AVA on 2.4

[marc 540]

Hi all,
could somebody post pic's of the AVA with a 2.4 radio setup. I was thinking of getting a Spektrum DX7 with a AR700 reciever for my new AVA but I was wondering if there is enough room in the pod area? Also are all the new AVA pod's 2.4 friendly or do I need to get a different pod? Thank's in advance!!

Marc 540 :)

[IBWALT]

If I'm not mistaken all of the new AVA pods are 2.4ghz friendly. But here is how to tell the difference. Look at the nose coned (inside), is it white (all fiber glass) on the inside or a black and gold checker board. If it is white it is 2.4ghz friendly. Same for the pod it self. But don't look at the interior of the pod from the wing saddle. All AVA pods have the carbon/kevlar weave from about the leading edge back and this part of the pod is not 2.4ghz friendly. When you make the openings in the pod for the servos it should be white on the inside. But chances are that if the nose cone is 2.4ghz friendly then the pod will also be ok for 2.4ghz.

Here are a couple photos of my AVA with a 2.4ghz Spektrum system installed and a shot of the interior of the nose cone showing what a 2.4ghz friendly nose cone looks like.

Walt

[Tim Wolff]

What adhesive are you using on the pushrod housings and ballast tube Walt?

[IBWALT]

Tim, I had some JB weld laying around and used it for the pushrod tubes. For the ballast tube I used a thick CA. I wrapped the end of the ballast tube with kevlar thread and then soaked it with CA. This prevents the ballast from ripping the retaining pin out of the tube on hard landings.

Walt

[marc 540]

Thank's Walt. That's what I was hopeing for and my nose cone does look like yours so I guess I'm O.K. Nice clean install and no antena showing!! What kind of range do you get with that setup?

Marc

[IBWALT]

What kind of range do you get with that setup? Marc

Marc, I have had my Super AVA out quite a ways. I would estimate in excess of two thousand feet horizontal and vertical with no problem. I used to have a data logger installed but took it out after a couple of months of nothing but very good numbers.

Walt

[speeder]

Hi,

both parts are available for 2.4.

See here:

http://www.hyperflight.co.uk/products.asp?code=AVA%2DE%2DPOD

speeder

[Test005]

I have the electric Ava and have put on a 2.4 friendly pod, housing the AR7000 rx under the wing sadle.
The nose cone holding the motor and esc is carbon... have never had any issues with the RC link.

[lincoln]

I wonder if you could put in some tubes sticking out into the wing bays and put the antenna(s) there. I guess bay size is comparable to wavelength, so maybe that's not such a great idea??

[aeajr]

I am going to try to take my AVA and my Supra to 2.4 by replacing the standard nose cone with the 2.4 friendly cone. I sill have the standard pod.

I ordered the new nose cones about 6 weeks ago so I hope they come soon.

You can be sure I will be doing a very careful range check from all angels before I try to fly it.

[bobthenuke]

I've also considered the 2.4GHz nose cone for my Super Ava, but one thing concerns me; since the pod itself is still carbon/kevlar and with any luck I'll be looking *up* at the glider, not down, isn't there a good chance that the signal can be blocked? Assuming then that I let the antennae hang out in the breeze to mitigate this issue, does it make sense to invest in the fiberglass nose cone? Maybe the loose weave in the carbon/kevlar material doesn't affect the range? Enquiring minds wonder...

-bob

[aeajr]

Bob,

You raise good questions and I can't answer them yet. I will post the results of tests when I do them.

My plan is to set the main receiver of an AR7000 in the normal receiver spot, but I will have it sitting elevated above the deck so that the antenna are looking out through the cone, rather than the pod.

I may try the remote receiver right in the nose, again high, so that it is above the deck. I have to see if it could sit on top of the battery of the Supra or the AVA. Then I will range check from all angles

If that does not prove satisfactory then I will put the remote receiver back into the fuse, on the bottom with the wiskers sticking out the bottom, behind the nose cone line. I am completely confident that will work. I will probably need an extension cord for that.

On the AVA there is a chance I could put the reciever in the wing. I have not explored that yet, but again I already ordered the nose cone. So we will see if I wasted my money or not.

I do not want to swap out the pods if i can avoid it.

[Andy W]

I've thought about putting my Rx in the tail.. :) There are more wires running back that way than there are in the pod!

Most likely, however, I'll probably mount it in the wing, under the spoiler, off to one side, with a remote on the other side.
..a

[Test005]

I've also considered the 2.4GHz nose cone for my Super Ava, but one thing concerns me; since the pod itself is still carbon/kevlar and with any luck I'll be looking *up* at the glider, not down, isn't there a good chance that the signal can be blocked? Assuming then that I let the antennae hang out in the breeze to mitigate this issue, does it make sense to invest in the fiberglass nose cone? Maybe the loose weave in the carbon/kevlar material doesn't affect the range? Enquiring minds wonder...

-bob



As I said, no problem for me on the kevlar pod, carbon cone. The cone is also loaded witn motor and esc and no issues flying towards myself.
It works for me, but a range check is adviced, I can't vouch for it to work everywhere.
Here's a quote of my post above:
I have the electric Ava and have put on a 2.4 friendly pod, housing the AR7000 rx under the wing sadle.
The nose cone holding the motor and esc is carbon... have never had any issues with the RC link.

[bobthenuke]

As I said, no problem for me on the kevlar pod, carbon cone. The cone is also loaded witn motor and esc and no issues flying towards myself.
It works for me, but a range check is adviced, I can't vouch for it to work everywhere.
Here's a quote of my post above:

I missed your post - thanks for repeating it. It seems to indicate that there may not be so much of an issue with the Vladimir nosecones and pods. Of course, there are many dependent issues such as receiver placement, the system itself with different antenna configurations, even weather has some effect. The bottom line will always be a comprehensive range check and the flight itself.

In a past life when I was working in microwave we used metal grids with a very specific rectanular hole spacing to reflect the beams. I'll have to dig out my notes and compare the spacing of the carbon fiber in the weave and see if there's some correlation to either reflectivity or transparency. Interesting.

-bob

[bobthenuke]

Bob,

You raise good questions and I can't answer them yet. I will post the results of tests when I do them.

My plan is to set the main receiver of an AR7000 in the normal receiver spot, but I will have it sitting elevated above the deck so that the antenna are looking out through the cone, rather than the pod.

I may try the remote receiver right in the nose, again high, so that it is above the deck. I have to see if it could sit on top of the battery of the Supra or the AVA. Then I will range check from all angles

If that does not prove satisfactory then I will put the remote receiver back into the fuse, on the bottom with the wiskers sticking out the bottom, behind the nose cone line. I am completely confident that will work. I will probably need an extension cord for that.

On the AVA there is a chance I could put the reciever in the wing. I have not explored that yet, but again I already ordered the nose cone. So we will see if I wasted my money or not.

I do not want to swap out the pods if i can avoid it.


Ed,

I'll be watching this thread closely. I haven't made the transition yet, but I have and EVO 9 and EVO 12 that will both be converted over eventually. I'm thinking the JR system in the 9 and XPS in the 12 for the channel capability.

My concern was primarily that of having the glider high and heading away so the receiver is completely blanketed by the pod but it appears that Test 005 is having no problems, if I understand him correctly. I thought that the nose cones were fiberglass, not Kevlar so I may be a bit confused as to the material from his post.

-bob

I don't blame you for not wanting to swap pods...those things get expensive - I'd rather put the money into a bottle of excellent Bourbon. ;)