Is anyone flying sailplanes with a Spektrum radio?

[rogerflies]

I'm thinking about getting a new radio, and the Spektrum looks like a good deal. Is anyone here using one for their sailplane? How do you like it?

Roger

[OVSS Boss]

For certain things they will be great, but since JR has come out with the Spectrum modules for the 9303, that is where I will head in a bit.

Marc

[cosmicpossum]

From what I've read in the radio forum, the Spektrum is lacking in a few things a full-house glider would need in the mixing department. Best to check here and see what you think: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=604621

[Johnnie Paul]

Not in a full house congig, just rudder and elevator, but I am running a DX6 in my 2M Vista...works for simplicities sake...

Johnnie

[rogerflies]

This might be interesting reading about 2.4GHz receiver antennas:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?Q=1&I=LXPZT8&P=3

Download the instruction manual from the link just below the picture of the transmitter. The info about the antenna is on page 8.

Roger

[davidjensen]

This is what I want to know.

[BMatthews]

Johnny Paul, how has it been for operating out near your limits of vision? I'm asking because the DX6 isn't supposed to be rated for the sorts of ranges we see in sailplanes.

Also you bent the antennas so that they are parallel to each other for part of the run. That's not supposed to be the best way to do it. Ideally you want to keep them at 90 degrees to each other.

[Chipwillis]

I fly an Easyglider with a Dx7 and a ton of foamies.

I want to fly my Ava on it too, but have had some problems getting good range checks, with the AR7000 receiver. I will be trying some different configurations soon to see if it will work.

The modules coming will be great for my 9303, as long as I can build enough confidence in the receivers in Carbon Fuse planes!

[Johnnie Paul]

Johnny Paul, how has it been for operating out near your limits of vision? I'm asking because the DX6 isn't supposed to be rated for the sorts of ranges we see in sailplanes.

Also you bent the antennas so that they are parallel to each other for part of the run. That's not supposed to be the best way to do it. Ideally you want to keep them at 90 degrees to each other.


Here is a link to a post I made totally void of scientific value: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5835503&postcount=30

So far, the DX6 has been good to me...

Johnnie

[BMatthews]

Thanks for the link to your test JP. That's good enough for me! I guess I won't be worrying about range for normal sportflying any time soon. Doing that test on the ground without line of sight and through some trees and bush to boot and having it work is amazing.

[gorbash]

My advice follows the rest. I use the dx6 in 4 planes including an easyglider 2m and Ascent and have never had a problem at the max range I can see. As a long time ham with lots of microwave experience, I'm pretty comfortable that the range is sufficient in a wood, glass or foam plane.

I'm not comfortable with enclosing the antennas in a cf pod but may try it with them exiting the pod with almost all of their length hanging outside the pod in free air (not taped to the pod). Then the main issue is physical blocking of the signal and may still be a problem in some orientations.

[mlachow]

If you want a setup for a 6 serbo model with the DX7 or 7202, here is one.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6366749&postcount=6

[aeajr]

Any updates?

My friend is ready to buy a new radio system and has asked for my advice.

He flies

1) Fred Sage Compulsion 3M full house glider. - This links if for a Thermal Dancer, not the Compulsion, but they are similar in look and construction
http://polecataero.com/products/thermal-dancer

This plane needs about a mile range for competition thermal duration contests. Will the AR7000 work? Can the AR6100 do it?
There is no motor in this plane.


2) XP5 DLG is a 60" DLG - carbon/kevlar fuselage
http://www.polecataero.com/products/xp-5/-
Will the AR6100 work in this plane? Figure he will need 1/2 mile range tops.

Is the DX7 ready for this or or should I direct him to stay with 72 MHz for now?

[cosmicpossum]

How about looking at Futaba's new 2.4 ghz system? I've read very good things about it so far. No personal experience (yet)

http://2.4gigahertz.com/

[rdwoebke]

Ed,

Seems to me the DX7 and the 7 channel receiver should work in that Compulsion (if you are OK with the programming limitations in the DX7, Mike posts a good link to a way to make it work OK). Why don't you or him contact John Dinitz at Horizion? I hear he has been flying the DX7 in a Sharon (also a fiberglass fuselage like the Compulsion).

The CF bit on that XP could be a bit more tricky, but there has been a fellow here on rcgroups doing testing on a CF sloper.

Ryan

[SKY KING]

I have used 2 separate DX6 systems with two gliders:

The Easy Glider and a "Sula Bird" (Club glider approximately 100" WS).

A very peculiar thing happens to both gliders when launching via Hi-start. Upon powering things up, contact between the TX & RX appears normal, after launching the glider, about half-way up it loses contact :eek: . Iv'e gotten so used to it that I now react quickly and cyle the TX power. Contact is re-established and then the rest of the flight goes as expected.

I tried re-orienting the antennae - but the link continues to fail. Should video it sometime...

I'm convinced that there is an issue with 2.4 Ghz systems with regards to changes in elevation at relatively close proximity. Both systems will hesitate or refuse to communicate (sometimes requiring rebinding) with my other 1/2 dozen or so aircraft.

Very strange.

Iv'e witnessed the same symptoms with two other fliers. During a recent trip to the hobby store, the owner suggested that replacing the TX antennae seems to have helped one of those fliers. I reckon we'll see.

[aeajr]

How about looking at Futaba's new 2.4 ghz system? I've read very good things about it so far. No personal experience (yet)

http://2.4gigahertz.com/

The 6 EX is way too limited in its programming.

[A10FLYR]

Has anybody tried to add a spring to center the throtle stick on the DX6? If so how?

Dean...

[BrianSmith]

I see this morning JR 9303 will be offered in SS soon.. If I were a full house sailplane flyer, I would hold out for this if your really wanting SS... Brian

[aeajr]

The 9303 is clearly the best on the market, but a bit out of his budget.

He is focused on the Hitec Eclipse 7. about $220 with spectra module and 8 channel receiver. He currently has Hitec Flash 5SX and 3 Hitec receivers.

I have put the DX7 on the table for 2.4 GHz. $350 with receiver and 4 servos. If you back out the servos, the DX7 is only a little more than the Eclipse 7. No sailplane mixes but 6 free mixes to create them.

Then there is the Futaba 9C Super. A better sailplane radio than the Eclipse 7, for about $370 with synth and 8 channel receiver, or about 150 more than the Eclipse.

The JR is about $600 for the synth version with a receiver. That is compared to he $220 he has budgeted. That is 2.5X his budget. Too big of a jump. ;)

[rdwoebke]

Just offering an opinion here. If the cost of the 9303 is out of the budget I would personally suggest looking for a used Stylus or 8103 (or even a 783 or 388) over something that would require some hand mixing (unless perhaps you also got an added benefit, like perhaps 2.4 ghz). In the long run I think it would be a better move.

Since your friend is looking around anyway and not "got to have it this weekend!" mode I would imagine he could find a used radio in a few weeks...

Else if the Futaba fits the budget that would work too. But if your friend is looking at a $200 Eclipse and is for sure flying 6 servo sailplanes I know I have seen 8103s go for that and less.

If you go JR, I know for a fact JR service is great and if a guy bought a used transmitter for say $150 an extra $50 would be well spent to have it gone through the service check....

Lots of guys had 8103s and upgraded to 9303s..... That means there are used ones out there. 81s are great radios, but don't have quite the advanced programming as the 9303. They don't have flight modes (that I could tell) for example but neither does the Eclipse so it is a wash there. They do have built in sailplane 4 servo wing mixing and have a big user base to ask questions of (I fly a 783 on my 4 wing servo Psyko).

But just my 2 cents. Best of luck to your friend.

Ryan