Digital Vs. Analog Servos

[swatman260]

Hey guys, I am new to giant scale RC and am looking for some opinions. I am in the planning process for a Chip Hyde Double Vision build. I have been planning on using all digital servos, but I just finished reading Dave Patrick's column in Model Aviation. He discusses servo types and uses, and while not saying it directly, I read it to infer that he prefers analog servos over digital servos in planes. His reasoning is that analog servos are a little quicker and cheaper. The extra holding power produced by digital servos is not really utilized in planes because the "breakout forces on aerodynamic surfaces are low on airplanes".
I'm not trying to start a debate here, but I would love to save some money on this plane anywhere that I can. If I can get the same, or better, performance from analog servos, then I can save money to use elsewhere on the plane. Thanks for any input.

[airborneSGT]

I would go analog on the ailerons and some decent digitals all around elsewhere. You dont need 5955's on elevators and maybe just one on the rudder. People usually are much more overkill on servos then they need to be.

I have a video of me flying a plane with the following setup:

HS 5925 - Throttle
2 x HS5645 - Elevators
HS 5745 - Rudder
4x HS645- Ailerons

The advantage of the digital servos is usually better centering.

[exeter_acres]

digitals and analogs of the same rating have the same speed and torque...

common misconception is that digitals "hold" better and "have more torque"

What digitals do is give you the full torque at all angles of deflection (analogs built the torque up as it leaves center)
and digitals center better..... they return back to the same spot every time and are more precise

[VienQuach]

	Quote: Originally Posted by exeter_acres
	What digitals do is give you the full torque at all angles of deflection (analogs built the torque up as it leaves center) and digitals center better..... they return back to the same spot every time and are more precise

These are all you want when you go to giant scale. Analog just does not have the power quick enough to response/hold.

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by swatman260
	Hey guys, I am new to giant scale RC and am looking for some opinions. I am in the planning process for a Chip Hyde Double Vision build. I have been planning on using all digital servos, but I just finished reading Dave Patrick's column in Model Aviation. He discusses servo types and uses, and while not saying it directly, I read it to infer that he prefers analog servos over digital servos in planes. His reasoning is that analog servos are a little quicker and cheaper. The extra holding power produced by digital servos is not really utilized in planes because the "breakout forces on aerodynamic surfaces are low on airplanes". I'm not trying to start a debate here, but I would love to save some money on this plane anywhere that I can. If I can get the same, or better, performance from analog servos, then I can save money to use elsewhere on the plane. Thanks for any input.

First of all, there are no analogue servos , they are all digitals , but the old type have a lower frequency , while the newer ones have a higher frequency which helps with the holding power.

But for sake of discussions, I will also call them analogues. and you are right you don't need digitals,

a good analogue will center just as well as any digital outhere, hell how do you think people were flying world class pattern?

I use a lot of digitals simply because I was also caught up in the marketing hype. When they came out they would cost double a good analogue and yet it was actually cheaper to produce because all the electronic was on a single chip, but marketing did a job in making everyone they were better, which they are to a degree.

Remember when we only used NiCd batteries and they were all good, but now that you have Lipos, people seem to think NiCds are sxxt go figure

Its your call

Roger

[forgues research]

..

[jongurley]

Spend alittle extra money and go with digitals all the way around,, the Hitec digitals are what I run on most things,, I love the 5955's and the 7955's,, great servos and great priced,, and you can program them, ,, no need for matchboxes or any of that crap,,

[en1]

Digitals all the way .... Analogs are for foamies... the planes seem to be much more precise with the "digitals" than with the "analogs" IMHO... I tried the cheaper ones then gave them away cause I knew I would never use them again ....