1.GettingReadyforSpringRCLaserSailing-ElectronicsDonBarker
[email protected](301)807-4489cell
Thespringsailingseasonisjustaroundthecorner.Nowisthetimetostartthinkingaboutgettingready,ratherthanthenightbeforetheOirstpracticerace.Thereisstillplentyoftimetoorder,oracquirenewpartsifyoudiscovertheyareneeded.Youneedtomakesurethatyourboat,sails,andelectronicsarereadytogo.Thisbriefarticlewillreviewsomeofthethingsyoushoulddotoinsurethatyoudon’tgetfrustratedatthelastminute.ThisistheOirstoftwoarticlesanddealswiththeelectronics.Thenextarticlewilldealwithgettingtheboatitselfreadyfortheseason.IhavetriedtoinserthyperlinksintothearticlesothatyoucangothesourceofwhatIamtalkingaboutorrecommending.
RX&TX
Theweakestlinkinourboatsistheelectronics,particularlywhentheyhavebeensittingunusedforthelastseveralmonths.ThescourgeofallRCsailorsiscorrosionofelectronicconnections.ThiscorrosionisgenerallyOirstnoticedafterperiodsofnon-use.Nowisthetimetounplugallconnectionsgoingintothereceiver(RX)andtheswitch,ifoneisbeingused,andlookforcorrosion.Coppercorrosionistypicallygreenincolor,butsometimesthenegativebrightcopperwirecanturnblack–“blackwire”corrosion.Blackreferringtothecolorofthecorrosionaswellastheblackcoloroftheinsulationtypicallyusedforthenegativewireinadccircuit.Ifyouseethegreencorrosion,youneedtocleanyourconnectorswithatoothbrushorOinewirebrushanddeOinitelysomethinglikeCorrosion-X.ThisappliestotheconnectorsaswellastheRXterminalpins.Ifyouseesignsofblackwirecorrosionorifthegreencorrosionisextensive,theservoplugswillneedtobecutoffandnewplugssolderedintheirplace.Thisisnotabigdealifyouknowhowtodoit.Ifyoudon’tknowhowtodoit,Oindsomeonewhocandoitforyou.Don’tforgettoopenupyourtransmitter(TX)andlookcarefullyatthebatteryconnectionsaswell.Forthoseusingalkalinecells,takeapencilerasertotheterminalsintheTXandRXbatteryholder.
WhenremovingservoplugsfromtheRX,justrememberwhichpluggoeswhereandhowthepluggoesbacktogether,i.e.thepolarityoftheplug.MostsailorsusingSpektrumradioswillplugthesailservointotheOirstpositionontheRX(Channel1typicallylabeledTHRO–throttle)andtherudderservointothesecondposition(Channel2typicallylabeledAILE–aileron).ForFlySky,FutabaandsomeothersystemsthesailservoispluggedintoChannel3andtherudderservoispluggedintoChannel1.Thebatterycanbepluggedintoanyoftheremaininglocations.ItdoesnothavetobepluggedintotheBATT–batterypositionsincealltheRXpositivepinsarecommonasareallthenegativepins.
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YoureallyneedtotakecareofyourRX.SpraytheinsideofyourRXwithcorrosionX.HereisagoodvideoaboutwaterprooOingelectronicswithCorrosionX https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=s4z8QMgTEA4Youdon’tneedtowatchtheentirevideo,butitwillconvinceyoutobeliberalinyouruseofCorrosionX.
CompatibilityissueswithRX&TX
Transmitterstalktothereceiverusingaprotocolorlanguage.Mostmanufacturersusetheirownprotocolorlanguage.ThatiswhyaFutabaTXorHobbicoTXcannottalktoaSpektrumorOrangeRXandviceversa.Yougenerallyneedatransmitterandreceivertobemadebythesamemanufacturer.HereisaquicklistofsomeofthemorepopularprotocolsbetweenTXandRX:
DSM(DSM2&DSMX)–SpektrumAFHDS,AFHDS2a-FlySkyFHSS,FASST,S-FHSS–FutabaA-FHSS-HiTecDMSS–JRACCST–FrSky&Taranis
MostofusareusingSpektrumTX’ssothenextsectiongoesintodetailsofissuesandconcernsmakingsureyourTXcantalktoyourRX.IfyouarenotusingaSpektrumTXyoucanskipthenextsection.IamnolongerrecommendingSpektrumtonewsailorsorsailorsthinkingaboutreplacingtheirTX.Spektrumarehighqualityproducts,butexpensive.TodayyoucangetagoodTXandRXfromFlySkyfortheaboutthesamepriceofjustasingleSpektrumRX.ThesectionfollowingtheSpektrumprotpcolsdealswiththenewFlySkyTXandRXthatIamrecommending.
