Anyone out there using the OrangeRx Spektrum DSM2 Compatible 6Ch 2.4Ghz Receiver? Does it need a secondary receiver? Theres a plug in for receiver on side like spectrum

Yes, I have been using it ina HobbyKing spitfire.. (not a heli) it has been perfectly reliable and is identical to the Spektrum 6100E... It does not need a satellite RX..

A friend of mine also uses them exclusively in several fixed wing aircraft.. we have flown to the limits of visibility with no issues.. I'd trust one in a heli...

I use two of those, 1 in an HK450GT and 1 in an HK500GT. No problem at all. I'm glad to hear about range in planes. That was my concern...

Gilles

Hello Guys,

I was asked this same question a few weeks ago about the Orange HK "clone" receivers. I fly Align products in my helis and have always been pleased, expensive but I am pleased and you get what you pay for. I did try a HK "clone heli" and found that while it was flyable the short comings were clear in the machine work and part failures. Heres where I am going with this, everytime I purchase new HK batteries which I love I "ALWAYS" unsolder the ends and replace them. I have found time and again that they are poorly soldered from the factory and........sometimes have had cold joints. So with this all said, to put up a Helicopter of like $1,200.00 to $2,000.00 in the air, I dont not want to be "penny wise" and pound foolish. Here is a site where you can buy DELIVERED brand new AR6100e Specktrum receiver's for $22.00 which is a far cry from the $50.00 retail here plus tax. Now the question comes again, do you buy an Orange receiver for like $13.00 plus shipping or for less than $15.00 more buy the best?? It's you decision guys, I have made mine.

http://www.rcmodelpart.com/search.ph...h_query=ar6100

PS: because they sell them so cheap they will only let you buy (1) per order. This means that you need to log in and buy with two different purchase's making two separted orders, a pain yes.............but worth the reward. We here in Los Angeles have been doing this for sometime now and have always been pleased.

JPEE

Very impressive price. Shipping included. I would assume that those are not copies, but the real receiver? There is a warning on the Spektrum site about some copies floating around for cheaper price. Probably on eBay rather than a site like this.

Note that I did have a real AR6100 fail on me and almost ruined a plane (I have 6 of them - 2 year old or under). The Orange RX have not failed me yet (only 3 months old)

The early version 6100s would take a few seconds to reconnect after a brownout or signal loss.. the 1.6 firmware has quick connect which takes a fraction of a second.. the Orange RX's are a clone of the v1.6 6100E..

The only thing I recommend with the Orange RXs is to use hot glue and secure the aerials at the base to prevent them coming loose from vibration.. it also allowed me to "shape" the aerials in a 90 degree V to each other... never had a problem with range or operation..

I have complete confidence in the range of Spektrum gear... I did my own personal range tests before ever trying them in aircraft... I do this range test with every plane and helicopter before flying it.. trying every orientation of the model..

here if you are interested...


http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9829320

you do bring up some very interesting arguments and I don't disagree at all..

however.. just playing the devils advocate...

I have 3 x HK 450 helis, all stock except $8 HK carbon blades... over 300 combined flights and NIL issues..

the cost of each..

1.. $29 (over 130 flights nil issues)

2. $51 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNrafMSx_AU(Over 150 flights nil issues)

3. $69 (a Pro TT) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9X0rYnHEDY(over 60 flights nil issues)

Add another $150 to each for completion (servos, gyros, motor, esc etc..)

and I have 3 VERY flyable and for me Extremely reliable (so far) and FUN helicopters for under $600..

That is pretty good BANG for your BUCK! I thrash them every day in the sky and love it! I have no aspiration for competition or hard 3D... I'm just a sport flyer..

Working on (for the sake of argument) getting 1 flight for every $1 spent.. I am already half way there with my 3 helis..\

a $2000 heli would have to be flown 5 times every day for OVER a year with NILissues to reach the same cost efficiency..

but if I had a $2000 helicopter I would be probably be too SCARED to fly it.... but yes. I agree.. if I did have a $2000 heli I would NEVER risk it tocheap radio components

a $29 heli is another story..

If any of my helis fail due to cheap components ..I know I can completely rebuild /replace it for under $100... that's good enough for me.

