Hello,
I am flying a 9ZAP TX and have 2 RX’s in the airframe for almost 2 years; to check range I have been extending the antenna base and setting the FS to full up deflection. I would simply walk away and watch for the fail safe to kick in which I never did until I turned the TX off. I have used 70 paces to test it but decided to really check it yesterday.
I got to more then 150 paces before I noticed the fail safe activating on one side or the other. BUT I have noticed intermittent control long before the fail safe ever switches over; from 100 paces up to the 150 plus. Additionally, I have noticed that above 70 paces that one elevator half is dramatically slower then the other (One side in each RX) and is no way synchronized at all any more.
I also noticed that my range dramatically increased above 100 paces when I cleaned the antenna with a spray cleaner and worked the ball of the swivel base of the antenna while cleaning it with the same spray.

Do these problems sound characteristic of the radio control system or do I need to send it in for service? Please give me your best advice. Much thanks in advance.
Regards,
Rick

The intermittent control function as range gets longer means that your system is going into hold. It will go into hold if the receiver gets a short bit of interference or gets a bad signal. The duration is short enough that the receiver isn't going into the failsafe condition. The receiver needs a bad signal/interference of about 1-1/2 seconds before going into failsafe.

You're not getting "glitching".

Because the 9Z transmitter uses contacts against the transmitter antenna to transfer the output signal to it, a dirty antenna can definitely cause shortened range.

Thank you Bill,
Is there any disassembly, cleaning or maintance schedule I should be aware of? Otherwise system seems to be functioning well. Additionally I have heard of reports of range issues when used with "Matchboxes" I did also notice a range increase by working the plugs to these devices by unplugging them and plugging them back in. Any clue as to what is going on about this?
Regards,
Rick