Focus on Competition
I've just returned from an AMA Frequency Committee meeting. We hosted the meeting in Champaign, Illinois—home of Hobbico and Horizon Hobby and, for this past weekend, the E-Fest. This was a large indoor radio-control flying event hosted by Great Planes. More than 200 pilots attended; it was a great deal of fun and featured many flat foamies, helicopters, some great-looking scale aircraft, and many slow flyers. You'll read more about the event in a future issue of MA.
The Frequency Committee meeting was purposely set up to coincide with the event. This afforded committee members the opportunity to see this type of event and witness the use of some newer technology firsthand.
E-Fest and Facility Tours
Thanks to the good folks at Hobbico and Horizon Hobby, committee members were treated to tours of each facility. I'd like to thank Don Anderson (Hobbico) and John Adams (Horizon Hobby) for taking time out of their busy schedules to accommodate our large group and personally guide the tours. These two companies are huge—walking into one of their warehouses is an eye-opening experience; we are talking hundreds of thousands of square feet filled with modeling supplies of all types. The hobby is alive and well in Champaign!
Meeting Overview
The meeting was held for two days prior to the E-Fest. Our agenda was long, but a great deal was accomplished. Below are a few of the significant issues we discussed.
Committee Role and Name Change
One of the first things covered was the committee's changing role. The group no longer deals only with frequency-related matters. The technology used in our hobby has been changing at a rapid rate. As such, the committee decided to broaden its scope to include the electronics and technology used in our hobby/sport and no longer limit itself to frequency-related subjects.
The suggested new name for the group is the Electronic Technology Committee. This name is still subject to final approval, but we feel it is a good fit. The new mission of the committee is: "to support the Academy by monitoring, maintaining and developing electronic technology areas of modeling through liaison with governments, industry and membership groups."
RCMA and Industry Standards
The Radio Control Manufacturers Association (RCMA) was also discussed. This organization is made up of manufacturers in the radio-control industry. The group has not been very active the last few years; however, there are some new issues that the RCMA will be helping the Frequency Committee (Electronic Technology Committee) address to provide assistance to the industry. RCMA will be hosting a meeting in the next couple of weeks to begin this process.
Many issues will be addressed, including the establishment of some industry standards for several items. The most prominent of these will be spread spectrum, but they could also include:
- Nomenclature used to label Li-Poly batteries
- Servo torque ratings
- Other common product specifications and labeling
There is a need within the radio-control industry to provide some basic standards that manufacturers will voluntarily agree to adhere to. This is a major step in the right direction. The AMA committee will help the RCMA establish these standards. As they are created and put in place by manufacturers, members will benefit when purchasing products that meet, exceed, or have been tested to these standards.
Transmitter Channel Identification
We also discussed the transmitter-frequency/channel-identification system we have recommended for many years—the channel-number plaque and wind streamer that would be attached to the transmitter's antenna. Please don't confuse this with a frequency-control system used by clubs or at events.
Many committee members felt that the plaques and streamers are not being used much any longer. Additionally, it was agreed that the plaques and streamers can pose a hazard when the transmitter is placed in an impound; workers can bump into them, causing a transmitter to fall. Based on these comments and a few other concerns, AMA will remove that recommendation from the Membership Manual.
Clubs and events may still want to make the plaques and streamers a requirement. If they do, AMA will stand behind that decision and members should be respectful of that rule.
Frequency Use Chart
The committee updated the Frequency Use Chart for Model Operations. The biggest change to the chart was the inclusion of the 2.4 GHz band. A few wording changes were also made.
"How Stuff Works" Series
At my request, the committee will be developing a "How Stuff Works" series of articles. We are hopeful that some, if not all, will be published in MA and/or posted on Sport Aviation. This series will also be available separately as it is compiled.
The impetus for this series is the large number of new people coming into the hobby. Many do not know much about how radio-control systems, other electronic devices, batteries, etc., work. The series will explain these items in simple terms using lots of graphics.
2.4 GHz and Spread Spectrum
The major topic for the remainder of the meeting was a session for the committee to learn about the 2.4 GHz band and spread spectrum. This was a valuable discussion, and everyone learned a great deal. I feel the discussion also helped the manufacturers. There will be more published about this in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, please contact me if you have any questions.
Till next time... MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
