Hey guys the more I think about it the more I believe it was static elec. that made my cord go bad. It arrived here in working order. but be careful as not to zap anything around your radio or cord with a static touch.!! Take off your slippers or shoes when you fly--

I like to fly RC in the raw, it just feels so refreshing ....

Anyone want to see a pic?

Hello Aerojack,
I think you're on the right track as far as static goes. When My cord started acting up, it started with minor glitches. Your airplane would take a "hit" about once every 15 seconds. then 10seconds. then 5. finally it would wind up totally uncontrollable. Because of this progressive nature, I blamed it on a component on the shrink wrapped board heating up. I put the cord in the refridgerator, but this did not fix the problem. Quite often static electricity problems do the same thing. static builds up as you slide your feet or scoot around in your chair. If you,ll read the thread entitled "AFPD drops transmitter calibration" or something like that, You'll see that one of our members touched on this subject. Actually I believe he hit the nail on the head. He noticed that another brand of simulator cable used resistors in the plug. These resistors probably run any static charge to ground, yet allow the desired signal to reach it's destination. If this fixes it I'll let Ikarus do it. I don't want my warranty voided. P.S. I still think my idea of a memory stick is much better than the current arrangement. The biggest problem with it is the fact that it is not currently being built that way & would require some change. I think STL Pilot would defend the current method to the bitter end simply because "thats the way it currently is." I have posted a picture of a USB memory stick on my thread to IKARUS.

Yes, all the above is true. As noted in an earlier thread, there seems to be a ground issue too. I've experimented with RF chokes with limited success. Ikaraus should have designed there USB adaptor with ESD in mind as people will be pluging and unplugging their Tx's. Humans can easily provide 2000 volts spikes. However, worse yet, is the charge on a Tx that can provide to the USB device and visa versa too!

My GreatPlanes (G2) USB controller works great, smooth, no glitches, but without the ability to program rates . On the USB cable, there is a choke installed two inches from the USB connector. My memory card reader has one too.

For Ikarus, adding resistors, between 50 to 200 ohms, helps significantly to reduce the effects of ESD zaps and EMI while having marginal effect on the signal. I technique I use on most of my IC designs.

Keep me posted as to your progess with adding resistors.

Cheers,
Greg.

I posted somewhere that stactic electricty can zap from your hand into the TX ...causing the controlls to go crazy and I had to remove the entire program and re-install it in my computer. Since then I have been very carefull, and have not had a problem with stactic.

put a simple wrist band static lease on and ground to the case