Spektrum AR500.. Stopped working

[cacctus]

I had the same thing happen to me. I have an Eflite Ultra Stick 25 that I have been flying flawlessly for 2 years. The Stick had been flying all this time on an AR6200. I recently finished an electrified Kaos 60 and moved the AR6200 from the Stick to the Kaos. I then purchased the AR500 to place in the Stick. During the third flight of the Stick, the recevier simply quit responding and began a descent to terra firma! The descent without control lasted long enough for my son and I to discuss how many pieces we thought the plane would be in upon impact. I have been active in R/C since 1975 and this is the first plane I have had crash since 1982.

I only write this as part of my isolation procedure to figure out what happened. I am not bashing Spektrum or the 2.4 Ghz technology. I believe 2.4 provides the best radio service we have ever had and I will continue to use 2.4 AND Spektrum products (I'm as tired of hearing complaints about 2.4 as much as I am about so-called "lipo fires")! I have other Spektrum equipment that I fly in my larger electrics and have NEVER had a problem. I will list the details of the setup and welcome any positive and useful comments.

At the time of the crash, the airplane was equipped as follows:

Spektrum AR500 Rcvr
Hitec HS-81 servos (4)
Electrify Brushless SS-45 ESC
Eflite Power 25 motor
Dimension Engineering UBEC
Cellpro Revolution lipo from FMA (2 4cell 2100 in parallel---18c)

Again, please remember that this plane flew fine for 2 years until equipped with the AR500.

Thanks,
Ken

	Quote: Originally Posted by wc524
	Just crashed my 58" EF Extra 300 because of a faulty AR500. I was flying for about 5 minutes when the receiver went into a lockout (Never went into failsafe) with the throttle running and the servos not moving. I bound the receiver before I flew and did a full range check before the flight. If Horizon doesn't recall this first batch of AR500s I would be surprised. I know that the plane is fine because I flew it with an AR7000 before switching to the AR500, and I also flew another .46 glow profile with the AR500 before putting it in the Electric 58" Extra. I thought I would try out the new "full range" receiver on my electric 58" Extra, but it appears that this receiver does not do well with Electric planes. Don't think I'm ever going to buy another one unless Horizon fixes my confidence in this receiver and or reimburses me for my crashed plane. I've been with Spektrum since they first came out and this is the first sour experience I have had.