X P S Got one?

[aramsdell]

Do you have XPS under the hood?

What radio are you using?

How do you like it, especially the 1 antenna part?

I've got one of the few module based radios that
have completely intenal modules. ROYAL EVO 9.
Other Multiplex radios are the only others I know of.
Antenna goes in socket of original and cable is inside.

I'd buy another Evo!.

[jgunpilot]

I've got XPS on my Freestyle 3D plank, Mini Katana plank, T-rex 600, Raptor .50 Titan, and HDX500. I'm using a Futaba 9C Super and the combination is great. I've know about the "latency" issue with the 9C, but, to me, it seems faster and tighter than with PCM. The quality of the XPS TX module and receivers is excellent. I've had absolutely no operational problems so far.

[ErichF]

I've been flyin the XPS system on my 9303 since last July without a hiccup. I've never had to re-bind any of my receivers, and I've never had power problems.

I have one 8ch RX in my Caliber 90, and one in my X-Spec:

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=25472&d=1188571786

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36860&d=1201481800

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36858&d=1201481800

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36859&d=1201481800

[jgunpilot]

Erich, That's pretty much the way I mount my receivers, too. For planks, I put them in the cockpit. I don't need to pretend there's a little man in there.

[Saibot]

You could at least paint a little face on the antenna. :rolling

[jb1969]

Ive been flying XPS with 10X 8 and 10chl receivers for over a year now and have had no issues at all!!!! Even when our field was closed down due to flooding and was flying in random fields, some near US Military bases within 1.5 miles, realy close to Doppler and Nexrad radar stations and no problems at all. So you can say I have tested it in real word applications with out one single hicup!!!!!

[ErichF]

Yeah, me too. I have been to the Nats, three other contests at different fields, and a few funflies without a problem.

I do have some concern about the inability to Freq Hop, however. I will probably go to the 900Mhz FHSS system when available, or go back to Futaba. That 12FGH is looking mighty fine.

[aramsdell]

Erich, Doesn't the XPS hop when it detects interference? This is how I believe it has been explained. It IS bi-directional so I imagine that the receiver is constantly telling the Tx what freq to go to in case of loss of signal from Rx. Maybe I'm wrong to some degree there but I believe it does hop when necessary.
Al

[markjj]

I think it's pretty certain that XPS won't hop once it's chosen it's channel, it will move channels at startup but not once selected, that said I've over a 1,000 flights without a glitch. No complaints from me me apart form the over hyping.....

[ErichF]

Correct, there was an individual on RC Groups that pretty much proved in my eyes that the system doesn't hop when interfered with by both sudden or progressive frequency saturation.

Too bad, but I'm not compelled to change what I have for the time being.

[aramsdell]

Erich, I'm with you ZERO interference issues even on a TREX 450.
Many of us know what a bunch of gremlins hang out on T450's. Static and noise galore.
My main Helicam is a Swift 16 and it has been to the edge of sight and back with no issues. I hope JD will come forward and rectify the issues that have been brought up. I will also be buying more XPS regardless. It is just too darned convenient. My Evo 9 looks like it was built that way with everything internal.:clappp

[jgunpilot]

I'm still waiting for the first post about an actual, real world problem with XPS. The rest of the 2.4g forums are full of problems with other systems are supposedly technically better.

[DavidH]

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4714231/mpage_57/tm.htm

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=816984



http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=814769

[jgunpilot]

DavidH,

I followed those links and found what appears to be a problem installing an antenna with a transmitter, then a rehashing of the non-stop flame war over XPS's seeming inability to "hop" when tested by its detractors. Also, there was a lot of criticism of Drew for deleting posts on another forum when XPS is criticized.

Was there a real world problem in there somewhere? I thought I saw something about someone crashing, but there weren't any specifics.

I wonder why people who own them like them (XPS), but people who don't own them spend their free time trying to prove their technical inferiority.

Life is too short. Take some time off to go fly.

[Pinecone]

Several MAJOR crashes. 4 and 5 figure dollar jets and giant scale airplanes.

[ErichF]

I see videos of that all the time on Youtube...using all kinds of RF systems:

"Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect."

— Captain A. G. Lamplugh


This is true despite whatever RF system you use.

[aramsdell]

Any chance that the covering material on some of these planes that have mysteriously crashed is semi mettalic?

[DavidH]

Yes in the threads that were deleted. There was more than one incident of crashing. A couple of them were high dollar turbine aircraft. There was videos and pictures in the thread. That is the reason the test thread was started. The thread starter had lost an aircraft while using the system.
There is no radio system that is immune to problems. It is a RF link and not a hardwire link. So stuff can and will happen.

David

[aramsdell]

What's the possibility of a turbine, spinning 140,000 with a slightly notchy bearing, generating noise up in the 2.4 ghz range? A bunch of dirty or notchy balls rotating against their races. How about all the balls rotating over a bad spot/dirt in the race. Each ball touches a race , with the same spot, twice in a revolution. Just a thought. Would need a Spectrum analyzer I guess to check this.
My $1.00 - .98

I hate conspiracy theories. I do love my XPS.

I still want to see/hear more and not anecdotal please.

[jgunpilot]

I don't think that notchy bearing would stay notchy for more than a few millaseconds.

[Danyboy]

Erich,

I'd like to ask a technical question...

The way you installed that receiver on the Caliber90 (I suppose the one with the golden skids is one, can't tell exactly), do you have any problem with reception when the mechanics get between TX and RX as in "regular" tail-in hover?

Reason for question is a friend of mine, which recently converted to IFS (Graupner-labelled XPS...) but is afraid to just slap the receiver at a similar position in his electro-powered Revolution, being afraid that all the carbon of the frame might block reception.

Did you notice anything special?

Cheers,

Daniel

[ErichF]

None whatsoever. Even when doing the FAI manuevers, when going far out to either end of the field, I never had a fade or lockout. I used the same installation method in the Caliber 90 and the X-Spec.

Before I trusted the XPS system on my $4000 Caliber, I walked away in range check mode, while a buddy was rotating the machine in all orientations, especially tail-in. I got tired of walking, and the thing never did go into lockout (about 100 yds).

[jgunpilot]

Here's another XPS update: I just finsihed my Trex 500 and used an 8 channel XPS receiver. Using the standard plastic tailcase and shiny belt - no problems. I've only been flying it about a week - but so far it works fine.

The theoretical latency (Futaba 9C) and lack of frequency hopping (XPS) still keep me awake nights, though.