Spektrum DX7 dual receiver setup

[Eury]

There's been some questions regarding using the DX7 and dual AR7000 receivers, and as of yet, I haven't seen a thread where anyone's actually done it. Well, I want to run just that setup in my 100cc composite Edge, but before I do, I'm trying it out on my Cap, and after I prove it here, I'll move it to the Edge.

The setup was pretty easy, just bind them both and plug the stuff in. I made 2 little trays for the main receivers that I put foam on and velcroed them down (that's how you're supposed to do the main RX according to the manual), and used servo tape to put the aux receivers on. Everything moves the way you'd think, exactly like a single setup. For this, I just made a second lead coming off the switch, so it doesn't have redundant batteries, but that's fine, since it's just to test the setup before it goes in the Edge.

Here's a pic of the setup, the 2 extra leads you see are for the ailerons, they're no plugged in because it's tough to take a pic of the setup with the wing on this old single piece winged Cap 232! Pretty cool setup, IMHO, since each AR7000 has 2 individual RXs, my Cap has 4 receivers now! I even turned them on for you so there's cool orange light bling in the pic.

[rede2fly]

looks cool, but why do you need this? these are not supposed to get hits. are they not?? i would also think that if one gets hit the other would as well. but then i dont run or use them as of yetand not trying to be a smart azz but why stop a 4 just use one for each channel. haha

[Eury]

For the same reason that you'd use any dual receiver setup, or any redundancy for that matter. They won't be getting hits, but what if there's an equipment failure? I still have control of one side of the plane. There's plenty of planes out there that have been saved because of dual receivers, one fails, and you can get the plane down with the other one. Interference will take down a dual RX setup just as quickly as a single. Cheap insurance on a 5k airframe if you ask me.

[Mr.Pickle]

I may be wrong here but isnt one reciever antenna wires supposed to run horiz. and the others 90 degrees verticle? I thought I read that somewhere? I see you have them 90 degrees horiz. Mabey I missunderstood what I read? I just forgot where I read it.

[madmax]

Looks great Eury!! Antennas appear to be mounted correctly as well. The manual specifically states mounting perpendicular is optimal, but not entirely necessary.

[adrian]

ya looks perfect - i have been running a single unit in my Chip DV 50cc as test bed - I am very impressed!!!

[Dennis C]

Go for it dude.....Although i never used a dual receiver set up in my planes. this might be the ticket to get away from using all them match box's that are needed for the 35% and up. How many volts can you run thru these receivers ?

[Eury]

Thanks guys, It's being tested before I put it in the plane that's in Dennis C's
avatar. The receivers are good up to 9v and 30amps. Currently the Edge is running a single 149DP, and all the servos (Hitec 5955TG) on unregulated 2s lithiums, only the smoke pump, receiver and throttle servo are regulated. The 5955s are plenty strong to run a single one on each surface.

What I'm planning on doing when I transplant these over is have each receiver powered by its own Fromeco regulator and pack (so everything runs at 6v), use the Hitec programmer to reverse one of the elevator servos so they can both plug into the elev port on each receiver, and plug it all in, using the radio to set up differential on the ailerons. That'll leave me with enough channels to still use my smoke system.

[jaguar bone]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mr.Pickle
	I may be wrong here but isnt one reciever antenna wires supposed to run horiz. and the others 90 degrees verticle? I thought I read that somewhere? I see you have them 90 degrees horiz. Mabey I missunderstood what I read? I just forgot where I read it.

I sent Eury's antenna set up picture and another install picture to my antenna guru "wiz". I posed the question if one install was 'optimum' over the other.
http://ken.crawley.org/3.html?frm_da...data1_type=all

I'll try my best to (accurately) reduce a 40 minute conversation into a couple lines.

There are three axis to cover in the realm of antenna signals. X, Y, Z. (He says think of it as an apple - or North - South - East - West - Up - Down.

Both of our installs have "holes in reception" relative to these axis. DX7 antennas should cover two axis. He offered the example of the missing axis (Z) as a missing core to an apple - but that doesn't mean we need to be alarmed and overly concerned!