Rob, I could not agree more. My son and i are building 8 of the EXI 450 clones and there beautiful. Plastic yes, were sport flyers i cannot justify spending $650.00 to $1000.00 for a heli. 8 of these structures cost me $240.00 under a hundred to finish with our spectrumDX6Is. A few minor problems with vibration some screws vibrating out but for this price we can solve this problem. We've been flying one for a month now still have it!! The others are pending parts i can wait. It is a joy to build these helis. We followed a build from MikeysRC.com he used all low end parts has been flying his for two years. The same 8 helis would cost us about $5000.00 own. Ron some help on vibration if you have any ideas please let me know. Thanks, mike scott, [email protected]

I somewhat agree with you except i would have to be on a porta potty flying anything worth $2000.00 with any receiver. I've been flying R/C for 40 yrs and have lost aircraft due to radio failure with some of the best radios out there. This is a different age. Technoligy has changed. I don't like to pay for something thats been marked up 10 times. Some of us just can't afford it. I do not want to sacrafice the enjoyment of this hobby because i can't afford it. I've already stepped down many notches because my passion is large scale. Cannopt afford. Just being honest., thanks Mike Scott, [email protected]

Wow.. 8 Helis.. that is awesome..

They are great.. my first was an EXI 450.. mine has over 130 flights and is running better than ever.. I have never had a problem with it..

I also used Mikeys RC for the first build.. after that it was easy to build the next two..

I also had a lot of vibration problems with the EXI..

Mainly in the tail rotor..

Remove the tail rotors and make sure your main rotors are perfectly balanced and tracked..

Then install the tail rotors and try see if they run smoothly, even in stunt mode.. mine were ok in normal mode but vibrated shockingly once I hit stunt mode..

i ended up having to use several pieces of tape on one sideto balance it out.. it was part trial and error but it worked.

Just for future reference.. if you go for the $50 Hobbyking 450 GT it is actually much nicer than the EXI, all metal head and metal tail and I had NO vibration problems at all..

Also the 450 Pro, has a metal tail and again it balanced perfectly out of the box and runs beautifully..

But I fly all 3 every day and love them all...

\

Hey Rob, our problems have been the tail box also. The biggest problem is screws vibrating out of the tail box. Mikey suggests you not get locktite on the plastic but its a must to lock tite these units. I did a small test on the plastic locktite does not seem to bother plastic. Also we want to replace the screws in the tail with bolts, washers and lockwashers. Having trouble locating 2mm bolts long enough for this application. Any suggestions on where to get bolts long enough. I can't find anything online. I think for the price we can deal with these issues. Not complaining just want to get it right. Thanks Rob, mike scott, [email protected]

Ok, I understand and have your solution..

Don't use Locktite on plastic.. it WILLweaken it, even if you don't see it right away..

Only use Locktitefor Metal to Metal..

For all other screws that go into plastic use FOAMSAFECAglue, available from any RC hobby store..

My favourite is BSIGOLD.. http://www.gravesrc.com/BSI_GAP_FILL...Z_p/bsi127.htm

This also works on screws going into Carbon Fibre Frames, such as the 450 GT or 450 Pro..

I use it liberally on the threads and around the headand then leave everything for a full 24 hours to dry and harden before flying..

No screws have ever come loose on 3 helis with over 300 combined flights..

Hope that helps..

thanks Rob, we'll give it a try, Mike, [email protected]

Hey Rob, i was looking at your fleet looks like your using three different gyros, yes? One of them being the Dectrem 48V, yes. Whats your take on that gyro? We bought several for the EXI fleet. Seems to be getting great reviews. Thanks Rob, mike, [email protected]

Hi Mike,

On the Gyro's...............I have three of the Dectrem GY48's and I love them. Honeslty, I cannot tell the difference between those or my genuine Fatuba 401.

