Absolute genious.
 

This week, I bought a Spektrum DX6i radio system. The cost was $179. When I opened the box, there was a radio transmitter, receiver (DC6200), four NiMh batteries (not a battery pack, but that's fine), and a battery charger. There were no servos. I understand.. keeping the price down, and I understand that. Fine.

What was not there, and is absolutely required (according to the reply I got from [email protected] ), is a Spektrum switch that has the bind cord as part of the switch.

With my DX7, I can plug anything into any vacant slot so that the signal pin is grounded, and the binding process takes place. This is not an option with the DX6i. It REQUIRES the binding cord on the power switch in order to bind the transmitter to the receiver.

Wonderful.

So, what I bought was a radio system, for $179, that I cannot bind because there was no switch included with the radio system, a switch that is required in order to bind the transmitter with the receiver.

Now isn't that ironic?

I wonder what genious thought that one up.

CGr.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

This also thru me when I bought my DX6i.

You dont have to set it up through a switch like the instructions show.
Just plug the bind plug into an open slot in the reciever I've done it that way 6-7 times.


Poor instructions..


It will work..

Steve

RE: Absolute genious.
 

I wanted to use up some old 2 wire switches so I just plugged the battery into an extra servo slot, and put the bind plug in where the battery/bind connector is. Did the binding, turned off the switch removed the bind plug and reconnected the battery and was good to go. Took about 2 mins. to do. You only need the 3 wire switch if you want to bind through the switch hardness. Try it, it will work and get you by until your switch arrives.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Good product....really poor instruction manual. Must have been written by someone who works with the stuff all day long. Not written for anybody who hasn't flown much or had different radios. I had to go on the 'net to get the same help that you have received above. I've never have had a switched arrangement to bind yet. regards, Rich

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Ever since I started flying a couple few years ago,I've always heard the futaba/spectrum debates. After a couple years of seeing posts here on RCU....I'm glad I went with futaba. Just seems I hear alot of binding issues a few crashed planes with spectrums. And I havent really noticed many at all complaints about futaba. Seems spectrums might be easy to use and program and stuff then futabas,but futabas have less major issues. Probly just the way its coming across on the forums,but it sure seems evident over the last couple years. But most have no problem either way.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Jester, Don't get me wrong. I'm an avid DX7 user. I love the radio. But, as someone pointed out, the instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired.

And, I don't think that the percentage of users that crash with Spektrum is any different than do with Futaba, Airtronics, Tower, Hitec, or any other radio. Most crashes are pilot error, not radio related. Discharged batteries, for instance, are not a fault of the radio.

CGr.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Popriv's SO right, I've never even HEARD of a "switch with a bind cord" until this thread.

All I've EVER done, indeed all I've ever known to do with my 6i is:

Bind plug in batt. channel of Rx
Batt in any other open port
Turn on radio while holding trainer/bind switch
Wait for bind.

*shrug*

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Well, you are right. I use any vacant port on the DX7 so I just assumed that I could do the same with the 6i. Not so, as you pointed out, and as I just learned. Yeah, the manual is really poor. I needed a magnifying glass to see what the receiver had printed.. the manual does not show an "expanded" view of the receiver nor does it point out that the bind port on the RX can be used. Shame on them.

Thanks.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

When you send it back in for the recall ask for a switch & harness.

http://publications.horizonhobby.com...29531/10762/0/

RE: Absolute genious.
 

What does "shrug" mean? Is that in the manual somewhere? Because that's where I got the information about using the third wire on the power switch, which is not provided, to bind the receiver. Nowhere does it say to use a slot in the receiver, and I read the manual cover to cover looking for it when I tried to bind the thing. The DX7 has a bind button (also used for reduced power for range checking) for the bind process. The 6i manual is unclear (hell, nothing there at all) on how to bind if you don't have a three cable switch.

Read the Users Manual before you get to carried away with your "shrug" comments and you will see that there is no other description of binding than the plug the bind plug in the third cable on a three cable switch.

This is a new radio to me.

I have been able to bind my DX7 using any slot in the RX. After reading Popriv's reply, I took the receiver, and with a magnifying glass, I saw where the bind slot is on the receiver. There is no desctiption of this in the manual, no picture, drawing, nothing. You full scale guys are into reading check lists and manuals, arn't you?

What part of the below picture do you not understand?

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Gee I looked at the title of this thread and said, "Oh man they are talking about me again"

RE: Absolute genious.
 

You can only bind by placing a binding plug or the 3 wire switch harness in the BATT/BIND or BATT port(some receivers)

You can't bind by placing the bind plug on any open port.

You can power the reciever by plugging a battery into any port.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

If I were that unhappy with the product I would send it back and upgrade to another DX7.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Hmmmm! Waiter, an extra helping of ego here please.:D

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Bruce: :D

doubledee

I'm not dissatisfied with the product, only their documentation.

BarracudaHockey

I've scrreen copied the page on binding (page 18 in their users manual) and included it in an earlier posting. What does that look like to you?

