Spektrum AR7000 Beware!

[yakpilot]

Interesting thing at the field today. My buddy was putting together his QQ 101 and noticed BOTH of the antennas on his JR921 were GONE. They broke off right at the nub where they were supposed to exit the RX. Vibration is the only plausible explanation. He also noticed that on his SF power expander that the rubber grommets were kinda worn and was allowing it to move too much while the engine was running. So that's something else to check.
BTW saying your RX probably didn't fail because your power expander is OK is kinda naive. And why would vibration magjicly go away in the air?

[JoeAirPort]

This is what I did after seeing this thread. Took all of 1 minute. This is see through shrink tubing. I couldn't belive how perfect the fit was. I hit the base of the shrink tube with a cover iron to keep them from falling off. Do guys think I should shrink them over the entire length of the antennas? I didn't want to do that because it might be too hard to remove if I need open the receiver.

Also maybe it's time to lose the rubber grommet idea of mounting these receivers and go with the 1/2" foam. I haven't had any problems flying all year on two different 50cc aerobats. I use the 1/2" foam.

[yakpilot]

Read it again Holmes. The PE was mounted with grommets per the SF instructions. And the RX was on foam.

[leepord geko]

Well think of it this way when your plane is on the ground the ground doesn't move equaling that everything in you plane shakes like hell but when your flying the airframe can move and reciver in theory recives less vibration non the less the factory standards between the ar7000 and ar9000 shouldn't be any different but apperently they are because unless you mount your ar7000 in a heap of bubble wrap the antennas seem to break off.

[JoeAirPort]

Sounds good Columbo. Hope mine don't break off.

[yakpilot]

Just trying to help to some people, but I guess some people can't be helped. Back to lurking.

[JoeAirPort]

Naa just stick it out and be annoyed like the rest of us. We need company.

[leepord geko]

Alight if you feel like I'm trashing you I'm sorry but it feels like people have put my reciver into a corner or the problem and I'm not going to argue that vibration wasn't the problem the ar9000 has a little bit more protection then the last so all I can say is time will tell.

[drkilljoy]

I just got a brand new AR7000 in the mail from Horizon ... very pleasantly surprised given that i hadnt even given them any credit card details or any other financial info for the return shipping yet. Infact i was waiting for word on what they had found wrong on my receiver to authorize a repair or replacement. Thats top notch customer service in my books! Hats off to Horizon

[leepord geko]

Well I have determined that its not the receiver, well the (ar7000 was the problem at first), and but rather the radio, considering I had a new ar9000 receiver in the plane and it locked up in flight after 4 sucsessfull flights here's the video and the crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGOETNdHSZ8

[jamesrxx951]

where did you have the power plugged in to your reciever with that smart fly. i ask because you cannot plug the power leads from the smart fly into the power ports on the recievers. it will mess with the reciever and put it into bind mode or other weird fuctions.

[leepord geko]

It was plugged into aux 2 and throttle, and I new about the problem with spektrum receivers, and smartfly but thanks for asking.