No one else weighing in on the using the 401 with JR digital servos?

[tyrick69]

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts about this statement on the Futaba website about using the 401 with JR digital servos. "This will not work with the JR Digital Servos. These have a different pulse."
I know the 401 is a popular combo with the 3400 and the 3500 and was wondering what everyone else thinks about this? Should we be running our 401's in analog mode. Mine seems to be working fine in digital mode with the 3500 but I don't want to fry my servo. I've ssen a few threads about this today but no one is really saying much. JR's website is typically devoid of anything resembling technical information and the statement from Futaba doesn't really give much detail. I don't even wanna fly until I find out a little more about this.


http://www.gpdealera.com/cgi-bin/wga...pgm?I=FUTM0807

[350banshee]

I have been running a DS3400G with my 401 in digital mode for about a year and a half with no problems at all. No noticable heating, glitches, anything.. has been rock steady the whole time.

[Rotorjunkie]

Both of my flying buddies and myself are all using Futaba 401's with JR 3400G servos in digital mode and haven't had any issues to date.

I think Futaba is just trying to BS people into buying their tail servos. The reason I say this is that Futaba does not publish or advertise using a different pulse on any of their 401 compatible servos, unlike the S9251 which they clearly state will ONLY work with the GY601 and GY611. Another one that comes to mind is the Logictech/Hitec LTS-3100G/HSG-5083MG which also states that it will ONLY work with the 2100T/HG-5000 gyros because of a different signaling pulse. Yet I cannot find a single Futaba servo that claims to ONLY work with the 401 which leads me to believe that it does not utilize any non-standard signaling.

My $.02

[uneverno]

I just picked up a Spartan gyro. It can operate with various servos/pulse rates. What's listed in the manual states that the Futaba and JR servos operate at the same pulse rate(1520 uSec) and Hz capability (333).

Sounds like a sales ploy. I've had no troubles with my 401/3400 combo.

Incidentally, I bought the Spartan 'cuz I like techno-bling, not 'cuz the 401 doesn't work.

[tyrick69]

Thanks for the replies guys. I've been searching for info on this all day and hearing this definately eases my mind a little bit.

[benzee1]

FYI, I have a buddy in the b400 forum that runs both of his b400 with 401 gyro, 285 servos, a 9265 on one tail, a 3200g on the other. I guess they DO work fine together.

[trickybit]

Originally Posted by 350banshee

I have been running a DS3400G with my 401 in digital mode for about a year and a half with no problems at all. No noticable heating, glitches, anything.. has been rock steady the whole time.

Me too. I'm no pro, but it's held fine.

[Rotorjunkie]

I wrote Futaba an email yesterday asking them about the statement of JR incompatibility with the GY-401 due to a different pulse rate and this is their reply:

"JR may be changing or have changed their servos to be more compatible with other manufacturers. However, Futaba only guarantees that their equipment will work with other Futaba equipment. If you use another manufacturers equipment it may or may not work.

Sincerely,
John G.- PS9004
Product Support Lead Technician
Futaba Programming Technician
Great Planes Model Distributors"

So they don't actually have any specific technical reasons for stating incompatibility.

[lepton ex123]

I've been using my 3500 with a 401 since I got my 450 with no problems.
They maybe just covering themselves.

[pwoodyp]

Originally Posted by Rotorjunkie

I wrote Futaba an email yesterday asking them about the statement of JR incompatibility with the GY-401 due to a different pulse rate and this is their reply:<snip>

Good to see someone actually challenging Futaba on their statement.

Looking at the document in question it's last update was just about 2 years ago so draw
your own conclusions with that.

It would be interesting, send an email to JR asking them the same question.

[benzee1]

I think I'll go ahead and buy the dx7 with 285s!

[codeguy9]

Works GREAT! DO IT!

[Old Crashman]

I have both DS3400 & DS3500 behind 401's. They work great, one of the few things I havent had to mess with. I have had a problem with the Futaba servo that came with the gyro as a set. I have also gone through six DS285's (just quit working) in a short time. I think these things are posessed!