stratus with 9451 servos

[roy voss]

hi,

just wondering what some people are doing about lengthening servo led for these servos. i knew the lead would be short and i have extensions. are people just plugging in or cutting them and soddering them. not afraid of either, just wonder what the preferred method is. plus i am using a g3 receivers and would an opinion how the antenna is being routed to avoid any glitches.

thanks roy

[Dr.Ben]

Roy,

RE the servos, the best way is going to be to use Futaba H/D choked/filtered extension. SOP and factory rec are to use these on every servo that requires an extension. Heres' what you need to get:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLPP4&P=7

RE the antenna, the "cleanest" way to do it is to mount the receiver vertically on the radio tray with the antenna going straight down, through a tube, out the canopy to mount as far outboard on the top side of the landing gear struts as possible. A nyrod going through two ball links screwed to the top of the struts works great for this. Avoid keeping the antenna close in to the mechanics. My Stratus would consistently lock out for a brief moment at the same angle and orientation until I got it out away from the mechanics. We're talking a difference of being on the struts up close to the base plate versus out near the skid completely solving alockout problem.

Ben Minor

[Alfred]

LOL
I have to take a picture and show you my antenna in the Stratus then.
And no lockouts.

[Dr.Ben]

LOL works well until it's you having the issue. I made a good faith suggestion to Roy based on what had happened to me in two different models and after working with the matter with Steve Helms and Futaba Japan over a year ago. I'm glad your model worked well like it is. I see you're from Australia. I'll make a leap and guess you're flying 36mHz. The G3 receiver does NOT always behave the same way in 36mHz as it does with 72 mHz, nor in some of the other bands used worldwide for that matter, so your results will not necessarily reflect mine or Roy's. I personally would have felt badly if Roy had had trouble with another antenna arrangement, had damaged his model, and I could have prevented it with a simple suggestion. I would hope that someone would try to look out for me the same way some day.

Ben Minor

[Alfred]

Yes I do fly on 36Mhz and 40Mhz.
Yes, as higher the frequency as less range you normally get at the same Output power.
My point is that most people miss the more obvious causes of lockouts.
1st You need to comprehensively test any new or revised install.
How do I test mine? The model is tied down to a workbench with very large cable ties.
The workbench is weighted down by large Sandbags
Failsave programmed to go to idle and +1 degree pitch
Antenna collapsed and pointing directly at the model
engine/pitch/cyclics carefully moved while doing a 360 degrees walk around.

The absolute majority of logouts are caused by: Electro mechanical noise getting into the servo leads as these are completely unshielded.
People ignore obvious signs of metal/metal contacts which are loose. Black gunk around joints etc. Badly routed wiring etc.
You need to try to fix the source, not bandaid the cause.
I have also flown in Germany on both 35Mhz and 27Mhz (aeroplanes) and the problems were the same as with helies...poor routing and metal/metal rubbing joints.

Some fields have bad interference due to some rouge CB guy using a dirty TX booster, Repeaters that have gone spurious etc.
These spew such strong RF across the Bands that nothing will help you there, but to not fly there.
Chokes have been used in the RF Industry since the dawn of days and are a good preventative addition to give you a little bit more of a safety margin.
But if you believe that these are a magic cure and will make your wiring "immune" to interference through your wiring, then you are sadly mistaken.