AR6100 sufficient on 550?

[Zoobie]

Will the little Ar6100 receiver be suffiecient for a 550? Obviously the AR7000 would be better, but I have a spare 6100 lying around? Anyone flying with one already?

Thanks.

[AussieJester]

I actually use the AR6000 which is even smaller? works a treat for my purposes... ie noob 3d and sport flying...had 35th flight hour ago and haven't had an issue to date ::touch wood::

http://myfoto.westnet.com.au/Photo/snapper70/AussieJester_U2-UFO_Replica_Ca/Preview/rxpicgaui550.jpg

Click here for full size image (http://myfoto.westnet.com.au/Photo/snapper70/AussieJester_U2-UFO_Replica_Ca/rxpicgaui550.jpg)

:-)

[Zoobie]

Cool, I just thought that it would look kinda lost on the bigger heli. Probably just a head thing.

Thanks.

[AussieJester]

hehe...dunno the size of the AR6100 but the 6000 as you can see fitz perfectly cross wise in the frame (i have added a strip of 0.5mm aluminium with 1mm foam on top along the entire length of the lower frame to sit all electronics on) IMO though the 6100 should do fine :-) Otherz with more experience may disagree will have to wait for more replies to see...

[ukgroucho]

Hmmm.. my biggest fear with the 6100 would be that the antenna are in a shadow from the pack or frame (if it's a CF frame). I used a 7000 on mine for this reason - more antennas to spread around.

If I had to buy something specifically I'd probably get a 6200 - you get the second Rx pod but it's amaller and lighter.

[bstock]

The AR6100 was the receiver of choice for the Trex 450 guys this Spring/ early Summer - until the 6200 came out. Lots of guys flew it, and had no problems.

It does not have 2 receivers in it, only one... so you do not get the DuaLink feature. (by 2 receivers, I am not talking about the extra satellite RX pod that is with the 6200 and 7000 - the 6000, 6200, & 7000 have 2 receivers in the main RX pod)

There was a recall issue on the 6100... where it lost contact with the TX - but you needed to do a very specific combination of circumstances to get it to happen. Spektrum/ Horizon offered to fix/ upgrade them for free... and all of them shipped recently (I think it was about 4 months ago this happened) have the new software in them. You can check by looking at the sticker on it, to see if it is the new version number.

Search the 450 thread if you want to know more on the software problem, there is lots in there on it... and on using the 6100 in general. Here is the link to the Spektrum info:

http://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Support.aspx?ProdID=SPM6100

If I was in the situation you are, I would use the 6100 - but I think UK is right, I would make sure the antennas were able to have a clear view of the TX. (If you loss signal and crash - you didn't hear that from me *grin*)

[ukgroucho]

I have 6 or 7 6100s and have done some pretty severe range testing. I've also had experience of what happens if you put the antenna in a shadow (behind a LiPo) - fortunately in a foam wing that just bounces.

The AR6100 firmware issue was a very specific corner case where you saw an unwanted elevator input. The 'fix' was to get the firmware upgraded.You can check for a silver round sticker that says v1.2 on the RXs if you want to verify that they are 'fixed'. I sent some of mine back but I still have one or two that I did not bother to return in 450 derived helis (all CF and CNC) and they are behaving just fine.

For learning to fly (hover, FF/FFF) where you keep the 550 fairly close and upright - and with careful positioning of the 6100 I think it will be just fine. Where it becomes more interesting is if you start trying to work out where to put the 61100 so that the antenna will be 'in the clear' with the heli in all orientations (inverted nose in?) and at range. This is where having a remote antenna pod helps...

[bcritch]

This is how I set mine up. The ant. are at 90 degrees even though it does not look like it in the picture. I cut down the ant. tube that came with the kit and put heat shrink over it, this is optional but I have found that the heat shrink will not let it slip around, and then zip tied it where I wanted then to go. I personally put my rx to the rear and the Rx battery in the front because I had read that the Hurricane was a bit tail heavy. By doing this the CG is perfect. Hope this helped someone out there.

[RCHeliJim]

Honestly, dont risk a large heli with a park flyer receiver. Its not worth the $50 to risk it. I know many guys are using them in larger helis despte the manufacturer warnings, but I wouldnt myself. You lose the path diversity and multiple receivers that the 6200, 7000, and 9000 offer. Just use a receiver rated for what you are doing. Just my two cents, would hate to see you lose the heli or worse because of the receiver....

[bstock]

I have Great respect for RCHeliJim - He has Lots of experiance at this, and he really Knows his stuff. I usually take his advise as gospel, and it would probally be a cold day in hell before I would argue with him. It is actually pretty cool that he is over here on the 550 thread!!

I am not sure I am confident that I recommended using it now. I would reconsider that... if you have the money - get a RX with Dualink and the satellite RX.

There... I feel better. :-)