JR-9303 2.4 Field Results

[Zeeb]

That might be a tough sale as there are two places including AW who will sell you one for $529 right now......

[dubd]

Has anyone had to do anything special to get Spektrum to work within composite airframes, like a Comp-ARF for instance?

[sweetpea]

We have one at our field. A 40% CARF 260 with some CF on the inside, especially the gearplate, gear and motorbox

He did the 3 rx method. main is on the side up by the tank. one is on the bottom and the third is on the top back of the gas tank (you can see that one through the canopy).

He has been flying almost all year like that on the SW IMAC circuit trouble free

Note: this is on a 10X w/module not the x9303, but we do have 3 or 4 x9303's at our field, just not in a CARF

[ricoalonso]

Zeeb,
Thanks for sharing your experience as a previous 9Z owner and now a JR-X9303 proud owner. Just a little bit more waiting and I maybe also become one.

Thanks,
^R^

[Mitsu1]

I too had been flying a 9C up until just now. Like someone else said,I was put off by the poorly designed protrusion of Futaba's module based 2.4 systems. I started to look for something better. The X9303 seems to be the benchmark of 2.4 systems at this time. Haven't flown mine yet.

[The Dirt Doctor]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mitsu1
	I too had been flying a 9C up until just now. Like someone else said,I was put off by the poorly designed protrusion of Futaba's module based 2.4 systems. I started to look for something better. The X9303 seems to be the benchmark of 2.4 systems at this time. Haven't flown mine yet.

Hi Mitsu1, I go through Dumas on my way to the Little Rock IMAC contest. If you are an IMAC flyer, then that is one contest you should attend. Lyndell puts on a good contest. Their site is actually in Wainwright and you face east looking right at the prison.

Bobby (aka TDD)

[ricoalonso]

	Quote: Originally Posted by dubd
	Has anyone had to do anything special to get Spektrum to work within composite airframes, like a Comp-ARF for instance?

There's a thread (or two) at RCG which you may find interesting (?). A contributor Andrew McGregor have been experimenting with the Spektrum Rx in an all-carbon fuselage. Here's a quote of one of his posts:

Well, my X9303 arrived the other day... and it helped me solve one of the real big issues with Spektrum in general: carbon sailplanes.

Now, for some reason the solution doesn't work with my DX7. I suspect that TX, because otherwise it doesn't add up.

See here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...11#post8607783

I hope you find the above info helpful.
^R^

Edit: Sorry for the broken link above. Try this-> http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...11#post8607783

[Mitsu1]

	Quote: Originally Posted by The Dirt Doctor
	Hi Mitsu1, I go through Dumas on my way to the Little Rock IMAC contest. If you are an IMAC flyer, then that is one contest you should attend. Lyndell puts on a good contest. Their site is actually in Wainwright and you face east looking right at the prison. Bobby (aka TDD)

Hello Bobby, I wanted to go to the Little Rock IMAC contest last year, but it was scheduled the same week as Joe Nall, and that's a no-miss event for me. Will it be on a different week this year?

[Backyardace]

I currently have a DX7 and am thing of upgrading to the 9303 2.4. Does the 9303 respond faster or have better resolution that the DX7?

[Zeeb]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Backyardace
	I currently have a DX7 and am thing of upgrading to the 9303 2.4. Does the 9303 respond faster or have better resolution that the DX7?

The control response from the X9303 and the DX-7 are the same with the AR7000 and below rx's. It could be just me, but with the X9303 and a nine channel rx, i.e. the R921 or the AR9000 you get a 2048 resolution instead of 1024 and that may account for what I feel is slightly different. That being my X9303 feels a bit softer around the center of the sticks so I run less expo on the X9303 than I do with the DX-7.

With the nine channel rx's you also get the ability to use a data logger to fine tune antenna installs although that function is not tx specific. There are also a number of programming differences between the two with the X9303 having more versatility.

[The Dirt Doctor]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mitsu1
	Hello Bobby, I wanted to go to the Little Rock IMAC contest last year, but it was scheduled the same week as Joe Nall, and that's a no-miss event for me. Will it be on a different week this year?

Mitsu 1, the Little Rock contest is on 3-4 May 08. See you there.

