I have just finished a Multiplex Easy Star, but I have problems with the range check. I am using a R156F receiver, and I have have mounted small servos in the tail with servo extension cords running on both sides of the fuse.

I tried with the radio outside the airplane and antenna hanging down. Better but not quite good enough. I probably got about 15 paces away before servos started chattering. I wonder if that is "good enough" for a little single conversion receiver? Futaba only guarantees 200 m (656 ft) range but also sells this receiver in a package "ideal for Gliders" (T6EXAS/FUTK52**). So I guess the range should be OK for an Easy Star?

I tried different crystals; didn't seem to do anything.

Twisting the wires and curling up the extra cords and securing the curls with metal twisters seemed to help. But still only 10 - 15 paces before servos start chattering.

Tomorrow I will plug in a third servo on a small lead, unplug the two existing ones and plug them in one by one to see if the problem can be traced to a specific servo.

Any advice is appreciated!!

Thanks,
Jesper

We'd suggest that you find out what your transmitter's full, 'antenna up' range is. Then compare that to the 'antenna down' range.

If you get good 'antenna up' range, then you can determine the 'antenna down' range and set a go/no-go range for yourself. Futaba doesn't have a spec for 'antenna-down'.

OK, thanks. I guess that anything above the 200 m that Futaba guarantees for the R156F receiver is allright?

Jesper

So I tried range check with the antenna up. I barely got 200 m up the street before it had major chatter. I tried with another transmitter (also 6EXAP) and crystal set, without any improvement. Then I tried an R146iP receiver and antenna-down range check. It failsafed after only 15-20 m. Then I rangechecked the R156F in my foamy, and it was OK. I even flew it without a problem.

So I think the problem with the Easy Star is due to the two servo leads to servos in the tail, almost exactly same length as the antenna. I tried twisting the leads and mounting iron washers as "chokes" without success.

Do you have any suggestions for improving on the servo leads?

Thanks,
Jesper

You should also try to locate the receiver antenna as far from the servo leads as possible. Metal or carbon pushrods close to the receiver antenna can also cause difficulties with reception.

On Multiplex Easy Star, that is - easy! The antenna runs in a plastic tube under the fuse and the pushrods or servo leads runs at either side of the fuse.

Thanks,
Jesper