Spektrum DX5E

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hi everybody.

I have a question regarding 2.4 ghz radio which I can’t find the  answer to and yet I’m sure it’s obvious when you know. I’m attracted by the benefits of 2.4ghz but what happens when you buy further receivers for more models? When you bind a new receiver to the transmitter does it automatically recognise whichever rx is switched on? Is it this simple and if so  is there a limit to the number of receivers that can be bound to a transmitter? Hopefully someone with experience of this can put me straight before I rush out and buy further receivers as they aren’t exactly cheap.

Incidentally, I don’t often contribute to this forum but do find it informative, educational and entertaining – so thanks.

 

All the best

Ian Gardner (confused)

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

using with more than one model

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

Hi Ian

As far as the Spektrum system is concerned (I cannot comment on Futaba as I don’t have one of their 2.4GHz sets) the following is the case.

The Dx5e tx can only remember one receiver at a time and  has few user variable features. Therefore you can bind it to the receiver in one model, BUT if you then wish to use it to operate another model you will have to bind the tx to the receiver in that second model before it will all work. That means fiddling about at the pond side if you have the two models with you on the day. 

The DX6i (which I use) is a much better bet. This is because the DX6i tx can remember and be bound to the receivers in up to ten different models, so if you are using a single tx but have three different receivers in three different models, all you have to do is change and select the model (1 to 10) using the roller key on the tx front and the tx will have remembered each of the three receivers separately provided they have each been previously bound to it for the relevant model. So, all you need to do is change the model in use electronically on the tx., turn it off then on again and turn on the receiver in the appropriate model and it should all work. Each of the ten models in the memory will have their own settings remembered, eg servo travel, servo reverse, servo centre position amongst others, so I think the DX6i is the better bet in the long run. If you have selected Model No.1 but are endeavouring to use your Model No.2, the receiver end of the system will not work because the receiver is expecting signals from Model  No.2 on the tx and is actually receiving signals from Model No.1.

So, in summary the DX6i is in my opinion a better bet because its included features are well worth the higher price.

 I have had no problems with my DX6i which remembers the settings for three different models each with their own receiver. Horizon Hobbies (USA) have the manuals on their website  for the Spektrum r/c systems which you can view prior to purchase.

Hope this helps.

Paul Freshney 

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hello Paul,

Thanks very much for the quick and comprehensive answer to my question about Spektrum 2.4Ghz radio. Your reply answers all my queries and some! 

I have already bought the DX5E so looks as though I need to spend some more when I’m feeling strong. I suppose I should have done more homework before buying but there it is.

I did read various reviews and articles beforehand but must confess to having left this aspect to chance- I think the thought of  ‘computer radio’  put me off. Up until now I have used 27 meg with no trouble but Iike the idea of smaller antennae in the model and of course, no crystal changing.

Once again thanks for taking the time to answer at such length and keep up the good work with the splendid Model Boats magazine- I started reading when it was still Model Maker!

 

Best wishes,

Ian Gardner

 

[Mike StevensonParticipant @mikestevenson24782]

Ian,

Paul Freshney’s answer above is not accurate.

You CAN bind the DX5e to more than one receiver without having to re-bind.

I have mine bound to three with no problems.

Obviously the DX6i is a better device because you have more variable settings and can memorise them for each receiver, but within it’s fairly limited capabilities the DX5e is a great value system.

 

Best,

Mike Stevenson

[Paul FreshneyParticipant @paulfreshney24971]

Hi

Yes, Mike would seem to be correct, but referring back to Guy Morgan’s article in May MB when he reviewed the DX5e, he found that it was not possible to bind his DX5e Tx to two different types of receiver, although he could bind the Tx to two receivers that were the same, e.g.  two AR6000 or  two AR500, but not one of each.  Perhaps Mike can confirm whether all his receivers are the same or not?

I have two DX6i sets and you cannot bind a receiver to both tx’s, even with different model memories selected, which would seem sensible, although I have three models set up on both transmitters, but if I wish to use the alternative Tx, even though it has remembered all the settings, it has to be bound to the receiver afresh. 

Mike is absolutely correct in that the DX5e is great value (as low as £59 for Tx and Rx, brand new, but unboxed at Wings and Wheels this year). On the other hand as he acknowledges, the DX6i has so may user settable functions such as servo throw, neutrals and variable rates that the extra cost is well worthwhile I think. The funny thing is that r/c equipment is so cheap now by comparison with 25 to 30 years ago, when a digital 27MHz  Futaba 6M set was £150 + without servo reversing etc .

Finally, I have found it useful to insert  permanently a short extension lead into the relevant socket on the receiver and inserted the binding plug into that  rather than direct into the receiver as the connectors on the receiver seem to be quite delicate. This seems to work fine - power is from a BEC system via the esc and the extension lead means that ‘binding’ can be done without  all the fingers in the model.

Regards to all

Paul Freshney. 

[Mike StevensonParticipant @mikestevenson24782]

Yes Paul, I can confirm that all my receivers are the same (AR500).

Should have re-read Guy Morgan’s article.

I am thinking of buying a DX6i transmitter only – they are available for about £90.

This would be used mainly with a yacht where the variable throw facility would be useful.

