Topic: (2.4ghz) M-Link in gliders

and i am pretty resolved to switch over all my models as well. My fleet is not that numerous these days anyway.

does the external module have the fast response mode Tony? As you say digi servos seem faster.

Yes, 14ms frame speed on up to 12 channels and controversially I am running 5 cell with 3150's in the flaps (and mpx mid arm thingies in the ail)- blistering, and no issues....yet!

Suddendenly dawned on me- it's going to be hard to change brands if I ever decide to replace the 4000 with no doubt the 10 or rx's I'm trying to avoid buying now to consider. Hmmm...!!

yes i had the same feeling myself. But decided to risk it. I guess you can say the same about any 2.4 system.

Oh good, so plug and play!

External unit looks naff and the wire gets in the way, which is the worst thing I can say about it. Otherwise highly delighted. I was mistakenly lured by the option of switching between 35 meg and 2.4 but now tasted I don't think I'll be using 35 unless I have to.

Ahem.  I don't want to say that I told you so, but........       

Smug mode..........................................

I've been using m-link for a while now and have had a reasonable chance to assess it. I've made the leap already, so thankfully it is good.

I would generally echo what Steve (enginetorque) has said about it. The system is incredibly tollerant to installation and just WORKS.  It seem to make any difference what you do with the aerials or what you put them next to (I don't fly power though).  I guess full carbon might upset it but, it would take some doing.

Rock solid really.

However, looking a a friend's Jeti system I do kind of hanker after the better telemetry options. If that's important to you then m-link on a 4000 might not be the way to go.

The RXs are bl00dy tiny, which helps in the installs. Binding is virtually automatic as well. 

Happy days  

Full carbon install - no prob's - Erwin XL (which is ruddy thick man sized bullet proof carbon at that)!

7 Channel RX 7 DR Light RX - solid performance with no issues!

Some 'suspicion' was evident early on in this thread when the little 5 channel M-Link RX was mooted (bit expensive for a park flyer etc) - it's a FULL range receiver and it works a treat too 

Here's a couple of Erwin XL install piccies - the longer aerial feeder is 940mm and should facilitate installation in just about anything - certainly when compared with the 'faff' of Spektrums extra receivers, this system is a snap for mouldie gliders. The Erwin fus is about as tight an install as anything!

the fivers are a little on the expensive side, but they are really good. Even the single RX is really good. And it does have full failsafe as well. 

Been very happy with mine. Just wish I kept the planes in the air a bit longer...
Using the internal 2.4 module permanently fitted in a 4000. Whiskers on a Bird 60 and internal on the Needle. The Brio will be the sod to sort out.

Re: this bit earlier...

You might notice that the RX aerials on the 2.4ghz RXs are not the same length. Apparently this is deliberate for better receiver diversity (say if you just ran them parallel).  one is about 133mm and one is about 126mm. Hope that helps give you an idea on the antennae length. the aerials are probably longer than they need to be for gliders, but I am looping them. I hope that works okay! Due to the shielding the aerials are not as flexible as the 35 meg ones (but not problematic).

A better reason for aerial length difference might be seen inside one of my 6ch Rxs:



Reckon that accounts for the 7mm difference.

Here's a couple of Erwin XL install piccies - the longer aerial feeder is 940mm and should facilitate installation in just about anything - certainly when compared with the 'faff' of Spektrums extra receivers, this system is a snap for mouldie gliders. The Erwin fus is about as tight an install as anything!

Steve could you clarify that aerial length. 940mm would be ideal for the Brio but that's a bit under a metre and it doesn't look that long in the pic.

Steve could you clarify that aerial length. 940mm would be ideal for the Brio but that's a bit under a metre and it doesn't look that long in the pic.

Now you've got me - I spat 940mm out without thinking - I think that's 'utter bore locks' but the figure came from somewhere - perhaps 940 is the maximum length that Multiplex say they'll supply (think that's it)

From memory (it's all crammed into the nose of the Erwin now...) I think the one I fitted has about twice the feeder of the standard RX - that first pic shows a six channel standard for comparison!

Sorry to confuse!

On your Brio - as long as you can exit the fuselage then you're in - in the future I'm going to use standard aerial lengths in my gliders - drill your holes where you want the aerials to exit - heat shrink a bit of thread to extend them to pull them through if that's out of 'finger poking' range in a slim fus or whatever.

