Forum

Night Watch

The communications/electronics officer and I have been away today purchasing a CR100/B128 receiver to add to her collection of vintage . I have no doubt this will be pressed into use in our patrol's training programme for receiving CW (morse). Nerys

5 years ago by Nerys

Forum

Extra channels

I'm not sure exactly what you mean - could you give an example of what you might want to do with more detail? Do you simply want to install two separate radio systems in one boat and have two to control them...?

5 years ago by DodgyGeezer

Forum

Wiring help needed.

This might help Colin, same series. These (and yours) are Heli and so old not even listed in the Futaba obsolete section. I have 2 even older FP-T5NLH non computer heli I used for my planes before going 2.4. You can use the heli for anything but the rotary knobs are for trimming pitch and tail rotor, throttle etc and work together with other switches. You can probably use the normal std functions plus throttle hold, throttle cut (which also works in conjunction with the rotary trims and a few others but it might take a bit of mucking around to get them to do what you want. I used a few functions for things they weren't meant for in the planes, like throttle cut, idle up (toggle sw turns on pre set throttle hold level- for auto rotation). This manual should give you a rough idea and the rest will be suck and see. http://manuals.hobbico.com/fut/7uaf-7uap-manual.pdf JB

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Sea Commander.

Exactamente Dodgy 👍 Martin is also correct. Point 2 was discussed a few days ago in a similar thread. The earth wire should be soldered or clamped to the prop tube of earth plate though. A loose connection like a croc clip can itself be a source of interference; so called "Metal to metal noise". That's also why I don't like all metal UJs for the prop shaft. Even 1:1 ships can suffer from problems with earthing plates! In the mid nineties I designed a COMMS system for a series of glass fibre minesweepers. Against my better judgement the yard decide to use vertical whip antennae for the HF . A vertical monopole whip antenna needs a good earth to act as it's counterpoise. "No problem " said the yard "We'll let a copper earth plate into the keel." After launching and a few weeks of fitting out and trials they complained that the HF comm efficiency and range was deteriorating. We tested all our , ATU and cabling and all was OK. Then we sent a diver down to inspect the earth plate. He came up and said "It looks like Chantilly lace!" Red faces at the yard and they coughed up for the Crossed Dipole antenna (with it's own built in counterpoise and ATU) which I wanted to fit in the first place 😉 Cheers, Doug 😎

5 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Sea Commander.

1 - MacGregor had a non-industry-standard IF. So you may have problems sourcing a suitable pair of crystals. 2 - Having a single Earth point was a standard interference suppression requirement. This used to be provided by connecting the negative side of the circuit to a plate in contact with the water, or, for convenience, the prop tube...

5 years ago by DodgyGeezer

Forum

Workshop

Thank you for all those kind words Doug. Alice's call sign is G(W)7SEH which she has had since she was 18, but she isn't on the air at the moment as her 'shack' had to go when the room was converted to a Dialysis chamber (of horrors). To prove that I could learn something new at over eighty, four years ago, I did the Foundation course and have the call sign M(W)6TLN. Once the shed is completed, Alice will set the shack up again complete with work benches for her main interest of restoring vintage . Future exploit, Alice wants to buy a milk float when one comes up at a sensible price and not too far from home and convert it into a campervan. Cheers, Nerys

5 years ago by Nerys

Forum

Workshop

"I have to share it with Alice. She is a radio 'ham' who collects and likes restoring vintage " Ye Gods and little fishes! What an incredible pair of ladies😮 Both my main interests, ship modelling and radio, in one convenient package👍 Not to mention general handiwork! Where have you been all my life?? What's your call sign Alice? I never went for a Ham license (had enough expensive hobbies already) but did work the night shift for a mate of mine in Hounslow during 24 hour competitions, so he could get some kip. Very interesting. He was quite impressed once when I made him some contacts in North Norway. We deduced that the transmissions might have been bouncing off the Aurora Borealis, cos we had to track with it to keep the link, using a rotatable log periodic antenna, as it wandered about! We had fun erecting that huge HF log-p in his back garden, but that's another saga🙄 Respect to you ladies, looking forward to your next exploits, in the Coracle maybe?⛵😉 Cheers, Doug 😎

