Spektrum AR7100R Overview and Setup

[Finless]

OK I just had to do some video on the new Spektrum AR7100R that I got for the T700 and the Aurora. Big thanks to Spektrum for sending me these for the vids!

This product just rocks! I cannot say enough about it. Spektrum just keeps kicking out great technology for our hobby and this one is top notch!

Anyway here some vids I shot to help people understand what it is about, how it works, and how to setup.

Video Link ->Overview of the 7100R (34 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=/finless/spektrum/ar7100&filename=overview.wmv)

Video Link ->Connections of the 7100R (46 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=/finless/spektrum/ar7100&filename=connections.wmv)

Video Link ->How to calibrate the Rev Limiter (41 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=/finless/spektrum/ar7100&filename=calibration.wmv)

Video Link ->How to use the Rev Limiter and your Radio (72 Megs) (http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=/finless/spektrum/ar7100&filename=use.wmv)

Enjoy!
Bob

[Super D]

Sweet Thanks Bob!!!:noteworthy

[TheBum]

Can you still run a full governor? I haven't watched the videos yet (I'll do that at home), so I don't know if that subject is covered, but I see from the Spektrum website that the 7000R uses a backplate sensor, so I would presume you could run both, with the rev limiter set higher than the governor.

[Finless]

Can you still run a full governor? I haven't watched the videos yet (I'll do that at home), so I don't know if that subject is covered, but I see from the Spektrum website that the 7000R uses a backplate sensor, so I would presume you could run both, with the rev limiter set higher than the governor.

There would be no need to do that! Set your idle up curve to 100% flat and the rev limiter will always be on and working more like a gov! It works GREAT this way.
Make sure you set up a normal curve so should the sensor fail you can switch into normal and land or just hold and auto in.

Bob

[mlucia]

Good stuff Bob.

"2150 for me on a 90 is a little scary. I gotta tell ya."...lol

Yes, yes indeed.

[TheBum]

There would be no need to do that! Set your idle up curve to 100% flat and the rev limiter will always be on and working more like a gov! It works GREAT this way.
Make sure you set up a normal curve so should the sensor fail you can switch into normal and land or just hold and auto in.
I thought one of the advantages of a full governor is that you could have a reasonable throttle curve to back up the governor in case the sensor failed. It seems to me you could overspeed the engine and possibly damage it if the sensor failed and you weren't quick enough to recognize it and switch to Normal.

[huskynox]

Great Vid Bob, thanks!

Question - if your maximum head speed you wanted was 2150 @ 71%, why wouldn't you set you throttle curve in ST1 & ST2 to a flat 71%? Or even say 75%. Wouldn't this be a safety feature if the sensor does fail...?

Would doing this limit your throttle to 71% or 75% in a full pitch climbout? Or does the governor see the original 100% full throttle calibration?

Thanks again.

[Finless]

I thought one of the advantages of a full governor is that you could have a reasonable throttle curve to back up the governor in case the sensor failed. It seems to me you could overspeed the engine and possibly damage it if the sensor failed and you weren't quick enough to recognize it and switch to Normal.

While that is an argument there are a lot of other things that can happen that can over speed the engine. Remember on a gov you read magnets on the fan. Suppose the motor starts slipping on the fan? It will over speed even with curves. Or your clutch could fail and curves or not your going to over speed. This is why every pilot needs to have trained themselves (Nitro or Electric) to be ready to hit hold at the first sign of a problem.

Also I have had rev limiters and the sensor fail (magnet departed) and because you have a load on the engine it is not a GIANT instant jump in RPM. You have plenty of time to hit hold or go into normal mode. Again while many think that having a backup curve is SAFE it is not always 100%. I am not arguing that it is not a good idea only that I am not worrying about it.

Bob

[TheBum]

Please bear with me, Bob. I'm still a newbie at this nitro stuff and there's a lot of misinformation I have to sort through.

[Finless]

Great Vid Bob, thanks!

Question - if your maximum head speed you wanted was 2150 @ 71%, why wouldn't you set you throttle curve in ST1 & ST2 to a flat 71%? Or even say 75%. Wouldn't this be a safety feature if the sensor does fail...?

Would doing this limit your throttle to 71% or 75% in a full pitch climbout? Or does the governor see the original 100% full throttle calibration?

Thanks again.

The idea of having a normal curve is to be able to switch into normal and land the heli if for instance the sensor fails. If you have a flat 71% normal curve you have no way to land except hitting hold and auto'ing in.

