View Full Version : AR6100 caused T-Rex 450 to practically disintegrate
BarnOwl
03-22-2007, 01:20 PM
I had about 5 very successful flights with my T-Rex 450 and the brand new Spektrum AR6100 rx when I experienced a minor crash. The bird got caught up in the tall grass taking off and flipped over....
So after changing blades, feathering shaft and main shaft I test hovered the repaired heli.
It was glitching in a strange way: jerking up- and down and it became worse. So I checked all wiring, re-bound the rx and tried again.
It went ok for 30 seconds in a stable hover and then started bouncing up-and down again, just if someone was pushing the collective up- and down real fast. Then all over a sudden it went in real fast and hard from 1m down on the floor! somehow the rx gave the order ALL NEGATIVE PITCH NOW! It SLAMMED the bird on the floor!
It game down so hard I have to rebuild the whole heli! For the first time in one year I managed to break the HDX STK frame in three places. Boomstrike, blades, head, and even the battery was crooked!
Investigating I found out the Rx does NOT react at all anymore to Tx inputs. If i connect power to the AR6100 I only see a dimmed yellow led. It does not bind anymore, nothing, dead!
As I have been flying successfully with the AR7000 for months on my 600 I will get a 7000 for my 450. There is also reported strange behavior from the 6100 on RCGroups, they even call it "the pitch down bug".
No more AR 6100 for me I am afraid.........
Finless
03-22-2007, 03:06 PM
Hmmm so far so good for me!
I have been running 2 6100's in my two 450's for 2 weeks now and no problems for me. I hope this is just a batch / manufacturing issue and not a design issue.....
My 6100's came for a shipment from Horizon 2 weks ago so they arent from the initial batches sent out at launch.
Bob
bob00
03-22-2007, 03:42 PM
FWIW: I have been flying 2 AR6100's since late December (I think) and they've worked fine so far.
Q: Which BEC and servos are you using and at what voltage?
- R
BarnOwl
03-22-2007, 05:36 PM
FWIW: I have been flying 2 AR6100's since late December (I think) and they've worked fine so far.
Q: Which BEC and servos are you using and at what voltage?
- R
I am using the Kontronik Jazz ESC with Hitec 65MG servo's on the swash.
The Jazz has a build-in BEC with switching voltage regulator.
vetterick
03-22-2007, 08:23 PM
Perhaps the AR6100 was damaged in the first crash, might send it in to get checked out.
I'm surprised how tough these RX's are, but if smacked just right they can break a connection on the board causing an intermittent problem.
Rick
Hughes500Bob
03-22-2007, 09:09 PM
I've read that it is a good idea to silicone (goop) the antenna wires (poor mans strain relief) where they exit the Rx body.
ZZ3Astro
03-22-2007, 10:47 PM
Strange... this is similar to the incident with the 7000 at Bham... 90 sized ccpm went down hard with uncommanded negative collective immediately after switching into idle-up.
Hopefully not a trend as I've just converted over to the DX7.
fireup
03-23-2007, 01:39 AM
I've also manage to damage my AR7000 in a crash (or it could have cause the crash... not sure as I lost the tail and I didn't check if my gyro initialized properly). The crash also broke the plastic casing of the receiver. The servos now do not work some times, like it has a lockout. Pressing the receiver casing sometimes makes it work. :dontknow. Already got a new one to replace it… Should I send this one back to be repaired with a broken case? Or just eat my lost?
BarnOwl
03-23-2007, 03:45 AM
Perhaps the AR6100 was damaged in the first crash,
Rick
I doubt it. The heli sort of turned over in the tall grass, not a hard hit. Only damaged the moving parts from the head down: Blades, spindle, shaft and gears. Everything else was ok and the rx is nicely tucked in the frame.
kgfly
03-23-2007, 07:20 AM
Saw a report earlier today of Spektrum confirming a firmware bug in the AR6100. Just looked but cannot find the link and rcg is currently down for maintenance. It is possible that you failure was related to this bug. The post I saw said that Spektrum would be posting information on their site next week.
Hughes500Bob
03-23-2007, 08:16 AM
WOW! Thanks for the heads-up on the AR6100 firmware bug. I just got a new one and will not be using it until this is sorted out. PLEASE start a new topic on this as soon as you have more info.
kgfly
03-23-2007, 08:59 AM
WOW! Thanks for the heads-up on the AR6100 firmware bug. I just got a new one and will not be using it until this is sorted out. PLEASE start a new topic on this as soon as you have more info.
