The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

flywheel kid

Hi Guys,

I am officially confused!

I'm building the Midwest Liberty Tug. nice kit this is.
But I need servo to steer the rudder. It seems I can buy for around $20, a good Futaba servo. I've got the Heritage steam plant so i don't need a second servo. So What else do i need? I have several radios here and crystals. i was planning to buy a cheap 2 channel receiver to power a servo. But all the receivers are either FM, or AM. I don't know what compatible with what

Can someone explain a cheap solution to this?

P.S the hull support structure has just been finished, so I'm in no rush to buy. I plan to post the build here once I have made more progress

Thanks!
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mogogear · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject:

This is basic , but:

*-a battery pack to power the servo and receiver
*-A Receiver (RX)
*-A servo-( any servo will do and any will work with your radio- micro or regular size)

I have found that many less expensive radios sets( Hitec and others) can come packaged wit ha radio ( TX) a receiver and two servos for less than the components separately.

A rudder requires very little work or effort by the servo so light duty will be just fine-- an extra channel is a bonus!

Have fun
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metalhead100 · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:27 am Post subject:

Most older systems are FM... there are different "bands" for surface (boat) use and Aircraft.

Your radios and transmitters will be assigned a channel number ...that relates to its frequency.

I fly on channel 42 here in the USA and that is 72.630 Mhz.

So i need a channel 42 crystal in both my TX and RX.

But a Aircraft "banded" radio cannot be crystal-ed for surface use. It works within the 72 Mhz band only.

There are new 2.4 Ghz systems that avoid the whole "channel" problem by scanning the band and locking in to a clear channel.

Then there are OLD AM systems......

Hope I have not confused you.

It can be a bit to figure out.

Jim
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Roly Williams · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:40 pm Post subject:

I think the safest course is to buy a complete system, including transmitter, receiver and servo(s). They can be quite cheap, probably cheaper than buying the individual parts, even if you only use one channel.
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Roly Williams

"God is not dead - he is alive and well and working on a much less ambitious project" (MRFS)

davidcurtis021 · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject:

i have just upgraded to a 4 channel set from a two. has a transmitter reciever 1 servo and 1 spped controller for an electric motor
i would let it go for a swap.

H2o vapour · Junior Member Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 473

Hi,

Not sure about radio in Oz, but here in the uk, the radio Transmitter and receiver have to be compatible. So same crystal and operating frequency.

They don't mix frequency wise, ie you are not able to get an old AM receiver and control it with a fm transmitter using the correct cryatals, they are incompatible.

However, if you have a transmitter and receiver with a set of crystals that work you are in buisness. Most, but not all servo's are compatible. The servo leads were changed about 12 years ago
so old servo's wont fit newer receivers, however, a newer futaba receiver will normally take Hitech, and acoms servo's.

For what it's worth, I think there are 2 cheap way's forword, have a look at what you have got and buy individual items off ebay to get you going. I do this regular, looking out for bits to make up sets. I have radio going back 30 years and still look out for compatible stuff, for example I picked up 4 newish servo's for old futaba M series receiver earlier this year for about 4 pounds, that meant to extra sets available - may be old but good quality

Also have a look at boot sales and fairs, I picked a Hitech transmitter complete with rechargable batteries mid year for 2 pounds , I have used it with compatible futaba receivers.

Of course, you could always buy a new set so that you know all is good. There are some very cheap places. A 2 chanel set in the uk supplied with one servo and about 30 pounds -

Have a Look at 'Howes Models' they are a uk company but specialise in mail order and cheap price radio - just to give you an idea, all my boat club friends use them because they will send individual items out and reasonable cost

Hope this helps

H2o

flywheel kid · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:42 am Post subject:

Hi,

Thankyou to everyone for the very helpful replies

A quick question: would it make any difference if I chose an AM receiver over FM, or vice versa? -

-I could just buy a receiver to suit a transmitter I have, I believe to be AM. Two crytals are 29.985 mHz.

it seems all I would need is a cheerful 2 ch AM and simple battery pack.
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'Collecting is like eating Peanuts,
You just can't stop'

verithingeoff · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:26 am Post subject:

Guys I'm quite interested in this topic, can anyone in Australia recommend a cheap simple kit. It's over 40 years since I did any remote stuff, and that was pretty basic
TIA---

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Caprice · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:25 am Post subject: