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.

New RC Transmitter - Exmitter EX7 + mini review

25.10.18
So, at Optimus Bristol, I had a slight accident with my Optics 6 Sport transmitter. Basically I managed to cross the battery contacts whilst swapping old/new ones over. It turned on but no signal to R5. So the rest of the event, he was shut down for display only.

Really gutted about this as the controller had been really good and it was a gift from a fellow builder friend Colin. Not to mention the additional extra's I'd addded to make it more user friendly.

Never mind.
My next headache then was getting a NEW transmitter, installing and testing/setting it up all before my next event at MCM London. This might not seam like a big deal, but shop  availability isn't good and transmitter choice is limited for me unfortunatly. Due to more financial restrictions, this expense was the last thing I needed.

I did find on tho and picked it up from the shop on the Monday lunchtime.
(Would just like to say thanks to Rob for the loan offer of his spare transmitter until I was mobile again). Got the transmitter home Monday night and got to testing and setting up the transmitter/reciever.

It's a Volantex Exmitter EX7. Link (this is an example, product link)

It has a 7 channel reviever.

I wanted to first check it would work ok, so Monday night was just a plug everything in and power up. Then (due to limited free time), Wednesday evening I was able to continue setting up and adjusting the settings.

This post was written before MCM London, so once the transmitter has had it's first outting, I'll write up a report and add it below afterwards.


Swapped over the left stick mask and the stick 'pads'.

***********************

REVIEW:
Setting up was quite straight forward, once I had the control sticks sussed. Reversing was also really simple to do and the instructions are really easy to follow. The transmitter itself is very light, and after it's first outting at MCM London, there was no wrist ach, which was the reason for the hand strap I fitted to the Optic 6 unit. The sub-trim was easy to set up, again, thanks to the instructions and the fact that once you get the button order, it becomes second nature.
I've not added anything to the other controls yet.

I did have one moment when setting up where the reciever seemed to loose connection with the transmitter??? I was sat right next to R5 and the reciever was in an odd position.....

Nothing bad happened, as I had already set the fail safe positions to zero. This ensure that R5 doesn't carry on in whatever he was doing if the signal is lost.
This is one of the safety features all droids should have in their settings!

The transmitter now has a few event's to it's name and even though it uses four AA batteries, these have lasted well and from the on screen monitor, are still going strong!
I can say this unit gets the thumbs up from me.

Optic 6 Transmitter - modified with a hand strap

When holding the transmitter down by my side, was giving me cramp in my hand from trying to grip the transmitter & steering R5 with my thumb. I do this to hide it whilst walking around at event's, so as not to spoil the illusion of who's controlling him.

I do have a neck strap attached to the transmitter, that I loop and wrap around my wrist, but this is only a safety thing so I don't drop it if it get's knocked. It doesn't offer any support to actually holding the transmitter.

So I looked on eBay for a strap of some sort.
I found two types, one that would clip onto the centre neck point and loop round your wrist or a SLR camera hand strap. The first one would just the same as what I had already, so I bought the SLR hand strap.

I already had some strap fixing loops from a previous project, my droid callers. So I dug out my nuts and bolts box and found two washers for inside the casing.

 Just need to re-fit the two grey side covers.

Then it was just a case of drilling one hole, as there was already a switch hole not being used in just the right spot. Fitting the nut/washer/locking split nut through these holes and adjusting so the rear case will close.

It feels a lot better tho the proof will be this Sunday

at R5's next event Optimus Comic Con in my home City of Bristol.

Optic 6 Transmitter - 3D printed stick lock

After last Sunday's event, it reminded me that I needed to sort out some sort of hand grip/strap for the controller. As when 'parading' etc, you only need the one hand/thumb to steer R5 with. So I hold the controller down by my side when walking, I this helps with the illusion of R5 being real.

One thing tho is that the dome (left stick) is then exposed to potentially being knocked, causing the dome to 'randomly' rotate, when you just want him facing forward.

Internet searching for grip/strap, led me to 3D printing ideas, but I only found transmitter stick lock/protection covers. So I drew up my own, to help guide the stick left/right.

Then I drew up a 'lock' to clip into the groove and lock onto the stick. It looks solid, but I made a hollowed out version.

Only have a pic of the 3D CAD version of it.

I designed it to slot into the groove, fitting so that it couldn't slide left or right. The the upper section is a snug fit so that it can't fall off.

I've not sprayed this piece up yet, may do it in R5 red.....