XPS Won't Change Frequencies

[JKos]

Yet another test has proven that XPS will not change channels/frequencies in the face of interference. The info was posted on RCG. Look quickly because it will probably be deleted by JD soon. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=814276

- John

[DavidH]

John,
Your quick. I was just about to post the link for the XPS owners that are on Helifreak.

David

[jgunpilot]

So buy Spektrum, and drink the Koolaid. My XPS works great and I haven't had any problems with it, such as the Futaba issue with all the transmitters on the same code, or the problems I see here with binding , etc and Spektrum. I'm sure there are plenty of theoretical and technical differences, but what works in the real world, and how much should that affect your buying decision.

[TMoore]

Can you say Sanwa FHSS?

There is a reason that Sanwa chose the FHSS route and it is probably the same reason that Futaba uses it as well.

One thing is clear, Spektrum, Futaba and Sanwa are proven solutions, XPS has yet to be substantiated as safe alternative to the three mainstays in the hobby.

TM

[JKos]

jgunpilot,
What Kool-Aid is there associated with Spektrum? The technical details of Spektrum have been shown to match the manufacturers claims.

XPS, on the other hand, is exactly the opposite. Every single marketing and technical claim has been proven false. Not only does it not do what the manufacturer claims; it simply does not handle the 2.4 GHz RF environment in a safe manner.

- John

[jgunpilot]

Have you seen any XPS user posting here with problems associated with everyday use? Have you seen me asking how to rebind the receiver or my surprise that my buddies transmitter will operate my receiver? The fact is, they work well - and that's my point. I like not having a second receiver and antenna to position in the aircraft, among other things.

[capebob]

I don't know if this will help this thread, but I own and use both Spektrum and XPS systems in a 2.4GHz rich environment with zero issues.

Bob

[Ciprian]

Well, I have bought XPS back in march last year, or whenever they were first released. I have one 8ch receiver and 2 6ch receivers. Never had a problem with them. HOWEVER, I decided to buy the system based on the hopping thing and promised telemetry, and now hearing that it doesn't hop kinda bothers me. I hope Jim Drew will come up with a fix and replace the affected systems. Otherwise, I will get rid of it. But first, I will wait for Jim Drew to say something about it. All we know is that one guy did some tests and his system does not hop. It might be that his particular one is messed up and it doesn't hop, or, it might be just a software bug. I wish I could test mine, but I don't have a way to do it. I will wait and see.

[JKos]

> Have you seen any XPS user posting here with problems associated with everyday use?

Take a look at RCGroups. Plenty of issues and plenty of lost aircraft. Keep in mind much of the information gets deleted if the poster put it in the XPS vendors forum area.

Read through the thread linked above before it gets deleted and you'll see people posting who have had issues.

> I like not having a second receiver and antenna to position in the aircraft,

Then you have chosen to ignore a very real aspect of 2.4 GHz communications that is based on physics, not marketing.

> All we know is that one guy did some tests and his system does not hop.

This is actually the second reported such test. Same results for both.

- John

[DavidH]

I like not having a second receiver and antenna to position in the aircraft,

Take a look as some of the upper end wireless routers, They even use two antennas on them.
The RC Group thread is like wild fire. I would guess JD is in Germany at the Neuremberg show this weekend.

David

[Pinecone]

Wow, Spektrum is junk because some people don't read the manual. :) Or because people do not provide a reliable 3.%+ volts of power.

I would bet, that XPS users tend to read manuals more. If nothing else, the person who buys XPS has to have spent time reading about the system because there is no other advertising than the forums.

[TMoore]

http://www.flyinggiants.com/forums/fg239/23892-independent-tests-prove-lack-frequency-hopping-xps.html

It looks like another forum has taken notice.

TM

[gotak]

Just want to point out the interesting things you can find by putting Jim Drew with Amiga, Commodore or Paintball into google. At first I thought "maybe just someone with the same name" but a bit more reading shows it is one and the same.