Sure, I'm being picky because I tried to follow the instructions. And, on the DX7, I used any port and the process worked just fine. Not so on the DX6i, as I found out. My problem is that I didn't know anything about that particular radio, but did know about my DX7, so I read and followed the instructions on page 18 (there is no other mention of the binding process in the manual), which clearly pointed out to use the third cable on the power switch which was not included in the box. Sorry, but if it doesn't include the switch, then it should provide alternate instructions in the manual for those of us that are stupid enough to read instructions.

CGr.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Hey Bruce

Just something to make me feel better on another rain soaked day.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Just a short update here.

First of all, if I sound a tad bit on edge with this, well, I am. And I apologize if my replies offended anyone. It's just that I spent two evenings trying to get this thing to bind. After the first evening, I though I must be doing something wrong, so I put it away and went to bed. Then, yesterday, I tried again, same process, got nowhere, so I thought one of two things. Either the TX/RX combination was faulty, or my process was faulty. I couldn't think that the first of the two was the solution, so it had to be my process.

Popriv AND a magnifying glass cleared up that process. I now have a bound pair and it works just fine.

My main gripe here is with the documentation and the lack of proper instructions on process. The radio itself is just fine.

I'll take part blame for assuming something that I perhaps should have not. I tried everything I knew, except one, which turned out to be the right one. Live and learn. I've said all I have to say on this.

Irish.. cerial, juice, banana, coffee, English muffin. We're going to get rain today, already windy. Blah.. The plane that I am trying to get up and flying is the trainer replacement (after being so stupid to leave the antenna down on my Super Star RTF and put it into the turf last Summer) which is a Hanger 9 Alpha. The plane is pretty much finished, all that remains is to connect the throttle pushrod and it's done. I am thinking of using a ball-socket at the throttle. I have one on another plane and like that arrangement. Once that's finished, I will re-check all throws and get ready to fly. Oh, OS 46 FX on board.

The DX6i is easier to set up than the DX7. Has all of the capabilities as the DX7 that I use, anyway. So, only waiting for good weather to maiden it.

CGr.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

That is the thing I love about my 7c. Just push a button on the reciever and it is bound. Those Spektrums sound like a pain in the bottom.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Like them OS46FX I have 3 or 4. I have a scratch build Limbo Dancer that hauls butt with that 46 on it. Now if I was a better flyer I could make it live up to it's capabilities. Looks funny with a 3-D plane cruising around like a trainer. BTW Hash browns crispy-2 strips bacon not crispy-egg basted soft and english muffin. Still drinking that old Chock-full-of-nuts coffee.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

:D I think that's what they have here at work.. Chock-full-of-Nuts. I miss my Starbucks!!!

They awarded teh contract. Wphew.

flaminheli: It's only a pain in the butt if you are not used to it. The process is actually easy once you understand what has to be done. The only difference is a bind plug.. then just push the button or pull the trainer/binding switch. That is, of course, if they took the time to properly document it... oops.. I was going to stop complaining. Sorry about that.[:o] ;)

CGr.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

[/quote]

Sorry, CGR...I think perhaps I phrased that poorly, and it came across differently than i intended.

In no way did I mean to make it sound as though "anyone knows that" or something like that. The shrug was more a "Huh...guess i learn something new every day, I'd never even heard of a bind lead on a switch" thing. (Maybe i oughta read manuals more often, eh?)

My apologies if I phrased it poorly. :)

RE: Absolute genious.
 

I went through the same thing when 1st setting up the DX6i. I called LHS's looking for the switch shown in the instructions and noone knew what I was talking about. I felt the same frustration as CGr...

Then one LHS suggested just plugging the bind plug into the RX.
Not sure now but I think you do have to plug it into the batt plug and plug the batt. somewhere else???

Its the documentation thats bad not the radio...

I think you do have to be careful not to accidentally have the trainer switch pressed when turning on the radio or it will think you are trying to bind and will wipe out the current bind...



Pop

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Hey CG,

I don't know about your receiver, but I have an AR500 which has the sticker on backwards. Yeah, the label is on 180° out, so each of the receiver ports would get hooked up starting from the wrong end. It seems simple, but since I had not installed a recever for a while, it took me a few hours to figure it out, as I was trying to bind in the wrong port.

Just figured I'd mention this oddity,

Jack

RE: Absolute genious.
 

Hey Gordie. No problem. As I said, it's been a tough week. As Popriv and jib noted, the manual leaves something to be desired with this documentation. It was strange that it did not give an alternate method (such as plug the bind plug into the bind port on the receiver) the key words being "on the receiver" would have avoided any and all confusion by some of us.

And with the sticker on backwards, I can see all sorts of problems that would cause. At least mine was on right because the elevator did elevator things as did the rudder and throttle. I've not yet hooked up the ailerons, but there is only one empty slot :D and I hope I don't screw THAT up!!! [X(] :D

No harm done. Live and learn, I guess. I know I did.. as I said, it's been a tough week in more ways than one.

CGr.

RE: Absolute genious.
 

AMEN!



Actually its just the binding process that is. I wish my 7C had the big screen of the dx7, but I think the bind button is a better trade off.