John Pilkington

Hi Doug, I know just how you feel, no matter what you try changing you still get the interference, twitching, glitches call it what you like , it is most frustrating. I started a forum a couple of weeks ago with the same problem with no definite answers, and this was also experienced by two other people with ARTF models, these were slightly different to your model as they are wood built up and not foam. The chap in this country has managed to reduce his "interference" by moving the Rx as far away from the ESC as possible and has flown many times since. I myself like you would still like to know WHY but I have completely got out of the problem by spending about £150 and bought a Futaba 2.4 set and put the 2.4 Rx in the model and all has settle down and not a single twitch etc., and I have even tried very hard to make it twitch but it just would not. I know this does not tell you WHY but at least I can fly with confidence that it will not do like my club mate's did, 3 very heavy noses into mother earth before he finally managed to get some less twitchy  flights.  The anoying thing is that my other models with the 35m Rx on top of the ESC are perfectly OK. I have just finished a twin motor model with 2 ESC's and the Rx is within an inch of the ESC's and this is OK. So it must be that some twitch and others do not. I wish you well with your model Doug, best wishes John P.

I make my own now, after buying a Y connection that had the wires crossed over at the joint. John P.

Hello Timbo. Due to 7 hours difference I now have a reply from my son in Far East as follows : What makes it interesting to me as a scientist and engineer is that you have 2 people with the same problem with the same model where the only common things are : 1)       flying site 2)       model Yet you don’t have interference problems with other models on the same frequency on this site and I guess you have used this radio before and maybe since. So really the only common denominator is the model. So there must be something in the model itself that causes this. Only thing left. So it is either the shape/layout or the materials. I can confirm that I have, on the same day used the same Tx with same Xtal with similar Rx Jeti,  servos, ESC and motor BUT in my o/design model and had no glitches and perfect reception and a good 50 paces range check and even pointed the Tx aerial in all directions away from the model to try to get glitches and this was when other models were flying on full aerial extension. I will continue to try and find what the culprit is, as I suspect I am like you not totaly satisfied with not knowing. However I have fitted the Futaba 2.4 equipment into the Extra and hay presto not a single glitch even though I have tried . I must say it is a bit tricky to do the "down power" , wait for the ESC to come to life and then get away checking the range all in 60 secs. Old age in my joints but the result is worth the effort. Many thanks everbody I will let you know how I go on, may take some time to get back. Good luck and good flying. John P.

Yes. There is mine, another club member and my son in the far east.  I am looking for the common denominator to try and solve what is happening.  Do those ferrite rings work ?  I am off now to put a 2.4 set in the model, will let you know what happens.I hope   John P.

Many thanks Timbo. The bit I have not tried is taking the switch harness to the Rx out . All else I tried as being retired with time to do all that checking. However here is a thought. Firstly I am not a great lover of ARTF models although I appreciate they get one into the air quickly. And my thoughts are going down the line that all three models that have this "interference" have different radio set ups, so that elliminates radio problems BUT they all are ARTF models with laser cut parts and covering material which is probably not UK sourced. Do these facts cause "static electricty " within the model or lines of carbon, so be them small, but enough to cause lines of magnetism etc. I am an ex-mechanical engineer not electrical but any ideas about this ?    

Many thanks to you all for your sugestions.I must have mis-led you with the details I gave. The haywire Eric is my term for very bad glitches, The other item is that with NO ESC or Motor in circuit and using completely seperate batteries to drive the Rx and servos, with NO speed control there is still interference. Bare in mind that I am using a Jeti 7 chan. MPD Rx which is supposed to reject noise etc. But I did try a different Rx but still interference. Tim I could well be thinking of going 2.4 with the Futaba set will let you know how that goes. John P.

It  has been some time since discussions about interference. I have an interesting interference problem which I hope somebody will be able to cast some light on. I own an ARTF Seagull Extra 300 which is great until I switch on the electrics and it goes all hay wire. Mainly the aileron servos. I have changed every thing , Rx ,crystal , moved aerial, taken out the ESC/BEC and run on separate Rx battery pack, changed servos and also tried big ones, just about tried everything even connected my old Futaba set 1980’s age all to no avail. However here comes the real teaser, there is another Seagull Extra 300 in the club and his also has interference and here comes the real question my flying buddy son out in the far East, yes you guessed his has interference. We are all using different equipment so what is going on ? any ideas.

I have tried all that are available from the Tammy through to 4 and 3.5 gold. I thought Deans would be perfect until I connected up one day only to find that there was no connection, not one wants to find in an aircraft. I recon I am quite good at soldering but the spades had moved in the holder. So I converted all my batteries ESC's and Brushless motors to 3.5mm gold connectors and had no problems. I would point out that one does not need to be an expert at soldering so long as you get a good strong joint which you can check by giving it a good pull. Not so with Deans. However my middle son who races electric cars tells me that their club use only Deans, but then they stay on the ground ! !

I have only recently joined this site and am finding my way round. I am into electric now after 50 yrs of those smelly engine models. ED 2cc long stroke diesel was my first followed by the ED BEE 1cc in a Halifax Hermes free flight. Enough enough only to say that I have nearly always built from plans and to find sites with plans available is very useful. My latest project was the BN-2 Islander using the £5 plan from Traplet it was a bit sparse in detail but that made it all the more interesting. I will let you see some pics of her when I get use to my latest toy a Fuji F50 camera. Many thanks I must go and look at the sites suggested. JohnP.