Receiver swap
 

Hello All,
To make a long story short, I need to swap my receiver out of my plane.
The antenna wire on the old one has a short in it and is causing a lot of jumping.
I currently have a Futaba receiver and I was given a HiTec. The Futaba servo connections have a key that will only allow them to be connected in one direction. The HiTec receiver does not allow for the key extension. I think I have two choices. Try to swap the antenna wire,( which I will most likely butcher) or file the Futaba key off the servo connections.
(Which look straightforward). The plane is a trainer and I have learned a lot with already.
Any ideals would be greatly appreciated.
Mustang1964

RE: Receiver swap
 

Use a pair of diaganol cutters and snip the key off of the Futaba servos. Takes just a few seconds and they'll work fine with other receivers.

Ken

RE: Receiver swap
 

Either solution would work, you might want to get some help from someone on soldering. You will need to solder a lot of times. Check with someone in your club for help. Or just remove the tab on the Futaba servos. That is what the new? universal plug is, whatever you want to call it. Just make sure it is plugged in correctly.
Good luck

RE: Receiver swap
 

There is no need to do any soldering. Only removal of the infamous Futaba tab as the other folks already posted about. My method is to cut them off with a #11 blade then the blade can be held ninety degrees to the edge and scrapped to smooth up and trim down a bit.

Now back to that used Hitec Rx you were given. Exactly what model is it and what does it say on the label? Hitec made negative shift only, positive shift only, selectable shift and auto shift versions of most of their Rx's. If what you were given is a positive shift only Rx then it will not function with your Futaba Tx which is negative shift only.

Now first thing everyone wants to know is without the tab what happens if I plug the servos or switch harness in backwards what will happen and the answer is nothing. Just reverse the plug and you are good to go. Another trick to learn and you will never plug one in backwards on any top plug Rx if you mearly plug with the black (negative) lead facing the outside perimeter of the case. This applys to all makes of topside plug Rx's.

There were also versions of their Rxs' in the past which were for old style Airtronics plugs and in this case the Reversed polarity of the Rx's main power buss is made to match the old style Airtronics servo plugs and reversed polarity of the Airtronics switch harness. Using newer plugs in this particular Rx will instantly let out the smoke.

John

RE: Receiver swap
 

Point of order.. it doesn't have a "short" it more likely has an "open". An antenna can hardly have a short.. it's only a long piece of wire. But, it can have an open, which is a separation of the conductor in the center of the plastic covering.

As said, you can mend it. But don't just twist the wires together because they will most likely vibrate and "open" again. So, the solder joint is the best way to mend it.

Don't shorten it, meaning, don't cut out a section. Clean up the connections where the antenna has separated, and solder it with a very short twist, then cover the mend it with heat shrink. Shortening the antenna's length will reduce it's effectiveness. Technical reasons why, but it has to remain about 3.4 feet or so in length for 72 MHz operation.

CGr

RE: Receiver swap
 

HAH, at long last I can add something to one of John's posts. ;) John always knows well about any subject and he is well endowed with good common sense approaches. He be a hard man to follow! :D Listen well to John.

If you have an older Airtronics receiver with standard servos, or wish to use older Airtronics servos with any other receiver, it can be done.
1. AT rcver-other servos. It's always black to black and red to red (or whatever color that constitutes same) On the servo plug in, lift the little plastic tab (here a #11 xacto blade tip works fine) holding the wires in place. Gently slide the connector leads out. Reverse and slide them back in. Be certain the plastic tab is back in the "Hold-In" position. Works!
2. Old ribbed AT servos with another receiver. File, sand, cut the ribs down to whatever will fit the new connection. Reverse the polarity as described above. Works!

FYI: JR transmitters work with Airtronics receivers, and vice versa. Same for Hitec/Futaba. Now there are so many options in receivers, especially Hitec, the choices are virtually unlimited. I will be flying on 72 mhz for a looonnnnggg time. I have one 2.4, with two receivers, and only use it for night-flying because it cuts through the neon lights. 72 gets bogged down there.