5 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Workshop

Thanks everyone for the very kind comments you are all making about our workshop, however, I must confess that I have to share it with Alice. She is a radio 'ham' who collects and likes restoring vintage , so also needs bench space. Cheers, Nerys

5 years ago by Nerys

Forum

Fishtailing

I think this must have been an article from a while ago aimed at AM or FM as the on 2.4 are way less susceptible to interference. None of my models have suffered with any form of electrical interference since I changed to 2.4 from FM and previous to that 27Mhz which was shocking!. As previously mentioned I have 18 aircraft -mostly out-runners up to 1100w , a few in-runners-(ducted fans) and at the moment 5 boats (1 with twin in-runners, 1 with twin non suppressed 380s, 1 with single suppressed 380, 1 with twin non suppressed 540s, and 1 with a worn out old Graupner monoperm. I have run 2 brushed boats together on 1 TX and a brushed and brushless on the same TX both with single wire RXs in each boat paired to the TX) with the boats 1ft apart at times with not a hint of a problem (RECs in the bow). I have always made sure the aerials are not in line with pushrods or near anything that might create any sort of magnetic field, and RXs as Doug said, on the opposite side to anything of that nature. Also as mentioned, any twin aerial RXs should have each leg at as near to 90deg as possible or at least 1 forward and 1 aft (planes and boats) Not sure If I'm doing something right or it's the I'm using (5 different types- 2 are HK cheapo 2.4s- general lack of serious outside interference or if I'm just plain lucky, but I have enough of a variety of installations to show that in my opinion, if you are having a problem on a 2.4 set-up there must be something quite unusual happening. I'll bet it would be something easy to fix, (like first take your gear out and test it to make sure it's not that, then look at aerial/ REC placement, twisted/coiled wiring etc. I noticed that the REC aerial on your boat Ron, goes over the top of the steel rudder pushrod -could be something as simple as that. You just have to go through things step by step until you find what's causing the problem (obvious statement I know) Doug mentioned ferrite rings which are a good idea (I found some clip on ones on HK which you can put on leads easily) I also use UBECs on all my planes which have a ferrite ring fitted which are a good bit of insurance. John B

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

futaba radio and receivers

I also have been using Orange FASST Futaba RECs since they first came out and have never had an issue with range( far as you can see). Also the Corona R6FA, R8FA and the FRSky TFR6 7ch have been faultless as well. I've been using a Futaba 6EX with all of these since 2010 with no problems. Also been using a few FHSS for ground use (boats) with no problems either. There don't seem to be many 3CH FASST receivers but a 4 or 6CH FASST should work ok. A 6CH will work on 3,4,5,6,7,8CH RECs (you only run out of switches if you use a bigger one) Corona makes a R4FA but HK doesn't sell them now. plenty of Corona 6s and 8s around for about $ 25 US. I notice that the Futaba 3PK is discontinued so samc may want to look at a newer radio.

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Batteries in a DX5e

Hi Doug, I was meaning more here in NZ, as I know you have some nice shops in the UK and Germany etc ( I have bought quite a bit from Cornwall Model Boats who give really good service) and a few years ago was buying IC engines and parts from Just Engines in Shaftsbury who were a great bunch with spot on service and advice. A list of good shops would be great Doug as if you are not in the country you quite often don't get to know good local shops. When I was working on Norfolk Island (SP) in the 70s there was a shop called the 'Mini Golf shop' owned by a lady named Agnes who was incredibly knowledgeable on all aspects of modeling ( it's where I bought all my models, motors and at the time as they were tax and duty free, - bought an OS FS 60 motor when they first came out for around $160 Aust for eg, in NZ a year later they were about 6-$700 NZ). The shop was tiny (about the size of a double garage and was packed to the roof with model stuff from all around the world,- a real modelers paradise and it was known worldwide . Sadly it has been gone for many years as the tax system changed due to Australian interference, (they have now taken over completely) and is now just Lego and other crap (although at one time they sold more Lego than any shop in the world from the new -1980s shop) . I doubt whether there would be many shops in the world as exciting to enter as that old one these days.