SpektrumprotocolsbetweenTX&RX(DSM2,&DSMX)
SinceSpektrumtransmittersareverypopular,thereareseveralChinesemanufacturerswhohaveintroducedinexpensivereceiversthattalkthesamelanguageasSpektrumtransmitters.ItusedtobeverysimpletobuyoneofthesecheapChinesereceiversandusetheminourboats.SeveralyearsagowhenIwasOirstrecommendingthem,theywereonlyabout$6(nowabout$15).Iftheystoppedworkingduetocorrosionitwasnotabigloss.Iusedtokeepahandfulofreceiversinmytoolbox.UnfortunatelyacoupleofyearsagoIdiscoveredthatitisnowmorecomplicated.SincemostofuseSpektrumtransmitters,Ineedtogointomoredetail.
SpektrumintroducedtheDSM2protocolin2004withtheOirst2.4GHzradios.Itworkedgreatandwasabigimprovementoversinglefrequencyradios.Sailorsnolongerneededtoworryifsomeoneelsewasontheirfrequency.
DBBarker /5 updated1/16/202
OneofthemostcommonTX’sfoundonthedockistheSpektrumDX6i.ThisradiousestheDSM2protocolthatisover15yearsold.ItiscriticalthatyouknowwhatprotocolyourTXusesbecauseittellsyouwhatRX’syoucanuse.ThenewestequipmentisNOTalwaysbackwardcompatibleandviceversa.LookcarefullyatthemarkingsonyourTXandOindoutwhetheritisaDSM2orDSMXtransmitter.
HereareacoupleofphotosfromthetransmitterscreenshowingwhattolookforinidentifyingtheTXprotocol.IfyoucannotOindanyofthesemarkingsanditisanolderSpektrumTX,youcanassumeitisaDSM2transmitter.
The2intheDSM2namestandsforsimultaneouslytransmittingthecommandsignalover2frequencies.ThenewestSpektrumprotocol,DSMX,cameoutin2015.ItisverysimilartoDSM2,buttherearedifferences.Itisconfusing,butyouMUSTunderstandwhatprotocolyourTXisusingandwhatprotocol(s)yourRXcanunderstand.ManyTX’snoteinthedisplaywindowastheyarebindingtotheRXwhatprotocoltheyareusing.IfyourTXisDSMXyouaregoldenanddon’treallyneedtoreadfurther.
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DSMXTransmitter
DSM2Transmitter
RX’stypicallyunderstandonly1protocol.ThereceiversinthelastcoupleofyearsarebeingsoldasDSMX/DSM2compatiblereceiversandthiscanbeunfortunatelymisleading.ThistheoreticallymeansaDSMXtransmitteroraDSM2transmittercantalktothem,butinpracticetheolderprotocolDSM2TXisnotguaranteed.SimilarlythereareolderDSM2receivers.ADSM2transmittercancontrolthesereceivers,butnotaDSMXtransmitter.
Theproblemisthatmostofusareusing15-year-oldtechnologyinourhobbyandmanufacturersarenotmakingtheirnewestreceiversbackwardscompatibletoolderDSM2TX’s.Ifyouhaveareceiverthatisworking,cherishit.TreatitliberallywithCorrosionXinsidethecase.Youmaynotbeabletoreplaceit.
ThedangerofbuyingnewerRX’sisthatevenifyoucanbindittoyourTX,itmaynotstaybound.IfoundthisoutthehardwaywithabrandnewDSMX/DSM2compatibleRXandaDSM2TX.Icouldbindtoit,butoncetheboatgotanydistancefromthedockitstoppedworking.Ikeptrebindingitatthedockonlytohaveitunbindassoonastheboatleftthedock.ThishashappenedseveraltimeswithdifferentbrandnewDXMX/DSM2receivers.ThisissueisthatIwastryingtouseanolderDSM2TX.MyonlysolutionwastoOindanolderRXtousewiththisTX.
IusedtorecommendOrangereceiversfromHobbyKingifyouhadhadanolderDSM2TX.UnfortunatelyHobbyKingupdatedtheirOirmwareintheOrangeRX’sandIcannotbindandkeepboundmyDSM2TXtoanyOrangeRXIhaveboughtinthelastcoupleofyears.
