Electrics - 2010/10

100 MODEL AVIATION
Installation takes merely a few minutes.
When finished, the transmitter module is
mounted on top of the antenna hole.
Buttons on top are to enter bind or test
modes.
The left side of the Weatronic transmitter
module has a mini USB por t, m icro SD
card for recorded and “live” data logging,
and s peaker /ear p h on e plug f or a u di o
alarms.
THE NEW WEATRONIC 2.4 GHz
conversion system has been renowned for
its incredible high-end “R” series systems,
and now the company has released a
“micro” option for the rest of us. The
biggest problem is where to start.
I bought the system to convert my
Multiplex Royal Evo 12-channel radio, but
Weatronic has conversions for all popular
radios. The plastic case arrives with
everything you need packed in foam and a
color instruction manual. The box is so nice,
you’ll want to keep it.
For you meat-and-potatoes people, I’ll
provide all the data you’ll need. Following
are the specifications of the 2.4 GHz dual
FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread
Spectrum) transmitter module.
• Transmission: Adaptive FHSS
• Frequency range: 2,401-2,4835 GHz
• Power output: 20 dBm (100 mW)
• Functions (channels): 12
• Frequencies: 81, France: 52
• Interval: 10 ms
• Modulation: Quadrature Phaseshift keying
• Back channel for telemetry and sensor data
• Real-time data via earplug, LED, or PC
(GIGAControl)
• Receive sensitivity: -84 dBm
• Temperature range: -10 degrees Celsius to
+60 degrees Celsius
• Voltage: 5-10
• Current consumption: 200 mA
• Range: > 3000m
• Resolution of channels: 4,096 steps
• Data storing: Micro SD card
• Software: GIGAControl
• Firmware update: Micro SD card
• Antennas: Two patch aerials
• Polarization: circular
• Dimensions: 95 x 65 x 18 mm
• Weight: 60g
2.4 Dual FHSS micro 8-, 10-, and 12-
channel dual-receiver specifications:
• Double receiver circuit
• Transmission: Adaptive FHSS
• Frequency range: 2401-24835 GHz
• Power output: 20 dBm (100 mW)
• Functions (channels): 12
• Frequencies: 81, France: 52
• Interval: 10 ms
• Modulation: Quadrature Phaseshift keying
• Back channel for telemetry and sensor data
• Receive sensitivity: -100 dBm
• Temperature range: -10 degrees Celsius to
+60 degrees Celsius
• Frequency range: 2,401-2,4835 GHz
• Power output: 20 dBm (100 mW)
• Functions (channels): 12
• Frequencies: 81, France: 52
• Interval: 10 ms
• Modulation: Quadrature Phaseshift keying
• Back channel for telemetry and sensor data
• Real-time data via earplug, LED, or PC
(GIGAControl)
• Receive sensitivity: -84 dBm
• Current consumption: 130 mA
• Resolution of channels: 4,096 steps
• Firmware update: USB adapter
• Antennas: 2 λ/4 wires
• Polarization: linear
• Antenna length: 200mm
• Antenna length in operation: 29mm
• Dimensions: 55 x 33 x19 mm
• Weight: 30g
What’s Special About Weatronic: The
transmitter module sends and receives 12
channels through two “patch aerials” on the
front side of the unit. The module mounts
on top of the old antenna location and is a
flat-plate design.
All data sent and received is stored on a
micro SD card and read with GIGAControl
Greg Gimlick | maelectrics@Electrics gimlick.com
Weatronic 2.4 dual FHSS system
Weatronic components to convert Greg’s Multiplex Evo 12 radio.
Systems are available to suit most current radio brands.
The Weatronic circuit board and ribbon cable route through
antenna hole to transmitter module that will be mounted on top.
10sig4.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 8/20/10 12:30 PM Page 100
Installation: The transmitter module takes
approximately five minutes to hook up. Mine
came with the circuit board to plug into the
motherboard and a ribbon cable that goes up
through the antenna channel to the module
mounted on a disk to the channel itself.
The wire is flat against the module, so there
is no chance of snagging it with a finger. It
might take some getting used to seeing that
module up there, but in a few minutes of use
you’ll begin to appreciate what it offers.
The receiver installs in the model as would
any other receiver, taking care to route the
antenna wires appropriately. LEDs on the
receiver let you know its status.
As with any spread spectrum system, you
must bind the receiver to the transmitter. That
is done the standard way, using a jumper on
the receiver.
When you turn on the transmitter, hold
down the #2 button until the yellow test LED
indicates that it’s in the bind mode. Power up
the receiver with the bind plug in place and
watch the LEDs until they indicate a green
condition, meaning that binding is complete.
Power everything down, remove the jumper,
and you’re ready to fly.
If you have several receivers installed in
various airplanes, you will “quick bind” when
you change models in your transmitter. Power
up the aircraft as usual, and without the
binding plug installed, and then briefly mash
the #2 button on the transmitter module.
Within a couple of seconds it finds its
stored code for that receiver and you get all
green lights, indicating it’s ready to fly. No
need to hold it down and go into the initial
bind mode; quickly push the button and wait a
second to get the green “go” light. The codes
are already stored for previously bound setups.
Program Magic: I don’t know how else to
describe it. The GIGAControl software
allows you to do things that were
previously possible only on radios costing
thousands of dollars.
My test model was a Giant Scale WACO
UPF-7 using a servo on each of four ailerons,
servos for each elevator half, rudder servo, and
throttle/ESC. This would ordinarily require
eight channels, but with this system you could
do it with four!
I don’t mean with Y-cords, either, but
assigning four servos to one channel and being
able to tune and adjust each one individually
through the software. You can program curves
and set a fail-safe position for each servo using
your laptop. If you have retracts, you can slow
the servos in the software or sequence them
with the gear doors, etc.
The possibilities are almost endless with
GIGAControl. All positions of the servos with
percent of travel are logged on the SD card or
can be read “live” if you’re connected to a
computer.
You can see the temperature of the receiver
during flight, along with receiver battery
voltage levels. You’ll see if you’ve been
dropping out because of low voltage by
viewing the log file. You can also program
when you want it to go to fail-safe by loss of
signal time, etc.
A complete log of frames sent and received
on both signals will be recorded for the entire
flight. I’ve yet to be able to swamp the signal
using several systems, modems, and cordless
phones sitting next to the Weatronic radio.
There is also a scanner and monitor mode,
so you can see the frequencies being used or
skipped during operation. I was able to get it to
show only two frequencies that were low
signal and nothing that was deemed unusable.
I’ve only scratched the surface of this system
and am anxious to tax it even more. It’s worth
a look if you’re shopping for a new system,
and the price is in line with other conversions
on the market. I’m sold so far! MA