I don't know of any system doing that." - so what? I DIDN'T know - now - thanks to your advice - I know a system that doesn't comply to FCC rules.

Still, the story is rather simple. The radio is in STUDENT mode and STUDENT radios don't emit HF. They don't do that because in that case we would have 2 HF sources controlling one RX up in the sky. That sounds like confusion.

Furthermore, I try to avoid unnecessary HF frying my butt or my son's brain sleeping next door. I wouldn't use a sim device that emits HF in my office.

Before we turn into more complication you could possibly name a USB sim interface that is NOT cutting HF? In case of Hitec/Futaba we talk about a bridge not beeing set in the plug so who doesn't have that bridge?

[Minimole]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the replies, but comon, lets not turn this into a big argument... :)

About the actual link, its one from Malc C, hopefully he can give a little more info.

Yeah, I guess Ill just see what works, just that I dont want to bugger my TX/cable/PC/all 3...lol

Cheers, Duane.

[Malc C]

Duane,

I've made dozens of sim interfaces for friends and I've never received any complaint about it blowing up the PC, TX or anything else. The interface is based around either a 16C675 or 18F2550 microcontroller which handles the detection and decoding of the PPM signals and the communications with the PC via its built in USB UART. It is recognised under Windows as a standard HID device and needs no installation of any third party driver. The interface emulates a standard windows joystick (so before anyone asks, no it will not work with Reflex XTR !)

The input is via two wires which is terminated in a suitable plug (6 pin din for Futaba / Hitec, 3.5mm mono for JR). On the 6 pin DIN plugs the link is installed which, in some transmitters, disables the TX's ability to transmitt. However I always advise users to remove the crystal to be safe, and also to conserve battery power.

Hope this helps

[slipstick]

Still, the story is rather simple. The radio is in STUDENT mode and STUDENT radios don't emit HF. They don't do that because in that case we would have 2 HF sources controlling one RX up in the sky. That sounds like confusion.

And that's exactly the crystal is always removed from the Student Tx when training with Futaba/Hitec. Normally just the encoder is powered from the master but if the student Tx is accidently switched on it WILL transmit.

As for sims:
1. Not all leads have Pins 4 and 5 linked.
2. Not all transmitters switch off RF even if Pin 4 and 5 are linked (try a Futaba Skysport - those pins are not connected to anything).
3. The only safe advice, as Malc says, is to remove the crystal or module.

Steve