IfyouhaveanolderDSM2TX,thereceiverthatIhavetestedandappearstoworkoverarangefurtherthanwetypicallysailareLemonRX’s.IhavetestedtheLemonLM0034for$15.25itisaDSMXRXbutmyoldDSM2TXcanbindandtalktoit.IcannotguaranteethatitwillworkwithyourolderDSM2TX.RememberDSM2isnearlya15yearoldtechnologyandyoureallyshouldconsiderupgradingyouroldTX(readthenextsectionontheFlySkyradio).
ForThoseofyouwithDSMXtransmitters,theoldstandbyHobbyKingOrangeR615Xfor$16.59fromtheUSAwarehouseisagooddeal.Ithas2antennasandhasprovenitselfinourOleet.AlwayscheckavailabilityatUSAWarehousebecausetheinternationalshippingtakes2+weekstoarriveandcangetexpensive.IgenerallybuyseveralRX’satatimebecauseitiseasytoblowtheRXbyinsertingthebatterybackwards.CautiontheseOrangeRX’sareverypopularandarecommonlyoutofstock.
AnotheroptionforDSMXTransmittersisthenewSpektrumAR410RX,4channelRXforonly$29.99.ThisissimilartotheSpektrumAR620RX,6channelRXfor$39.99.BoththesereceiversarefullrangereceiverseventhoughtheyareadvertisedasSportReceivers.The6channelRXwassuccessfullyusedintherecentStar45NationalsbytheregattawinnerDaveRamos.
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FlySkyFS-i6XTXandFS-iA6RX
Thistransmitterand6channelreceivercantypicallybefoundonAmazonforlessthan$50.Seeforexamplehereitisfor$44.39withfreeprimeshipping.Whatadeal,consideringthisisaboutthesamepriceasaspareSpektrumRX.ThetransmitterisnotasruggedasaSpektrum,butitismorethanadequateforourpurposes.Don’tworryifitbreaksoryoudropitinthewater,justbuyanother.Itisafullyprogrammabletransmitterhavingalltheprogrammingfeaturesofa$200plusnewSpektrumDX6Transmitter.(IknowbecauseIhavebothandhaveprogrammedbothforsailing.Itypicallyprograma3positionswitchontheTXtobringyoursailinoroutasmallamount.)Thereisatonofinternetinformationonusingthisradiosystemontheinternet.ThedroneracersweretheOirsttoadoptthisradiosystemandhackitdifferentwaysfortheirapplications.
ThedefaultFS-iA6RXthatcomeswiththisradiosystemusestelemetrytoconnectwiththeTXanddisplaythecurrentRXvoltageontheTXscreen.Thisisanicefeature.AspareFS-iA6RXcanbefoundontheinternetforabout$10.TheTXuseslategenerationlowvoltagecomponentsthatuseverylittlepower.Thusthe4AATXbatterieslastlongerthanwithanolderSpektrumDX6iTX.Thetransmittercanholdthesettingsfor20differentmodels,sotheoreticallyyoucouldhave20boatsinyourOleetandusethisTXwithanyofthem.
Batteries
Youreallyneedtoreadandstudymywriteuponbatteries.BrieOlymyrecommendationtomostsailorsistouseAAalkalinebatteriestopowerbothyourRXandyourTX.ThereisnoperformanceadvantageordisadvantagetousingAAalkalinecells,butthereisatremendousconvenienceadvantagetonothavetoworryaboutchargingyourbatteriesbeforesailing.Payattentiontobatterysales.Allalkalinecellsareaboutthesame(exceptthosefromtheDollarStoreorHarborFreight).Icommonlybuya36cellAApackforaround$12onsale.Thisis$0.33percell,or$1.32fora4cellRXorTXpack.Thisisactuallyveryeconomicalwhenyourealizethatthecellseasilylast2-3sailingsessions.Payattentiontothebatteryexpirationdate.IfyoureallywanttokeepbatteriesalongtimewhenyouOindagreatdeal,storetheminthefreezer.CheckoutAmazonBasicsAAbatteriesfor$13.99fora48AApack,$0.29/cell.
Conclusion
Remembertheonlydumbquestionistheonenotasked.Iamheretohelpyou.Justemailmeoraskmewhenyouseeme.
DBBarker /5 updated1/16/205
