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[paddysdad]

HI everyone.Can someone help me with information on Servos,speed controlers and recievers.I have looked at various web sites but i am a bit lost.Will any make of Servos,Speed controlers and Recievers connect with each other? and can you use any type of transmitter.All i have at the moment is a 12v mfa torpedo 500 motor.Sorry its such a basic question.Regards Paddysdad 

[Roger in France]

As far as I am aware, paddysdad, the only problems you face are the plugs and sockets on the leads as there are some variation in the style of connection used.

Let us know what you have or what you are thinking of getting and we can advise you better.

There are several electronic buffs on here who can give good advice. However, if you are in the market for new gear and you want to discuss compatability I would recommend you conact ACTION Electronice (see the Mayhem Trader Directory) the proprietor of that company appears frequently in the Forum as "Full Leather Jacket" or "FLJ". His advice is freely available and he sells good gear, his diagrams of circuits and how to couple gear are second to none. He also offers a modest discount to Mayhem members.

Roger in France

[w3bby]

Here's a useful diagram of the 4 major servo connectors. All of the other manufacturers use one of these types
http://www.fatlion.com/sailplanes/servos.html

[John W E]

Hi there Paddysdad

I take it that you have not yet purchased your radio set - nor any of the extras which go with it - e.g. speed controller, switcher etc.

If you purchase say a Futaba radio set; you should get the transmitter, receiver and possibly 2-3 servos plus the batteries which go with the transmitter and the receiver.

So, there will be no fear of any mixup - of servo/servo wiring.   When you come to order your speed controller, say from FLJ, you just tell the gentleman that it is for a Futaba and he will set the wires in the plug up automatically.

As far as I am aware, on modern day 27 mghz and modern day 40 mghz sets, the wiring all follows the same standard set up.  Red wire in the centre of the plug which is positive, black to one side which is negative and white which is the signal - the only variation may be the colouring of the wiring.

The only time to worry about is if you have an old 40 mghz set which I have - its a Sanwa - and all the wiring in that is totally different to everyone else.

Basically, though, what I am saying is that all modern day radio sets are normally what is called PLUG IN AND GO 

aye
john e
bluebird

[DickyD]

Batteries are extra John.

But the rest is accurate.

Buy a 2 channel Futaba and you get a Tx, an Rx, two servos and a battery holder for the Rx.

[John W E]

Dicky, you had me worried there - I didnt think you could still purchase radio gear complete with the batteries and chargers, but, after a quick search on the web - I see you can purchase complete set...see link....pretty reasonable as well - even the 2.4s



http://www.modelmania.co.uk/acatalog/Futaba.html

[AlisterL]

Just for the sake of clarity, if you are mixing and matching transmitter and receiver brands you WILL need to check that they work and they will also need to be on the same frequency and in the same frequency band - so a 27MHz tx will not talk to a 40MHz receiver and then the 27MHz tx and rx need to be on the same frequency in the 27MHz band. My 27MHz gear is on 27.255MHz for example. This is typically set using crystals that plug in, but some newer sets "synthesize" this via the processor in the tx and rx.

I have mixed 29Mhz Futaba 2 and 4 channel equipment without a problem, but I have not tried mixing Futaba and Acoms or JR or HiTec etc.
There are other receivers that can be bought as well - again you will need specifically to check compatibility with these and whatever transmitter you have.

Forgive me PaddysDad, if I have covered stuff you already know.

Alister...

[Peterm]

I do not profess to be an expert, but from experience I do know that Hitec and Futaba receivers and crystals are not compatable, so as previously stated, try to use radio equipment all of the same manufacturer.   Pete M

[malcolmfrary]

The connectors these days all use the same spacing, and most are in the same order, the difference is mostly in the plastic moulding as each maker wants you to stick with just his product line, so they all have a different keyway.  However, we are modellers,and most of us have access to knives and sandpaper.
Electrically, they are generally fully compatible nowadays as anybody stepping out of line has either gone out of business or seen the light.
27MHz crystals are usually colour coded to indicate channel, but also carry numbers indicating frequency.  The transmitter crystal indicates the frequency transmitted.  The way the receiver works requires that its crystal be offset by usually 455KHz, so the number will be different.  This is equally true for 40MHz, but the channels are designated by number, and there is the added complication that double conversion receivers have a yet different offset.