couple of questions about RX plus satellite.

[jipp]

i have a quick question about RX.. i am using a spectrum radio dx6i for now.. so i will be using that protocol. my question is.. what does a satellite add on do for the RX. when would you use one? also on my zmr 250 i just used a lemon feather 6ch RX.

but i think i want to upgrade to this lemon feather 6ch MX RX that has provisions for satellite too.. but my FC also has support for such.. so im confused how that works.. is one better than the other..

here is the RX im looking at upgrading too., iv had no problems with the 6 ch feather.. but it has no on board fail safe, or provisions for satellite..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lemon-RX-MX...id=100167&rk=3&rkt=4&mehot=pp&sd=131464409785

and the sat module that goes with it..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lemon-Rx-MX...id=100005&rk=2&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=181571849738

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OrangeRx-R1...54910a4&pid=100005&rk=5&rkt=6&sd=221888633795

as ill have more money in this next build.. i want zero chance of a fly off for safety to obv. but a sparky II, plus FPV Gear going to the sky in a fly away does not sound too good.. i think i would be depressed about that for a while. laughs.. so i figure i better up grade to a RX that has a fail safe.. but im just not sure if what im looking at is what i need..

and ill just use the feather 6chrx i have in my box for a 180 build or something later on.


etc..

chris.

 

[Snarls]

As I understand it, a satellite RX is a second set of antennas to receive your radio signal. Kinda like diversity receivers for FPV. So if the main RX gets obstructed, the satellite, which is typically mounted in another location such as outside the fuselage, will continue to receive information.

What you can do with FCs like the Naze is solder a sat receiver directly to the board. This is what I do and basically it's just like using a regular Rx, but with much less size and wiring.

The lemon sat and feather light RXs don't have a specific 'failsafe'. If signal is lost they simply stop sending info to what ever is connected to it, unlike the turnigy 9x receiver which continues to send the last signal it got if it loses signal. (Might want to confirm this)

I'm not sure you will really want a specific failsafe on your RX for a multirotor jipp. If you fly a miniquad I suggest you don't use a failsafe on the RX or FC, and just let the quad fall out of the sky. If you are flying an AP craft then don't use the RX failsafe. Instead use the FC failsafe, which for an AP build will be RTH or slow descent or something.

For an AP build you still might want to get the LemonRX with satellite attachment just so you have some safety against loosing signal. You could always use the RX failsafe in a plane later.

P.S. if you have to pay shipping on ebay you might save money by buying a combo pack with the receiver and satellite from Rotorgeeks. $27 with shipping. Just ordered that set myself.

Hope this helps
Sam

 

[jipp]

morning sam. thank you for the feed back.. i must of miss understood the Fail safe being on board the RX. so no point spending money on a RX that has a failsafe built in.. i have my zmr set up to fall out of the sky too.. i was just thinking you had to have a fail safe on the rx too. i have no desire for a plane at this point.. so ill save money and just keep using these 6.00 6ch feather light lemon RX for now..

when i go to a larger AP machine, ill go with a RX that cane use the satellite i guess. the return to home etc.. should be on the FC.

the sparky II has this, so id imagine if i went with a more advance option like the pitchhawk, or tarrots own FC.

and ill be using CC3d, and sparky II. i think i may try to flash tau onto the CC3D FC too. naze scares me. heh.
iv been collecting parts to build three quads over the next two months.. i have a lot of parts coming in..

from the zmr 250FPV project.. that is the one i will start first once i get my FC/motors, etc.. then i have the horus ( the 3d printed whale ), and the i will be building a FT versacopter too. i hope my health can allow me to build these three quads quickly.. and i figure by the time i get these built.. ill have the experience needed for a more advance larger AP quad.. so that is the plan.

thanks again sam for the feed back.. ill be sure to give ya a update on teh sparky II.
i look forward to playing with hover, and return to home etc. even if its a novility for a mini quad.. i still like to tinker.

i am also thinking i will save up for a taranis.. as it seems to be the best bet for this hobby.. i wont out grow it. even if it has a steep learning curve compared to say a spectrum DX.. but for the price difference.. 400.00 for a dx9.. compared to around 280.00 or so for the taranis that can go up to 18ch.. and also with the module still use spectrum RX..

thanks again.
chris.

 

[Snarls]

Sounds like a good plan of attack for the next few months Chris. I myself am planning on an AP build this December, as well as getting a 3D printer. My first quad, 'school project' in my signature, was an attempt at an AP build. I was quite ambitious going with an AP build for my first quad, but luckily I was careful and did not loose my investment (RIP one camera though). So you are making a good choice learning on small machines first before going big.

Despite this I had a lot of fun with my Multiwii Pro FC doing things like GPS hold, even if the accuracy on multiwii was really bad. It was just amazing seeing the quad hover by itself. It was a beautiful build, but I moved on to something safer which is what I'm doing with my miniquad now. This December will see the return of the AP build though. I'm thinking all new everything, so I'll have four DT750s and a QBrain laying around to experiment or do more creative builds with.

