today I connected all electronics up including switch to test for failed equipment... I sat for several minutes just playing with the sticks and wait for that dead zone... never came... I did see sometimes when I switch on and off the receiver light stays on... is this normal? it should flash shouldn't it? but the switch seems fine, the 6V Nicad I use is fine... I don't know, what else could have gone wrong?

It might help to know what radio you were working with.

CGr.

DX5e with the AR500 receiver...

If you turn your transmitter on first, and then your receiver, the lights should come on steady. The only time they should flash is when you're binding (inserting the binding plug etc..) of if you turn the reciever off and on without turning off the transmitter. An example of that would be changing batteries without turing the transmitter off.

If the lights are on solid, and you go flying and come back and they are flashing that means the reciever voltage dropped too low and the reciever reset in flight.

so it could be most likely the battery... the battery v-level is 6.2V though... so the lights should be on permanently then... but it still works when flashing, strange... more info?

This statement is not true.

A Spektrum receiver flashes RAPIDLY when the bind plug is inserted and the unit is turned on prior to the transmitter...as it should be when binding.

They will also flash SLOWLY when the receiver is indicating that a signal fade or loss has occurred. This will happen during 1 of 2 times:

1) After a flight, if signal loss occurred during the flight. It will not tell you when it occurred, how often, or to what extent...merely that at SOME point(s) during the flight, the signal faded.

2) It will also happen during an otherwise normal startup sequence (TX on, then RX) if the TX is too close to the RX (4' is the recommended distance), or if the RX is turned on too soon after the TX (5 seconds seems to be a good wait time). The RX is indicating that there was an error in its initial attempt to synch with the TX. This is not a safety of flight issue, but it DOES eliminate the Rx's ability to tell you that a fade occurred at some point during the flight, since it will be flashing from the start.

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There is no inherent reason a Spektrum RX should flash simply because it was turned off and on with the TX remaining on. You're presenting absolutely nothing to the RX in that condition that you don't ALWAYS present it with during a normal startup.

I don't have a Spektrum radio/receiver for my planes etc. Still using crystals. I do however have a Spektrum radio with my Blade CX2. When you switch on the transmitter you wait a couple of seconds then when you switch on the receiver/helicopter (which ever floats your boat) the light will flash slowly until it has connected to the transmitter or visa versa (don't know really which connects to which). If there is an error in the connection - for instance when you accidently have the throttle stick "open" - it will not connect to the Tx and it will continue flashing slowly. The LED turns solid as soon as it is ready to go.

I do not know whether the Tx and Rx used in planes works the same so I apologise if I'm totally wrong here. The LED will flash rapidly when you are binding (bind plug inserted) - if I remember correctly.

Sorry but that statement is not correct.

The only time it will flash after flight is if the reciever looses power. It has nothing to do with signal lost.


Yes they fast flash while binding but I wasn't talking about binding, I was talking about normal operation.

Edit: I'm also not refering to the breif flashing that goes on during link up.

i have read what you oaks said, so the receiver is not really my problem... I really need to eliminate any faulty equipment... any other suggestions and or info might help would be appreciated...

Ok lets get this straight.

Turn on the transmitter and it searches for two open channels and locks on. It then begins transmitting its GUID on those channels and waits for a response from the reciever its bound to.

Turn on the reciever. Here's where it gets a bit tricky.

IF the receiver has the oldest firmware it searches the band for the transmitters GUID, once it finds the GUID it locks and and the lights come on steady. This takes 3 to 5 seconds.
If you loose power in flight it goes through this link up sequence.


IF the reciever has the newer firmware, the reciever has a buffer with the last two channels in use and checks those first. If it finds it's transmitter there it links instantly and the lights come on steady.

IF it has the LATEST firmware, it checks the buffer channels, locks on instantly, and flashes the lights.

If it has either of the two newer firmware versions and does NOT see the transmitter GUID on the last two channels it used it searches the band, finds the GUID, and locks on in 3 to 5 seconds and displays solid lights.


The key is the last two channels in use. If you power cycle the transmitter it automatically searches for two new channels. THAT is the difference in what you're presenting to the reciever during a normal turn on sequence, or if you turn off power to the reciever without turning off the transmitter.

The flashing lights with the new firmware are designed to tell you when you suffered a low voltage condition during flight, it has nothing to do with signal strength.

low voltage from where? Tx or RX? both are fully charged, could they be dipping or something? so the receiver is good to go still?

The flashing lights mean the receiver suffered a low voltage condition.

what is a low voltage value when it will start flashing? its a Nicad battery... why would it do this?

If you say so, BH. I respectfully disagree.

Your choice, sit down on the bench and give it a try.

Switch, around 3.3v or so.

I cant understand that... the battery never goes below 6V then I charge it up to about 6.7 and use it till 6 again... I don't know then... just gonna replace everything when I get my new kit...

Understand that it doesn't always have to be the battery. It could be a bad switch, or a loose connection, anything that interupts power to the receiver momentarily.

then its probably just a good idea to replace everything, cause I wont take the chance with this equipment again...

Here is an idea, dig out a tx a rx and 2 crystals! lol

Sorry couldn't resist. Is the battery old?

not really and the v-levels are constantly above 6V... I dont let it drop below as I want max power from my servos...