Just wanted to note that Spectrum have just come out with a 5 channel non-computer $99 Tx/Rx combo… AR500 1 piece receiver. http://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SPM5500
Looks like good value.
Graham
The link that Graham supplied has a nice detailed video showing Tx and 500 Rcvr. My guess is that it only binds to 1 rcvr.
I like the10 binds offered by the DX6/6i series to handle my fleet of boats. It works with all previous model rcvrs, so it would be good as a second tx for a friend to race one of your boats.with you. Interesting.
I believe all the transmitters (DX6, DX7 & the new DX5) will BIND to however many receivers you can come up with, the difference between the two is that the DX6 & DX7 are computer radios, and as such have memory sectors which can store the trim settings for 10 different models, be they boats, cars, planes, helicopters, robots, or whatever. The five channel Tx is not a computer radio, so any special trim settings will have to be manually reset whenever you switch to a different receiver, and you likely can’t adjust the travel limits on the servos (this usually requires a computerized radio), but you CAN reverse the SX direction. Since the price of the DX6I has just gone up $20 (to $199 without servos), it is now twice the price of the 5 channel radio. Oh yeah, one other thing - the 5 ch. Tx uses 4 AA dry batteries (instead of the typical 8). Rechargables can be used, but they will cost extra for the batteries and for the charger.
Regards,
Bill
The computer radios allow you to adjust the travel of individual servos. This function facilitates a larger throw for the sail winch (about 160 degrees for my bluebird 380MG) and therefore a shorter winch arm. The shorter winch arm exerts less leverage against the servo and fits more easily into a narrow hull. With greater throw comes more sensitive control over sheeting as the throw at extreme ends pulls in or lets out less line. Is it worth the extra money? That depends on your perspective.
Thanks for clearing up what I was trying to say.
I have both a DX6 and DX6i. The 6i uses only 4 AA’s and came with a charger that only charges the radio. I really miss the 2nd output to charge the boat battery pack.
It looks like the 6i is the beginning of a series of radios thar will use replaceable/chargeable AA’s.
Does anyone know if the fifth channel is a limit to limit, toggle switch (retract switch on an airplane) or is it a proportional control (slider or rotary knob)???
Happy Yachting - Kip
The dx5euserguide.pdf (2.5M) download can be found here.
www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Support.aspx?ProdID=SPM55001#manuals
As the DX5 receiver can be bought seperately for £35 will this work with the DX6i - if so it represents better value for those of us that only need two channels?
I’m going to try to reply to 2 posts (with quotes) at once here - just to see if it works!
Hi FastFrank,
I’m glad you mentioned that, it seems they have just recently changed the DX6i Tx from the traditional 8 cell rechargeable pack to the 4 AA cells w/charger. This may have been due to short run times of the old Tx caused by inferior voltage regulation circuits that had to reduce the higher voltage of the pack down to the low voltage used by the computer circuitry.
Hi Andy,
I just checked the Horizon Hobby site and the 5 ch Rx here is priced at $49.95, about the same as the Park Flyer 6 ch Rx’s, less than the 7 ch Rx’s, but WAY less than the 3 ch Rx’s. Go figure!
Regards, Bill
bill do you have the link to the hoizon website? i cant find the radio there
but i am interested
I believe the links are:
<www.spektrumrc.com> and <www.horizonhobby.com>
Not sure, since I found them with Google…
Spektrum is a subsidiary of JR and I think both are part of Horizon.
As far as I know, the fifth channel is strictly a two position thing, since it is controlled by a toggle rather than a pot or encoder.
Regards,
Bill Nielsen
Oakland Park, FL U$A
so good for sound effects etc
While I have been wrong before, I think it virtually certain that the 5th channel is proportional (as are most of the additional channels of all multi-channel sets)
As sold it almost certainly switches a 5K resistor in one position , and not in t’other, so the switch represents the two ends of the proportional pot and the adressed servo will do the right thing. Replacing the 2 position switch with an appropriate pot (and possibly end resistors to get it operating in the right voltage range) should give you a 5th proportional channel
Similarly fitting a 3-position switch should be a matter of a 3-pos switch which switches 0, 2.5K and 5K to give the two ends and middle of the servo travel.
I have not checked the actual resistance range required, just assumed 5K linear pots on the transmitter - easy way to find out is to read the circuit diagram or measure any of the proportional channels
andrew