Geoff S

I've just logged in on my Android tablet, which worked (though it seems to have logged me out here on my PC). I tied to view the on-line magazine archive (I am a subscriber) but just got a blank page. Is the on-line archive only accessible on a PC? Geoff

EBay is amazing but so is Amazon. I've just bought a new USB to USB micro lead to charge my tablet. It was 99p. It arrived this morning just a couple of days later and I had to sign for it! 20p of the price was VAT; there would be a PayPal charge; then of course there was postage! How could they be bothered to put it in the plastic envelope and post it for what? 40p? And what about the poor devils that made it? It works btw My wife has just bought a new rack pack for her bike as the old one after some 10 years is falling apart. On Amazon it was £33 but direct from the same on-line shop (which I think is also a bricks and mortar one) it was £7 dearer. Because we're stupidly rich and hate Amazon we paid the extra Strange world and I'm not sure I like all of it. Geoff

I think the attitude amongst a minority (I hope) of full size pilots is one almost of contempt for model flying. That may include some influential elements in the RAF. We experienced it recently at Ashbourne when a pilot from a nearby airfield persistently flew his Tiger Moth across our patch. When our treasurer, who owns and flies his own Cesna, went to see him to ask for his co-operation in avoiding us he received short shrift. So we now have a permanent NOTAM at 2000' over us which actually makes it worse for him. There's a guy who flies a microlight from our field and I had a chat with him about the Moth pilot and apparently he was the reason the microlight flyer moved back to our field. I can't help thinking that some of the 'drone' reports from commercial pilots are somewhat exaggerated, too, and I'm no quad fan. Geoff

I fly most things with my Taranis. I have a FlySky plug in module for WLToys helis (911 and 912 and a small indoor quad) and an Orange DSM2 module for my Vapor or any other BNF Spectrum compatible models. You could do the same with any transmitter with a JR standard module socket on the back, I suppose. I don't like to be cluttered with transmitters either. Geoff

Out of curiosity I had a look at the Gypsy Moth on Kings Lynn Models website. It's an attractive model but out of stock (thankfully ). However I noticed the recommended engine is either a 90 2s or 120 fs and here it's suggested to use a Laser 80. I have no experience of Laser engines so why a much smaller one (which seems to be adequate) than the 120 recommended by Seagull? Geoff

I've had the same problem. All I've done is to solder a brace between the legs but I haven't been able to test it in anger. I can always take it off if it doesn't work. I also have a Tundra and I wonder if the undercarriage off that could be made to fit a Fun Cub. The spares are quite cheap. Geoff

One book I did buy for myself when I retired (just in case, you understand) was Horowitz and Hill's 'The Art of Electronics' which is a very practical down to earth book, numerous copies of which were filched at work presumably by undergraduate trainees I've still got lots of technical college junk including much I no longer understand and amazed that I once did. I still use a slide rule occasionally and mine still works and the battery hasn't run down in 50 years of irregular use. As for valve-filled consumer electronic devices ... Some years ago I sold off all my old motor cycle stuff though some of it broke my heart to see go. I was part way through the restoration of an Ariel ex-works 500cc trials bike when I had the accident that I knew made it impossible I would ever ride it in anger. I still have 3 decades worth of Motorcycle Sport that I should donate to a good home. I lent my Laser dinghy to my brother's kids but really I never expected to see it again and I haven't but there's still some remnants of our years of racing hanging about - the cordage comes in handy sometimes One of our clotheslines is a former spinnaker sheet. Most people my age must have the weight of past enthusiasms threatening to break loft rafters and I'm no exception even though we never had children. Geoff Edited By Geoff Sleath on 28/02/2016 15:38:53

I'm rarely in bed twice the same day now I'm retired Rarely in bed before 1am. In fact it was 2.30 on Wednesday When I was working I was up just after 6am and on my bike by 6.30 for my 13 mile cycle commute. So I CAN get up early if I really have to (and I actually enjoyed my ride, even in bad weather ... usually) but now I don't have to, I don't. As someone once said "To be abed after midnight is to be up early". Geoff

That thought had crossed my mind, too but the method of checking is new to me. As I will never use a module in anything other than small indoor models (and not even then with this transmitter) I'm not going to investigate further. It helps that I now know what to expect when flashing receiver firmware. I had an old type Futaba FF7 with those long pins. I avoided taking the module out as much as possible because I was wary of the connection. However it was useful in that it was that transmitter I bought my first FrSky 2.4ghz module for and got me into the new era very cheaply Geoff

