tewitt1949

Hi All. I have both of the above radios and I've noticed everytime I have the radios outside in ?? 75 deg weather, after the transmitter computer screen warms up it goes black and it is impossable to change any settings. The radio still preforms great as normal even if the screan is black. After it cools off, and it isn't hot, just warm, the screen goes back to normal. If you were to use it only on the winter there would be no problem.
I'm the only one at the field that uses airtronics so I no others to compare with. I've checked with other members that have other brands of radios and they can continue to read theirs. Theirs never goes black. Is that normal for airtronics? This is very annoying if you want to change models, you can't see anything but black screen. Thanks Terry

sthill

I have an RDS8000 that I’ve been using for over a year now. The screen has never gotten so black that it is unreadable, but on 90+ degree F sunny days it get dark and can be difficult to read. I always try to throw a white towel over it or put it back in the case when I am not using it to keep it out of direct sunlight, I think it helps.

P-40 DRIVER

Run mine in 100 degree plus Texas weather with no issues. Are you sure it's not your sun glasses polarizing lenses.

tewitt1949

P-40 I don't wear glasses. It hasn't been 80 degrees here in mich more than 6-8 times this summer. Direct sunlight isn't causing the problem, heat from the sun is turning it black.

cajun1

I have the RDS8000 and the 6000 and use them, with no problem, on 100+ days. The only condition I have found that affects the display is leaving it sit with the display in direct sunlight.

Planeclothes

My Feedback: (1)

I have both an RD6000 and RDS8000. I don't actually use the 6000 much but I don't remember it turning black. Now my RDS8000 is a different story. The screen gets completely black, especially when I am flying close to noon time with temp in the 90s. It is very annoying and I believe is due to a cheap or poorly designed display. I always keep my tx in the shade but on hot days, after only a 3 or 4 minutes flying out in the sun, it just turns black. Then the screen stays black for a couple of minutes after the radio is turned off and comes back to normal. This black screen thing, along with the low capacity, low quality battery pack that comes with the tx are, in my opinion, two major flaws.

Pippin

..I have got a black screen at my RDS8000 once durnig a flight. I could not read the clock anymore...

Maybe, I should remove the proctection film.

tewitt1949

Pippin. I kept the plastic film on also to protect it screen, so I removed it thinking as you but it didn't help, black as before.
Plaincloths- I already had a larger 2500 ma battary for the radio and that issue is taken resolved. I do notice guys at the field that use futaba (maybe others) are always field chargeing their radios and planes. These are 40 size planes. I use small 370 ma battarys in the planes, and I get just as many if not more flights than they do with their larger stock AA packs. Its possable its beause they are using larger/more servos too. I agree the battary and the black screen are the only issues with the radio. I'm no expert on radios or screans, but I think it is just the type of screan airtronics uses.

As you say, it is very annoying while your flying and you try to trim you plane, you can't even see if you have any trim adjustment left or any other info.

pilotpete2

If you leave any LDC sitting with the sun hitting it directly for too long, it will go black. Amient temperature is not the issue.
My tach does it, my battery tester does it, as does my Futaba Tx.
Pete

Planeclothes

My Feedback: (1)

It may or may not, but this never happened to my Hitec Optic 6 or older Futabas, and I have been flying in the Florida sun for more than 15 years. As I mentioned before, I keep the radio out of the sun when I am not flying, and all it takes is a few minutes under the sun for the black beast to show up. It is a heat issue, it never happens on cooler winter months. I use the count down timer and look at the screen to check how many minutes I have left. When this happens all I can do is wait for the beeps.[:@]

tadawson

Guys - In most cases, if it goes black, all you have to do is adjust the contrast, and it will be readable again. As others have said, LCD devices are inherently temperature sensitive, and this can happen to pretty much anything with an LCD in it.

- Tim

tewitt1949

tadawson.................Hum, contrast adjustment? I wasn't aware it could be adjusted. I'm on vacation now and my book is home. Since I have a couple planes here but my manual is home, how do I Adjust the contrast? If it to long to type, I can wait till I get home. That may be the answer though. Thanks

I just downloaded the complete manual and went threw it carefully. I don't see anywhere where it said anything about adjusting contrast. Can you please elaberate more? Thanks

Planeclothes

My Feedback: (1)

I don't know how many times I will have to repeat myself. First of all, there is no LCD contrast adjustment. Yes, I have other stuff, like audio equipment, etc. that allow you to adjust contrast or angle of LCD displays, but not this radio (or any other RC radio I have owned). But as I mentioned before, I do have other radios, as well as other equipment like digital tachometer, voltmeter, etc. that I frequently use outdoors and none of them turn black when exposed to direct sunlight for a few minutes.

fiery

My Feedback: (2)

My Infinity 660A had contrast adjust on it.

pilotpete2

A few minutes, yes. But if you leave your tach or any other LCD lying directly in the sun for twenty minutes or more, it will go black, even here in Vermont when any day over 80F is getting to hot to fly[&o].
I'm very surprised to see there is no contrast adjust for the RD8000.
As fiery said, my old Infinity 660A has it, as does my Futaba 9Cs
Pete

Planeclothes

My Feedback: (1)

That is exactly my point, it takes my rds8000 only a few minutes to turn completely black. I always set my timer at 9 to 10 minutes, not 20. My Optic 6, which also has no contrast adjustment and bigger LCD has never turned black, heat or no heat.

pilotpete2

I would contact Hobby People, it does sound like yours has a problem[].
Pete

mrbigg

My Feedback: (21)

Been flying a RD8000 for a few years and an RDS 8000 this year. Never a problem with the screens going black, even on 95 degree days.

Mode One

I have had a VG6000, have a RD6000 and RDS8000 and never had this problem. Unlike most of the members in my club when not in use, my Txs always go in the impound, which is shaded.

mrbigg

My Feedback: (21)

mine go to the impound also, which is shaded and cooler.

Planeclothes

My Feedback: (1)

I guess you are part of the chosen few.[]