GM1
Elite Veteran
Location: Tallahassee, Florida US
| From FutabaThere have been a few, and I emphasize, A FEW cases of momentary lockouts with the new G3 receiver. Futaba has been made aware and has issued this release.
Received from Futaba:
G3 R5014 Receiver Update
Overwhelmingly, the 14MZ has been an amazing success story!
Everyone owning one has found the ease of programming and fast,
accurate response a generation better than any other radio on the
market. And with 14 channels available, jet and scale pilots now
have options for added functions. Giant scale and IMAC modelers
appreciate the ease of setting up control surfaces that use multiple
servos on each control surface.
As with any new technological advancement, there is a learning
curve. There have been a small number of isolated cases of the
R5014 receiver going into momentary lock-outs, almost always in
helicopter and large-scale applications. The consensus is that the
receiver is less tolerant of metal-to-metal noise and random RF
noise. Following individual investigation and follow-up, most of
these modelers discovered that a part or bearing on their metal and
graphite machines needed attention, or that antenna routing needed
to be changed.
We do know that the R5014 receiver is more sensitive and responsive
to outside noise than any previous Futaba receiver. That's the bad
news. The good news is that the 14MZ is also more sensitive and
responsive to pilot inputs than any system previously available!
Eliminating Lock-Outs
Futaba is conducting tests to determine a solution for those unusual
cases in which a lock-out occurs. In many situations, tightening
down loose metal-to-metal/graphite joints has solved any problem.
Rerouting the receiver antenna away from metal frames, graphite
reinforcements, metal pushrods, and ignition wiring has solved
others. If you have had any problems, check these areas first.
In the most difficult situations, one solution has already been
discovered: shortening the antenna to reduce the receiver's
sensitivity to outside noise. Several competitors at the Tucson
Shoot-Out and a few individual heli pilots have tried this
modification. Based on limited flying time, it has eliminated all of
the lock-outs.
The length of the modified receiver antenna wire used for this
testing is 21.6" or 55cm. from the receiver case grommet to the end
of the wire. The receiver should not be retuned. Just cut off the
excess wire length. It's critically important to route the antenna
wire away from ignition components, graphite or metal frames, and
any other wiring - and to tighten all metal-to-metal connections.
If you wish to try this procedure yourself, we suggest you first
conduct a thorough ground range test before cutting your receiver
antenna:
1. Remove your transmitter antenna and leave the engine turned off.
2. Rest your model in a fixed position, with the receiver antenna at
least 12 inches off of the ground.
3. Test the ground range all of the way around model. Receivers
often have different ranges in certain orientations; document the
attitudes and mark the range for each angle.
4. Then, modify the antenna wire length and retest the range. If the
range does not decrease, then the modification will likely improve
your situation.
Because testing continues at this time and such testing cannot
encompass all of the possible combinations of equipment
installations, cutting the antenna is still
considered "experimental" at this time. The factory is currently
completing testing of the reduced antenna length and other possible
solutions. Once an official recommendation has been finalized,
additional statements will be forthcoming.
The factory also recommends installing servo extensions with filters
between the receiver and extensions when using long servo leads in
S5014 receiver-equipped models. The tail rotor servo in a helicopter
should have one, for example. Large, gasoline-powered aircraft might
need them on all long extensions, such as ailerons, elevators, or
rudder. Stock numbers for these are FUTM4149 (Standard) and
FUTM4180 (Heavy Duty).
End quote:
Personally, my 14MZ has been very good and the STratus has been flawless.
Gordie
On a dog sled team, if you're not the lead dog, the view never changes. |
