AR7000 Not Working Without Satellite???

[bronicabill]

This is a weird one for me! My AR7000 Rx after being bound to my DX8 Tx will not function without the satellite receiver connected also! It just sits with its light on doing nothing until I attach the satellite receiver, then the servos start normally, but only then AFTER I've turned the radio off and back on!

It gives the distinct impression that the main receiver is dead, and the functioning servos are getting their commands through the satellite Rx only. Does that sound like a reasonable conclusion? SHOULD the AR7000 function normally without a sat Rx attached?

I'm thinking I need to send the AR7000 to Horizon Hobby for a check-up!

[ragge1]

you need the sat for it to work

[Inverse]

Concurred.

[flynot2000]

That's odd, as I have the 6 channel version that came with sat, and it works w or w/o sat, so why would the 7channel be different.

[bronicabill]

That's what I'd like to know! I flew this receiver for several years on a T-Rex 450 Sport without using a sat and it worked just fine! Gut feeling tells me the antenna or RF section of the Rx has quit, and the only way it works is by using the antenna and RF section of the satellite receiver instead.

[bronicabill]

Just downloaded the manual from the Spektrum site and it does NOT specify the satellite receiver being REQUIRED to operate! Since I've been flying this receiver for quite a while on my 450 without one, my only conclusion is the internal receiver has failed and only the sat is working. Time to ship it to HH for repair...

[zeb29]

Well the other posters are correct; the AR7000 is defined as a "Full Range" rx and it's not supposed to work without it's satellite....

While there are a few guys who claim the AR6200 will work without a satellite, it's not supposed to work without one either.

Neither my AR6200 or my AR7000's will work without a satellite.

[flynot2000]

Originally Posted by zeb29

Well the other posters are correct; the AR7000 is defined as a "Full Range" rx and it's not supposed to work without it's satellite....

While there are a few guys who claim the AR6200 will work without a satellite, it's not supposed to work without one either.

Neither my AR6200 or my AR7000's will work without a satellite.

That's a bs statement, and if true, the receivers are malfunctioning. The satellites serve to add more signal path diversity, and as stated many a times, 450 and smaller birds don't require that diversity. I have been using with or w/o the satellites for several years. If the base doesn't work without a sat connected, then the receiver in the base doesn't work, plain and simple.

[aerocal]

This is not BS despite what you may think.HH has stated that although some Rxs may work without a remote they are not designed to do this.Most of the time they will not initialize without one connected.They are only designed to continue to operate if the connection becomes severed after initialization while inflight.They recommend to not use a sat equipped Rx without one.There are Rxs specifically designed to operate without a sat/remote.This is what you should be using in Fly-By models or anything you think may not need the path diversity of 2 Rxs.

This is how it was explained to me.

[flynot2000]

Where is the HH source for this note, I think it is urban legend to explain away performance. Just call me a naysayer!

[Mr Nice Guy]

My 7000 also does not work withot a sat plugged in. This is also true of my buddies 7000. I have talked to some very knowledgeable people and they have confirmed sat is needed to work properly. This has been my experience.

[flynot2000]

Ok, I concede to the masses, it must be true.

[bronicabill]

There's so much "he said... she said" going on here I think I'll just go straight to HH for an answer. Whatever their techs tell me is what I'll go by.

[9sec240]

Stuff like this intrigues me. I just tested two AR7000s. Neither would work with the sat disconnected. Both would show a solid light like the were linked to the TX but neither would output a signal. I even tried to bind one without the sat attached and it did bind but still would not output a signal.

[bronicabill]

Originally Posted by 9sec240

Stuff like this intrigues me. I just tested two AR7000s. Neither would work with the sat disconnected. <<snip>>

Okay, you just tested two known-good AR7000s and they both exhibited the same characteristics I described if the sat was disconnected? I would still like to hear what Horizon Hobby says about it, but that sounds like a valid test that I can believe! (No offense intended to anyone else who posted here, but most all responses were either hearsay or a single unit being tested.)

Thanks '9sec240', this is the kind of answer I was looking for!

[mkdive]

I have three AR7000s ( none will bind or work without a sat plugged in).








For whatever it's worth.

[AnTi Taco]

That is normal that the rx will not work with out the sat...your ar7000 is fine that's just how they are

[Diviner]

I called HH this summer about binding issues with the ar7000 and they said I had to have a sat plugged in. No hearsay. First person.

[bronicabill]

Thanks for all of the helpful responses... you answered my question way before HH ever did, and they didn't really even answer it!

The response from HH was something to the effect of "If your receiver came with a sat then you should use it." Well DUH! That's not what I asked though... I asked if it would FUNCTION withOUT a sat connected!

Oh well, it's been answered here now, so time to move on. Thanks again everyone!!!