Multiplex history
11-29-2002, 04:11 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Multiplex history
Would anyone be interested in a bit of pictorial history of Multiplex radios.
My first Multiplex radio is the Profi 2000 and that dates back over 20 years and I have others also. I can shoot pictures of how these were programmable even 20 years ago when the others didn't know the concept of programmable.
Let me know, if the interest is there then I will take the time to photograph and post and any others with more information can chime in to help, it is quite interesting.
My first Multiplex radio is the Profi 2000 and that dates back over 20 years and I have others also. I can shoot pictures of how these were programmable even 20 years ago when the others didn't know the concept of programmable.
Let me know, if the interest is there then I will take the time to photograph and post and any others with more information can chime in to help, it is quite interesting.
11-30-2002, 02:39 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Profi 2000
The Profi 2000, I'm sure this is not the oldest of Multiplex radio TX, but its the oldest in my collection so I'll talk about this one for starters.
From the photo, you will see that it is the cassette type for different application. You could have quite a few variants. For instance, a helicopter module which is the one next to the TX. The module in the TX, is an aerobatic module.
The principle here was the whole program, adjusters servo reverse, were on the cassette or module. With only the different control sticks or switches as basic equipment on the TX itself. By changing the module/cassette, you would change the type of radio it became. A helicopter radio, aerobatic radio, sport radio or glider radio.
The Profi 2000 came with a RF plug in module in the back with a frequency spacing of 10kz. Don't forget this is a radio that was introduced over 20 years ago.
The probe next to the TX on the photo is an RPM probe with the possibility of veryfying 2-3-4 blades propellers.
The power of this radio was 8.75 volts (7 cell)
It had an onboard fuse and from the internal you could set it for Mode 1 or Mode 2 and all the programs would adjust to it.
From the photo, you will see that it is the cassette type for different application. You could have quite a few variants. For instance, a helicopter module which is the one next to the TX. The module in the TX, is an aerobatic module.
The principle here was the whole program, adjusters servo reverse, were on the cassette or module. With only the different control sticks or switches as basic equipment on the TX itself. By changing the module/cassette, you would change the type of radio it became. A helicopter radio, aerobatic radio, sport radio or glider radio.
The Profi 2000 came with a RF plug in module in the back with a frequency spacing of 10kz. Don't forget this is a radio that was introduced over 20 years ago.
The probe next to the TX on the photo is an RPM probe with the possibility of veryfying 2-3-4 blades propellers.
The power of this radio was 8.75 volts (7 cell)
It had an onboard fuse and from the internal you could set it for Mode 1 or Mode 2 and all the programs would adjust to it.
11-30-2002, 02:54 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Salmon ArmBritish Columbia, CANADA
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Roger - Canadian Pricing on Multiplex TX
Roger:
Is there a multilex TX in the $500.00 CDN price range? I am going to be getting my first computer TX sometime this winter and had been considering only teh "big brands" untlill I started reading a fe Multiplex threads. Also, is there a Canadian service centre if service is required?
Is there a multilex TX in the $500.00 CDN price range? I am going to be getting my first computer TX sometime this winter and had been considering only teh "big brands" untlill I started reading a fe Multiplex threads. Also, is there a Canadian service centre if service is required?
11-30-2002, 03:19 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Roger - Canadian Pricing on Multiplex TX
Originally posted by David_Moen
Roger:
Is there a multilex TX in the $500.00 CDN price range? I am going to be getting my first computer TX sometime this winter and had been considering only teh "big brands" untlill I started reading a fe Multiplex threads. Also, is there a Canadian service centre if service is required?
Roger:
Is there a multilex TX in the $500.00 CDN price range? I am going to be getting my first computer TX sometime this winter and had been considering only teh "big brands" untlill I started reading a fe Multiplex threads. Also, is there a Canadian service centre if service is required?
http://www.multiplexrc.com/tx_cockpit.htm
As for a service center in Canada, Nutronix in the Toronto area.
12-01-2002, 09:41 AM
#8
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: private, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 3,672
Likes: 0
Received 26 Likes
on
16 Posts
Multiplex history
Looks like it would be much faster to set up a model by twiddling those pots than by having to scroll through screens on a computer Tx. Presumably this had no memory though, if you changed models you had to re-program from scratch?
There's an lot of dip switches in the top right corner of the card. Are they all for servo reversing? How many channels are there? What do all the pots do, are they travel, or are there rates, expo, ail diff? Is there programmable mixing as we understand it nowadays?
There's an lot of dip switches in the top right corner of the card. Are they all for servo reversing? How many channels are there? What do all the pots do, are they travel, or are there rates, expo, ail diff? Is there programmable mixing as we understand it nowadays?
12-01-2002, 01:43 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Multiplex history
Originally posted by HarryC
Looks like it would be much faster to set up a model by twiddling those pots than by having to scroll through screens on a computer Tx. Presumably this had no memory though, if you changed models you had to re-program from scratch?
There's an lot of dip switches in the top right corner of the card. Are they all for servo reversing? How many channels are there? What do all the pots do, are they travel, or are there rates, expo, ail diff? Is there programmable mixing as we understand it nowadays?
Looks like it would be much faster to set up a model by twiddling those pots than by having to scroll through screens on a computer Tx. Presumably this had no memory though, if you changed models you had to re-program from scratch?
There's an lot of dip switches in the top right corner of the card. Are they all for servo reversing? How many channels are there? What do all the pots do, are they travel, or are there rates, expo, ail diff? Is there programmable mixing as we understand it nowadays?
