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[Colin Bishop]

I see from the latest MMI that there is to be a "voluntary ban" on the use of non CE 20-30Khz spaced RC equipment from 31st December 2006. Does this mean I'm not supposed to use my old Futaba M series gear and if so just how dangerous will it be if I disregard the ban? I'm sure that lots of us are still using old kit alongside more modern equipment. Is there any way to uprate the old gear to make it more compliant?

[malcolmfrary]

Voluntary means just that.  Good sense and good manners dictates that if a group of people are sailing in the sme area, that they make each other aware of such things.  It is just the same with the RTS toys with non-standard sets.
Probably the most economical way to become up to date is to mend it with a new one.  If you need to buy new gear, it should be to the current standard.
One of these days I will probably have to start buying 40meg gear.

[roycv]

Hi Colin, I have been in contact with the author of the article in MMI. as I was not that happy with what was written.
 The 20 - 30 kHz spacing of the crystal  'splits' fits in with the new narrow band 10 kHz spacing and they will continue to be used.  There is the possibility that 11 more crystal frequencies will be available.  That is manufacturers will make crystals to these frequencies.  These extra frequency slots fit in between the existing solid and split crystal frequencies.
BUT the RC gear needs to be Narrow Band equipment to take advantage of the extra slots.
The problem is not the crystal spacing but the old RC  equipment  has a wider bandwidth around 20 kHz
This means that if a new crystal just 10kHz spaced away from what ever you are using then the old RC gear would respond to that as well.  Hence the need to use a Narrow Bandwidth radio gear to take advantage of the extra crystals.

The situation as I see it is that most boaters have a spare crystal to use and if your old gear (pre 2000) has a problem with a new adjacent frequency then you change crystals and move away from the other user.
I too have some FM 27 MHz Futaba M series 6 ch. which I am loathe to stop using!
I can understand where the UK radio control council are coming from and my interpretation is that if me and my RC equip become a problem I will stop using them.  Most of my RC stuff is on 40 MHz anyway. BUT that M series RC gear is Classic in its design and feel and I would hate to think I can no longer use it.

The practical side is simple.
There is no problem until the new crystals become available.
ALL OF YOUR OLD CRYSTALS ARE O.K.
THERE ARE NO 25 kHz spaced crystals as referred to in MMI article.  They are all to the 20 kHz- 30 kHz spacing.
The old RC gear eventually stops working and no one is there to fix it so it falls by the way side.
If your old gear is having problems with adjacent channel use then it is up to you to move crystal frequency or time to bin it and buy new, which for 2 Ch. sets is very cheap.
There is a new flag system for Narrow Band use on 27 MHz.  As there are no new crystals it is not in use.

I did write a short article for MMI in March 2002 which also covered the flag system and I think you will find is easier to understand than the recent ones in MMI.  But what do I know?
regards to all Roy

[roycv]

Hi again, it is not practical to alter older 20 KHz bandwidth transmitters and receivers to 10 kHz bandwidth.
regards Roy

[Colin Bishop]

Thanks Roy, that seems to explain things pretty well and I agree with you that the onus should be on users of the old kit not to cause problems unnecessarily.

Also, I wonder who would be buying new 27meg gear now when most people would go for 40meg or even some of the newer stuff coming onto the market?

[cbr900]

Colin,

Do you have to have your radios check for alignment frequency wise every year....


Roy

[Daryl]

I think it would be a good idea if the editors of MMi and MB send all articles for refereeing before publication. Therefore most errors or miss-leading items can be filtered. This is standard practise in the scientific world.

Daryl