Transmitters - Volantex Exmitter's

 

A few years back I needed a new transmitter...urgently!

It didn't need to be an all singing and dancing unit, as R5 doesn't dance 😄, it just had to have enough channels and not break the bank [cost a lot]. Some quick internet searching led me to this slim looking unit. Yes, I said slim. Why most transmitters HAVE to be so bulky is beyond me, but after using the Hitec Optic 6 this unit felt light and easier to hold & handle.

So I popped down into town to one of the only remaining model shops, and asked to buy the Ex7. The guy turned around and saw on the shelf that the only one he had was an Ex6 [though online, it had said a 7 was in stock]. I said OK as I needed it, but on the assistant reaching up to the box, he noticed that Volantex double mark their boxes with Ex6 & Ex7 on the reverse, and this box had the Ex7 box ticked.

GOUD-4's Ex6 Transmitter

I eventually found out what was causing the remote signal issue.

When I had bought the transmitter, I needed to open it up to switch over (via internal switch) from left to right spring loaded stick movement control. On opening up the casing I found that the antenna wire had been crushed by a screw and was broken.

Broken antenna wire, was crushed by screw

The seller sent me a new transmitter….. minus another receiver (unfortunately), but whilst waiting, I had attempted to fix the broken antenna by swapping it for another. It worked, but at the time I didn’t fully test it, extended use. Hence why the signal issues didn’t come apparent. So I had to swap over to use the new transmitter……and all’s working fine now. Tho I think the problem may lye with the battery pack…??

R5-D4’s Ex7 Transmitter

Whilst packing up at the end of R5’s last event @thegalleries , the dome motor started acting up?? It wouldn’t respond to the transmitter so i had to just shut it down. Over the next few days/weeks I tried to troubleshoot the problem by swapping over wires, using other channels to see if it would control the dome motors speed controller, which was possible. I even swapped out the stick assembly unit for another, but no success. I used a multimeter to also check contacts, these gave good readings. So I assumed that the fault was with the receiver, so ordered a new one. I was disappointed once installed that it wasn’t the problem at all.

So with no resolution, looks like I need to buy a new transmitter.

GOUD-4 project update

 So after the event at The Galleries, Bristol. There were a few things I wanted to sort out with G4.

These I’ll be covering on this Blog and the Mouse Droid forum, as GOUD-4’s Blog doesn’t seem to attract much interest/traffic. I’ll be transferring all of the build details over onto this Blog as a new ‘page’.

• Sound system set up.
• Panel activation….
• 3D new parts.

3D printing:

I needed a new bracket/holder for the new ESC (electronic speed controller). So I measured it up and drew up a suitable holder, which also incorporated the on/off switch.

Also drawn up a speaker bracket, just need to print it.

Sparkfun sound card bracket:

I drew up this bracket to hold the SD card reader sound card.

I already had a bracket holder for the voltage regulator.

Transmitter/receiver:

I eventually found out what was causing the remote signal issue.

See Transmitters - Volantex Exmitter's post for details.

Sound system:

I had started this a while back, but was pressed for time to complete. Now it’s time to finish what I started. Been waiting on a relay switch that can be activated via the transmitter, similar to how R5’s sound system is triggered. I’ve soldered up the connectors, I next need to fit all the components onto a board and find a spot to install it.

Top Panel opening:

I also have the top opening panel to sort out. The bracket is printed and the servo is fitted into it. Its then just a case of connecting it up to the receiver.