RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review  
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RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 6:15:50 AM   
cubnpede82


 

Posts: 90
Joined: 9/27/2007
From: Yakima, WA, USA
Status: offline 		Yay!!!!
Joined the 2.4 ranks today with my new DX6i
It's my first real transmitter. So far I think it's been simple to set it up, once I figured out how to bind the AR6200 I was good to go. The manual shows hooking it up to servos and the charge jack like one that comes with a whole flight pack for nitros would have, and batt and such and putting the bind in the charge jack. I was confused but a quick Google and a look at the channel marking on the Rx it's self and I figured it out. You just gotta put the bind plug in the batt port and the ESC and at least one servo (I believe) like normal, and power it up.
I've got two AR6100's I bought for two planes I built "WHILE WAITING" for this radio. But for $179.99 it was worth the wait. Get free transmitter straps from your local Air Force or other recruiter's office. Looks like the new E-flite T-34 ePTS would be the way to go, or the perfect step up from a Super Cub.
I considered the Airtronics and Futaba radios, but in the end, the guys here have Spektrums and I've used a DX7, my flying buddy is getting the 6i and the guy at the LHS got one for himself. The price and availability of recievers was a selling point as well.
I hope the others like AirTronics and Hitec can still help push this new tech even though they're kinda late getting into 2.4

Good luck and good landings for all!!

(in reply to JCINTEXAS)
       Post #: 126

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 11:51:50 AM   
jlkonn



Posts: 1220
Joined: 1/2/2003
From: Planet Earth, IA, USA
Status: offline 		JC,
I'm glad you took it in the spirit it was intended.

I was just kiddng with you.
Glad you're happy with the new radio.
JLK


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       Post #: 127

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 12:10:20 PM   
aeajr



Posts: 5459
Joined: 1/14/2003
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Status: offline 		One of the issues with 2.4 GHz systems has been getting them to work in a fuselage that has a high carbon content. The short waves are easily blocked by the carbon.

If you search through the forums, through the threads on Spektrum and Futaba and the the other 2.4 GHz systems, you see that people are coming up with inovative ideas that seem to be working. Many of them seem to be around variations on the wisker concept.

Basically you place the receiver along the fuselage and drill holes that will allow the antenna to stick through. With the Spektrum receivers you sometimes see people using 2 or 3 receiver set-ups with multiple sets of wiskers.

One approach has been to extend the antenna. I am not an authority on this, but the idea seems to be that you place a piece of antenna wire next to the original wire so that they overlap. Then you extend it in multiples of 31 mm, I believe.

My goal here is not to tell you how to do this but to make you aware that people are doing things like this with success. Do your own research to make sure you understand what to do should you have a plane with a carbon fuselage, or that is covered with a highly metallic

Enjoy those new 2.4 GHz systems.

< Message edited by aeajr -- 3/4/2008 12:12:42 PM >

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(in reply to jlkonn)
       Post #: 128

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 2:38:52 PM   
JCINTEXAS


 

Posts: 362
Joined: 3/23/2007
From: Smithville, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Quote: "make sure you understand what to do should you have a plane with a carbon fuselage, or that is covered with a highly metallic"
_______________________________________________
Good advice.
I would like to see the 2.4GHz radio manufacturers develop and offer a short "whip" antenna which would be mounted externally. With a little imagination this could provide a streamlined installation which could even add to the visual aesthetics of a model plane. (Think of the appearance of the small and streamlined antennas on full-scale airplanes.) Remember back when having a car phone was a status symbol? Many people put dummy antennas on their cars so people would think they had a car phone. (It was a "keeping up with the Joneses" thing.) A small external whip antenna would eliminate the problems associated with carbon fibre and metallic paints. It would also simplify the 2.4 radio installation. No special care about internal antenna placement and routing around servos, batteries, and wires would be necessary. Perhaps some of the after market accessory companies will jump on this.
Regards
JC

(in reply to aeajr)
       Post #: 129

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 2:45:03 PM   
jlkonn



Posts: 1220
Joined: 1/2/2003
From: Planet Earth, IA, USA
Status: offline 		JC,
That may be on the way. Folks that fly FASST may be familiar with this already but it appears to be a user mod to replace the current antenna. This is from a Robbe newsletter I receive.
JLK

Attachments
Click to see the file in new window.Attachment.pdf



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       Post #: 130

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 2:51:48 PM   
bruce88123


 

Posts: 10296
Joined: 11/26/2004
From: Memphis, TN, USA
Status: online 		The Airtronics RX's have antennas longer than the standard FASST RX's too.

