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[richald]

Just seen this advertised in a couple of model boat Mags recently

Anybody got one or anybody got any comments ?

WFLY 6-Channel 2.4GHz Tx with WFR06S Rx (Mode 2)
Rx and Tx £45, Spare Rxs £15, 2-channel adapter plate £2 seems reasonable value

http://hobbyplastic.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=63_64_65&products_id=439

from Hobbyplastic - these people seem to be linked with the old MacGregor Radio Company - quote from the website....

While the name MacGregor Industries is familiar to many modellers
as a distributor of radio control products, it is less well known that there is a separate division that operates as
 a very successful plastic engineering company.

MacGregor Industries Ltd. (Plastics Division) is a supplier of machined plastic components, with a diverse
customer base across military, civil, aviation and medical engineering. As such we hold a vast stock of bulk
plastic products in sheet and rod form, a selection of which are now available to modellers and craft
enthusiasts via the Plastic Division's new web-site: www.hobbyplastic.co.uk

[dodgy geezer]

Just seen this advertised in a couple of model boat Mags recently

Anybody got one or anybody got any comments ?

The plastic case looks oddly similar to the 'Radiolink' sets imported by Giant Cod. It's different in small details, but all the design and moulding features look familiar - as if someone was told to redesign the case a bit. http://www.giantcod.co.uk/gianitcod-24ghz-4channel-mode2-transmitter-p-403779.html is a (rather poor) picture of the Radiolink.

I suspect that the insides are very similar to the Radiolink, and that this is an example of re-badging....

[richald]

hmm.. I'm inclined to agree with your comments, but there are enough
differences to suggest that they aren't 100% copies...

Receivers...




Transmitters...




It all depends whether its worth forking out the extra for the prettier Tx front
and the Rx with the LED and the Binding button on the top of the case !....

I've just noticed that the WFLY Tx is different in that it has a potentiometer
and switch brought out onto the top of the case. 

[dodgy geezer]

hmm.. I'm inclined to agree with your comments, but there are enough
differences to suggest that they aren't 100% copies...

No, they are not precise copies - there are detail differences at all points. but there is such a broad similarity that I suspect that the plastic mouldings have been redesigned by a graduate trainee with instructions to 'make it like this one, but change the details'..... 

I've just noticed that the WFLY Tx is different in that it has a potentiometer
and switch brought out onto the top of the case. 

The main difference between the transmitters is that the on/off switch has been moved to the centre of the case in the WFLY. The cheap Radiolink has the internal mountings for the pot and switch you see on the the front of the WFLY, but they are only installed on the more expensive 6-channel version - http://www.giantcod.co.uk/giantcod-24ghz-6channel-mode2-digital-transmitter-plane-versio-p-403852.html

The cheap £25 Radiolink is sold as a 4-channel set, but it is actually a 6-channel set, with the switches for the two auxiliary channels not installed. There is a thread on the Giant Cod forum describing how to add these as an 'aftermarket modification'.

So there IS a valid difference - the cheap Radiolink comes as 4 channel while the Wyfly comes as 6 channel. Giant Cod also do the Radiolink as a 6-channel, with added LCD screen and programming, for £52 ....

[richald]

I give in, DodgyGeezer!

I've just ordered a radiolink set from Giantcod! - the price was just too good to resist!

I was thinking about ordering some extra receivers but they currently list the 6-channel
one as being out of stock.

They also list a 7-channel receiver at the same price, and, which actually looks a little tidier
they had stocks, but I wasn't 100% certain they were compatible - can anybody confirm this?

It just means that I will have order some when the VAT has gone up 

regards

[dodgy geezer]

I've just ordered a radiolink set from Giantcod! - the price was just too good to resist!

The price is low for a reason - trim is not impressive, no instructions, and quality control is probably poor. But they are a remarkable bargain - I have a couple myself. A review of that radio set can be found here: http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=27616.0 

Those two receivers at £9.02 ARE the same receiver - one has vertical sockets while the other is horizontal. They will both work with the Radiolink T4U.

[richald]

I was thrown by the Rx Part number R7EH rather than R6EH

Ah well, too late to change my order but I shall get some more receivers when I have
got the Tx, Rx and done a bit of quality control (i.e taken the back off and checked the wiring!)

[dodgy geezer]

Ah well, too late to change my order ...

I'll bet you can add to the order by emailing or phoning....
While you have the back off, take the opportunity to rotate the aerial to its correct position. It's usually so stiff it will probably snap if you try to rotate it normally!


I suspect the WFLY is a reasonable buy, given its extra features. From the spec I have drafted a feature comparison below:


WFLY                                                          T4U

4 basic Channels                                        4 basic Channels
2 switched channels                                   1 switched channel available if you do a little soldering and add a switch (see forum)
Servo Reverse                                           Servo Reverse
Flapperon/Vtail/Delta Mix                            Channel 1/2 Mix (undocumented switch on PCB)
Dual Rate Switch (affects all channels)         Dual/Variable rate switching on specific channels available if you do a little soldering and add a switch/pot (see forum)

[phillnjack]

but whats that about it being 6 channel when its realy 5 if you use a normal battery connection ?