To eliminate the missing axis in the picture (I attached) would be another receiver mounted to the cross beam placing the face of this third receiver to the runway ( looking forward and backward) . ( a great idea to consider if running Dual Receivers!!!!)

He mentions also the position we are transmitting from (position on the flight line) in relation to the recievers also has some + - effect the receivers' ability to receive. Though again not to be alarmed!

Bottom line- his opinion is both installs have gaps in their ability to receive signals.

Now I personally deduce from this information that Eury's install is only covering one axis - even tho the dipoles are positioned differently they only see/hear Up - Down. Eury's receivers may be in need of repositioning - for ultimate reception coverage.


Lastly, in his opinion, the radios are superior to the previous technology radios and that we are way better off with the 2.5 Ghz. radios. Just ask the US Army. They have been utilizing spread spectrum technology for some time now.

Hope this helps put the DX7 receivers placement in a better perspective! (puns intended)

[dick hanson]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Dennis C
	Go for it dude.....Although i never used a dual receiver set up in my planes. this might be the ticket to get away from using all them match box's that are needed for the 35% and up. How many volts can you run thru these receivers ?

The rx can run up to 9v
and down to 3.3
so let your servo selection be your guide
the pin strip is capable of all the power we need so amperage is not a problem.
I am setting my new stuf up with 2, 123 cells or 2, 2 cell packs and no (count em) -no regulators .
Power distibution -Ireally would likesome simple junction boxes -no regs no nuthin -just pin strips I can feed with current or servos - I think Futaba makes a Y plug junction thingy

[Lowkey3D]

Any updates? How has this setup worked out?

[Eury]

Been using it since the beginning, it works fine. Lots of other guys are using it as well, also with AR9000/R921s and it's great.

[HuckinChikn]

I have 2 extra spektrum ar7000 recievers laying around and i think i'm going to use both of them in my 36% katana...the MAIN reason i'm thinking of doing this is because of the amount of plugs i have going into the reciever. This way,
i wont have to worry about not having enough outlets!

[ken crane]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Eury
	There's been some questions regarding using the DX7 and dual AR7000 receivers, and as of yet, I haven't seen a thread where anyone's actually done it. Well, I want to run just that setup in my 100cc composite Edge, but before I do, I'm trying it out on my Cap, and after I prove it here, I'll move it to the Edge. The setup was pretty easy, just bind them both and plug the stuff in. I made 2 little trays for the main receivers that I put foam on and velcroed them down (that's how you're supposed to do the main RX according to the manual), and used servo tape to put the aux receivers on. Everything moves the way you'd think, exactly like a single setup. For this, I just made a second lead coming off the switch, so it doesn't have redundant batteries, but that's fine, since it's just to test the setup before it goes in the Edge. Here's a pic of the setup, the 2 extra leads you see are for the ailerons, they're no plugged in because it's tough to take a pic of the setup with the wing on this old single piece winged Cap 232! Pretty cool setup, IMHO, since each AR7000 has 2 individual RXs, my Cap has 4 receivers now! I even turned them on for you so there's cool orange light bling in the pic.

here is my question.if you are to do a true redundant system why stop at this method. i understand the theory of splitting the plane in half to eliminate matchboxes. but if the left or right side fails you loose a control surface but the other works. still lost 1/2 of the plane.why not use 2 recievers 2 batteries 2 switches and use reverse leads and connect the control surfaces via y harnesses( naturaly you would have to make them as they would be reversed ends). this way if 1 reciever,battery or switch fail you still have full control of all surfaces and it is truly redundant.

[Eury]

Never felt the need, with the setup I used, the plane flies just fine should one side fail, it's just mushy. Also, if you were to connect the 2 sides together with Ys or something of that nature, now there's an electrical connection, so a short that takes out one side has the potential to take out both. Killing the redundancy.

FWIW, I've done away with the daul RX setup in my Edge for this year. I did it before because I didn't 100% trust Spektrum, now I've dropped it to a single AR9100.