After what Mike wrote I just had to go over again what I tried yesterday. First I tried my Orange DSM2 module but I had to transfer the Vapor eepe file from the other transmitter. The only problem was that the module wouldn't fit until I'd tweeked the pins slightly. After that it worked perfectly. I swapped to the FlySky module and this time it also worked! So the big test was to retry flashing the the X6R - which now works, too!!! The only thing I've done differently is bending the pins slightly to make the modules fit so perhaps there is a connection problem in the back somewhere. Either that or senility is more advanced than I realised. Geoff

I fly mode 2, which perhaps isn't a good idea for me as my right hand doesn't work really well despite my being right handed, so to ease the interaction between ailerons and elevator I use a lot of expo - 15 to 20%. I find it works very well for me. I can't remember what my first low winger was. I suppose a Precedent Fun Fly if you count that (it's a mid wing) and it's what I passed my 'A' with. I don't think there's as much difference as is often cited. There are some very lively high wingers like my Limbo Dancer or even the Riot with rearward CoG and bigger throws. Anyway well done, Glyn. I hope you continue to enjoy the PC9 and those that follow on. Geoff

Thanks, Mike. Yes, I use the FlySky module regularly in winter for WLToys V911/V912 helicopters and a small indoor quad. I also use an Orange DSM2/DSMx module for a Vapor in the Taranis that worked to update my new X6R receiver earlier today. Interesting to know just what the pins in the module bay are. It seems the fault may be more complicated than I thought. I'm fairly sure the power pins are OK because I get a permanent voltage on them if I enable the external module and when I tried to flash the receiver the LED flashed briefly. Plus it didn't flash when I powered the receiver separately (with the +ve lead removed in the connecting lead). As I said, I'm reluctant to remove the PC boards fitted to the case back because they hold the internal RF module and the aerial connection and it's the transmitter I use most. However, I suspect the problem will nag at me until I'm inspired to have an attempt to solve it eventually. Geoff

Posted by john stones 1 on 26/02/2016 18:31:03: And don't forget Wales v France is tonight 8.5 pm BBC1 John Yes, very annoying because it means that the last episode of the thriller 'Shetland' is delayed for a week . Why on earth they have to play at night amazes me. Geoff

The external module doesn't work with my FlySky plug-in so I guess the data line is faulty somewhere. It may be as as simple as a broken wire but it's not visible without removing boards in the back half of the case. As that carries the internal XJT module and antenna connection I'm reluctant to take it apart to repair something I won't be using except to flash receiver firmware, which I can do using my other transmitter. On your final query, I'm 99% certain that there is no voltage on the module pins until you either enable the external module or start to flash a receiver. In my case there was no problem with the power supply connections, just the data line. Geoff

Not so much brave or courageous, though undoubtedly incredible, but more like foolhardy. There's pretty high attrition rate amongst wingsuit aficionados and I can't help wondering exactly what drives people to do such foolish things. I can understand the daredevil attitude amongst the early aircraft designers/pilots but they were trying to achieve something useful and the Wright brothers adopted a very logical and studied approach which minimised and calculated the risk. These guys are just throwing caution to the winds and often pay the penalty. Still you've got to admire them for risking just their own lives. Geoff

Well, this is interesting in the Chinese sense (appropriately, I guess). Just gone through the original procedure which failed on my main Taranis (the one I didn't damage by trying to charge with an intelligent charger) with the older one I repaired and it worked perfectly. I've now been able to bind to my new X6R flashed with non-EU firmware as above. The fault, whatever it is, lies with my transmitter somewhere. I've recently had it to pieces to make a repair to the buttons so perhaps something isn't properly reconnected. So, problem partly solved, I guess. At least it means I can buy receivers from a UK source (T9, probably), which I much prefer. Thanks everyone. Geoff

Thanks for your help, gents. I'll continue experimenting. Bob: I assume you disconnected the positive lead to the Taranis when you used a separate power supply for the receiver. I could try that and probably will. Peter: I already have the .frk files on my SD card under 'firmwares'. They are: X4R_150116.frk X4R_eu_150121.frk X8R_150115.frk X8R__eu_150121.frk for the receivers, and XJT_141016.frk XJT_eu_1501222.frk XJT_eu_150413.frk for the XJT rf module. I haven't used any of the XJT files as I've left it as I bought the Taranis a couple of years ago. The one I'm trying to flash to my new X6R is X8R_150115.frk. I assume that the X8R and X6R firmware is the same. I 'll try with my other Taranis - that's the one I had to repair after I blew up the charge circuit when it was new. Removing and refitting a surface mount mosfet was quite traumatic My 76 year old hands aren't as steady as they once were. Geoff

