In another discussion - I believe the one on Scratch built Ignitions, there was a brief discussion on which type of receiver to use.

I got the impression that, with an engine conversion (mine is a 25cc homelite) that PCM was not advisable. I think someone mentioned that PCM is more susceptible to interference than PPM.

I'm trying to get my Big Stick covered, and ready to fly this weekend (HOPE HOPE), but the receiver that I was planning to use was the PCM that came with my Futaba - mainly because it's not installed in anything else right now and is available.

So I need to know if I can use it or not.

Thanks
Ramrod25

PCM is no more susceptible to interference than PPM, but it may mask interference issues by not glitching. I'm going to be running a pcm on my homelite 25 also, but make sure to do a very extensive preflight to make sure there is no noise in the system.

When you say "Make sure you do an extensive pre-flight to make sure there is no noise in the system" - could you be more specific please.

Exactly what steps do you go through and what checks do you make to satisfy yourself that there is indeed no noise in the system and it is safe to fly?

Thanks
Ramrod25

i've seen many recommend putting in a ppm rx to test on the ground, i would rather test with the exact conditions that I'm going to fly with, as one rx might have a problem where another doesn't... anyway, set all surfaces to a failsafe position and have the throttle/engine kill activated in failsafe, so that as soon as a glitch does come in that is long enough to trigger failsafe you know about it. start walking away and waiting for the failsafe to engage, if it is under the range you expect, figure out why...

ramrod25, I agree with rkramer.

I do a range test at the very spot I intend to fly at before I put my gas conversion planes into the air. With the plane secured to the runway and the engine running I will walk away from it with the radio ant. collapsed until the engine changes tone, (I don't have the failsafe feature on my radio), or until my helper signals that a flying surface is glitching. Make sure that this distance is well within your radio manufactures range.

I will then extend the ant. and walk in big circles around the plane as far away as practical, all the while running the throttle at different settings to see if I can cause a glitch of any sort. Take your time!

If all seems normal I'll fly the plane in circles close in for a while and then gradually fly farther out, all the while looking for "hits". If I notice any sort of unusual behavior in the plane I will immediatley cut power and bring it in for a landing. I would rather make a controlled dead-stick landing than watch my plane "auger in" and re-kit itself.

If something does not seem right, investigate...

Ron