Clive Matthews
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Everything posted by Clive Matthews
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The interesting thing is that our experiences are almost identical, although I have never had glitching on a Twinstar or Easystar as they were on brushed motors. I'm willing to bet that the areas of glitching in your field are near the downwind corners? I also tried seperation, shielding, RF chokes and opto isolators. A very expensive Futaba PCM receiver certainly masked the problem but was rejected due to cost and size. At one point I built a high gain receiving di-pole using a balun . This worked well but was a little too ungainly (pun not intended). In the end, the solution for me was to use a Schulze receiver. These have a circuit which rejects signals with a value outside of previously received values. This succesful solution served until I switched to glow engines. The Schulze connection is an interesting one. Their electronics were developed for electric car racing. In a 1/10th car, there is very little room for seperation and although range requirements are less, control resolution is much more critical. An electric racing car must be manouvered millimeter acurate each lap, and the driver notices every loss of control resolution. I believe that car racing is also the birthplace of 2.4Ghz equipment. Nearly all electric car racers agree that 2.4Ghz equipment gives them greater control resolution. This has also been my experience with electric aircraft. Whilst I agree that 35Mhz equipment still works extremely well, your experience with the 450 might persuade you that electric models are improved with 2.4Ghz control. I switched from Futaba to JR when I switched, mainly due to the cost of receivers. The one for my 450 heli cost £32. A side benefit has been much more intuitive programming. Either way, this is a fasinating discussion.Edited By Clive Matthews on 23/02/2010 09:58:34
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How do I asssign ch5 to act as separate aileron servo on ch1 stick
Clive Matthews replied to Marky's topic in Futaba
Unless you're using a 5 channel receiver or need to use Ch6 for separate flaps, Ch6 is the channel for the port aileron assigned by the Flaperon function. Ch5 or Ch7 need to be specifically assigned to flaperon if necessary. Never one to miss an opportunity to harp on - it's all so much easier now I've switched to JR! -
Buy local and save money, I'm on to it. Thanks Weasel. Of course, if I'd tightened it up properly in the first place.......
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I concur that some people have had no problem with 35Mhz equipment at all. Indeed, I would happily continue using it and see little advantage in 2.4Ghz were it not for brushless motors. I'm curious Graham when you say 'have never had one crash as a result of glitching / interference.' Are you saying that you never experienced either or that any problems were manageable? As I say, some people seem to have evaded problems and there seems to be no pattern as to why. My statement that if you fly brushless on 35Mhz, you will crash, was on reflection a little over dramatic. I flew only electric for several years with no problems whatsoever. At the point that brushless motors became available, promising much, I joined the then exclusive club. Every brushless model I have ever had has suffered to some extent from glitching with 35Mhz equipment. The pattern always seemed to be reduced range at low to mid throttle. In order to reduce the problem to an acceptable level took a lot of experimentation and advice. Recently, I installed a brushless motor in a model car running 27Mhz equipment and experienced an identical behaviour.Maybe I have been unlucky, but many others have similar tales. Too many to ignore I would suggest. Hence my opinion that if you fly brushless electric, go 2.4Ghz. The other advantage of 2.4Ghz equipment was brought home to me whilst flying at an event over the weekend. TX control and setting up was so much easier. Edited By Clive Matthews on 22/02/2010 23:39:13
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Thanks Ken, I've also discovered that Just Engines stock them. One of our members works in North Shields so I'll give him an errand!Edited By Clive Matthews on 22/02/2010 11:16:47
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Are we an ageing hobby?
Clive Matthews replied to Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator's topic in All Things Model Flying
53 ic and electric sport scale heli slope 30 years with child arrival gaps -
Part of the problem is that your voltage reading will have been off load. As Ken has said, the only way to tell exactly is to measure how many milliamps the charger has to put back in. This assumes that your battery is working to the stated capacity of 1800 mah.
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Modeltechnics plug range; FirePower glowplugs 3.90 each MaxFlash glowplugs 3.00 each 4 Stroke Plug glowplug 3.70 each QwikFire glowplug 3.20 each QwikSpeed glowplug 3.20 each 3D- Plug glowplug 4.60 each Where do you get them Ken? Edited By Clive Matthews on 21/02/2010 19:27:33
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Just back from a fantastic days flying at Albemarle. A big thank you to the Chester Le Street club for an excellent day. There was an amazing turn out considering the temperature, 20 plus flyers. Must remember to slow the tickover next time I fly on tarmac!
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Young & Stupid with cash in his sky rocket
Clive Matthews replied to Vasili Flame's topic in Why Not Say Hello....
Posted by Garry Pollard on 21/02/2010 10:44:30: You are entitled to your opinion but it certainly is not mine. I was self taught as there was noone else and a very painfull and costly route to follow, not one I would recomend to anyone who has access to a club. How I wish I could have joined one in 1965 Garry It is not my opinion!!!!!! ! ! Please read what people are actually posting before asserting yours. The whole point here Garry as you appear to have missed it, is that someone is asking advice. Vasili has stated in the thread, if you had bothered to read it, 'Have tried to find a Club to join but i couldnt find one in Cardiff Southwales i did try Bmfa's website but all links were dead for my area ' I have said that a club is the best route, but as you yourself have just alluded to, not essential. How does my opinion differ to yours? -
Young & Stupid with cash in his sky rocket
Clive Matthews replied to Vasili Flame's topic in Why Not Say Hello....
