Discussion XMHobbies G401B HH gyro. Locked and Loaded.

[Gino CP]

Rumored to have GY401 hold at a budget price. I just couldn't resist. So to lay rumors to rest, I got one for review. It is a $36 gyro so the adage "you get what you pay for" sounded alarm bells. After all, I am going to test it on my spankin' new CopterX Black Angel. But I like you guys and you deserve to have another option So here we go.

I got the gyro from XMSeller . To speed up shipping, I insisted on a bubble wrapped envelope. It got here in a week's time. Not bad for a flight to Asia. Perhaps I got lucky. It came in an unassuming ziploc bag. No label on the gyro because this is an early unit. But the website has the user's manual so I quickly identified which was what.

Installation was a no brainer. Specially if you've worked with a GY401. All hooked up, I checked servo direction and gyro direction. All worked fine first time. I then dialed down the Delay to zero since I was using a Fusonic HB-D-02 digital tail servo. I then set the servo traval so the slider barely bottoms out at max pitch positions. I initially set HH gain to 50% on the DX7. I didn't bother with rate LOL. I left my slider on center at midstick.

Test flight was very good. First impression was wow. I couldn't tell the difference with my GY401. Equally astonishing was the gain seemed to be spot on at 50%. I added some more but right turns yielded some bounce. This is ok for now but I intend to increase Delay to remove the bounce and add a bit more gain. But for now, the heli is very comfortable doing fast backwards and funnels. I had a bit of wind and there was no hesitation at all. The tail is solid on punches. And the Black Angel whacks a might punch considering it is just on a CopterX 430L.

At 100% rudder endpoints, my piro rate was decent. Not blistering. But I have no use for a high piro rate yet so I didn't mess with that. But out of the box, I have a faster rate compared to the Spartan I was using earlier. Funny thing is, as good as the Spartan and my P G - 8 0 0 are, I really do not miss them that much. The Spartan and P G - 800 are on a different league but I can fly this G401B all day and not have a complaint.

Verdict? A bit premature as I have yet to smack this down at the field (Like I can do 3D LOL). But from what I felt in my yard, the G401B will do the job of at least mild 3D and sport flying. I believe a long term report is in order so expect updates.

XMHobbies G401B gyros are exclusively available from:

www.xmseller.com $10 off promo code: USD10PRO
www.sportsmoto.co.uk

RCpal Hobby Bangkit Road Blk 252 #09-406
singapore, singapore 670252, SG
SINGAPORE
attn: keith chiang
HP: +6591789157
Email: keithwb@gmail.com


Partial list of compatible servos:

Airtronics 94761Z (digital) ~$60
Align DS-510 (0.06)
Atlas DS20-GMD (standards size digital for nitro heli)
BMS-306BB ~$17
EFlite DS75 (digital) (a bit tricky to set up) ~$14
Fusonic HB-D-02 (digital) ~$25
Futaba S9650 ~$55
Futaba S3110 (discontinued)
Futaba S3114 ~$14
Futaba S3154 (used on a micro sized heli) ~$33
Futaba S9257 (digital) ~$55
GWS Fast HP Naro Servo - JR/Hitec Connector (GWSNR+FH/BB/J) ~$16
GWS Park 19g analog 0.07s/60deg (4.8V) 0.05s/60deg (6V) ~$12.35
GWS Naro Super 19g / 3.6kg / .07sec Digital Servo
HDS877 ~$25
HD-2216HB (digial) ~$19
Hitec HS-50 (used on a micro sized heli) ~$23
Hitec HS-65HB
Hitec HS-81MG ~$23.5
Hitec HSG-5084MG ~$58
Hyperion DS11 GCB (Digital) ~$30 (Heats up in 3D flight )
Hyperion DS12-GCP (digital) ~$33
HXT-900 (analog) ~$3.65
InoLabs HG-D201HBAL (digital)
Inolabs HGD261 ~$36
JR DS3517MG (digital) ~$85
JR 3400G (digital) ~$75
JR DS290G (digital) ~$35
JR 287 (Same as 290G but with metal gears) ~$45

Featured on Insideheli Podcast #60: www.insideheli.com

Featured in the Spring 2009 issue of Helista Magazine (p47 & p48)

T-Rex 500 G401B 3D Test (3 min 37 sec)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh0PoAqAcOU

http://vimeo.com/3330829

DamianPL's XMHobbies G401B demo:

Beam e4 TicToc session, still setting g401b (3 min 0 sec)

Lightened XM G401B gyro on an LA Ricco

XMHobbies G401B Gyro in the Ricco (3 min 43 sec)

Mid 2009 XMHobbies G401B

[R.Lim]

Thanks for the info. If that gyro is compatible to Gy401, why buying expensive one if there is an other good alternative , I will try it

[Gino CP]

I just got back flying again Lovely gyro. I tooled around with Delay and Gain and got the "thick feel" I want. I then dialed up my DX7's Rudder endpoints to 150% both ways. Piro rates are better now. The tail is more agile ,which for me, takes some getting used to. This gyro is working very well with my Fusonic HB-D-02 digital servo. Now I hope the weather clears up for this weekend. New heli, new stuff. Sweet.

[one two]

I also have this gyro. It holds every bit as good as a 401 at what..1/3 of the price. I will have a video soon of it. Pics coming soon.

[clicky]

BTW could you give us a bit of background of the gyro too? Is it just 1-2-1 Chinese copy of 401 or name is there just to reassemble to Futaba's gyro?

[Gino CP]

It was obviously designed to mimic the Futaba performance. Whether it has the same architecture and parts I do not know. I have not opened my gyro to see how it was populated.

There is a proliferation of GY401 wannabes and many have fallen short. But since they all look alike, I can't tell which the good ones are. But I am sure, that if you get the G401B from XMSeller, it will perform like mine.

[BPD]

This looks like a nice gyro for a beltless tail (direct drive, variable pitch, tail) with the delay adjustment. What does this one weigh?

BPD

[clicky]

Originally Posted by BPD

This looks like a nice gyro for a beltless tail (direct drive, variable pitch, tail) with the delay adjustment. What does this one weigh?

BPD

That was one of my first thoughts

[Gino CP]

I wasn't able to weigh it. But from what I remember, it felt lighter than the GY401 cables included. For one thing, the G401B doesn't have the ridiculously long cable the GY401 has.

[beer-man]

I have two of the other xmseller gyros (1 non,1 digital) that I like better then the 15 buck gy400's. This one looks the same but I'll have to give it a try.

I've bought a few things from him both ebay and direct and he has fast shipping. he sent the wrong thing once and corrected it fast.

[lyclyc]

what about doing invert funneling?
can the tail hold?

have you tested the servo in digital mode on a futaba 401?

[Gino CP]

The gyro can probably do it but I can't But if I can funnel and do fast backwards in either direction, then it can do those inverted. I'll see some inverted action as I head to the field this weekend.

[dude_109]

Gino,

Any drifting? The website doesn't say anything about SMM like GY401. With winter weather now where I live, I'd prefer not having to deal with temperature compensation issues.

Thanks for posting the review.

[Gino CP]

I live in a tropical climate. 29 deg C as tested. No drifting in HH mode. I did not set it up for rate so I have no data on it. But because I did not set it up to be steady in rate, it was turning left strongly. Still in hh it held on steady. That to me is a good hold despite no counter torque bias (positive pitch).

[Gino CP]

Got back from the field. This gyro passed with flying colors. Easily a GY401 match. I loved doing low funnels with it. So much confidence. It's a pity the wind didn't pick up much. I wanted to test it in fast wind.

http://www.vimeo.com/2312669