Are you using Xtremelink (XPS) and why

[bjon]

I was using xps since the spring never a problem till three weeks ago. Then complete failsafe and no recovery had about 10 seconds to watch my75cc aeroworks extra 260 pile into the ground.First flight of the day with fresh batts(dual nmhd's 2700 each.I know it wasn't batt failure as I still have the spring on the throttle and the throttle never let off(digi servo). I am still testing things to see if it was something I did but I don't think so, same plane flew all fall, perfect then wham.I also flew the system in 2 other planes all summer with zero problems.Our field is in a remote area and no other planes there that day. I won't completely discredit xps yet as I am still searching for answers. But I will not use it in a bigger plane for awhile. This is not a bashing or slamming these are just the facts , if I find something I will post.

[zayzay1]

my cub flew great with xps and then it just dove to the ground close enough to see it take a dive but at least 1 mile out, lost $700 on a 40 size cub because after searching for it for 2 days I never found it.

But before that it worked absolutely great for at least 20 flights. Yet before that I sent it in because it crashed my dads nexstar going into failsafe when it was really close to us it destroyed everything but the receiver and the tail.

If it works for you great but you will feel like crap when it finally fails and you notice that there is no support from the manufacturer.

[4*60]

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[rgrant89]

same thing happened to my sd extra with da-85,no problems for 7 months then rx lockout. i watched for at least 10 seconds before terra-firma claimed the extra, everything check out after the crash.

[XJet]

XPS is fine for sport models but (although others might) I would not risk anything larger than a .90-sized bird to it.

It has been grossly over-hyped by the manufacturer and although it has the potential to become a flexible, robust, reliable radio link, I don't think it's there yet.

There are limitations on its abilities to frequency-hop and the lack of receiver/antenna diversity also represent potential issues in many kinds of applications.

Despite its zero GUID problems of the moment, my money goes on FASST (once the problems are sorted).

[khedge]

It think xps is great and am enjoying it in my new Edge.

[bosshoss]

I have a friend with it, in a couple of glow planes, 120 bipe , foamies, 160 extra, 40 sport plane.

He swears by it, I have used it and flown his planes. But I got to say, I was terrified the entire time I flew his stuff. But not knowing when, if, it was going to fail, and of course, it didn't, sucked. The trepidation of it all, made the flying experience tense and un-fun.

I felt the same way flying Spektrum on a 50cc gasser. FEAR. Fear of killing someone. FEAR. I overpowered the bus, making sure there would be no voltage drop/lockouts , excellent antenna placement, etc. But the FEAR of flying something half-baked, that could KILL someone took the fun out of it.

Let's face it, all the 2.4 is half-baked, and will be until many revisions and every circumstance is explored. All is great when all the conditions are right, equipment is working right, but the sheer unknown of what malfunctioning consumer electronics can interfere or SWAMP it, is just not worth the risk to me.

(Oh, I say it half-baked, that is my opinion, based on lies , and sideways talking to me from Spektrum reps at trade shows. My prejudice, based on BS from lying FACT HIDING REPS ONLY INTERESTED IN MY MONEY.)

I use DX7 for foamies , dome flying , and an occasional small glow plane. I have never been shot down on Ham freqs, never interfered with...I trust the FM capture effect of analog, I don;t want FEAR when I am flying a killing machine.

When true feq hopping is proved on paper, in live situations, I will consider 2.4, CONSIDER 2.4 for my scariest models, WHEN my 100% perfect radio system fails me.

It seems to me, that XPS is closest, but it is still in the oven as far as my gassers are concerned.

Bjon, sorry that looked like a nice bird. I can imagine the knot in your stomach when it was being lost. I had a knot in my stomach once, and it was a successful flght, I can't imagine your result.

I will just hide behind the shed when my friend puts it in a gasser, I will make sure the spectators keep thier eye on the death machine, so they can avoid it.