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Batteries in a DX5e

Probably one of these under the power switch, (you'll have to check first) may only be accessible from inside unless the front face of the TX unscrews. If you are not sure get someone who knows to do it. If it's dud you are going to have to change it for safety reasons anyhow. Check my previous reply as I added something else.

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Hints and Tips.

TUBING Hi Guys, It's me again. A good source of small lengths of metal tubes is from old . I picked up some old from a boot sale for next to nothing and the telescopic aerial is ideal for making rudder tubes, prop shaft tubes, anchor hawser tubes push rod supports and so on. Martin.

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

Ace Nautical Commander

It might be a shame to alter the innards of such a radio - vintage like this make a lot of money if sold in original condition. See https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2980389-ACE-Nautical-Commander-7-ch-NIB-AND-FOR-SALE-AGAIN Perhaps $200? To convert it to 2.4Ghz you would have to obtain a 2.4Ghz transmitter module. If you can do that, you can probably obtain a full 2.4Ghz combo and use that radio if interference is the primary issue. To convert you need to obtain a radio module, and then find the position in your transmitter where the signal is passed to the RF section. You then connect Vcc, GND and Signal to the new 2.4Ghz module. Some have a separate RF board, making this part easy, but if not you will need some way to find the bit to connect....

5 years ago by DodgyGeezer

Blog

Fiddly bits and lights

Hi y’all. She’s almost there. I swear for a fairly easy boat to build I have almost as much time in the thing as my Neptun.😮 I keep adding a little here and there, but I need to finish her. Once I maiden her, I’m “done” I rarely go back to a project I’ve finished to modify or add details, with the exception of RC cars. The more I get into model boating however, the more I think that attitude might change. Anyway, I bought some detail pieces from Harbor models in California, and decided to add lights to the Acapulco too. The flying bridge now has a and a fire extinguisher. I took braided wire, stripped off the insulation and used that inside a piece of heat shrink for the hose, it’s not perfect but looks ok. I shortened the radar mast that goes behind the seat because...well, I just didn’t like how it looked. I added 2 aft nav lights to it also, I’m waiting on lights and boards from Harbor, once those are installed I’ll tidy up the internals, pinstripe the water line and she will be ready for her maiden run. I need to get her done as I have another project in the wings,and I’m gonna have to do some engineering to accomplish what I want I have in mind....😁 Cash

5 years ago by Cashrc

Wiki

2.4ghz TX/Radio

2.4Ghz TX/Radio combo With the introduction of the 2.4 Ghz the 27Mhz and the 40Mhz systems will soon become obsolete, they are however the only ones suitable for underwater submarine use as the 2.4Ghz will not transmit under water. With the 2.4Ghz system you can forget about wrong crystals; or is somebody on your frequency; dual conversion; incompatibility of some crystals on some ; interference etc etc. need I go on. The first 2.4Ghz systems were expensive but now a transmitter and radio can be bought for just under £30 there seems to be no point in hanging on to your old 27 and 40 Mhz .... START to update for a hassle free life. Additional receivers are only £10. It seems that the Planet and RadioLink are no longer readily available. FlySky are a suitable in-expensive alternative but are not compatible with Planet or RadioLink. A simple,one off binding process for your first time use and your set is tuned to just your transmitter. You can use just one transmitter and have all your boats fitted with receivers which will only receive signals from your one transmitter. Should you for any reason want to add or change your transmitter for the same type you can simple re- bind your receivers again to match your new transmitter SIMPLE !!!! If you do have a rather expensive 40Mhz Transmitter it is possible to purchase an adaption kit to 2.4Ghz and still retain your transmitter, 2.4Ghz 4 to 6 channel receivers can be purchased for as little as £10 to match the modified transmitter.

5 years ago by MAXTON