Hopefully, the "Nall" is on another weekend.


TDD (aka Bobby)

[FlyinTiger]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 1bwana1
	Thanks Goose, that is very useful, and a little scary information. Setting up a proper power system for the Spektrum stuff takes some serious thought. Although, we can test on the ground all we want, it looks like some sort of system that monitors things in the air like the flight log is needed. This power issue is greatly exacerbated by the need for the current receivers to scan the band to re-establish a connection with the TX. This of course is being addressed in the upcoming RXs like the 9100. I think I'll wait to put it in my giant scale planes.

YES. The scanning feature to "re-link" would be a key feature. I flew ten flawless flights with my 38% Columbo Andersen Extra 300, not a single issue.

Befor I get started: I have no hard feelings against the 2.4 technology and accept COMPLETE responsibility for the destruction of my 38% Extra 300.

My set-up was the most robust power system I could find after researching all of them:

1. Smart-Fly Power Expander EQ10
2. Smart-Fly Turbo Regulator
3. Two 5600mah Lithium Ion batteries with Deans connectors
4. JR 921 RX
5. JR X9303 TX
6. 12 digital servos, DS8611As, two each aileron, two each elevator, three rudder, one throttle, all servos hard wired to the power expander with ONE plug, except ailerons, all extensions soldered in.

Doing a cuban eight I was on the top, doing my inverted 45 down line, at idle, where my failsafe throttle setting is, and pushed the aileron stick fully left to roll upright...nothing, two seconds later (seemed like eternity) the plane rolled upright, while I was still holding the stick full over, praying I was going to get it back. My heart was pounding, I called out "landing" and brought it in for a full stop!

Here's my problem: there is a HIGH power video downlink transmitter that has a directional antenna broadcasting over the edge of our flying area. This signal ONLY AFFECTS GASOLINE PLANES WITH IGNITIONS. PCM dual RXs, HAM band, and now 2.4GHz systems, it doesn't matter, all go into failsafe when going through this signal...swamping I guess...but ONLY with gassers. I was hoping that the 2.4GHz system would be impervious to this. Yes, my TX antenna was pointing to the side, not straight out.

Get this, when I landed, I left my TX on and plugged in the data logger...NO HOLDS, 2 frame losses, what is the deal with that? I should have at least one hold! It must have rebooted...

With the PCM and HAM radios the plane would go into failsafe and fly through the beam, when it came out the other side, we would regain control and there was no real problem, so we avoided that part of the airspace when flying gasoline powered planes.

I stuck the JR 921 RX in my trainer which is glow powered and flew in this "beam" for a whole tank of gas, not a single glitch, no holds, no problems what-so-ever. Checked the data logger...two frame losses.

With no holds showing on my data logger I was confident that I could fly again, but would stay away from the directional "beam" that is on the edge of our flying space. I was performing a lazy immelman away from the two other guys flying sport planes in the "pattern" and went right into the path of the "beam." There was vertually NO power going out to the servos, second flight of the day with fully charged batteries and I go into failsafe, this time inverted flying along nicely, right down the "beam" and I'm in its path for a good five or six seconds. I held full left aileron to roll the plain upright, after several seconds I saw the plane twitch as it switched from the failsafe mode to complete reboot, the servos all went to neutral and the throttle was at idle. It flew nicely inverted for a 1/4 mile, meanwhile I was holding full down, just in case the plane came back at the last second, as it descended to impact at a 45 degree angle inverted. I watched helplessly, knowing exactly what I just did. The data logger did me no good as the battery wires were disconnected in the crash and no longer provided power to the RX.

I've sent all the electronics in to their respective service people for a complete check and repair as necessary. There was a little damage to the Smart-Fly Power Expander and the Turbo Regulator. A couple servos' gears were stripped and the DA-150 took a beating, see the pics.

What I learned:

1. No radio frequency, no matter what band, HAM, 72MHz PCM or 2.4GHz is impervious to outside interference if it is strong enough.

2. The marketable benefit of the JR and Spektrum TXs is that you can virtually guarantee you won't shoot your buddy down from TX interference at the flying field.

3. A JR 921 RX, when swamped for any length of time, will completely reboot and it won't reacquire my TX while searching for its GUID at any distance.

