Thanks, I have many unbranded crystals which were bought as pairs in 27mhz 35mhz and 40mhz and have not had problems with any setup as long as tx and rx are the same brand. And that is in AM as well as FM.
Over the last 50 years the only problems I've had was from outside interference or other rc users broadbanding due to poorly setup radio sets.
Cheers Colin.

Just a quick point, Crystals can give you problems!
Make sure that example Hitec Radio Hitec Crystal, Futaba Radio Futaba Crystal
Therefore Hitec Receiver Hitec Crystal if your using this with a Futaba Transmitter the Transmitter needs a Futaba Crystal
27Mhz Radios are very sensitive to aerial length and like Doug says horizontal and Vertical.
The only guys here in SA using 27Mhz are the cheapy cars and the signal is all over the place!
Good Luck
Ian

Don't burn your fingers.
Nice bit of kit.
Cheers Colin.

"Chaos Cave" I like it LOL!!

Nice bit of kit Doug.
Happy soldering.

Martin555.

The fog is finally clearing.
Cheers Colin

The angle isn't vital Colin, except when at extreme range!
Then you might need all the help you can give the RX👍
It's much more important with the much longer 27 and 40Meg antennas!
Most important is to have one of the RX antennas vertical.
Happy testing🤞
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS Yeeehaaah! My new soldering station just arrived.
Off to the Chaos Cave now to install it and get back into business😊
C Use Awl later.

Now that's what I call useful information Doug.
I now realise how it works, just have to see the model and it should be OK.
Didn't realise the antenna angle was that important.
Cheers Colin.

Information about the TX antenna makes a lot of sense. It is very easy to hold the TX in a horizontal position without adjusting the antenna angle. Thanks for the info.

I have put up some images of my Commander rebuild & will put up more this weekend. Image with the topdecks is the original as I first obtained it, though I had started work on sanding. I then worked out the cabin, the topdeck areas were too far gone and delaminating, so got rid of them. Tried the hull in the bathtub and it took water within 15 minutes.

Decided to strip right back - and now about 4 years later, i have spent 3 months sanding, sanding and sanding some more. Paint goes on the undersides tomorrow then I start rebuilding the topdecks. Finally.

Hi Colin,
Glad to help!
"I will have to take to my sons and try out away from home"
That's gonna be a pain in the neck if you have to do that whenever you want to test a setup☹️
Re 2.4Gigs;
" if I try to sail round the islands in the lake I will lose contact. "
That depends!😉
Alas alack at VHF (30 - 300 MHz) and above transmissions are Line of Sight (LOS).
I.e. if you can't see the model neither can your receiver 'see' the TX
Do the islands have trees and bushes? They will also absorb some 2.4Gig RF power as well.
As far as range is concerned: If you can always see the model you should be OK for several hundred metres. Take your binos with you👍
Tips for maximum range with 2.4Gig RC sets!
Most RXs have two short wire antennas, ca 12cm. Approx one wavelength in the 2.4G band.
Make sure that they are installed in the boat at 90° to each other.
That means one vertical and one horizontal, NOT both horizontal!
Why? Two antennas means 'Antenna diversity'. Vertical or horizontal polarisation.
Analogy: Waves in the sea roll into shore horizontally, how else you cry!?😁 That's Horizontal Polarisation'. But imagine if you could turn the seabed through 90° to the vertical and the waves turned with it! That would be Vertical Polarisation.

The RX constantly checks which signal from your TX (H or V) is strongest and has the least errors and uses that to control your systems.
Most 2.4Gig TXs have two antennas; one vertical sticking out the top (stub antenna) and one horizontal built into the handle. (Silly pistol grip and wheel TXs excluded)
Maximum signal from the antennas comes from the middle NOT from the end.
Same applies for any frequency BTW! Unless you use a Yagi antenna! Another story!
For the handle antenna that's not important, however you hold the TX it's still horizontal (unless you're lying down😴😁).
For the vertical antenna it is important.
DO NOT hold the TX flat and point the stub antenna at the model. That is the weakest signal, almost null.👎
Hold the TX upright so that the stub is always vertical for maximum signal to the model.👍
Cheers, Doug 😎

As I expected Doug, I'm glad you're able to help us mere mortals.
As I have at least another dozen boats to sort out and get running again I will have to take to my sons and try out away from home.
As my local private lake is even closer to the camp array than home.
Does 2.4GHz have good distance coverage as I've been told that if I try to sail round the islands in the lake I will lose contact.
Cheers Colin.