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       Post #: 131

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 3:11:23 PM   
JCINTEXAS


 

Posts: 362
Joined: 3/23/2007
From: Smithville, TX, USA
Status: offline 		JLK,
Thanks for the info on the robbe long aerial.
That's a step in the right direction. However, I'm thinking of something with more of a real (full-scale) appearance. Back in the days of 27MHz and the present 72MHz, I never liked the appearance of those longwire antennas. That wire running back to the top of the vertical fin just did not look like something you'd see on a "real airplane". The scale modelers would especially appreciate a realistic external antenna.


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(in reply to jlkonn)
       Post #: 132

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 4:10:48 PM   
JCINTEXAS


 

Posts: 362
Joined: 3/23/2007
From: Smithville, TX, USA
Status: offline 		How about an external antenna about like this one?



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(in reply to jlkonn)
       Post #: 133

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 5:00:33 PM   
JCINTEXAS


 

Posts: 362
Joined: 3/23/2007
From: Smithville, TX, USA
Status: offline 		2.4GHz whip antennas should be very reasonably priced.

Telescopic Whip Antenna R-WA-10
$18.99 $14.95 On Sale!
* Extends from 4-19" covers VHF to UHF frequency ranges
* Great for RF sniffing, frequency counting
* BNC connector fits most radios and equipment
* Straight or right-angle use




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       Post #: 134

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 7:31:39 PM   
Julez


 

Posts: 158
Joined: 1/7/2007
From: , GERMANY
Status: offline
quote:

Thanks for the info on the robbe long aerial.
That's a step in the right direction. However, I'm thinking of something with more of a real (full-scale) appearance.

Just build a model of the antenna type you like from some non-conductive material. Make sure it is hollow inside. Glue or screw it to your plane and stick the thin Fasst antenna in from the inside of the fuselage.

(in reply to JCINTEXAS)
       Post #: 135

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/4/2008 8:12:11 PM   
JCINTEXAS


 

Posts: 362
Joined: 3/23/2007
From: Smithville, TX, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Julez

quote:

Thanks for the info on the robbe long aerial.
That's a step in the right direction. However, I'm thinking of something with more of a real (full-scale) appearance.

Just build a model of the antenna type you like from some non-conductive material. Make sure it is hollow inside. Glue or screw it to your plane and stick the thin Fasst antenna in from the inside of the fuselage.

_______________________________________________

Julez,
Yes your suggestion is a good idea and would be the easiest solution. Still, what I would like to see is for Futaba to offer two coax cables coming from the receiver (as they do now) but with coax plugs on the two ends...and two streamlined 2.4GHz whip antennas complete with mounting brackets and hardware. The antennas would have coax plugs which would extend inside the fuselage. You would then simply mount the two whips and connect the coax plugs. I assume the whip antennas would be about the same length and made of the same material as the antenna on the FASST transmitters. It would be an easy neat and professional looking installation. (See picture) And these antennas should eliminate any issues and concerns regarding RF "signal masking" (blocking) regardless of what materials a fuselage is made of or what it's painted with.


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< Message edited by JCINTEXAS -- 3/4/2008 8:21:58 PM >

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       Post #: 136

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/6/2008 3:57:31 AM   
JCINTEXAS


 

Posts: 362
Joined: 3/23/2007
From: Smithville, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I just found this informative article on 2.4GHz radios in Sport Aviator. It's worth reading.
2.4 GHZ for the Common Pilot
Author: Frank Granelli
http://www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=2&ID=182&index=0
Regards
JC

(in reply to aeajr)
       Post #: 137

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/6/2008 10:57:58 AM   
aeajr



Posts: 5459
Joined: 1/14/2003
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the link to the article.

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Moderator
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(in reply to JCINTEXAS)
       Post #: 138

RE: 2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review - 3/27/2008 12:00:39 AM