R921 Rx Blinks Incessantly

[terrabit]

I purchased a JRX9303 Radio recently. It came with the R921 receiver. I was really looking forward to having all the high end JR electronics on my Logo 600 3d. Actually, everything works perfectly, except .... the R921 blinks. Not like it's suposed to when you bind it, it does that too. It blinks fast when in bind mode, then it blinks slow after it binds, but not all the time. Now, when I plug the battery in, about 50% of the time it continues to blink. It works fine. But it blinks. It's not suposed to blink! WTF?!?!?! It's being powered through a Hercules HV BEC.

Is it possible that the voltage is out of spec?

Is there anything else that could be causing this?

Has anyone had this experience?

puzzled!

[th3tick]

Mine did the exact same thing. The satellite blinked too, although not in sync. Oddly, I plugged in a Spektrum satellite, and no blinky on it.

I tried a number of things, but ended up returning it to HH for replacement/repair. I had a "spare" that did not blink, so that went in its place. Thus, I don't think it's a problem of the setup, but the Rx and satellite. HH had no suggestions/ideas other than to return it. It's been 12 days with no word, so I'll probably give them a call tomorrow.

Interestingly, my blinky R921 came with my X9303 as well, but the one that didn't blink was purchased separately.

John

EDIT: Mine was installed on a new T-Rex 500 powered by the included ESC's BEC. The "spare" was destined for my future Logo 600...

[th3tick]

I just stumbled over this as well:

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=57792

Not sure if it's related, but it does confuse further...

[terrabit]

Thank you!!! Please let me know what HH says about it.

[Pinecone]

I would just send it back. They are very good about sending a replacement.

[th3tick]

Timing is everything...

I got my Rx back from HH today, with a somewhat frustrating labor description (transcribed from their invoice):

I fully tested this 921 receiver. This rec. is functioning as it should. The flashing LEDs indicate that there was a loss of adequate source voltage to the receiver. These LEDs will continue to flash until source voltage is totally removed from the rec. (ie turn on/off switch to the rec. off or disconnext the rx batt. pack) and also turn off the tx. Both tx and rx need to be powered down for a minute or two. After this time turn both the tx and rx on and the LEDs should return to a solid condition (as long as the rec. is bound to the tx that is turned on).

Please note that even if the LEDs are blinking during this situation, servos will function as long as there is sufficient battery left to operate servos. The blinking merely indicate that there is either a poor source connection to the rec. or there was sufficient current draw from the servos to draw the source down to low enough level to trigger the blinking (brown out indication). If you see blinking LEDs, it would be a good idea to investigate the voltage source to your rx.

[th3tick]

My frustrations are these:

1) The phone person should know this and save someone from a 13 day turnaround on an answer.

2) The answer seems somehow inadequate. Could it be that the Spektrum satellites don't have this "feature"?

3) The JR R921 I replaced it with doesn't flash no matter what I try.

I can imagine that sometimes I don't get the Dean's plug completely in on the first stab, but having it blink like this isn't much of an indication of anything. They should have at least some sort of delay before this is "armed", such as having been on for 10 seconds before it could be considered browning out.

Just ranting a little bit here. Not sure whether I should trust it or not anymore...

John

[th3tick]

Oh, my aching head...

So I called HH and was told that the blinking lights is an indication of the quick connect feature. He also stated that it's new enough that he expected none of mine, with the exception of the one that was on the blink, have this feature. He said it's only recently been shipping so isn't surprised that I got one of each.

I asked him multiple times about the blinking behavior and AR6100s and AR7000s (I have a couple of each), and he said if they have the quick connect feature,they should blink if you power them on, unplug and quickly replug them. That included the entire line.

So...

The one I sent in is apparently is the "good" one, and the non-blinker needs to be sent in.

My head hurts...

Anyone else want to jump on the phone and see if they get the same story? It sure would be interesting to discover that what we presumed as the quick connect being out since the middle of next year wasn't true.

Pinecone: any comments in regards to your testing?

John

[Trouter]

I have a 921 in my T-Rex 500. If I plug my Deans connectors "sloppily", where the receiver may see power, then a quick drop, then power again, I get the blinky receiver (because of the quick connect feature).

If I plug the Deans connectors in quickly and cleanly, I don't get the blinky receiver.

[splinters]

I know it goes against best practice for powering on FM systems, but for 2.4GHz if you power up the Rx first, then switch on the Tx, you shouldn't have the problem. Make sure you set up the fail safe setting for throttle to minimum when initially binding the Rx.
I've never had a problem powering up a 2.4GHz Rx before switching on the Tx, since it won't send out any servo signals before it's bound.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has had experience to the contrary.

[Pinecone]

It does send out servo signals to all but the throttle channel. It sends on the position of every other channel that they were at when binding.

Some plank guys had problems when they bound with the gear up. Even with the Tx on first, the gear would go up as soon as the Rx got power.

Still safer to turn on Tx first.