JPEE

outstanding

i apoligize, i responded to the wrong guy. Im new to the forums. Were using one on an EXI 450 now it seems to work great. Holds very well. Thanks for your response, Mike Scott, [email protected]

Hey Rob, one other question. The foam safe ca as a lock tite is this pretty much a permanent deal or can you get them off if you have to? thanks Rob, Mike Scott, [email protected]

Mike,
I know your asking Rob, but for another confirmation I do the same. The rule of thumb is, metal to metal=blue loctite. Plastic to plastic=CA. Your question......can you get something apart? yes you can. On rare ocassion sometimes the CA won't pop loose so you take a hot soldering iron and put it to the screw head and then in a few moments try the screw again and your home free.

Hope that helps

JPEE

thank you sir, what the heck is your name anyway lol

Hello Mike,

I go by JPEE

My given name is John P.

Hey Mike, John...

Yes, you are correct..

The EXI has a HL400 Gyro that was taken from a Twister Gold CP - It is a very basic gyro but works ok. I only used it because I was impatient and wanted to fly the EXI ASAP.. It ended up being ok so I left it on.

The 450 GT has teh Dectrum.. Again, its a pretty good gyro, no real complaints.. It seems to be working fine for me in over 140 flights now..

and the 450 Pro has a Hobbyking HK401b.. I have to say this is the best of the 3 gyros.. it holds heading perfectly and never drifts It is the one I will use in any future helis.. and it is cheaper than the Detrum.

Just make sure you do the hot glue fix if you decided to try one (incidentally I did this hot glue mod to the Dectum as well, just to make it bullet proof.)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TPSZtg5ZfY[/youtube]

Hi Mike, and again thanks for the answer John..

To be honest I don't know about getting them apart.. I have not had to at this stage..

I may have a different mind set to most though.. I have been flying RC planes for over 30 year and over 10,000 flights in that time.. I onlycrashed once due to pilot error and that was the first flight at the age of 15..

I'm not saying I have never crashed since, I have, but they have been due to mechanical failure, radio interference or structural failure.

Same deal with the Helicopters I have been flying themnow for over 6 months.. over 1000 flights on everything from a coaxial to the 450 Pro.. Again, the only 2 crashes I have had was on a Blade 400 due to Servo failure

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgoztDiEZ7k[/youtube]

and a "near crash" on a Blade SR, which also had a faulty servo - I have since replaced the stock servos in the Blade SR with good quality Hitech HS65 MGs and have had over 100 trouble free flights since.

So when I build my 450 clones, I build them as bullet proof as I can.. Good quality servos, good radio (Futaba FASST) and I solder the motor to the ESC etc.. I then Hot Glue Everything so it just can't move and it can't come loose. Ihot glue the servo leads coming out of the back of the servo to secure it against vibration.

I even hot glue the servo leads to the side of the frame so there is NOchance of vibration failuress.

All my screws are locktited or secured with liberal amounts of Foam Safe CA..

I guess some people may scoff at my philosophy, and yes, it may be more sensible to build with the ability to "UNDO" things as required.. but my system works for me.. and the Clones and components are so cheap that if I do end up destroying a heli due to pilot error, I'll happily just throw the entire thing, servos, gyro and RX in the trash and build another with all new components..

At the end of the day.. if a heli crashes I would never re use thecomponents anyway. I'd just bin the whole thing and start again.. All new parts = Cheap insurance..

I guess if I have to remove a screw at any stageI will cross that bridge when I come to it... but my mindset is that if I build them properly, and use good quality components they will never crash and I'll have them for years.. Which has been a proven formula with my fixed wing planes.. I have one plane that has been flying reliably for over 24 years.. No crashes..

If I get1000 flights out of each Heli I'll be happy.. and am already 15% of the way there with most of them.. sothe cost efficiency is alreadyless than $1 per flight.

Hope that helps.

Hey John, I love these forums!! There very informative. Thank you for all the help and answers. My son and i talk about the same thing were building these so cheap make them bullet proof worry about the rest later. It seems like vibration is the killer. we've already lost screws on several occasions just in hover mode. Im probably going to order a couple of the HK401Bs just to try them. Thanks John, keep us informed were rookies at the choppers. Mike Scott, [email protected]

I did it again, thank you for all this info Rob i keep replying to the wrong person. New at this. Anyway John and Rob we appreciate all the comments and will use them. thanks, Mike Scott, [email protected]