Bob

[huskynox]

The idea of having a normal curve is to be able to switch into normal and land the heli if for instance the sensor fails. If you have a flat 71% normal curve you have no way to land except hitting hold and auto'ing in.

Bob

Hi Bob,

I think maybe I was misunderstood. I'm not saying running a flat curve of 71% in "normal" mode. I was saying running a flat 71% curve in "ST1" and/or "ST2".

I guess my question is, would the rev limiter still allow the throttle servo to go to 100% under a full pitch load, but still not go over 71% if the sensor fails.

Thanks

[Finless]

Per the manual.... If the throttle curve is at least 50 over the RPM limit setting then it is always on the rev limiter.... So yes you could do that for a margin of safety and instead of running 100% flat run say 80%. Good point!
I went with what the manual explained and it says:

"During initial flights, a slightly elevated throttle curve that will give a head speed of approx. 50 rpm above the target RPM is recommended. After operation is verified, some pilots use a 100% throttle curve in stunt mode and allow the Rev Limiter to fully regulate the engine RPM. Remember that flipping into normal mode and low throttle will deactivate the limiter should an issue occur."

Bob

[WillJames]

S-W-E-E-T Vids Bob.

This is the perfect RX for me, I fly the X9303!!

Yea Baby!!

[warpspeed]

Dangit, I need a Finless fix, but everytime I click the linky all I get is "Cannot make directory email systems adminsitrator"

Whazzat mean?

[rexingtheair]

Dangit, I need a Finless fix, but everytime I click the linky all I get is "Cannot make directory email systems adminsitrator"

Whazzat mean?

same here- help

[ShinOBIWAN]

Bob is there any chance you could do a quick video for setting the revlimit functionality on the DX7 radio?

I think that's what most people, including myself, will be using with this new receiver. I'm a bit of technical Luddite and would really appreciate any input you have.

[warpspeed]

Nevermind, working now.

Bob, one question. What the heck is the glow plug for in this pic?

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/scootermonkey/SPMAR7100-GAL4.jpg

[ShinOBIWAN]

Bob, one question. What the heck is the glow plug for in this pic?


Its a remote glow adaptor to save taking your canopy off when starting.

[warpspeed]

Thanks Shin!
Sorry for the hijack guys-thought it was part of the new rx setup.

Carry on....

[gr8t1dini]

You forgot to mention, If you botch an auto and flick out of hold your limiter will go full bore to get the head speed up. Your gyro won't have time to react fast enough and that could make for a very interesting recovery.

[Finless]

You forgot to mention, If you botch an auto and flick out of hold your limiter will go full bore to get the head speed up. Your gyro won't have time to react fast enough and that could make for a very interesting recovery.

This is true with ANY heli and coming out of hold in idle up! I always go into normal after I hit hold... So doesnt matter and this fact has nothing to do with a gov or limiter.

Warp speed that is a remote glow driver and is not related at all to the 7100R. The picture makes it look like it is but it is simply tie wrapped to the rev limiter wires.

I no longer have a DX7 so cant do a vid on it... Sorry ShinOBIWAN but it WONT be hard to figure out. Use GEAR channel and see my custom mix video for getting it tied to the condition switch. That is in my Trex600N videos with the Curtis ATG. Gyro will have to be on AUX2 and you will have to use travel adjust.

Bob

[mlucia]

Bob is there any chance you could do a quick video for setting the revlimit functionality on the DX7 radio?

I think that's what most people, including myself, will be using with this new receiver. I'm a bit of technical Luddite and would really appreciate any input you have.

MA has a good write up under radio tips for the DX7 on the site:

http://www.modelavionics.com/JR7202SpektrumDX7.asp

I am surprised more people do not use the rev max. It truly is simple and very effective. I set mine up on aux 2 and use the ATV to adjust.

Also: http://www.modelavionics.com/revmax.asp
http://www.modelavionics.com/revmax/revmax_instructions.doc

[warpspeed]

Ok, just got thru all 4 vids and once again you did an awesome job of making a complicated (to me) subject simple. Thanks Taco Meister! You really should get paid for these!

BTW, mlucia's links (thank you!) really do spell it out in simple terms so they'll come in handy for us DX7 users.

[CNCjunkie]

Bob, just a thought and since no one has asked the question.

Will the AR7100R work on a gasser??? If the sensor can be set up to detect the crank that is...

[Finless]

My understanding but please I have not confirmed this yet..... is that a Model Avionics magnet sensor will also work with the AR7100... I am going to get a REAL answer to this at some point but this is what I have heard so if you cant use the crank sensor it appears you might be able to use a Revmax/TJPro sensor....

Bob