Setting up or selecting your first plane - what about range?
02-24-2005 | 10:50 AM
#1
Setting up or selecting your first plane - what about range?
Your are trying to evaluate RTF packages, or you are looking for a new radio
package, or maybe you have a radio and want another receiver for your new
plane. Have you looked at the range specs? You should. In terms of range,
27 MHz vs. 72 MHz doesn't matter. You need to look at the rated range.
How much range is enough is always hard to say. In the RTF packages you have
no choice. It is what it is. Just be aware of it and don't push the limits.
In considering your range needs, a lot has to do with the size of your plane
and your flying area. If you are like me, you will likely use the whole field
if you can see your plane well enough to fly the whole field My field is 800'
X 1600'. This link will take you to a photo of our field.
http://www.lisf.org/Pictures/29070035.jpg
If your flying space is about the size of a couple of football/soccer fields,
side by side, Edge to edge you might be 350 feet. So, 500'/150 meters seems
like enough range. However, if this is a square space, corner to corner you
are right at the edge of that 500 foot receiver. A stray signal could cause
you a problem. I would want at least a 1000 foot rated range for that space,
if you are going to cover all of it, and you will. Otherwise, don't let it
get out that far. Be aware of your range.
HobbyZone, maker of the Aerobird and Firebird series of RTFs, recommends a
space of at least 600X600 for a new pilot for many of their planes. If it is
a square space then corner to corner it is 850 feet. You are near the edge of
a 1000 foot receiver. I would want at least 1500 foot rated range in order to
be able to fly the whole field.
I often fly my Aerobird, which has a 42" wingspan, beyond the end of the field
by flying over the trees at 300-400 feet altitude. I will admit that it
becomes pretty hard to see the plane's orientation at this range. I am
probably 1700-2000 feet away at that point. The Aerobird has a rated 2500'
range. Never had a problem, but I am pushing it.
I have had my 2M, 78 inch wing span, and 3M, 120 inch wing span, sailplanes
up and out near the edge of visual range. I don't know how high or far away
they are but the 2 meter plane probably approaches 1/2 mile and the 3 Meter
plane can be flown beyond that. I just installed an altimeter to see how
high I am actually flying. For these planes I have now standardized on 1
mile+ rated receivers.
If you have your own radio, range is more a function of the receiver than the
transmitter. Your radio doesn't change, but your working range does, based on
what receiver you are using. So how much is enough. Here is my advice. Your
mileage will vary. When in doubt, go up a minimum and you can't go wrong. If
you field is know to have a lot of radio noise, go up a range. Working at
about 50% of the rated range of the receiver is probably a VERY safe rule.
Doesn't guarantee you won't have a problem from interference, it just reduces
the chances.
Here are some rough guidelines I would suggest when evaluating your receiver
or your RTF package. Your mileage will vary! These assume you can fly as far
out as you like, so they are based on how far you can probably comfortably see
the model and its orientation. My expectation is that you are actually flying
no more than 75% of this range.
500'/150 meters is good for indoor or for planes of 24 inch wing span or
smaller.
1000'/300 meters rated range should be OK for anything with a 32" wing or
smaller. At 750 feet, this plane will be getting small and hard to judge for
orientation. If you want to push this, go up a range.
2000'/600 meters should be safe for anything less than about 42 inches.
3000+ (.6 miles/1 KM) would be my minimum recommendation for a power plane
over 42 inches and up to about 70 inches or up to about 80 inches for a 2M
sailplane. Note that sailplanes or e-gliders with the motor turned off, you
don't have the radio "noise" of a running glow or electric motor, so the
plane itself tends to be much quieter, from a radio "noise" point of view.
Many of the 72 MHz radio/receivers that are packaged with RTF sailplanes
planes have 3000'/1KM+ ratings and work fine for 2M sailplanes. I have flown
my 2M Spirit out to visual limits with a 72 MHz AM radio rated at 3000+' range
with no problems at all. However if you have a "noisy" environment, go up a
range. I have standardized on 1 mile/1.6KM rated receivers for all my 2M and
larger sailplanes.
Summary:
Range is more a feature of the receiver than the transmitter. More range is
always better. You may be able to get beyond the rated range of your
receiver, or you may start to "glitch" short of that range. The amount of
radio "noise" at your field, the orientation of your antenna in the plane and
radio noise generated by the plane itself will vary greatly. Ask the others
at your field what the experience has been. If you are flying alone at an
unknown location, keep it in close, within 50% of your rated range, and you
should be OK.
package, or maybe you have a radio and want another receiver for your new
plane. Have you looked at the range specs? You should. In terms of range,
27 MHz vs. 72 MHz doesn't matter. You need to look at the rated range.
How much range is enough is always hard to say. In the RTF packages you have
no choice. It is what it is. Just be aware of it and don't push the limits.
In considering your range needs, a lot has to do with the size of your plane
and your flying area. If you are like me, you will likely use the whole field
if you can see your plane well enough to fly the whole field My field is 800'
X 1600'. This link will take you to a photo of our field.
http://www.lisf.org/Pictures/29070035.jpg
If your flying space is about the size of a couple of football/soccer fields,
side by side, Edge to edge you might be 350 feet. So, 500'/150 meters seems
like enough range. However, if this is a square space, corner to corner you
are right at the edge of that 500 foot receiver. A stray signal could cause
you a problem. I would want at least a 1000 foot rated range for that space,
if you are going to cover all of it, and you will. Otherwise, don't let it
get out that far. Be aware of your range.