What version number is your XJT LBT firmware, Pat? My 'other' Taranis is almost always used with either a DSM2 or FlySky plug in module for indoor models so it wouldn't be the end of the world if the internal RF module ended up not being all that useful I'm just worried that some of my older receivers (mostly D, perhaps all?) won't work with the latest RF firmware. It's also a fag pulling receivers out of perfectly serviceable models just to satisfy yet another so-called upgrade. Geoff

Hmmm, mine's not a Taranis Plus. It's an early one but with the latest firmware except for the RF . I wonder if there are any h/w differences that make it not work? Yes I used the SmartPort connections on the receiver. It's good to know that backdating isn't inhibited. I know someone with a Taranis Plus so I may go down that route. Pat, if it won't bind, I can't use it at all. I suppose I could try it in D8 mode and see if it will.  Tried and it won't bind at all. Geoff   Edited By Geoff Sleath on 25/02/2016 23:11:59

You may be right on the last point, Pat. I tried again and watched the receiver and the LED did light for a about a second before I got the fail message. I have a horrible feeling that there's a block on back dating the firmware for some reason which means this receiver is useless to me and I'll have to continue buying new non-EU Frsky receivers from the HK main warehouse. All this standard changing is the reason I delayed moving to 2.4 gHz in the first place. As it isn't a dedicated RC band I was afraid things would change. I was right Geoff

I've just bought a new X6R receiver from T9 which has EU LBT firmware. My Taranis has the original firmware (ie non EU) in the RF section but the latest Opentx ver 2.1.7 for the user interface. I'm trying to use this method for the update. I've made a suitable crossed over lead to connect from the back of the transmitter to the Smart Port on the X6R. I've gone to the stored firmware on my SD card and selected to write X8R_150115.frk to the receiver. I get the 'Flash External Device' option and select it. I get the 'writing' message but no progress bar and then the 'Firmware Update error' message. I did find I had to select an external RF mode in order to get any voltage on the Taranis module bay pins which seems reasonable. The receiver seems to switch on wth the LED flashing. I did try to bind afterwards but with no luck. What am I doing wrong? Is there a stopper on the latest EU recivers to stop their being back dated to the non-EU firmware? Geoff

It's very difficult for small one man band type suppliers these days but I'm glad they survive. I've bought stuff from Vortex before, both by post and at shows. Always very friendly and helpful. I wanted some stuff for my Thames sailing barge earlier this week. The web site is very good but the only way of buying is to email the list of what you want. I did that late one afternoon and got a price within an hour. I sent the amount by PayPal and quickly got another email telling me it was on its way from the Isle of Man. Should arrive tomorrow. So it can work and long may it do so. We need these small businesses making things that few need but for those of us that do, they're vital. Geoff

Posted by Terry Walters on 22/02/2016 07:56:03: I had my say about Eric last night on the forum so this morning I listened to BBC radio news at 7.00am (your time) for the obituary reminding the public why he was an important historic figure - nothing!! How sad is that? There was a long piece about him on the 'Today' programme this morning between 7.30 and 8.00 (I think, I listen in bed between 7.30 and 9.00 - well, I'm retired ) so the BBC didn't ignore his death at all. In fact one contributor revealed Winkle Brown had once ridden the Wall of Death, both solo and with a sidecar accompanied by a lion! It was a fitting tribute that seemed to stress what a decent and modest man he was. In all honesty, it's hard to regret too much the death at 97 of someone who led such a wonderful and fulfilling life. None of us gets out alive and Winkle was lucky to last as long as he did considering the narrow squeaks he had which could have meant he died much younger. Oddly enough he cropped up in conversation with my youngest brother and a friend of his fromRAF days only last weekend. The both regretted he was associated with the RN rather than the RAF Geoff

Posted by Chris Barlow on 21/02/2016 13:30:41: I think it was Damon Hill who said to slow the formula one cars down and make them safer just take away the seat belts! A similar idea was suggested by TE Lawrence (of Arabia) who was a very keen motor cyclist and rode an SS100 Brough Superior. His idea was that all motorists should drive with the point of a spear resting on their chest with its shaft fixed to the front bumper. Geoff

TED talks are often interesting. This one seems appropriate to this forum. What do you think? Geoff