[bjon]

Thanks Bosshoss,

Your post has reflected many of my thoughts that day and now. Up until this I was a HUGE supporter of XPS, this system flew clean and glitch free. As stated I need to do further testing to see if I can recreate the failsafe lock out or whatever it would be called. The plane can and has been replaced, but like you..I have concerns of the safety side of this. My failsafe was at the factory setting(last know inputs), and looking back... I will now set the failsafes to at least cut the throttle down, I had no warning of failsafe until I tried to level the wings out after a 180* turn after takeoff and it just did a roll at 75% throttle adjancent to the strip into the ground. Man if that would have been in the pits. I had an 18"x18"x10" box in my truck and the whole 96" 22lb plane fit in it except for the tail feathers and half a right wing and the lg. Setting the thottle might have given me a heads up on the failsafe (or lockout),also would have reduced the speed and gave time to warn others, also may have been something to salvage. Anyways didn't mean to go so far off topic. For now, I will not be using XPS in anything. I need to do some more testing and then I will fly it in something small and with less mass. It is a terrific concept no frequency pins, not glitching, and very simple and clean installs. I honestly hope I find an error on my behalf so I can trust the system again.

[bosshoss]

Bjon,

I hear ya, TRUST is something that is earned, over time. Not because flag wavers yell loudly.

In time, it can earn my trust, but I won't be swayed by the shillers of each brand. Independent testing, debunking, straight talk from non-invested parties would get my attention.

Like I said if it ain't broke, (my radios are fine), tell me again why I should convert??

I will watch as my friends risk thier craft, and watch thier backs. And that Trust thing , it will grow as time passes.

[khedge]

Bjon and bosshoss,

I have great repect for what you said, and Bjon am sorry for your loss. I have a fromeco D-up installed on my plane to prevent voltage spikes.

As far as 2.4, it does like you said need some updates.( Some systems)

[buttface]

Let me first say I have had 50+ great flights on the XPS.I wanted to tell all the nay sayers that they where wrong ,and that this was a great product.I was a die hard XPS man.I stood up for this product!
I had the XPS lock out on me when my DA 150 ignition went bad.It locked out for 8 sec. falling what seemed like for ever until I got some partial control over it. It kept going full knife edge on landing. I had to fight it hard to get it down safe.I parked the plane while it was still running turned off the power to the receiver/servos and tapped on the ignition.It went sporadicly nuts misfiring badly.I sent the ignition off to DA, where they confirmed it had a bad coil. I sent the XPS off to see what Jim Drue would say.I didn't tell him the ignition went bad. His response was "It had a bad pigtail" .I don't believe it. He doesn't know that I know what the real problem was.The real problem is that the XPS is NOT resistant to all aircraft generated noise as advertised in his hype adds!!!!!!!!!!!! I heard some bad things before I bought the XPS.I should have trusted my instinct .
It could have killed some one!!!!

I will be going with Futaba FASST now.At least they don't make false claims and all that hype.

[canavanbob]

Yea, "we get it right the first time"

[4*60]

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[XJet]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 4*60
	When JD speaks you utter "I don't believe it" but then you will go with the ZGUID problem manufacturer. Good for you. Glad to hear you have no prejudice.

I think the problem is that Futaba have just made a stupid design error that can be remedied fairly easily (albeit at significant cost to them).

The XPS system however, suffers from a number of somewhat greater design deficiencies that are intrinsic to the modules (XBeePro) being used. The lack of diversity and extremely limited frequency hopping potential means that although Futaba can fix theirs pretty simply, XPS will always be trying to battle the design limitations of their system.

All the 2.4GHz systems on the market will work very well under ideal conditions (which is most of the time), the real test is when the conditions get harsh. Under such conditions, XPS is at a real disadvantage due to the lack of diversity and frequency redundancy or agility.

If the 2.4GHz spectrum at your field is always 100% clean then XPS will work just fine (albeit maybe not on a very large-scale plane where the blanketing effect of a large engine may cause issues) -- but if you are within a few miles of any potentially strong 2.4GHz signals then there may be better options for you.

[sweetpea]

Of course Xjet that has nothing to do with buttface losing his plane.

buttface-I'm really sorry you lost your plane but one things rings out that many people just don't realize. Model generated noise. Everyone thinks that this is some magical radio transmission that the RX picks up. While many times that is true, it is not always. What alot of the time is RF is fed back through the wires going into your RX as electrical noise. This is not as much a specific freq issue as a feedback issue.

Ever wonder why JR sold little RF filters for servo wires? Funny those came from electronics that never had RF associated with them.

Buttface's loss would most likely have brought down any R/C RX. And Futaba and Spektrum are just as to blame as XPS for the false advertising that their systems are immune to RF interference........or are they? If you read it as actual RF radiation and not electrical feedback....then they are all correct