4. At all costs, if I find a place at the field where there's interference, DON'T FLY THERE.

5. I've stopped flying all gassers at my flying field and so has everyone else. A total of THREE 40%ers have been lost to this directional "beam" swamping out RXs. Two of them were in 2005, (I should have learned my lesson then) that pilot was using dual PCM RXs in both his planes and my loss in November 2007 using the JR 921 RX.

As a matter of safety GS pilots have all committed to flying gassers at another field, to keep from risking any more crashes (who knows, the next one could injure someone).

I'm saving up for a new plane and taking the opportunity to step up the training program at our flying field in the process, meanwhile using 2.4GHz and the X9303 with pride. I love my radio and enjoy the freedom from "shoot-downs" it affords me. There's four other members on my old frequency and now when they ask me if I'm about to go fly I smile and say, "Yep, on 2.4." I am helping a guy at our field get his confidence back after him being out of the hobby for a few years, he's using the Futaba FAAST system exclusively and so far it is working flawlessly on all electric and glow powered planes, very reliable and every bit as "locked in" as the X9303 2.4 system.

I have no hard feelings against the 2.4 technology and accept COMPLETE responsibility for the crashing of my 38% bird, I am just glad it didn't hit anyone or anything besides the ground. I even missed all the cows in the field!

[Propstriker]

Ok, Lost my 35% 260 on its 3rd flight with the X9303 Spectrum system. This plane has been Flawless for 3 seasons and over 800 flights!! Tossed and Turned all night about this...If the plane had gone in because it was my fault I would be OK.

All range checks and Data Log Numbers were excellent.....The plane trimmed well and I was just starting to get comfortable with the Radio when I decided to Land at the end of the 3rd flight and it was pointed directly at me about 200 feet away, about 20 feet off the ground....NO RUDDER was the first sign I didn't have any control. It went in and just before impact I heard the engine throttle up.

All my other electric models are flying fine...so Now what do you do when You don't trust your NEW Equipment?

I will be talking to Horizon This morning....other than that, I surely dont want to lose My Comp Arf Extra.
Not sure what to do at this point.................

[agshane]

Crashed a 25% YAK with an SPE 26. We've all heard that 2.4 immune to EFI, and that is NOT true.
After I replaced the fuse of YAK, and was attempting to get a slow reliable idle, the elevator started glitching. The twitching stopped once the engine idle was increased. After some research the fault was the two JR HD switches, they were side by side. Once the ignition switch was moved to the front of the plane everything was rock solid.

Have since added a Texas Hurricane with a DA-50 and have not had even a twitch of problems. Been flying the DX-7 in multiple trainer glo application for a year no problems. The 9303 2.4 also in the same trainer application without any problems.

The best tool one can use is the Digital Servo & receiver current meter. Hangar 9’s Digital Servo and Receiver Current Meter lets modelers check current flow between multiple linkages. It will monitor overall voltage between the battery and receiver, charge current between the charger and charge jack, or current draw when used between the receiver and servo, before you ever get off the ground.

Happy Landings!

[GooseF22]

dont abandon your tried and tru setup lesson learned. but Ihave found spektrum very reliable. I have had a suspect 6100, but otherwise ok.

When you have problems, also have your transmitter checked. the little antenna lead could be loose, its not very strong.

We had a Fasst system go in when it was hit by a video system, and we saw one glitch, when the ground plane was too close to a satellite receiver, but that was fixed.

folks pay attention to where your sattelite antenna leads are run, and try to isolate them from servo wires or ignition wires. There is some discussion if that is possible to cause issues in the input side versus the output side. not sure at this point.

I did have a foamy go stupid with mid power twice, but that eventually was traced back to an ESC problem.

Before I install a receiver, I measure the current capability through the switch, by plugging the receiver power jack into my discharger and checking for 6 amps current capability without going below 4 volts. most batts should be able to do that.

I have some concerns about spikes in the order of 1-2 milli seconds, if that can cause issues. So did fromeco....that is what led to the development of the DCup.. However since ditching my regulators, the power distribution curve has smoothed out alot with the A123's...they are about as flat as it gets.

g