Question about RC systems

[DanielOijerholm]

Hi everyone!

I am in the progress of building my Tiger 131 and have started to look at RC-systems. Unfortunately the Futaba T7C has been discontinued according to the local retailer. I am considering a Futaba T8J (similar price as T7C but with 8 channels), but before I order it I would like to ask if anyone has used that system with an armortek tank and can confirm it is compatible? I am new to the RC world so reading the manual didn't help in this case. I could go for the T6J but I would like to be able to elevate the gun with a proportional channel (I'm guessing this means you can use one direction on one of the sticks to control gun elevation, is this correct?). My hope is to be able to use one stick for driving and one stick for turret control and the switches for gun/mg effects and start stop.

Would appreciate any advice and information I can get.

Best wishes
Daniel

[John Heath]

With my Tiger build I decided to go with one of rctanksaustralia Tank Commander radios. The software in the radio has been altered to give proper tank control functions and all sticks are sprung. They do two versions of the radio system.

http://rctanksaustralia.com/shop/index. ... cts_id=237

http://rctanksaustralia.com/shop/index. ... cts_id=254

John

[Mikael Hörner]

Hi!

The only transmission protocol which works with the Armortek controllers is the FASST-system. The Futaba T8J uses the S-fhss protocol and that won´t work at all. Picture a runaway tank...

You could try the Futaba T14SG, which can be used in FASST-mode, Im just not sure that that the Armortek controllers work with the supplied receiver (FASSTest), but maybe someone else have triet that. I have a nice dealer in Sweden that loaned me a couple of different transmitters to try out (http://www.minicars.se)in my tank, try talking to them!

/Mikael

[Dennis Jones]

Hi Daniel.

I would go for Spektrum DX8 or DX9, 8 or 9 channel with all the options you will require. I have been using one for years now and drive 6 models from one tx. You get failsafe on all channels and the system is compatible with Amortek electronics.

If you go to the Centurion postings under Paul Martin's post you will see the settings I advised him to use on his DX8. Any questions let me know.

Dennis.

[DanielOijerholm]

Hi and thanks for all the information and tips.

I will check out the links and controllers.

Best wishes,
Daniel

[Martin Smith]

Hi Daniel,
I also have the Tiger 131, with the full Motion Pack from Armortek. After getting some advice from Gill and Mark, I purchased a Spektrum DX7.
I also read the post Dennis is refering to, which worked perfectly to control my Tank with One Stick (right) throttle and turning (Thanks Dennis ).
My left stick is used for Turret turn and Gun Barrel up and down.
The Sounds and Recoil are all done by one of the 3 way switch's.
My Tank is up and running and everything is working perfectly with the DX7.

Im sure the DX8 and DX9 have higher spec's then the DX7, so this is just another option.

Cheers, Martin

[Tim Page]

Hi Daniel, Ive got a Spektrum DX7s for use with my Panther G.
The DX7s is fine, but i wish i had spent the extra to get the DX8 as that extra channel will come in handy when you want to use an aux control to activate lights or fans or smoke unit.

Cheers
Tim

[Dennis Jones]

The other reason I use the DX8 is because on most of my models I open and close hatches and doors etc and you have the ability on the DX8 not only to set travel and end points but also the speed of the servo on that particular channel. Also with Spektrum the binding to each model's receiver is individual to that particular model.

Dennis.

[DanielOijerholm]

Hi guys!

After reading all your replies and some browsing and reviews I am more and more leaning towards a spectrum. And especially after reading Dennis post about the pro's with the extra channels I am considering a DX8 or or above.
After looking on Spectrums homepage I found The Spectrum DX10t (or DX18t since it seems to cost the same here in Sweden and DX10t might be discontinued) to be of interest and if I understand the information correctly it supports the same modulation as the DX9 and should therefore be compatible with the Armortek motion kit. Is this a reasonable conclusion?
DX10t uses DSM2/DSMX modulation just as DX9, DX18t uses DSMX only.

My motion and sound kits just arrived today (will buy the recoil and smoker later). I have a few Ideas for future upgrades/modifications, once I have finished the vanilla build, that could use some extra channels.

Once again thanks for all your help feedback.


Best regards,
Daniel

[Christoffer Ahlfors]

I am using one of these: http://www.brixlelektronik.de
Very happy with it. There is practically no limit on the number of channels - very handy if you like animation like I do. I think I am using 24 right now with still some things left to motorize. I wish I remember what they are all for...

If you come to the family day at the Arsenalen tank museum in May, I will show you.

Cheers

[Tim Page]

Hi all, I have been struggling with the DX7s that I have in my Panther.
The failsafe does not stop the tank once the TX is turned off.

I am running mode 2, and have the right stick operating Forward & Reverse and is centre sprung.
The tank works fine and has been reliable so far.
I saw that a Spektrum failsafe topic had been posted so thought it was worth checking.
I have just spent an hour this afternoon re-binding and testing and have finaly managed to get the tank to stop once the TX is turned off.
My Spektrum AR8000 rx has 3 different failsafe modes which added a bit of confusion.

Anyway, for my setup i had to use the Preset Failsafe.

This involded inserting the binding plug to RX.
Turn on tank & ensure RX is flashing.
Remove Binding plug.
Set TX sticks to failsafe positions.
Turn on TX in Binding mode.
Wait 15 secs to ensure connection.

I then tested the tank by moving it forward / back slowly & turn off the TX.
The tank stopped in aprox 1 second.

I hope this helps.

Cheers
Tim

[Stephen White]

Tim, you must be a mind reader! Mark and I were discussing this today at Bovington.There are differences between some of the Spektrum range and we agreed to extend the topic to deal with both setting up the system for one stick driving and setting up the fail safe. The Spektrum standard fail safe works on the throttle channel, which is on the left stick in Mode 2, so the Preset Failsafe is the right mode for our setup. I've done a draft for the setup process and your post re the Failsafe is perfect to add. Glad you got it to work. I'll put it on in the next couple of days. We may need to add any differences for Dx6, 8 and 9 if there are any.

Thanks.

Stephen

[Dennis Jones]

There are a lot of differences between DX6 and DX8 the DX8 definitely has failsafe on all channels. When you set it up you use the first option not the option that says last operation failsafe.

DJ.

[DanielOijerholm]

Hi.
I finally decided on the DX9 Black edition. I got it a while ago now and had a problem with my failsafe. After a few retries I managed to get my preset failsafe to work as well (The transmitter kept saying failed to bind). The tank now stops when I turn the transmitter off.
Dennis instruction on how to set up one stick driving made setting up the transmitter quick and easy.

Christoffer, I will see if I can get to arsenalen, would be nice to meet some of the other builders in Sweden.

Cheers

[Tim Page]

Hi all, Ive just upgraded my DX7s to a DX9 and have had the 'Failed to Bind' issue.
This is generally because you are too close to the tank.
I found that standing a few feet away stopped this from occurring.

Tim