Topic: Hi Tec Aurora 9

Guys,
Here's a handy little mod for you.
Remove the 1300mA NiMH battery and build yourself a 6 x 2650mA AA NiMH pack, this gets you twice the life on one charge.
[...]
It also can be charged from within the TX using the standard charger.

Charging using the original charger will charge the NiMH cells at a very low rate (probably less than C/20). The common experience is that NiMH cells don't like being charged at such a low rate, and the capacity progressively reduces as the cells "gum up". NiMH cells need to be chared at AT LEAST C/10, and preferably a bit more.

£0.02 supplied,

PDR

Your right,  I've measured the charge rate and it's 15C (170mA) even though it's rated at 150mA.

So I'll use it this way for the moment and perhaps charge it externally every 10th charge, hopefully this will extend the life.

What do you think?

Ray.

Your right,  I've measured the charge rate and it's 15C (170mA) even though it's rated at 150mA.

So I'll use it this way for the moment and perhaps charge it externally every 10th charge, hopefully this will extend the life.

What do you think?

It's certainly better than nothing - I'd be thinking more like every fourth charge or so myself, charging at a minimum of C/2. But I guess you should be able to notice the capacity dropping of, and if you catch it before it goes too far you can recover it with a couple of cycles at 1C.

Does this Tx have any battery management festures (ie does it tell you the amount of charge put in and taken out)?

PDR

Does this Tx have any battery management festures (ie does it tell you the amount of charge put in and taken out)?

No I don't think so, it just has the option to display the % charge or actual voltage.


BTW,  what do you make of this article..
http://www.powerstream.com/NiMH.htm
it seems to be saying that  low C charge rate is preferable...

And you probaly figured out that made a mistake with my terms earlier, I should have said C/15 not 15C.

Ray.

I've just checked the protection diode used in the A9 (between the power in and battery) and it's seems to be a standard 1Nxxx type body but I can't make out the part number, it ends in xxxx08 so it might be 1N5408 which would be 3A rated.
But I'm not happy taking the chance until I knoe for sure.

But if that was 3A rated then I could charge the batteries at 1C using my Li-Po charger that has a Ni-Mh setting.


Update ... it's actually xxx003 which must be a 1N4003 which makes it 1A rated.
So it's not really possible to charge at 1C directly through the transmitter, but it should handle C/2.
I might just modify the diode after the warranty runs out 

R.

Ive gone the Lipo route myself and dont have a problem taking out the pack to charge.

If there is no battery management function to worry about then you could always splice a second connector into the battery lead to bypass the diode for charging (that's what I did on my old Futaba FFsuper7 sets a few years ago. Obviously with no diode it would be a "good idea"^(tm) to make sure you've got the charge lead polarities correct before connecting the charger...

PDR

Well I've had a week or so with this set and each time I use it to set up another plane in my squadron, it gets easier. Its so user friendly, its unbelievable. My LHS is ending me the adaptor for my charger that was missing from my box but this has been no big deal as my field charger did the job. Great set, easy to use, easy to get the hang of, has all the versatility of my old Futaba 9c and then some and then some more.

Simon. 

Glad you got sorted out Simon.

I'm looking forward to the release of the HPP-22 PC module in Europe so I can get on with some PC programming and model swapping on the web.

R.

I'll second how good this Tx is! Only problem im having is i cant get a ESC going with the Tx, but im completely new to electrics so prob not setting up correctly in the Tx 

Finally got to handle one of these tx this weekend, the owner was very enthusiastic about it but i must admit to being rather surprised to see a link wire connecting the module to the aeriel, is this how they all are or is there a dedicated 2.4 version?

Finally got to handle one of these tx this weekend, the owner was very enthusiastic about it but i must admit to being rather surprised to see a link wire connecting the module to the aeriel, is this how they all are or is there a dedicated 2.4 version?

Nope this is how it is I'm afraid ! Pretty unbelievable for a brand new design from the ground up. I believe there are various threads on RCGroups telling you how to "Re-Design/Modify" it to get the lead inside the Tx but does that then mean its not " CE Approved" any more.... no lets not go there 

I was thinking of getting one of these for my sports flying needs (sloping & electric) but immediately decided against it after seeing this design foparr. Its a shame because for the money it appears to be a very capable set with good Rx prices for such a big brand system.

