Matching radio, receiver & servos
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Matching radio, receiver & servos
Up front, forgive me if this question seems infantile, but I have been out of RC planes for 20 years; the last radio I had was a Futaba AM 4 channel, its long gone. I have now purchased a Spektrum DX7 2.4 Ghz radio system from the hobby shop in the area, primarily because that was the brand he sells and convinced me to buy. My plan is to outfit 2 ARF's to fly with this radio. Use the receiver and servos that came with the transmitter in one plane, and in the second plane, using another name brand for the receiver and the servos, i.e., Hitec servos and maybe an Airtronics receiver... or not. From reading some of the magazine articles, when folks were outfitting their planes, they were mixing up the radio systems. Now, I do understand that you have to use one of the spread spectrum receivers, but does it need to be a Spektrum and likewise with the servos? And as a follow up question, are the plugs universal on these different systems?
When I ask questions like this at the hobby shop, I usually get smart a replies or no reply, because they are talking to one of their buddies. They seem to forget that I have spent almost a $1000 in there over the last few months. They also seem to forget that there are plenty of sources these days for RC airplane equipment, and this venue for asking DUMB QUESTIONS!
Sorry to get off subject.
Appreciate any and all replies.
Thanks.
Steve
When I ask questions like this at the hobby shop, I usually get smart a replies or no reply, because they are talking to one of their buddies. They seem to forget that I have spent almost a $1000 in there over the last few months. They also seem to forget that there are plenty of sources these days for RC airplane equipment, and this venue for asking DUMB QUESTIONS!
Sorry to get off subject.
Appreciate any and all replies.
Thanks.
Steve
#2
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RE: Matching radio, receiver & servos
Most any properly sized servos will work. The plugs are compatible. The receiver, though, must be of the same brand. Spektrum offers receivers that will work fine from $50.00 up for most projects. rich
#3
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RE: Matching radio, receiver & servos
In the 2.4 world you have to match the radio with the receiver. There is no way around that for now. It is the beauty of 2.4, once linked, no other radio can control your receiver unless you land and link it to that particular radio. Unlike 72mHz, when any radio on your same frequency could "control" your aircraft.
On the servos is another story. The Futaba ervos have a little tab that needs to be "shaved" to be able to be plugged into other receivers, but the wiring is in the correct order. So you can actually use servos from brand X in a brand Y receiver.
Rafael
On the servos is another story. The Futaba ervos have a little tab that needs to be "shaved" to be able to be plugged into other receivers, but the wiring is in the correct order. So you can actually use servos from brand X in a brand Y receiver.
Rafael
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RE: Matching radio, receiver & servos
Thanks, that's the answer I was looking for. I was pretty sure the receivers were proprietary, but it did appear that servos could be mixed up, which is good; now if everybody would get together and get their battery connections to one universal configuration, that would be great.
Thanks again
Steve
Thanks again
Steve
#5
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RE: Matching radio, receiver & servos
One of the first things that friends suggested was that I pick one style of connector ( Dean's Ultras) and just make every plane/battery/charger the same. It was a good suggestion and I am glad that I followed it. Rich
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RE: Matching radio, receiver & servos
ORIGINAL: richg99
One of the first things that friends suggested was that I pick one style of connector ( Dean's Ultras) and just make every plane/battery/charger the same. It was a good suggestion and I am glad that I followed it. Rich
One of the first things that friends suggested was that I pick one style of connector ( Dean's Ultras) and just make every plane/battery/charger the same. It was a good suggestion and I am glad that I followed it. Rich
On my low power demand aircraft, (40 to 90 sized, 6 or less servos) I have no plans on using anything different than the standard battery connector.
Rafael
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RE: Matching radio, receiver & servos
I have both Futaba and JR radios. I find it easier to use JR Switch Harnesses and JR Extensions because JR male connectors will fit in Futaba female connectors, but Futaba male connectors have the annoying Polarity Fin that needs to be cut off. In the unlikely event I need to use a servo with a Futaba connector, I will buy an MPI Universal extension that has a JR male connector and a Futaba female connector.
When it comes to LiPo. LithIon, and A123 batteries, I use JST connectors for the smaller foamie size aircraft with low current draw, and Deans Ultra connectors for the larger batteries with higher current draw.
When it comes to LiPo. LithIon, and A123 batteries, I use JST connectors for the smaller foamie size aircraft with low current draw, and Deans Ultra connectors for the larger batteries with higher current draw.