There was no memory with this setup, what one did is to buy one module/model, (expensive) or do as I did, copy on paper the trim position. ( I know I'm cheap)
This radio was a 9 channel unit. The dip switches were for servo reverse and certain channel set up reverse also.
And yes you had very good programmable mixing via the trim knobs.
12-01-2002, 04:07 PM
#10
Multiplex history
@David :
I don't know if the $ 500.- you mentioned are for the TX only, or for a set, but for a little more, $ 600 CDN, you could get the mc 3030 TX, currently at $ 350.- U.S. ( approx. 550.- CDN), which a really great deal !
Michael
I don't know if the $ 500.- you mentioned are for the TX only, or for a set, but for a little more, $ 600 CDN, you could get the mc 3030 TX, currently at $ 350.- U.S. ( approx. 550.- CDN), which a really great deal !
Michael
12-01-2002, 08:16 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Salmon ArmBritish Columbia, CANADA
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Multiplex history
I'll have to ask around at the field today and see if anyone has any input for me. Our field seems to be a Hitec/Futaba field.
12-01-2002, 08:48 PM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Multiplex history
I know we got off the subject of the history of Multiplex, I'm just wondering if the interest is there for me to continue.
12-01-2002, 09:11 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Multiplex history
Originally posted by AJF--2
Personally I find it interesting. I can see me trying to keep up with all of the settings and buttons--how do you spell "dial-a crash? :>)
Personally I find it interesting. I can see me trying to keep up with all of the settings and buttons--how do you spell "dial-a crash? :>)
12-02-2002, 02:00 PM
#16
My Feedback: (16)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Augusta, ME
Posts: 785
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Multiplex history
Keep it coming! I love old radios! My first was a World Expert Mk IX back in 1981. Wonderful bullet proof outfit. Servo reversing via molex plugs inside the tx for each channel and travel adjustment via little pots right under each molex plug. I still have the radio and it still flies.
12-02-2002, 05:50 PM
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Royal Expert
Here is the encoder board of a Multiplex Royal Expert which I would say about 15 years old, but not sure on the date.
The radio itself is apart, so I can only show the encoder board.
The evolution here from the previous photos of the Profi 2000 is that there is no complete cassette type module. So here all of the trim pots, dip switches etc. are permanently on the encoder board and all you change for different applications is the EEprom with its dedicated template. Then the trim pots would change funtion according to the EEprom installed. On some of them, you had memory so that when you went back to a certain aircraft or helicopter, all you had to do is recall the memory in that particular EEprom.
Again, like the 20 year old Profi 2000, one transmitter could do gliders, aerobatic aircrafts, and helicopters. With the Royal Expert shown here, there were a lot of different EEproms availlable even a Nautical one. Way ahead of its time.
This is at a time when all others merely had end point adjust and servo reverse.
The radio itself is apart, so I can only show the encoder board.
The evolution here from the previous photos of the Profi 2000 is that there is no complete cassette type module. So here all of the trim pots, dip switches etc. are permanently on the encoder board and all you change for different applications is the EEprom with its dedicated template. Then the trim pots would change funtion according to the EEprom installed. On some of them, you had memory so that when you went back to a certain aircraft or helicopter, all you had to do is recall the memory in that particular EEprom.
Again, like the 20 year old Profi 2000, one transmitter could do gliders, aerobatic aircrafts, and helicopters. With the Royal Expert shown here, there were a lot of different EEproms availlable even a Nautical one. Way ahead of its time.
This is at a time when all others merely had end point adjust and servo reverse.
12-02-2002, 05:53 PM
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Switch harness
On this one, only a short history.
Remember a few years ago, Dubro came out with a switch harness with the built in Charge jack, and then MPI, and then JR.
Well this one is over 20 years old, another sine where they others are playing catching up.,
Remember a few years ago, Dubro came out with a switch harness with the built in Charge jack, and then MPI, and then JR.
Well this one is over 20 years old, another sine where they others are playing catching up.,
12-02-2002, 06:00 PM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Profi servo
You all know the profi servos from Multiplex, well this one is also a profi but over 20 years old.
It has dual ball bearings, metal gears and way ahead of its time. When I bought this servo, I had never heard of ball bearing or metal gears in a servo. I even have a Pico servo weighing 19gr with dual ball bearings and metal gears which I bought 20 years ago.
It has dual ball bearings, metal gears and way ahead of its time. When I bought this servo, I had never heard of ball bearing or metal gears in a servo. I even have a Pico servo weighing 19gr with dual ball bearings and metal gears which I bought 20 years ago.
12-02-2002, 06:59 PM
#20
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: private, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 3,672
Likes: 0
Received 26 Likes
on
16 Posts
Multiplex history
wow, and there's a thread about Airtronics Stylus users raving about plug in cards now - 20 years after Mpx had them and then moved on!
Did the 2000 or Royal allow freely assignable mixing, or just have built-in mixers?
Harry
Did the 2000 or Royal allow freely assignable mixing, or just have built-in mixers?
Harry
12-02-2002, 07:14 PM
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (7)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Multiplex history
Originally posted by HarryC
wow, and there's a thread about Airtronics Stylus users raving about plug in cards now - 20 years after Mpx had them and then moved on!
Did the 2000 or Royal allow freely assignable mixing, or just have built-in mixers?
Harry
wow, and there's a thread about Airtronics Stylus users raving about plug in cards now - 20 years after Mpx had them and then moved on!
Did the 2000 or Royal allow freely assignable mixing, or just have built-in mixers?
Harry
