Printable View
Seems after X years, my FF6 fails to work anymore. No doubt the crystals have grown and filled the little cans up. So I'm looking to get a new eBay combo. Dx6i seems to be a favourite although some DX3's would seem to do the job. Only concerned with L/R and F/R and weapon F/R so what would be a good RX and whats with the telemetry inputs on some of these RX now? Is dx6 a good choice or would a 5 do the job as well as they seem to be all spread spectrum too. (-and cheaper)
The spread spectrum protocols are different between manufacturers (as you had probably guessed) but across the same company they should all be compatible with each other, as long as you make sure you're using say a DSMX reciever with DSMX transmitters you'll be fine. (You *mght* be able to revive the FF6 with a 2.4ghz hack module and new battery pack but having gone down that route myself I'd reccommend something new tbh!)
Telemetry seems to be quite a model aircraft specific thing, I can see some situations where having a temperature reading would be useful maybe in a robot?
One other thing for RW purposes is due to the amount of wifi flying around from spectators' phones and camera/lighting control, a few people had range issues even on 2.4ghz, so it might be worth looking into a system with satellite recievers as an option in case that remains an issue.
Sorry thread hijack.
Looking at something like this myself http://www.banggood.com/FlySky-FS-i6...-p-983537.html
Planning on getting 3 voltage sensors with it (http://www.banggood.com/Flysky-FS-CV...-p-976303.html) and making boards that will do motor speed and temperature.
Anyone got an opinion on this plan?
It should work - I'd double check the entire system failsafes properly as some recievers will hold the last known position on some channels which is obviously quite a bad idea for drive!
Motor speed and temperature are probably going to be mainly useful for current limiting/protecting the motor if it gets stalled - I can't think of too many other reasons to have that data in a robot. If you have a need for it, you probably know enough to know whether it's a good idea!
Hi Adam,
If you suspect it's purely a crystals issue and all other aspects of the tx are still working (screen and LED come on when powered up?), then I'd recommend a FrSky conversion kit for it. It's got three wires that need to be connected to +ve, -ve and a PPM/PWM signal line inside the transmitter, and after that it allows the tx to be used on 2.4GHz with matching FrSky receivers. I've converted two FF6s with these (one on 40MHz and one 35MHz) and they're brilliant; they keep all their usual functionality and it saves you shelling out on an expensive new tx (plus I've lost count of the number of Spektrum TXs I've seen with broken antennae!)
The binding process is dead easy, setting the failsafe process is dead easy, and the connection has always been reliable in the four years I've used them. The Big Nipper guys and Alan from Robots Live (Merlin, Kronic etc) both use them and have had similar hassle-free use as far as I know. Not trying to sound like a FrSky salesman (maybe I should seek sponsorship!) but they really are good pieces of equipment and can revive an old TX for not much cost.
The conversion module: https://www.robotbirds.co.uk/default...le-switch.html
And a link to matching receivers (third and fourth items are the ones I get): https://www.robotbirds.co.uk/default...receivers.html
Also the RC Groups thread I found useful when tackling it for the first time: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=878096
actually to be fair I've tried several crystal pairs and not much seems to work. Lots of servo jitter but calms when the tx is on, but still not working. It was butchered pretty badly too with additional switch and some 8 way toggle panel taking over a channel as well. Nicads as well, so one for the museum I think..
Frsky looks good, but not wanting to risk it if there is something else wrong, best I would imagine to use on a set that is known to already work before the upgrade.
job done, dx6i from ebay with rx for £60
seems a couple of 18v drill motors and the dewalt motor convertor mounts manages to move 120kg around still :)
I'm always amazed at how small motors can move large amounts. Had an old ride on plastic kids toy digger that would easily move me around and was driven off two small rs 540(?)motors all day.
Hey Adam, what are you building?
Hey Rob,
how fantastic to hear from you again !
The plan was always to build this :)
Attachment 6057
however times change and I'm currently looking at something more akin to a sump thing inspired head down drum project. I've scaled back the motors and drive , even £20K cant build a rambot that wins ;) , so whats the point of trying to push people around I guess. I actually found a couple of e-tek motors in the shed so weapon plus spare, ebay sells steel drums, stud it with rebar and chinese titanium is dirt cheap. So is ablative chickem wire and car tyre scales for armour
Sadly , my design has only reached the Plasticine stage, could do with some input... ;)
Attachment 6059
Probably going to call it the Skinner
cool, I've been impressed by the drum on minotaur at BB.
I think your plasticene looks like a giant squid? I'll get my pens out, and have a scribble.
I too have unearthed a bunch of old motors and hardox and fancy making a vertical spinner, going to call it "grater"... just treated myself to a Dewalt powersaw to do some chassis mods.
:)
Attachment 6063
I can see where you thinking squid, although i was thinking more like the sable keech than squidly diddly :)
Splatoon. :)
Principal Skinner...
http://robenglebright.com/picture/sk...ureId=21190894
OH DEAR, going to have to go ++1 for this :)
I've still got a tube bender , now will have to lay out for a cod mouth notch cutter !
and fire
lots of fire
I managed to fix the FF6 and rx at last !
Attachment 6071
LOL, also really fixed the FF6, seems 10 yr old RX Nicads can be charged, show voltage but under any type of load drop to 2.2v
So after managing to bind these spread spectrum RX and getting it to work and re-charging the FF6 is about to go ebay. Be interesting to see who wants to buy some bastardised TX with a 8 channel splitter on a channel along with all the other channels and some hard wired max/min weapon switch and a L/R pot with the spring removed :)
People will buy anything from that great car boot in the cloud... :-)
Now we have a control board with some old crap lying about.
Attachment 6079
Not only that. We have a frickin laser as well !
Plus I found the onboard telemetry system from Corporal Punishment (it had on board voltage sensors) and the wireless POV camera and head up occular camera. LOL
Here is the heads up display, was connected to a micro IBM pc imported from Japan worn on a belt
Attachment 6081
could switch between onboard video camera or onboard telemetry (VGA or direct) but couldn't use it because of BS from production about the legality of wireless frequencies back then. WELL pre-google glass , but still as nerdy
Then again they also had a right go at us because we listened into the prod chatter on their walkie talkies and who they liked and didnt and how they were "organising" the fights and draws. Managed to do a proper magic switch in the pocket and produced a MP3 player to convince them we were listening to music ;)
then I joined the company and all bets were off , LOL