I also might pick up a taranis pretty soon. My 9X had been having range issues all summer long. I ordered a the LemonRX combo I linked earlier and this weekend I will test the new RXs to confirm the 9X is the problem. If so I will pull the trigger and get the taranis, leaving the 9X for small park use.

 

[jipp]

Sounds like a good plan of attack for the next few months Chris. I myself am planning on an AP build this December, as well as getting a 3D printer. My first quad, 'school project' in my signature, was an attempt at an AP build. I was quite ambitious going with an AP build for my first quad, but luckily I was careful and did not loose my investment (RIP one camera though). So you are making a good choice learning on small machines first before going big.

Despite this I had a lot of fun with my Multiwii Pro FC doing things like GPS hold, even if the accuracy on multiwii was really bad. It was just amazing seeing the quad hover by itself. It was a beautiful build, but I moved on to something safer which is what I'm doing with my miniquad now. This December will see the return of the AP build though. I'm thinking all new everything, so I'll have four DT750s and a QBrain laying around to experiment or do more creative builds with.

I also might pick up a taranis pretty soon. My 9X had been having range issues all summer long. I ordered a the LemonRX combo I linked earlier and this weekend I will test the new RXs to confirm the 9X is the problem. If so I will pull the trigger and get the taranis, leaving the 9X for small park use.

hey sam, sounds like a plan look forward to your AP build.. so much to learn in this hobby.. a 3d printer would be fun.. and they are getting cheaper.. so who knows maybe they will get to be like printers are now adays for our home computers.. i can remember when a good printer for the computer was over 3k. laughs.. times sure move quick.

i did come across this.. not sure if or how it works.. but it mention RX glitchs.. and made me think of you questioning your RX.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Racers-Edge...Savox-Hitec-/390698691691?hash=item5af774ec6b

i need a better radio i think. the dx6 feels like a toy compared to my hitec optic 6, unfortunately its FM.. and it is a battery hog. but it feels so much better than the DX..

there are so many radios on the market.. makes you wonder how do most people pick one.. im looking at the taranis because of a few reasons.. main being the positive feed back the community has given it.. the fact its open and if you can dream it, you have a 99 percent chance of being able to do it.

one i think would be hardware RX and the price.. plus the price of the sensors, etc.. it seems the frysky stuff is very fair priced.. compared to expensive hitec stuff.

etc.

so, yeah.. i would be quite happy with a 9ch radio that is of the same quality as my hitec optic 6.. its just a great feeling radio, the gimbals are to die for. rock on.
chris.

 

[pressalltheknobs]

unless you are set on keeping the FM capability you might consider converting your Hitech to 2.4 using this...

http://alofthobbies.com/frsky-dht-diy-telemetry-module.html.

There are some videos out there showing what's involved. Not sure for that specific radio but it might be worth taking a look if the TX is otherwise unused.

 

[pressalltheknobs]

here's a couple I found.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt70dUDQHQo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHnV6hGH108

http://flitetest.com/articles/diy-2-4ghz-radio-upgrade/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCQnFsCpMbU

From the last one it looks like the optic 6 has a module bay. If yours does you maybe be able to just plug one of these in..

http://alofthobbies.com/radio-gear/frsky-telemetry-system/modules.html

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1949650

 

[jipp]

hi, yeah it has a spot for a module in the back. right now i use it for flight simulator.. it needs a new battery etc.. as this one only holds a charge for maybe 2 hours.. but i have read the hitec optic 6 is a battery hog anyhow..

in all honesty i need more channels. so a new radio.. i have no RX for it.. so no point investing in it to be honest. i just hope most good radios feel as good as the hitec optic 6, as the dx6i feels like a darn toy compared to it, its such a nice radio.

chris.

p.s

looking at the links now.. if i go with frysky taranis.. i think it will be worth moding this radio. thanks.. will book mark this for later refrence.

 

[pressalltheknobs]

you won't get more channels since you probably can't change the software. But you will get a nice 6ch for which you can buy receivers and get good performance for less than $50 - plus it might be a fun project if you like doing that kind of thing.

 

[pressalltheknobs]

and since I was looking here's a thread on batteries for that TX. Seems it is the Spectra FM module that draws the power. If you are not using that and you wouldn't be then it's not so bad. If you want to use a Lithium battery, LiFE are a better choice than lipos for a TX for various reasons (mostly don't have to be discharged for storage like lipos and are generally safer for something you probably put in your closet since they tend not to burst into flames like lipos occasionally do)

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1450781

 

[jipp]

this is where i made my very first purchased and bought my RX for 5 bucks or so.. a piece.. bought a hand full of them.. anyhow i forgot where i originally bought them.. today they sent me a email about a sale on there more expensive air frames etc. but i looked at the RX.. and for lemon brand RX its the best price iv seen. so figured id share if anyone is in need.. it took a week to get my package.

i figure ill order a few more rx from them so i have them on hand.
http://www.hobby-paradise.com/en/category/68/index_home.html
chris.