Posted by Garry Pollard on 20/02/2010 21:00:15: Why are clubs not essential if you are flying electic Clive. An electric plane is just as difficult to fly as a i.c . Sorry I do not follow your reasoning . Please explain Garry Clubs are not essential period! They're not for everyone Garry, and may not be available in all areas. Some electric planes are suitable for self teaching, the Twinstar and Easystar have been mentioned. Their low noise and low mass mean they may be suitable for flying in a large sports field for example. This option would be unlikely with an IC plane. I chose this route myself and would recommend it for some people. Sometimes advice whilst well meaning, can be a little overwhelming. For most people, a club would be the best option. -
Young & Stupid with cash in his sky rocket
Clive Matthews replied to Vasili Flame's topic in Why Not Say Hello....
Posted by Vasili Flame on 20/02/2010 11:51:55: "Just noticed thay do petrol engines with ignition??? are thay four stroke? if so i could actually use my experiance in this feild and get rid of that carb and do a custom ecu and throttle body making them engines run uber reliable with more power and less fuel" There are some 4 strokes coming on the market, but most of the readily available petrol engines are 2 stroke. Most are Chinese imports and they are very well made, reliable, efficient and cheap. Much easier to operate than glow engines. My advice would be to start with electric and then go straight to petrol. You won't need all that starting equipment, cleaning and running dry each time! You are already getting far too much advice so I won't add any more other than to repeat that whilst desirable, clubs are not essential if you're flying electric. Join the BMFA as a country member (£29pa), this will insure you. If you do go for an IC model, you will probably have to join a club. -
Been fine and sunny in the grim north. First helicopter circuits today. Scary but very satisfying. Don't think that they'll ever catch on though, it's not real flying is it! Will be joining the Chester Le Street lot tomorrow at Albemarle, fingers crossed for more fine weather.
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Young & Stupid with cash in his sky rocket
Clive Matthews replied to Vasili Flame's topic in Why Not Say Hello....
Welcome to this mad world Vasili! Transmitter; it would be better tobuy a seperate transmitter than use the one Parkzone supply. Good as they are, they are not suitable for progression further into the hobby. I am a JR/Spektrum fan and particularly like the bind and fly aspect of ownership as well as the range of affordable receivers. It would be sensible to check out your local club and see what they are using, but; clubs aren't for everyone and even if they are all Futaba users, there is no reason why you can't link a Spektrum TX to a Futaba TX for training. I have flown the Parkzone P51. It is not difficult to fly, but it is not a suitable model to learn on. Tricky to launch, and extremely fragile, it will last minutes rather than hours! Personnally, I would look towards something like a Multiplex EasyStar or even a TwinStar. It is possible to self learn (get a simulator to help you) with these models and they are much more survivable/repairable. .The equipment used in them can be transfered to other models such as an EDF, when you're ready. -
The tethered blimp is not a problem free solution. They cannot be used in anything stronger than a moderate breeze as tethering cables have been known to break. They also need quite a bit of ground space (probably not at Anfield then Martin). However, at major sporting events, the TV OB company may well have one already in place. They are also self financing due to the advertising sponsorship. All that would be needed would be an extra camera for sole use of the authority and down link. The equipment carried is essentially the same 'helicam' gyro stabilised gear already available to the police and broadcasters.Edited By Clive Matthews on 19/02/2010 21:06:47
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Are you still Flying in The Snow?
Clive Matthews replied to James Y's topic in Flying Field Reports and Chat
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http://www.tetheredblimp.com/
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Ross, I think that you may have mis-understood the capabilities of such aircraft. The duration will be minutes not hours and the range yards not miles.
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'But there is a problem here. At best, people are buying hundreds of pounds of equipment, only to find that it won't work with 2.4Ghz radio gear! At worse and I am suggesting likely, a model loaded with expensive equipment, will crash outside of a safe boundary.' I have been reminded today that the AR Drone quadrocopter manages to operate it's controls and video down link all on 2.4GHz!
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Posted by Peter 'Servo Scrounger' Savage on 18/02/2010 19:28:53: I would love it if it 'landed' in my back garden and miraculously disappeared :P £40,000!!! a nice high quality camera! But a twopence halfpenny down link that prevents them using 2.4Ghz RC!!!!???? The more I learn about FPV and video down link/RC interference problems, the more I feel that someone hasn't done their research properly. I'm not particularly worried about Police/Fire brigade etc. usage which will to some extent be under controlled conditions. What does worry me is the growth of FPV flying whilst incorporating these problems. On another thread on this forum, I read of an FPV beginner buying second hand 35Mhz equipment as he'd just discovered that his 2.4Ghz RC gear won't work with the FPV video link. Brushless drive trains and 35Mhz equipment have serious problems. Accidents are avoided because we fly within safe physical boundaries. It seems to me that FPV flyers will (either consciously or otherwise) exceed these boundaries. FPV flying is an interesting and worthwhile development of our hobby. I am not seeking to restrict it's growth. But there is a problem here. At best, people are buying hundreds of pounds of equipment, only to find that it won't work with 2.4Ghz radio gear! At worse and I am suggesting likely, a model loaded with expensive equipment, will crash outside of a safe boundary.
