Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Submarines R&D: => Topic started by: howardspary on October 20, 2018, 10:54:49 pm

Title: engle submarine
Post by: howardspary on October 20, 2018, 10:54:49 pm
hi all
now confused ,thought i would buy a engle akula sub sometime then the  questions
 
radio went to local shop lots of head shaking at the mention of 40mhg radio set , also decoders and other bits
mentioned on mayhem ,all i need as a not very clever at  electrical  is to buy a radio set and install without to many complications


any help would be appeceated


howard spary
bootlace
Title: Re: engle submarine
Post by: Fred Ellis on October 21, 2018, 09:00:07 am
Hi Howardspary


I just know were you are coming from, I now have three sets of 40's and the receivers have all given up,


I can only say have a look at the Association of Model Submariners forum http://www.theassociationofmodelsubmariners.com/ you do not need to be a member, and as they say there are other forums.


Fred
Title: Re: engle submarine
Post by: Davy1 on October 21, 2018, 10:30:25 am
Fred describes the current state of play well.


If you want to start with the minimum of head scratching then probably your best bet is to buy second-hand 40 Mhz gear. I am told that new 40 Mhz equipment is also available from Germany.


Personally, I have been using 458Mhz gear on openLRS for about the last 4 years in my subs in many locations.(It was pioneered for subs by Tim S. I've given away my 40 Mhz gear!) but it does need some computer input and knowledge to set it up. It does have some significant benefits too such as Telemetry. (e.g depth and battery Voltage - v. handy for Lipos)


Also the equipment as you receive it , from say Hobbyking, does work "out of the box" on 433Mhz. (Not strictly legal but it gets you going before you setup the gear for 458Mhz.) it is also quite cheap.


David
Title: Re: engle submarine
Post by: Subculture on October 21, 2018, 12:56:51 pm
40mhz equipment is still available new, in the UK. It's distributed by Ripmax, but the range is very limited to around a couple of sets- the F14 and F14 Navy. Development of new 40mhz systems largely stopped over a decade ago, so the sets are basic in comparison to current stuff. However, most model submariners don't need much sophistication, just plenty of channels.

http://www.ripmax.com/Category_List.aspx?Category=060-010-030

Still quite a bit of secondhand gear floating about, although prices seem to have crept up as sellers have realized why many are buying it. I understand many want a new set for peace of mind.

Do be aware that most equipment is repairable, and there are still good technicians out there that will fix things if you're unlucky enough to have something fail. Some synthesized tuners can be a bit of a problem I understand, owing to manufacturers applying their own codes and not putting them out in the public domain. Bit of sad state of affairs when they themselves no longer support repair.

458mhz UHF has a lot going for it, but will never catch on with the majority because I think it is just too geeky. Most modelmakers want a radio set-up and ready to go from the box, not something they have to fiddle about with in a chrome app.