Scanners

Here are the 2 scanners that the heli guys use:

The secone one is older and getting hard to get. The first one is what everyone is getting.

http://www.airpacmodels.com/twe/product_info.php?products_id=492&Twesid=5da93b0d9261c596d3b489c99a6ab2aa


http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=145761

In the May FLY RC Page 58 There is a Spectrum analyze witch is better than the one that we barrow from AMA. The cost is $79.95 That cheep for peace of mind.

Yes charlies this is the same one.

Yes charlies this is the same one.

I noticed that the article recommended both of these scanners the ax700 and the
Hobbico.

I've read other articles about the Hobbico that say with the antenna the range of interference is extended to 400 feet. Standing in the middle of our facility that would effectively cover the length of the runway. I wonder what the range of the other scanner is. It seems that these are intended to check interference from only signals transmitted from the immediate area. There are certain places on our field, typicallyat either end, where interference is suspected of taking place. Will either one or both of these scanners pick up outside interference? That is, will they pick up interference generated from a source outside our field.

The AMA scanner (after reading the accompanying magazine article), the AX700 (featured in Fly R/C) and the Hobbico scanner all seem to be concerned with only signals generated from the flight line and immediate area like transmitter impound for instance.

Anyone have more info about range on any of these?

Joe

Joe, Dad tells me you had indicated to him about a few guys flying helis near the field or in the area? Is this correct? Can they be hitting our planes? Can we be hitting their birds?

I was on heli locater and it showed some heli guys in the area. Also I know some guys that used to live in the area that had planes / helis that were only one road over. And yes, they could be hitting us and we them.

I know of about 5 guys over ther years that had planes / helis with in 3 miles of the field, but never wanted to join a club or ama.

Should we try to contact them?

Everyone I knew that had something has sold them over the past 8 yrs, but I bet we have more in the area. As for the ones on heli locater, just have a general location but no address

The electrics that are available now along with a lot of folks trying their hand at electric helicopters has really caused any area to be a potentially uncontrolled and hostile environment. Many of these are on 27mhz

It looks like 2.4 ghz is going to be the thing sooner than expected. I have at least three new (built but not flown) aircraft that i will not be flying until we get a handle on what is going on at the field. The only other solution might be to go to spread spectrum. That's a pretty costly fix to do all at once.

Joe

Trailertrash wrote:Joe, Dad tells me you had indicated to him about a few guys flying helis near the field or in the area? Is this correct? Can they be hitting our planes? Can we be hitting their birds?

I got my info from Charles so, "What he said."

Joe

Well I scanned all the channel and all of them had something on them Between 1 and 2 db. Channel 11 had the most at 13 db. I walk the hold field and it was about the same. Going up the driveway it seam to be more and in Oakland it was the most. We drove to Amnada and there was no noise on all the channel but channel 11 about 4db. Also the scanner seam to be off on channel by one channel my radio is ch55 and it said ch56 Dan radio was the same and my other radio was too. I will do this test on saturday again just to see if it's the same.

Joe,

You will need to contact MKS about the scanner. All the heli vendors carry the scanner, but not sure if they have a dist or not. May have to deal direct with them.

I'l lcheck on it tomorrow.

Thanks,
Joe

Just seen 600+ pilots at Joe Nall, and only about 18 on 72mhz And not one radio problem.

Seen a photo of the inpound add looked like even less then that.

Be interesting to see how many 2.4 radios show up at our next 2 events.

Looks like 2.4 is the way to go

I think you will be surprised at how fast the transition will take place. I have been selling almost exclusively 2.4 radios for the last couple of months. The only ones buying 72mhz right now are entry level pilots and even most of them want the 2.4 that know about them.

Talked with Bob Brown (AMA Dist. III VP) after returning the scanner and he said even he has made the transition for the most part. He has a Spectrum, a JR, and a Futaba system. He has had no problems with any of them

Joe

We are going to put the Laser on 2.4 when it takes flight, and then start to switch over the large gas birds first. I hope to be 2.4 by the start of 09 and have JR switched over by Aug 09


Except for the Trainer we only run PCM, so some of the small stuff may stay on 72 a little longer.

2.4 works out much better for me here at the store because I don't have to worry about having a crystal on the right channel. Woo! Hoo!

I know,

We both now have Synthesized TX modules now, and we are having to get used to checking to see what ch we are on. Good thing most everything is on 35 / 36, We can set JR's up on 35 and mine on 36.

Ok so you guys going 2.4.........wanna sell your 72 rxs? I'll buy 'em. Futaba or Hi Tec.

I'm gonna have to sell more than that to be able to afford the switch. [b]

Joe

You will have to switch to JR

You never know!!

Receivers are cheaper and Spectrum and JR are compatible.

Futaba discontinued their 6 channel Rx that comes with the 6ex and now you have to buy the 8 channel at $99 a pop.

I've flown the "F" radios for thirty three years and switching isn't out of the question. I'm not jumping into anything right away though.

Joe

Any problems reported over the weekend???

I only saw two planes go in not from radios. Dale lost his trainer didn't know witch way it was going. and Dan the man flame out on take off. No radio problems for say I had a little with the laser and it's motor but we got it fixes.