Facts is facts. JD and his FBs have been shouting down anyone who suggest there are technical issues with their system. And I suppose I can understand one's emotional attachment to a toy you brought at relatively great expense. However, I would find it hard to place any trust in a company that lied about almost every aspect of their system, have trouble delivering their product on time and is ran by someone with a questionable track record.

As for the lack of people posting here about XPS problems. There are also no posts on RR after XPS. You have to take it into context though. We fly our swing wings much much closer than fixed wings. The XPS system finds a "free" channel at start up and stays there. Further out you go the more likely the RF environment is different from where you started on the ground. I suspect that might explain why there haven't been as many posts here. That and people will go to the XPS forums on rcgroups to get help since it's the official XPS forum.

[Ciprian]

I would really want to hear from Jim something about this before making my mind up to keep my system or to throw it away. To me, it works flawlesly for almost a year now.
I know there are a lot of people that don't like Jim Drew, but one thing we need to remember. If it wasnt for JD, the big boys (Futaba, Spektrum) would have never produced modules for our existing radios. Spektrum said that it would be too slow, Futaba said it is not possible. All of a sudden both were able to make them.
I hope that this is just a glitch and JD will fix it when he comes back from Germany (right now he is there and probably that is why he hasn't answered yet). If he doesn't fix the hopping problem (which is why I bought it in the first place) I will fix it, by hopping to Spektrum probably, since Futaba is too expensive. But still, I thank JD for lighting up the fire under the big boys' arses.

[DavidH]

If it wasnt for JD, the big boys (Futaba, Spektrum) would have never produced modules for our existing radios. Spektrum said that it would be too slow, Futaba said it is not possible. All of a sudden both were able to make them.


Don't know what makes you think that. Futaba didn't use off the shelf chipsets for there 2.4 ghz. And for Spektrum they are also doing it a little different. Maybe XPS had to rush to market and sell there items while they could. They are using the Max-Stream 2.ghz chipsets.

David

[WillJames]

Jim has an account here.....

I believe what I read from JKos. Not a bullshitter. RCG... well... Lot of good people, a lot of boilerplate IMHO and deleting never helped anybody's credibility....

I am not about to take sides, but if trolls come here and try to discredit the people I trust, judge it for what it is. JKos has a PROVEN track record of telling the truth and being Pro-Hobby and Pro-Truth.:noteworthy

[Ciprian]

David,

I am talking about modules. Before XPS came out with the modules, both Spekrtum and Futaba said it doesn't work. You need to buy a whole new radio, not only a module.

It is all about money. The big boys wanted to make more money, they thought that selling only modules was not enough, but as soon as JD started the whole module thing, both Spektrum and Futaba realized that they need to make modules if they want to compete with JD.

I am not talking about MaxSream, or Cypress, or Futaba 2.4 GHz chips. I am not saying that Spektrum and Futaba were not able to make modules. They just said it wouldn't work, just to make more money by selling a whole new transmitter instead of only a module. But as soon as JD 'made it work' regardless of custom made or off the shelf components, both of them (Spektrum, Futaba) 'made them work' with our current transmitters also.

So, all I am saying is that both Futaba and Spektrum knew from the beginning that modules would work with our transmitters, they would have not produced them without JD giving them a push.

[DavidH]

Can you show me where Spektrum and Futaba said modules would not work?
Even Futaba coming out with the new radios that are on 2.4 ghz. They are modular.
Spektrum was making 2.4 ghz modules for ground radios before they got into the aircraft part of the hobby.

David

[Ciprian]

David,

I will try to find it. I read it on RC groups right after JD made the anouncement some time in the fall 2006.
However, that will be the last post for me on this subject. I don't like to be called a troll. I did not try to discredit what john said since I know he did a lot of work and lots of tests, and I know he is one of the 'good' guys. (Will, if your post above was not directed at me, I appologise).