Receiver placement is less of in issue with systems like M-Link that don't employ satellite RX's

The RXs are bl00dy tiny, which helps in the installs. Binding is virtually automatic as well. 

Hmmm.  They're not all tiny Tom.  The Pro's are larger than any of the previous MPX rx's and it's not immediately obvious why.  Not sure if there is more gubbins than on the DR receivers.  The only difference I can tell so far is that the aerials plug on/off and there is a single high current battery connection.

Here's a couple of pictures of my rather hurried installations.  One is in a Lunak, the other in a Swift.  I will tidy them up a bit when the nights draw in and I've nothing better to do.

On your Brio - as long as you can exit the fuselage then you're in - in the future I'm going to use standard aerial lengths in my gliders - drill your holes where you want the aerials to exit - heat shrink a bit of thread to extend them to pull them through if that's out of 'finger poking' range in a slim fus or whatever.

The Brio is massive carbon with a nose cone so I can't get the whiskers forward. Just behind the one is  a fat fuse that will mask over a wide degree of rotation any whisker blown back by the wind. And also the double carbon wing. I want to exit at least one aerial behind the wing.
Hence my popping off the Rx case to see how easy it is to extend the aerial. Answer: Very easy.

Yep - easy - in fact if you get hold of Mike Ridley, he'll probably be able to sort you an extended aerial set as I'm sure he's doing these for MPX!

My 'chums' took the P155 out of my Erwin because the one aerial pops out right under the wing, which I hadn't thought about when I did the fit - I just used the hole that the 35 Mhz aerial employed! I had the last laugh - it's solid - I really wouldn't worry unduly 

Hmmm.  They're not all tiny Tom.  The Pro's are larger than any of the previous MPX rx's and it's not immediately obvious why.  Not sure if there is more gubbins than on the DR receivers.  The only difference I can tell so far is that the aerials plug on/off and there is a single high current battery connection.

Here's a couple of pictures of my rather hurried installations.  One is in a Lunak, the other in a Swift.  I will tidy them up a bit when the nights draw in and I've nothing better to do.

well maybe, not but in a flying caravan I suspect it's less of an issue

The Brio is massive carbon with a nose cone so I can't get the whiskers forward. Just behind the one is  a fat fuse that will mask over a wide degree of rotation any whisker blown back by the wind. And also the double carbon wing. I want to exit at least one aerial behind the wing.
Hence my popping off the Rx case to see how easy it is to extend the aerial. Answer: Very easy.

As I keep saying, it just works........

So if I want to extend aerials - how do I do it and where do I get the longer aerials from.

Is it standard kit or Mpx specific?

For the standard DR and Light rxs, you get the aerials from Mike Ridley and he fits them for you.  Mr. Ed has put a topic about this on the MPX section.

For the Pro rxs you can change yoursef.

I javen't found any real need to change the standard aerials yet, across a wide range of fuselage types.

So if I want to extend aerials - how do I do it and where do I get the longer aerials from.

Is it standard kit or Mpx specific?

Here's my email from Mike

Hi John,
 
Yes I can supply 3 different length aerials, 200mm, 300mm and 400mm.
 
The prices are £2.99, £3.50 and £3.99 each.
 
The aerials are not for the end user to fit, this is because of the very small nature of the plugs and sockets used for these aerials.
 
I charge £5.00 for fitting the aerials, plus post and packing at £6.00 by Special Delivery.
 
Best regards
 
Mike Ridley

I did find a source for them but have decided to go down the route of letting Mike fit them.  For links to a few places to buy them try here:

http://www.rcmf.co.uk/4um/index.php/topic,67620.0.html

Cyril & Freestyler have inverted carbon 'boats' with glass slip on cones..

Longer aerial routed back and exiting the fus behind the nose I guess 

Flown my Vector and RaceMx on 2.4 today in stunning air off Rhossili. 25 -30mph smack on.

Had my first 2.4 induced crash as well.
My newley refurbed Reaper.
Switched the module off jiggled everything and threw it off the hill. Flew fine for a short while then started glitching and eventually crashed part way down the hill.

I really should have screwed my 35mhz aerial back on...

Think I will leave it on in future, its somewhere to hang my ribbon from at least.

On th e2 x 2.4 equiped models they flew great - and I am suprised to say I think that they are crisper than they were on 35..

I did it the other way around on the Orme a while back - 'why have I just pulled my 35 aerial out to launch on 2.4.......DOH!

Definitely crisper response on 2.4 - I didn't buy it til I tried it but you can tell can't yer