OK, see here: http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?p=298606
BarnOwl
03-23-2007, 09:52 AM
Thanks for the info, Kenneth. I contacted pchobbies (I got it from Ebay) and they said me to contact Horizon.
Just sent an e-mail (website contact form) to them about the issue.
I'll give a note here how it gets resolved.......
BarnOwl
04-01-2007, 10:13 AM
Well, Horizon is prepared to look at the rx if I sent it in.
However, after re-building the crashed 450 completely and changing everything that even looked a little worn I decided to use the "faulty"rx again.
Somehow after being in the drawer for a couple of weeks the ar6100 binded no problem and after some VERY careful bench testing everything seemed ok again......
I blamed the incident on the rx because I could not find any other explanation.
Now, after completely rebuilding the 450 and changing every part that was the slightest bit worn, it flies like a dream again with the same rx.........
Obviously I was wrong here blaming the rx. Or was I not? :oops: You might wonder if flying this same rx does not give me the creeps?
I just don't think about it anymore and enjoy my flying. I also enjoy (re)building so it really is nothing to be nervous about.
We are so easily prepared to point the finger at a faulty radio in the emotional aftermath of an unexplained crash.......
I did that and I apologize for that.
However it DOES worry me that Spektrum has admitted there is a problem and they are not completely open with it.
kgfly
04-01-2007, 10:32 AM
Jeroen,
Glad to hear you are back in the air and feeling good about it :)
If I were you I would send in the Rx. Horizon have said there is a known problem. Sure the cost and delay for those of us outside the US are larger, but still cheaper than even a mild crash. For me it would be a peace of mind issue. Is there a European distributor that maybe is equipped to do the fix (I doubt it, but it's worth asking) ?
Either way I hope you have no more nasty incidents.
BarnOwl
04-01-2007, 11:44 AM
Thanks, Kenneth.....
I will sent the rx to Horizon as soon as I get my replacement (Ordered a new one, it's under way)
There is no European distributor as far as I know yet, or it must be Graupner Germany. But as time is of no importance anymore when I have the second rx, I might as well sent it back to where it came from.
Sonny
05-13-2007, 07:24 PM
I heard that the 6100 has been revised to version 1.2. The units with the updated firmware have a sticker on the side of the case that says so. Something about elevator lockouts.
agiaffa
05-15-2007, 02:16 PM
New AR6200 Full Range recever....
stevehonn
05-15-2007, 06:01 PM
Thanks, Kenneth.....
I will sent the rx to Horizon as soon as I get my replacement (Ordered a new one, it's under way)
There is no European distributor as far as I know yet, or it must be Graupner Germany. But as time is of no importance anymore when I have the second rx, I might as well sent it back to where it came from.
Horizon Hobby UK (ex Helger) are the UK agents, not sure if they cover The Netherlands but might be worth a try.
kgfly
05-15-2007, 06:40 PM
New AR6200 Full Range recever....
How interesting, where did you discover that ?
fireup
05-15-2007, 11:14 PM
New AR6200 Full Range recever....
Nice! looks like they improved casing for the antanna also.
kgfly
05-15-2007, 11:35 PM
New AR6200 Full Range recever....
How interesting, where did you discover that ?Never mind, found it, thanks.
BarnOwl
05-16-2007, 04:09 AM
Horizon Hobby UK (ex Helger) are the UK agents, not sure if they cover The Netherlands but might be worth a try.
Tnx. Steve.....I will try that (Still have not sent it in)
Nice! looks like they improved casing for the antanna also.
I see the tubes on the sides.....so they attacked that problem!
hhawk
06-04-2007, 02:36 AM
I just received a AR6100 back from horizon with the V1.2 Firmware update. Got it all set up and it failed the range test at about 30ft. And the ele reversed and stayed reversed. Never flown right out of the box. Its going back tomorrow.
hhawk
06-07-2007, 04:56 PM
Also to add, I checked the newly updated brand new AR6100 with two different DX 7's to eliminate the possibility of it being a radio issue. Some seriously bad luck or just a fluke, I would feel much more :roll: comfortable with an AR7000 in the heli since I have had one in flawless oporation in my T-Rex 600 now since February.