bem

My Feedback: (1)

Hi,

I have an Orbit 7-14D Proportional (D=Digital). It has 7 channels and it is a complete set with orginal reciever and 4 Orbit Digital servos PS-2D (and an old RX battery box).
It is from approx middle 1960th.

Anyone know anyting about Orbit 7-14DProportional radio?

I know RC pioneer Ed Kazmirski had such Orbit radio in about 1965, have a look at the pictures in this thread: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9226793
I have also posted two pictures below also, one picture of two Taurus planeshe built/flew (that are now in AMA museum)and one on his personal Orbit transmitter (notice the engraved "Kaz" in the O).

But back to my Orbit radio (I have some pictures on my Orbit also below, after the two pictures of Ed's Taurus and his Orbit radio):

1) If anyone have a manual I can copy I would be very happy.
2) Maybe someonehave a schematics on this Orbit also? That would be fantastic.
3) I do not have the antenna for the transmitter - anyone have an old antenna that will fit or know the specification on the antenna so maybe another alternative make antenna can be used?
4) I need 4 newservo arms, 16 rubber grommets for servo holders and one new servo case - if you have or know a source for this please let me know.
5) New TX and RX battery packs will be bought as soon as I can get a new TX antenna.

I have a Top Flite Taurus built starting soon (or possibly preserve the kit and scratch build from the kit plan or a short kit) that I probably will drop the Orbit radio into (for display) and use a modern radio Futaba T14MZ for flying.
Same with engine, old Veco 45 RC if I can find one (for display) and a modern 2-stroke for flights with the Taurus.

My purpose is to preserve this Orbit radio in functional condition, at least this post is a starting point.

If You know anyone that still can service this system so it can be checked over I'm interested to know. My Orbit has 27.195 Mhz frequency by the way.

regards,
Bo

grotto2

My Feedback: (2)

Bo-

I believe the antenna is the same as the MicroAvionics I have:
.32" base diameter
5 section
extended length 54"
collapsed length 12"
no center load

27mHz is still legal in the USA (Is it true there?), so the transmitter can be made to work again, depending on condition. Same for the Rx. Servos are iffy and probably to be avoided unless you have evidence otherwise. And parts for them can be difficult to come by.

-Ron

EloyM

My Feedback: (194)

I have schematics for all Orbit equipmen from the single channel to the very last made. For the 7-14, I have transmitter, receiver and PS-2D servo schematics. Send me your mailing address and I will send you copies.
direct: [email protected]

HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

Servo parts are hard to come by. Watch for online auctions, it may take a week or a couple years. Fortunately, the PS-2 mechanics was widely used, but the bad news was that the RC market in 1966 was very small.

HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

The 7-14 had a center loaded antenna as shown in the ads.

bem

My Feedback: (1)

Ron,

Thanks for the antenna information!

I found a picture of an Micro-Avionics transmitter and it sure look very similar to an Orbit 7-14D Proportional. Nice pages You have there Ron!
http://www.mindspring.com/~rellis2/rcpattrn/retro.htm

I hope You do not mind if I post one picture from Your page here of the Micro-Avionics transmitter just for clarification how it looks like.

/Bo

bem

My Feedback: (1)

EloyM,

That was great news! I wish someone had a manual for my Orbit also - I keep my eyes open.

Maybe You have worked with Orbit RC equipment in the past since You have schematics for all Orbit equipment?

I sent You an e-mail.

Thanks in advance!

/Bo

grotto2

My Feedback: (2)

HighPlains, to my knowledge you are 100% correct in having seen the 7-14 with a C/L antenna. I think saw those, too.

However, at this time I believe that a change to a non-C/L antenna was made at some point in the production of this radio. Having worked on one recently, we noted that the base diameter of Orbit antennas is maybe not always the same. I think this helps differentiate the two antennas. And since the Micro Avionics that shares the same mechanics uses a non-C/L antenna and that antenna fit the transmitter we had we came to the conclusion that it must the correct one.

So, I think Orbit had a 'fat' C/L antenna and a 'thin' non-C/L antenna.

But, I could be wrong. I welcome any contrary evidence. Maybe Eloy knows. I looked at the virtual RC display http://www.rchalloffame.org/QTVR/QTVR.html but couldn't say one way or the other for sure.

-Ron

bem

My Feedback: (1)

Hi,

I have now measured some on the antenna holder on my Orbit 7-14D transmitter.
I measured with a caliper.

The antenna holder has inside athreaded screw, 8 millimeter long =0.0315 inch.

The inner diameter of the hole where antenna is inserted in the holder is 7.70 millimeter = 0.0303 inch.

I have an old EK-logictrol super pro 7 ch transmitter also and I tried the antenna from that and the antenna thread fitted on the Orbit transmitter! The diameter on the EK antenna is 7.30 millimeter = 0.0287 inch so it does not fit/fill the antenna holder inner diameter completely.

The thread on the EK antenna is almost so a metric M4 screw can be inserted all way into the thread in the antenna, so slightly smaller screw and probably inch like 5/32 inch.

