I must have done something...

[Rodney Kirstine]

To really piss somebody off because I'm pretty sure I'm being punished.

Yesterday, as I mentioned in another thread, I had a ball link pop off mid-flight on my N5c and down it came. What's amazing is that this is the second time I've had the N5c crash in a similar manner and it is so light, it just kind of floats down and doesn't break much.

Right after that I was flying my E5, which has only been back together less than a week, and on landing I had something really weird happen.  I'll back up a bit because I've been having similar issues on landing for a while now and I kept thinking it was FBL controller related.  When I land, I usually bring it into a hover at 4-5 feet off the ground and then hit throttle hold and land.  Off and on, for the last couple of months, I've had this intermittent issue where as soon as I hit throttle hold something happens and the FBL controller browns out and resets.  This usually results in a less than gentle landing.  Yesterday on my E5, instead of the controller resetting, the helicopter slammed straight into the ground at full negative collective the instant I hit throttle hold.  I sent the log file to Skookum support and Art confirmed that as soon as I hit TH, the SK540 saw "the pilot" input full negative collective, full elevator, and full rudder.  It was only about 4 feet off the ground but it hit so hard, it broke the frame at the back, near the landing gear mount.  It also destroyed the main and tail blades, head axle, tail fin, and I'm not sure what else because I haven't even wanted to look at it yet.

This has happened on all three of my helicopters with five different FBL controllers now and I'm thinking it must be my transmitter causing it.  I don't know what I'm going to do, for sure.  Sorry for another long rant but I had to vent.

[Chris Sexton]

Are you using a Dx8 by chance?


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[BrianE]

Sounds like your transmitter to me too.  Without starting a brand war - do you have a "monitor" screen on your transmitter?  If so, see if any other channels are affected by your throttle hold switch.  Either way, I would send the transmitter in to get checked out.

[Chris Sexton]

The reason I ask about the dx8. They had been having an intermittent issue with the timer function resetting the tx randomly when hold was applied.

What you just described was exactly what happened to a buddy of mines dx8. Took out his 700e twice before we figured out what was wrong. Horizon fixed it and its been good since.


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[Brandon Bartolomucci]

Also, just to be sure, you didn't by chance just happen to be hitting throttle hold at the time the timer went off and if so did you have vibration enabled?

I ask because the first batches of DX8 radios also had an issue of the vibration of the alarm causing un-commanded servo movements. I doubt you have a radio that old now but it's a good thing to check.


Regards,
Brandon Bartolomucci
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[BrianE]

Bingo - Chris and Brandon are correct.  In the pic below there looks to be a DX8 hiding in the back.  Get that the radio checked out - at least disable the vibrator until you get it checked out (the radio and alarm will work fine without the vibrator enabled).

Bought some skid clamps from randomheli.com to hang my birds up.  They work pretty sweet.

[Chris Sexton]

I had forgotten the vibrator part of it. Thanks for reminding me!


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[Rodney Kirstine]

Damn, you guys are good!!! What you have described fits my symptoms exactly!  I have a timer set with vibration enabled.  Having this happen only when TH is hit while it's vibrating would explain the "random" occurrence factor. 

I think the DX8's days with me are done.  Actually, I'm done with Spektrum.  I'm going to send it in to HH to get repaired and then I'm going to smash it with a hammer sell it.  I never have really been very fond of it.  The antenna came unplugged, internally.  Funny, but they don't transmit very far when that happens...  I've had the antenna break twice.  The left gimbal has never felt right.  Anyway, this seals the deal. 

Now I just have to decide which direction to go.  I guess I'll be selling some DSMX satellites, as well, because I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up with either Futaba or a JR with DMSS.

[flyalan]

Damn, you guys are good!!! What you have described fits my symptoms exactly!  I have a timer set with vibration enabled.  Having this happen only when TH is hit while it's vibrating would explain the "random" occurrence factor. 

I think the DX8's days with me are done.  Actually, I'm done with Spektrum.  I'm going to send it in to HH to get repaired and then I'm going to smash it with a hammer sell it.  I never have really been very fond of it.  The antenna came unplugged, internally.  Funny, but they don't transmit very far when that happens...  I've had the antenna break twice.  The left gimbal has never felt right.  Anyway, this seals the deal. 

Now I just have to decide which direction to go.  I guess I'll be selling some DSMX satellites, as well, because I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up with either Futaba or a JR with DMSS.

I remember hearing about that issue but it has been a while!


Rodney, Take a serious look at the Futaba 14SGH.  I have both the 8FGh and the 14SGH.  It's an awesome radio.  You can't beat Futaba for reliability.  The Telemetry is a big plus.  Yes it will be a bit a of struggle going from Spektrum to Futaba as far as the programming goes but I would bet you will never look back once you get the hang of it.  There is always plenty of help available here if you need programming help.


Cheers
Alan

[Rodney Kirstine]

I was leaning towards Futaba.  The JR radios look too much like a transformer.

Since the 8fg super and the 14sg are both 14 channel, are the main differences between them the telemetry and the FASTtest protocol of the 14sg?  Are there any other big differences that make it worth the extra 25% expense?  Are the cases quite a bit different, as far as how they feel?  I checked out an 8fg at a LHS recently and it felt pretty good.

[flyalan]

For me the 8FG feels good.  Some folks feel the switches are too close especially the throttle hold. The case on the 8FG is thinner than the 14. The 14 has more spacing on the switches.  The only real internal change is the addition off telemetry. They are both the FAAST protocol. Fastest just adds the two way communication. I do like having telemetry. It almost negates the need for the flight timer on electrics if set up correctly. I still have the timer running but only as a reminder that I am getting close to time to land.

Cheers
Alan

[Kevin Feil]

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate Crash Rodney! I heard of that and 86'd my Dx8 right away, Went to an JR9503x, and loved it, But just recently made the decision to Retool the Whole Fleet and Switch to all Futaba. CGY750's, the whole 9 yards. Best move I ever made!! I couldn't be happier with the performance. Now I do have to say I feel like Tiger Woods changing his Swing 3 times, Getting use to the Feel of the Controller and the overall size has been a bit awkward, I have even gone as far as just watching TV and reenacting flights in order to train my brain and build confidence.  Switch as soon as possible, I heard that futaba was working on a Firmware update for the CGY750, If this is true and it goes down, then the used market (CGY750's) will go up in price again... good luck with your decision.

Best Regards,

Kevin

[Rodney Kirstine]

Kevin,

Which transmitter did you go with?

[Kevin Feil]

I chose to go with the Futaba T8FG, Like I said, it takes a bit of getting use to but well worth the Investment. I picked mine up for $250.00 on RR. they are out there cheep and the FAAST System is Wicked when it comes to  response of the Machine. Tommy Wagner and Allan have helped me get use to this and the setup.. I'm so use to JR it is a bit different. But well worth the Change...  Good Luck Brother..

K

[Rodney Kirstine]

I put the DX8 in the mail today to HH to get it repaired.  I'm still trying to decide between the 8FG and the 14SG but I'm about 99% sure it's going to be one of those two.