albertoinbox

Signal from the radio to the receiver fails intermittently.

Specs:
Tamiya Motor + ESC
Spektrum G2 5000 50C LiPo 7.4v Smart Battery
Spektrum SR3500 Micro Receiver
Spektrum DX3E DSM Radio
Spektrum S6030 Digital Surface High-Torque Servo

Observations:
Soldered an extension to the receiver antenna
Many cuts along the cables sheath exposing bare metal
Also run LED lights module and power to motor cooling fan using the other 2 available channels, removed for troubleshooting. Problem persists with or without them.

albertoinbox

youtu.be/Vw-iuphq9sE

Tried many times to upload images but this forum wont let me, it says I cant upload a URL!!!

albertoinbox

Something wrong here...how come I can't upload images???

When I attach them through the forums attachment manager and click submit I get an error message saying I can't post a URL before my tenth post. When I type the URL to the images I had to upload to a free image host to try a workaround I get the same message (at least now it actually makes sense), BUT I posted a URL on my second post to this thread so go figure.

I'm almost posting a bunch of bogus stuff just to get past my tenth post to see if this error will drop...but then I risk being seen as a spammer and being kicked out per forum rules.

What a hassle for a first try here, it took me 10 times more time than needed looking for a solution...ended up needing to ask for help to try to ask for help.

This forum looks like its been up for many years, whats going on?

init4fun

Hi albertoinbox,

First, let me Welcome you to RCU. I know the 10 posts thing is frustrating, but unfortunately there is a very good reason for it. Some time ago, a member got banned and kept making new accounts to post some really nasty porn images, over and over till the only solution was to institute the 10 posts before pictures restriction.

Now, for your receiver, if the antenna is damaged or altered in any way, you'll need a new receiver. It's not as simple as just adding more wire, the antenna is a specified "tuned length" and any more or less length will negatively affect it's operation. If I am reading this statement correctly;

"Soldered an extension to the receiver antenna Many cuts along the cables sheath exposing bare metal"

There really is no hope for salvaging the RX.

albertoinbox

Thank you very much.

I did not know you couldn’t alter the antenna. Yes, you read that right, I soldered a wire to it to make it long enough to come out of the top of the antenna plastic tube as I thought that’s what it should look like.

Im new to the hobby and never seen a vintage RC without an antenna sticking out the top. Guess the model is vintage but the receiver is modern and doesn’t need it. That’s actually a great thing and I screwed up.

A new receiver would cost $100 and I need a micro due to very confined space in the Tamiya Hotshot. To try to avoid the cost do you think that if I cut the wire back to its original length it would be ok? I know you said there was no hope
for it but please enlighten me.

Thanks again.

mongo

My Feedback: (15)

look around, if specktrum antennas are like futaba, they are just a snap connection to the rx board, and can be replaced fairly easily. can probably buy them fron someone like aero panda, or some other big dealer, maybe even from horizon..

AndyKunz

We have service depots around the world. Any of them can help you.

Americas: https://www.horizonhobby.com/service-center.html
UK: [email protected] or https://www.logicrc.com/default.aspx...t,c:ZZ-SpekSup
EU: https://www.horizonhobby.de/de_DE/eu-service.html
AU/NZ: http://www.modelflight.com.au/customer-service/
ZA: http://www.jk-products.co.za/

What receiver are you using? Many of them (not all) have snap-on antennas that are easily repaired. You can't add an extension to it, and ANY DAMAGE AT ALL to the antenna will adversely affect performance.

Andy

albertoinbox

Thanks Andy, I didn’t know that, seems like service and repairs are currently on hold though.

Im using Spektrum SR3500 Micro Receiver, I think it’s been discontinued.

In my uneducated guess I thought a longer antenna would only improve reception.

albertoinbox

Ok, forget the SR3500, I got a brand new Spektrum SR315, its pretty small enough to fit. Very nice and way under $100.

But I just can't bind it to my DX3E radio though, I do the procedure and nothing happens.

I put the receiver in bind mode, press and hold the bind button on the radio and turn it on. After a few seconds the red LED on the radio blinks for a couple of seconds than goes solid but the receiver keeps blinking in bind mode forever...from 10 feet away.

Are these two NOT compatible?

Thanks.

AndyKunz

No, the DX3E does not support any new protocols. It's a Surface DSM/Surface DSM2 radio. It's so old we don't even have any info on it in our site. I found this, though:

https://www.amainhobbies.com/spektru...pm3160/p158025

The SR315 will support DSMR and SLT, so a SLT3 transmitter would be a pretty comparable cross from what you have there now. Transmitter and receiver together are only $80.

https://www.horizonhobby.com/product...SPMSLT300.html

Andy

albertoinbox

Its been over a decade since I got these spektrum electronics, just was never able to use them. Took me so long they're discontinued...

So Im returning the RX and getting the combo.

Thank you Andy, this should be it.