The EK antenna is 975 millimeter long = 38.368 inch (collapsed 270 mm = 10.63 inch).

I suppose I can safely use the EK antenna to just test the Orbit 7-14D with new batteries?

Any good source for new (or used) antennas that will meet the Orbit orginal antenna specification?

regards,
Bo

ukengineman

The Orbit 1967 sales catalog shows the 7-14D with a centre loaded antenna. I just looked up the review in RCM&E Aug 1967 and that also shows a centre loaded antenna. As far as I can see the centre loaded antenna is the same as used with the Orbit Analog proportional and also the transistor reed Tx. The RCM&E review reports the aerial as 18ins retracted and 54ins extended.

HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

Typically you would want a 1/4 wavelength antenna the transmitter. At 27 MHz, this would be 108 inch long, which would be impractical for a hand held device. So it was common practice to use a shorter antenna which does not work as well electrically, but well enough. But at these shorter lengths, the antenna looks like a capacitor to the RF circuit inside of the transmitter. So somewhere in the circuit an inductor needs to be put in series with the antenna to help match the impedance.

For the Micro-Avionics, as well as most other makes, the inductor is placed at the base of the antenna inside the case on the PC board, thus a simple antenna on the outside.

The Orbit, however used the center loaded antenna, with the inductor placed about half way up the antenna.

Now the question of why this was done may come to mind. Well, it is because the center loaded antenna is actually a better design with a better radiation than the base loaded. Perhaps this was carried over from the days when a strong transmitter with a less sensitive receiver was the norm (back in the 50's). But as better components (transistors) became available, it was found the extra trouble of the center loaded was no longer needed. I think Orbit dropped it around 1968 or 1969 line of radios.

So, you can either make a center loaded antenna, or add the inductor inside the case and run a conventional telescoping whip antenna of 50 some inches.

EloyM

My Feedback: (194)

7-14 Antennas! Originally, all 7-14's were on 27 MHz and used the center loaded antenna. When 72 MHz became legal, a version on that band was designed and used the straight antenna. The base diameters were different, the center loaded one was a little fatter.
I did work for Orbit way back when. Not during the 7-14 days, I was flying in the USAF then. I came along after I retired, when 72 MHz had taken over and the equipment was all smaller.
Incidentally, 7-14 meant 7 controls, 14 functions. For example, a function was up elevator. Down was counted as another function.
Some of us think of that time as the good old days, no ARF's, no profiles, no foamies, etc. Eloy

MX240

My Feedback: (4)

I still have my Orbit 7-14 even though I don't use it anymore. It spent it's last years in my large sail boat till I switched that over to 2.4
I have all the literature.
If you would want to send me your address I will color copy for you.
Jim

bem

My Feedback: (1)

Hi Jim,

E-mail sent to You.

Thanks in advance!

regards,
Bo

togatoga

My Feedback: (42)

The early orbit 7-14D had really awful sticks. I have one and I can't imagine how we modellers could fly with those sticks! You really need strong fingers and thumbs to move them well.

bem

My Feedback: (1)

Hi togatoga.

I agree that Orbit 7-14D has hard stick tension. Personally I like rather hard stick tension so to actually fly with an Orbit 7-14D would suit me fine regarding this. I have an old EK-logictrol super pro 7 ch also that I used in the 1970th and I have the stick tension set to rather hard on that TX and like that. On my rather new Futaba T14MZ the stick tensin is to weak so I plan to change to harder springs - I have heard that there is harder springs to replace with.

If anyone could comment on this:

How was the quality of Orbit RC equipment considered back when it was in production? High, medium, low quality? When I take a look inside my Orbit 7-14D transmitter it seems well done from outside so to speak. Same with reciever when I look inside. The Orbit PS-2D servos seems very sturdy but I have not looked inside them.

Was the components used good quality? What components are likely fail (by itself) as this 7-14D gets older and older (any batteries of course
but other then that)?

/Bo

bem

My Feedback: (1)

Hi,

I tested today my Orbit 7-14D with batteries to reciever and to transmitter. Result:

Transmitter ON: voltmeter indicator on the transmitter moved to the right so it got the power I feed it with (see picture below).

Reviever ON: I get ~5 volt out to servo block connectors,on the two connectors in the middle - nr 2 and 3 (see picture below).

It seems the transmitter and reciever do not have contact with each other - no servo move when I use the channels on the transmitter.

Question: From on/off switch for reviever power there is a white lead - what is it for?
The red is plus and blue minus so that is sorted out.

regards,

HighPlains

My Feedback: (1)

Servos of that era used center tapped batteries. Some early proportional systems had multiple taps and up to 7 cells. The current system of two wire batteries and bridged servo amplifier was developed by EK with their 1968 systems

MX240

My Feedback: (4)

Hi Bo,
I will mail that information to you Monday.
The white wire ??? I don't know. But, it continues through the plug into the receiver on mine.
Ok...where are the electronic experts?
Jim