I dont get what they mean, i can only see 6 places to put servo / battery connections.

so whats going on there ?

Im obviously missing something here, and amazed at these crazy low prices.

phill

[dodgy geezer]

but whats that about it being 6 channel when its realy 5 if you use a normal battery connection ?

I dont get what they mean, i can only see 6 places to put servo / battery connections.

so whats going on there ?

Each connector has three pins:

Power +
Power -
Signal

All the Power + pins are connected together, and all the Power - pins are connected together. (the signal pins are all separate...!) So, as well as providing output + and - power for each servo, those pins can also act as inputs. If you look at a battery connector, you will see that it is usually exactly the same as a servo connector, but without the signal pin. It just feeds power onto the + and - bus.

For a traditional receiver on, say, an i/c powered plane or a glider, you connected a battery pack to the receiver via a servo plug using a 'cut-down' servo connector. A separate 'power-in' socket was often provided. But nowadays, most receivers are used for electrically powered vehicles, and these have an ESC to control the motor. The ESC has a power input and a BEC already built in, so it makes sense to just plug it into one socket and let it power the receiver.

If you have a glider and want to use all six channels, you make up an airborne battery of +5v, and then connect it to a servo with a 'Y' lead, and plug both into the same socket....

[phillnjack]

Thanks for that info.
i didnt have a clue what was going on, but now youve explained it in simple terms , it all makes sense now.

can you also tell me what voltage new recievers use.

im still using 4 aa cells or 4 nimh.....can i up this to 5 nimh ?
or would that be putting too much into recivers ?

or are the new recievers different voltage.





phill

[dodgy geezer]

can you also tell me what voltage new recievers use.
l

Oooh - I'm not an electronics geek, but I haven't heard that logic voltages have changed. I suspect that receivers are still the same as they always were - needing around 5v. I suspect they can take between 4-6, but I wouldn't want to vary things much more. Remember that a fully charged NiMh can be around 1.45v, giving you over 7v if you use 5 cells....

Most Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs) include a 'Battery Eliminator Circuit' (BEC) which feeds a regulated 5v to the receiver regardless of how many cells are attached to the ESC. So it will be quite all right to use 12v or 20v under these circumstances - the receiver will still be only getting 5v.

If you do not have an electric motor there is no need to use more than 4 cells. Are you running an electric boat with no ESC? If so, you can buy BECs on their own - they are very cheap and just drop the voltage down to 5v for the receiver alone. Here is one from Giant Cod for under £4: http://www.giantcod.co.uk/strongpower-ubec-p-403655.html

[richald]

What I have got in mind (if it is feasible) is to take the two 'spare' pots off the joysticks and
mount them at the back of the top panel and fit with external control knobs so that I can
drive gun turrets/cranes etc - possibly using those servo 'stretcher' boards from ACTION

It will all depend on how the pots are fitted to the joystick assemblies.

Any thoughts?

[Lord Bungle]

on the subject of cheep radio sets I was in mainly planes and trains in chandler ford earler today, They have a basic 2.4ghz set for £39.99 on there shelves. they don't have it or much boat stuff at all listed on their site. http://www.mainlyplanesntrains.com/

[dodgy geezer]

It will all depend on how the pots are fitted to the joystick assemblies.

You will not be surprised to find that the pots are fitted cheaply. Held into a plastic frame with a hard-to-remove spring clip, and the frame is melted onto the trim pivot. Quite secure, but likely to be damaged by removal.

Why do you want to remove the stick pots? A new pot costs a quid or so. Just mount two new pots in the top of the Tx where there are already mounting holes, and transfer the wires...

It will be very easy to lock the joysticks on the relevant axis by putting a self-tapping screw through the mounting inside the box. The holes are already there on one axis....

[richald]

Bearing in mind that I have not actually seen a radiolink unit in the 'flesh'
I had assumed that the pots would be fitted using screws and that it would
be simpler to leave any wiring connected when moving them.

Do you have any info on the fitted pots - photos, electrical characteristics
or possible suppliers of replacements ?

I shall go back and have another look at the other hardware modification threads.

regards

Richard

[dodgy geezer]

They look to be 5k linear - best to ask on the GC forum where there is at least one specialist in modifying these sets. They will give you Maplins or Radiospares references - I would not be surprised to find them sending you a couple for the price of postage....

There is a photo of the insides on the GC forum, and here: http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=27616.0  This shows you a set with an additional switch and pot added to the top, but not yet connected to any wires...

If you were to undo the pots while still wired up you would be severely limited in where you could place them - the wiring is too short. So you would need to solder in any case...

I think that a Radiolink 4 channel £25 set would convert easily into a two-stick (rudder/throttle) set, with two proportional knobs on the top row for gun laying, and an extra switched channel for lights or setting the guns off. Total cost of the conversion would be of the order of £5...