Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[das boot]

Gentlemen, once again I crave your assistance..this time with the radio control equipment side of things.

I will be needing a five/six function r/c setup for the Gato comprising a tx, rx, four of the smallest servos I can lay my hands on and a small [tiny even] speed controller for the motors. I'll be needing an outfit with a fail safe that in the event of a serious electronical malfunction whilst submerged, the motors will stop and the ballast tanks will blow and the sub will go into 'emergency surface' mode.
Cost will be a major factor as well...

Your recommendations and/or comments will be much appreciated as always.

Cheers,

Rich

[Shipmate60]

Rich,
You can fit a fail safe in the sub. They are produced commercially.
Radio sets have the usual set up with standard servos, you might "do a deal" with the supplier or buy separately from a supplier such as Howes.

Bob

[Mankster]

Yes just any 6ch or more radio will do. Hitec are good value, if you can stretch a little more, I'd go for a Robbe F-14 or F16c / Fx-18(with computer) for future expandability http://www.pandanmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/Robbe_Radio_Sets.html . You will need to purchase your micro servo separatley.  And you want to get a 40mHz set, not one of the newer 2.4ghz ones. A Subtech 'Subsafe' available from Pandan in the UK will bring it to the surface should you lose signal. In fact Pandan will be a good source for all the bits you may need for the conversion.

[das boot]

I'd looked at the Robbe outfits, they seem to be good stuff. Budget for the r/c gear will around £150ish, depends on how the fiddles sorry, overtime goes at work.

Thank you gents, I'll go take a wander over to Pandan's site.

Cheers,

Rich

[Don]

In the last 9 months I have purchased 2 Robbe F-14 radios.  I like them very much - however - make sure your dealer check's the out completely.  Make sure the auxiliary functions work before you accept them.  The 2 that I purchased did not work and I had to send them back for repair.  The repairs + shipping (I live in California) cost more than the original radio.  Although the repair is free, they charge for testing them when done!

What really surprised me was the 2 radios I did purchase were from different vendors, separated by 2000 miles +/- a little.

Now they work great.

[Shipmate60]

Purely as a personal preference I don't like the layout of the "F" series.
For my taste the case is just too wide to be comfortable, and yes I have 1.

Bob

[Martin (Admin)]

A Subtech 'Subsafe' available from Pandan in the UK will bring it to the surface should you lose signal.

I agree, don't reply on your radio for all your failsafe system, it could be the radio that is going to cause a problem in the first place!

[das boot]

Thanks guys...I spent a few thousand quid on Pandan's site, then turned the pc on! They sure have some good stuff there...thanks also for the advice on the radio, I rather like the looks of the Robbe outfits, they will be checked over throughly before I part with any cash, and price wise they are pretty good value. I can't for the life of me remember where I got the electronic fail safe for the Patrick Henry from, I have an idea it was something that Ron Perrot put together years back, probably out of date now anyways.

Cheers,

Rich

[Subculture]

For tiny excellent speed controllers look here at the Thor ESC-

http://www.hobby-lobby-modellbau.com/onlineshop/index.php/cat/c338_Speed---Control.html

They come with BEC.

If I was buying a new R/C set today, I'd get a Multiplex Royal Evo.

Caswell does a combined failsafe and leveller, which is small and cost effective.

http://www.caswellplating.com/models/pitch.html

Andy

[FullLeatherJacket]

Rich
I've sent some stuff via your regular E-Mail.
FLJ

[das boot]

Just read your email, FLJ...when the time comes I'll certainly be in touch with you, very very impressed with your attachments, thanks very much for that.

The Hitec radio is looking quite good at the moment, the less I pay for a radio the more I'll have to spend on the ancilleries that will be needed. I believe my last radio was a converted Futaba helicopter radio  running on a slightly illegal frequency, because I needed so many functions for the Patrick Henry, but rest assured chaps, the Gato will be legal!

Thank you all, gentlemen, for the valuable assistance.

Cheers,

Rich