Armortek

Hi,

I have an early Armotek Tiger 1. I have had problems with the sound going on and off at will, once started, the engine sound will go through its shutdown sequence and then seconds later go through its start-up sequence. The machine gun will also fire at will. So I took a trip down to Armortek to see Mark. He quickly viewed the aerail system and suggested that this was my problem. He very kindly gave me an external aerial and fitted a length of aerail wire from the aerial to the receiver. The problem didnot re-occur on the test run. However having got the tank home, the problem re-occurred and is repeatable.

The transmitter is a Futaba T6EXA 40mHz, the receiver is Futaba R136F 40mHz. The external aerail located on the deck is 330mm in length from the tip to connector (inside the tank), the added length of aerail wire is 1030mm, which goes from the base of the external aerail to a spade connector, then 100mm of aerail wire into the reciever, giving a total length of aerail wire of 1130mm from the base of the external aerail to the receiver.

The sound is on channel 6, so you turn the knob on the top right hand side of the transmitter clockwise to operate the sound. I run the engine sound just before the machine gun comes in (as suggested by Mark).

Tonight I changed the sound from channel 6 to channel 1, but the fault was still there.

Has anyone else experienced similar sound problems. Can anyone confirm the overall length of aerail wire is correct for my set-up.

Many thanks

Ian

Hi Ian

I have also experienced the same problems. Some days the sound works well other days it is intermittant. Like you I have tried extending the length of ariel but to no avail. I also found that when the batteries ran low then the sound module would give off a wining sound for no apparant reason.
I have stopped using the sound system and simply run the tank with no sound.

The radio gear that I use is the same as yours.
Sorry I can't offer any useful advice.

Colin

Hi Ian

I had the same problem as well.It's well worth saving up and getting the benedini tbs5 unit,I believe Mark&Gill use these units now in the latest sound system?

All the best


Marc

Not knowing the sound kit firsthand I'd be speculating, but if I were speculating then I'd be checking for either a power supply issue or an intermittent short - maybe something as minor as moisture on a PC board, etc.

Or if all else checks OK, there should be some way to diagnose the board and go over it step by step. Maybe have the manufacturer double check the board for you?

To me it does not sound like a command signal issue related to the antenna otherwise you would likely have no command of the function at all, and other components would have gone buggy.

Some mindless chatter...

Ian,

The basic rule with the reciever aerial is to keep the lenght the same if you add the external aerial. So if your external aerial is 330mm then that is what I would cut off the receiver aerial. Mkae sure you have a good connection between the receiver aerial and external aerial and that there is no short between the aerial and the body of the tank. Finally make sure that the reciever aerail is not run along side any power cables.

The comments about moisture are very relevant. Its been so wet and generally damp lately that moisture could be on the sound board or between the tank body and external aerial. If you can bring the tank in the warm and dry then strip off the necessary covers and make sure everything is dry, then give it another go.