HobbyZone, maker of the Aerobird and Firebird series of RTFs, recommends a
space of at least 600X600 for a new pilot for many of their planes. If it is
a square space then corner to corner it is 850 feet. You are near the edge of
a 1000 foot receiver. I would want at least 1500 foot rated range in order to
be able to fly the whole field.
I often fly my Aerobird, which has a 42" wingspan, beyond the end of the field
by flying over the trees at 300-400 feet altitude. I will admit that it
becomes pretty hard to see the plane's orientation at this range. I am
probably 1700-2000 feet away at that point. The Aerobird has a rated 2500'
range. Never had a problem, but I am pushing it.
I have had my 2M, 78 inch wing span, and 3M, 120 inch wing span, sailplanes
up and out near the edge of visual range. I don't know how high or far away
they are but the 2 meter plane probably approaches 1/2 mile and the 3 Meter
plane can be flown beyond that. I just installed an altimeter to see how
high I am actually flying. For these planes I have now standardized on 1
mile+ rated receivers.
If you have your own radio, range is more a function of the receiver than the
transmitter. Your radio doesn't change, but your working range does, based on
what receiver you are using. So how much is enough. Here is my advice. Your
mileage will vary. When in doubt, go up a minimum and you can't go wrong. If
you field is know to have a lot of radio noise, go up a range. Working at
about 50% of the rated range of the receiver is probably a VERY safe rule.
Doesn't guarantee you won't have a problem from interference, it just reduces
the chances.
Here are some rough guidelines I would suggest when evaluating your receiver
or your RTF package. Your mileage will vary! These assume you can fly as far
out as you like, so they are based on how far you can probably comfortably see
the model and its orientation. My expectation is that you are actually flying
no more than 75% of this range.
500'/150 meters is good for indoor or for planes of 24 inch wing span or
smaller.
1000'/300 meters rated range should be OK for anything with a 32" wing or
smaller. At 750 feet, this plane will be getting small and hard to judge for
orientation. If you want to push this, go up a range.
2000'/600 meters should be safe for anything less than about 42 inches.
3000+ (.6 miles/1 KM) would be my minimum recommendation for a power plane
over 42 inches and up to about 70 inches or up to about 80 inches for a 2M
sailplane. Note that sailplanes or e-gliders with the motor turned off, you
don't have the radio "noise" of a running glow or electric motor, so the
plane itself tends to be much quieter, from a radio "noise" point of view.
Many of the 72 MHz radio/receivers that are packaged with RTF sailplanes
planes have 3000'/1KM+ ratings and work fine for 2M sailplanes. I have flown
my 2M Spirit out to visual limits with a 72 MHz AM radio rated at 3000+' range
with no problems at all. However if you have a "noisy" environment, go up a
range. I have standardized on 1 mile/1.6KM rated receivers for all my 2M and
larger sailplanes.
Summary:
Range is more a feature of the receiver than the transmitter. More range is
always better. You may be able to get beyond the rated range of your
receiver, or you may start to "glitch" short of that range. The amount of
radio "noise" at your field, the orientation of your antenna in the plane and
radio noise generated by the plane itself will vary greatly. Ask the others
at your field what the experience has been. If you are flying alone at an
unknown location, keep it in close, within 50% of your rated range, and you
should be OK.
02-24-2005 | 10:55 AM
#2
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From: Springtown,
TX
RE: Setting up or selecting your first plane - what about range?
On range, you're assuming that the TX is at the same elevation as the RX, which it will not be. The average beginner will fly at 300 feet plus high, so you need to add that into your figures as well....
02-24-2005 | 11:11 AM
#3
RE: Setting up or selecting your first plane - what about range?
ORIGINAL: 2slow2matter
On range, you're assuming that the TX is at the same elevation as the RX, which it will not be. The average beginner will fly at 300 feet plus high, so you need to add that into your figures as well....
On range, you're assuming that the TX is at the same elevation as the RX, which it will not be. The average beginner will fly at 300 feet plus high, so you need to add that into your figures as well....
At 1500 feet out and 300 feet up, you are 1530 feet away. 30 foot difference or about 2%. And radio range is actually better higher up, so it is a wash.
02-24-2005 | 12:30 PM
#4
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Setting up or selecting your first plane - what about range?
You will also find that dual conversion receivers have a substantially greater range than single conversion receivers. Single conversion receivers are typically found in the small to mid size electrics.
02-24-2005 | 12:42 PM
#5
RE: Setting up or selecting your first plane - what about range?
ORIGINAL: Campy
You will also find that dual conversion receivers have a substantially greater range than single conversion receivers. Single conversion receivers are typically found in the small to mid size electrics.
You will also find that dual conversion receivers have a substantially greater range than single conversion receivers. Single conversion receivers are typically found in the small to mid size electrics.
I thought that too. However there are companies that provide single conversion receivers that provide DSP instead of dual conversion that have .6 KM range ratings or higher. I don't know the electronics of either, but that is what I have read.
Then Hitec came out with a new line of single conversion receivers rated at 1 mile + range.
4 Channel
http://www.hitecrcd.com/product_fs.htm
1,2,3,4,6
http://www.hitecrcd.com/product_fs.htm
1,2,3,4,5 - shift select
http://www.hitecrcd.com/product_fs.htm
About the same weight as the Micro 555 and about 40% less expensive. Have not tried one yet. I use almost all Hitec receivers so I watch what they are producing.
