Given that prices of 2.4 GHz import radio systems are nearing the "disposable" range, anyone have experience using these in a rocket glider? The cheap micro heli intended servos are certainly small enough, and since those helis fly at an ounce or two total, the radio parts are well within rocket mass ranges.

Unfortunately the lowest price range systems don't do flaperon mixing, though one with a more expensive transmitter (and still dirt-cheap flight components) would. Or gliders with substantial dihedral could fly on rudder/elevator.

Yes...

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Scott

NAR #32070

Which is that? The linear servos make me think mCX/Vapor/Ember guts?

Are you flying with the "toy" transmitter or a full power spektrum tx?

If you are just getting started in R/c, buy the most expensive transmitter you can afford. Trust me, you will grow into it. You can cut costs everywhere else but not on the transmitter.

Regards,

FlyBack

Most models don't need those features, so the volume deals are to be had on the basic 4 channel sets (in my youth), or more lately of the included-with-airframe variety.

To get the value from a fancier TX for cheap models, you have to be able to buy cheap compatible RX's (or whole compatible systems and discard the TX).

I'd like to put the at-risk components, ie the flight pack, in the $30 range - which I think is do-able with today's dirt cheap import gear, just a question of choosing which.

The rc24 open source project based on the jennic modules looks interesting... potential for telemetry back down too. And rx-tx distance measurement for model recovery.

Vapor brick, DX6i radio .

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Scott

NAR #32070

Cool. Vapor bricks aren't exactly cheap though, being "name brand"... I'm thinking more along the lines of direct import stuff - hobby king, or even the spare walkera heli rx and servos I picked up.

I think we all would like a $30 flight pack for R/c rocket gliders. You have identified the problem. Receiver compatibility. All of the different 2.4ghz brands use their own protocols.

None of them are compatible.

For the Walkera gear you have, you would need a transmitter like the WK-1001 or the WK-2801Pro. The cheap "disposable" transmitters that come with the helicopters only have a 10mw output. For full range you need at least 100mw. So, it's not about the number of channels or how fancy ... it's all about the POWER OUTPUT.

There is a reason why Spektrum is so popular for indoor and micro aircraft (and gliders). They have the widest selection of light weight 2.4ghz receivers and their transmitters are full range (more than 100mw power output).

So, even if you do find a cheap, light weight receiver you are still stuck buying a full range transmitter to use with it. That being the case, you may as well get one that has some useful features... like flaperons or elevon mixing.

Regards,

FlyBack

At the moment, no, you can't get a cheap DSM2 receiver -

But you can get a cheap full power 2.4 GHz import set

Or you can get a module to retrofit to an existing TX and change it to one of the import 2.4 GHz systems. Just looking at a TX module and receiver bundled for $29, additional receivers for $19.

My question was more if anyone had used one of these cheap (assan, corona, hobby king, etc) systems in a rocket glider, with equally cheap servos.

Hmm, so a corona 4ch 72 mhz RX is $15-$20, and micro servos are to be had for $5, so with a very cheap battery solution the $30 flight pack is feasable.