DX8(gen 1) challenge in using new Forward Programming RX's

[Skywagon]

My faithful DX8's continue to be my preferred TX for fixed wing work.
It worked well in the setups needed with Rx's like the AR636 Horizon units that had SAFE and AS3X modes that one could select if desired.
Now the new generation of similar RX's like the AR637 use "Forward programming" for setting the same options.
Is there a work around for using these new RX's that allows one to continue to use a DX8 and still allows a method for selection of the Safe and AS3X options.?? Thx for the Tips and Ideas from the group....

[Keyrigger]

I have heard that if you program the receivers (no guarantee) with a friend's radio, you can still bind and use it but the transmitter is past its last legs for being able to use the new tech. At some point, you will inevitably have to retire it. Take care.

Don

[flightengr]

That is correct. You don't need to have a transmitter that's capable of Forward Programming to fly the plane; you only need it to configure the receiver.

If you can set it up with another transmitter, then all will be well with your DX8 to fly it as long as you can set the wing type, tail type, and control directions the same as you do on the transmitter that did the setup. These new receivers are different in that they expect you to set up the transmitter to fly the plane correctly first, and then the receiver "learns" those things about the plane when you do the Forward Programming. The receiver expects the transmitter to have the correct settings, unlike the AR636 where you put a a simple 1 Ail setup with all directions set to normal in the transmitter.

Horizon has no plans to update Spektrum Programmer to allow you to edit settings on the AR637 family. You can now export models from the receiver to a file, and also load a model from a file, but you can't edit the file using Spektrum Programmer. And again, that caveat about the transmitter setup will still apply. They only expect you to load models that you created and then exported, or else apply an HH model setup to replace a receiver from a BNF plane.

[Skywagon]

Thanks KeyRigger and Flightengr for good suggestions.
I will give that a try and respond when I get the opportunity to use the newer RX.