They have done various range tests on it in moulded planes with the 7 channel Rx BODA single aerial and appear to have had no problems/issues with quality of radio link or range. Indeed on range, the results of various tests appear to indicate that it more range than other 2.4 sets. But for me the size of the BODA Rx aerial makes it a non starter for serious F3X use particularly as there appear to be concerns about fracturing the aerial where it exits the BODA housing. Getting the receiving part of the aerial outside a carbon fuz with a big stiffy BODA bit at the end of it inside the fuz is asking for trouble. Bit like having a loose wire flapping around the back of a Tx.... you just know its going to eventually cause problems with handling.

NO NEED TO BE AFRAID, IT AINT GONNA BITE YA. It is designed like that so people have the choice of module to use, say 35mhz or 2.4ghz or even 72mhz in the states, or would you sooner have the antenna sticking out of the back of the module, I wouldn't. I bet more people have caught their big sticky out telescopic aerials than will ever catch the weeny bit of wire on the back of this.
This is a great bit of kit, and will fulfil my needs and many others, for many planes to come, from fullhouse carbon-glass sailplanes to 80 odd inch warbirds and even me little pusha jet screamers.
It is the easiest system I have ever had the pleasure to fiddle with, and believe me Iv'e fiddled with some  systems . In fact, I dont think I heard anyone who has bought a set complain about it. 
I'm sure someone will devise a very simple solution for F3X pilots to use the BODA system with out too much trouble.

what's BODA?  oh it's an aerial.

As for sailplane pilots - I remain unconvinced. they have shipped with no servo offset feature. even if you can do this with a sub trim it does show that hitec doesn't really understand sailplanes, which doesn't inspire confidence. 

NO NEED TO BE AFRAID, IT AINT GONNA BITE YA. Grin It is designed like that so people have the choice of module to use, say 35mhz or 2.4ghz or even 72mhz in the states, or would you sooner have the antenna sticking out of the back of the module,

I'm not afraid its just bad design ;)If your going to use a Tx module system then look no further than the elequant well designed solution that Futaba use on their TM14 module for a good "How to do it properly with a module" lesson in engineering/design.  Or indeed, dare I say it, Multiplex 3030/4000. One could, of course, argue the addage that you always get what you pay for and the cost differential between the two systems is vast.

Without doubt, for the money, rubbish stray wire at the back of the Tx or not, the Hitec gets you one hell of a lot of radio for the dosh. I doubt whether most people would need anything else. assuming the mid to long term usage doesn't throw up anyt issues. Time will tell but the signs so far are encouraging. Be interesting to see for example how the touch screen holds up with repeated use. BTW, did they sort out the servo offsett issue for Crow/Flaps on the A9 ?

As to whether F3X pilots will "want" to find a way around using the single BODA aerial issues lets wait and see how many A9's are used at next years F3J World Champs in France. A WC is always a good indication of what is really trusted to do the job 100% of the time 

Yep, your right about the TM14 and the Multiplex 3030/4000 systems, but they are top-end of the market sets, not the club flyer or the ordinary Joe who has to save up for a year to get a new £300 set like the Aurora or FF9. Set's like the Aurora will always be a compromise but to the likes of me they are top notch and shouldn't be knocked just be cause they dont match the standards met by sets that cost more than 5 times as much ie, futaba 14mz.

It doesn't really matter how much a transmitter costs Simon, whether it's a 6exa or a 14mz, the actual pleasure derived from flying a model with it is the same!  

As long as it is reliable, then it matters little what name is emblazoned on it at the end of the day.

Totally agree with you there Brian, but if didn't think something was going to do the job what I wanted done, then I would not buy the thing. Especially if I had a high-end set already.

Anyhow, I think it's a good set for me and a few others but I don't think it will suit everyone, but it's not worth falling-out over it. I suppose I'm a bit defensive about it because I have one.