I agree with you that we are lucky these days with the price of electronic goods being so much cheaper in real terms (and better).

Regards,

Mike

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Thank you both for shedding further light on this matter. I must say my model shop owner was a bit taken aback when I proclaimed that binding to more than one rx wasn’t possible without rebinding each time and it does seem a retrograde step from crystal based sets. I feel reassured that purchase of further receivers of the same type ( I have the AR500) will be worthwhile.

I often ponder on the fact that my first radio, a Futaba 27 meg two function  required a bank loan to purchase! Likewise my first Futaba speed controller and sail winch at about  £60 a piece in the early eighties- both still functioning I might add, so good value really. As they used to say ‘the quality remains long after the cost is forgotten’.

Best wishes all,

Ian Gardner.

[WideawakeParticipant @wideawake]

Hi there

 

The situation with the DX5e is roughly as described above.   The ability to bind to more than one receiver at a time is specifically related to DSM and DSM2.   The Dx5e can only bind to either DSM or DSM2 not both systems at the same time.  So it will happily bind to more than one DSM rx and equally more than one DSM2 rx but not a mixture of the two types.

 

HTH

 

Guy

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hi,

Thanks for that. So as far as I can make out, if you stick with the same type of rx then it’s possible to bind more than one to the tx. Of course the alternative is to stick to what you know and I am beginning to suspect that, as with many things, struggling with the technology becomes the main activity. Thanks to all who have helped with this though.

 

Best wishes,

Ian Gardner

[WideawakeParticipant @wideawake]

Yes I take your point Ian!   That’s why I have been keen on the DX5e as a model boater’s set.   It avoids all the menu-driven programming of the other 2.4GHz offerings.   Obviously the downside is that it’s less flexible but I think that’s not a problem for basic electric-driven boats or simple 2 servo sailing models.   With bits of kit like FLJ’s servomorph you can do the same or moretweaking  to a channel if required.

 

Cheers

 

Guy

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hello Guy,

This is what I thought- just don’t need all that complication but the benefits of 2.4Ghz seem too good to ignore. I have just, in a rash moment ,ordered two more Spektrum receivers to add to existing models. I think with a lot of these things one experiences an early onset of panic which often turns out to be unjustified.  I was having this conversation with my local model shop owner yesterday about the simple requirements of two function boats as opposed to aircraft.  I retract my earlier defeatist remarks!

 

All the best,

 

Ian

[mark burrows 1Participant @markburrows1]

hi guys, just  got myself a spektrum dx5e set ,and i am having trouble with left stick not sprung centring and my esc is not stopping as it is a fine position and when in water cannot see esc lights viper 20 marine? any one had this problem?

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hello Guy,

As I have mentioned in another thread, I have gone over to 2.4Ghz completely now, having bought the DX5e when it was about £60. After initial difficulties in finding info I have now got four AR500 receivers, three bound to the tx. Nothing could be simpler could it?  I like having no crystal, no aerial installation problems and using BEC Esc’s it’s just switch on, and after a few sometimes disconcerting seconds, it’s off.

The reason I was trying to find out about binding more receivers was the initial cost of new ones. I think they seem expensive because I have got used to paying virtually nothing for 27 meg gear now! You could get a tx for about £12 and rx for a few pounds too.

As far as flexibility goes, it seems just the same as the basic sets I always used but with the real advantages already mentioned. The dry batteries in the tx seem to last for ages too. Thanks for your input in this.

Best wishes, 

Ian

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Posted by mark burrows 1 on 10/11/2009 00:47:48:

hi guys, just  got myself a spektrum dx5e set ,and i am having trouble with left stick not sprung centring and my esc is not stopping as it is a fine position and when in water cannot see esc lights viper 20 marine? any one had this problem?

 Mark

Get onto Horizon Hobbies and talk very nicely to the service bloke, whose name is Ryan. He may supply you with the requisite bits to fit a spring to the LH stick – he did for me.

The alternative is to use the RH stick for throttle.

Dave M

[Mike StevensonParticipant @mikestevenson24782]

Mark, it’s fairly easy – although a bit fiddly – to transfer the centering spring mechanism from the right stick to the left and make the right stick a ratchet. Fine tweezers and Blue-Tack were useful.

Suppose it depends whether you are happy to open up the transmitter with possible guarantee implications.

My system works fine with MTroniks Viper controllers – have you gone through the Viper set-up described in the leaflet that comes with it?

I DO have problems with Electronize controllers which have fixed non auto centre points.

Centre of the Spektrum throttle does not correspond to centre of the Electronize and trims do not have sufficient range to pull it in.

 

Mike

[WideawakeParticipant @wideawake]

Hi there Mark

 

As has been said, it’s quite possible to swap components from the left to right stick if you’re prepared to open the case up.   If you’d rather not open the case and are prepared to use the other stick as the throttle then you can simply do that, or if you want to have the failsafe transferred as well you could do the Mode1/Mode2 mod described in my article.   That can be done without opening the case.

 

HTH

 

Guy

 

 

[mark burrows 1Participant @markburrows1]

Thanks for replys,ill put glasses on and take alook inside.if i cannot swap over ,i will use right side for throttle and steering.thanks lads.

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