I would like to add a 2-4 channel receiver to my robot, but I want to keep the cost down. I would also like it to be as light as possible. The range only has to be 500-1000 feet. Does anyone know of a good source for the transmitter/receiver? Thanks.
GWS makes some of the cheapest stuff out there. Bear in mind that quality follows price. It should also be noted that using an aircraft radio for surface use is a definate no no, and therefor, your options are limited in the durface types of radio.
Hello,
could you please give a short explanation why that is a "no no"?
I'am planning also to use a RC for demonstration of the robot's hardware and i can not see why a aircraft RC is different to a RC for a boat or a car...
I've looked for used RC at eBay and cheap products at some online stores and found no specialities for aircraft RC.
Maybe there is a difference in RC's between Germany and the rest of the world?
Thnx in advance, Andreas.
In the US the Federal Communications Commission "allows" use of radio frequencies without an operator license for specific purposes, as long as any restrictions for that purpose are followed. The reason for the restrictions: For radio control models used in urban areas, interference is possible that could lead to damage to personal property or even bystanders, especially aircraft models. This can happen if two transmitters are operating on the same frequency.
To prevent someone's plane from falling to the ground when the engine of an RC car revs up, the FCC separates air and ground RC freqencies -- 72 MHz for air (channels 11-60) and 75 MHz for ground (channels 61+). This lessens (but doesn't totally avoid) possibly dangerous interfeence. There are additional frequencies in the 27 and 50 MHz ranges for general applications.
Technically you should use ground frequencies for a ground-based robot, but the thing is aircraft transmitters generally offer more channels than ground transmitters ("channels" here means control channels, not channels within a frequency group). Ground transmitters also tend to use pistol-grip controls, which isn't always helpful for bot operation -- at least IMO. So people tend to cheat, or opt for transmitters that accept crystals for both air and ground. Not all joystick-based radios can accept crystals for both air and ground, so it pays to check first.
All bets are off, as Germany has its own communications laws. This assumes your demo is in Germany ... if it's in the US, you need to follow US regs.
-- Gordon
Because if you are using an aircraft R/C while not hanging out at the local modell plae airfield, where you have the opportunity to talk about used and unused frequencies, you may very well interfere with an aircraft flying near your transmitter and make it crash, possibly hurting or event killing a person.
You may like to risk that, but I wouldnt't.
Oh, and secondly, because it is illegal.
Vantec will modify Aircraft radios for surface operation.
The same kind of rules apply to the UK so he really needs to double check the situation in Germany as well. Details in RA60:
Simon.
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