Friday 21 October 2011

Designing a transmitter setup for F3F

F3F models are amongst the most demanding in terms of programming. Over the years, I've programmed a variety of radios for this task. These include the Futaba FF7 Super, MPX 3030, MPX 4000, MPX Royal Evo, MPX Cockpit SX, Futaba 12FG and FrSky X9D+ running OpenTx. More recently, on a FrSky X20 running Ethos.

Sunday 25 September 2011

Multiplex Cockpit SX in Hahnenmoos

My blog has been a little quiet, so let me bring you up to date.

In August I spent a fantastic stag weekend in Hahnenmoos in the Swiss alps with a group of F3F flyers from the UK and Switzerland, all at the kind invitation of our Swiss F3F flyer friend Stefan Bertschi.

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Multiplex web site changes

Multiplex appear to have done a big revamp to their web site, which has a new more modern look. The site does have a few issues though - it seems painfully slow at times, and the content of the English version is incomplete.

Among the content missing from the English section are the USB drivers for the data cable (#85149). These drivers are required by the Launcher program. If you can't find the USB drivers in the English version, just dip into the German version and you'll find them there.

Wednesday 3 August 2011

iCharger 106B - impressions

A few months ago, I decided to replace my aging Schulze 330d charger. In truth I never really took to it - the menu navigation and a lack of flexibility made it frustratingly awkward to use. I also wanted something with a built in LiPo balancer.

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Unboxed! The Cockpit SX M-LINK

As promised, some photos of the 'unboxing' of my new Cockpit SX M-LINK. First I should explain that the 'Action' which I bought last week had to be go back to the shop - the trims were malfunctioning due to a hardware problem. As West London Models had no more Actions in stock, I exchanged it for an 'Elegance' instead.

Saturday 23 July 2011

My Multiplex Cockpit SX. It's in there, somewhere!

Let me introduce you to my latest R/C system. Yes, I know you can't tell from the photo, but take it from me, it is bright yellow, and it has one of those diddy little aerials which mark you out as a thoroughly modern modeller!

Saturday 25 June 2011

Cockpit SX 2.4 GHz - new variants spotted

Last weekend, at the Wings n Wheels model show, I finally got to see Multiplex's newly launched Cockpit SX variants, the 'Elegance' and the 'Action'.

Spektrum DX10t - Beauty or beast?

This weekend  I should have been flying at the F3F Nationals in Wales, but a last minute commitment on Sunday forced me to withdraw. Every cloud has a silver lining though, and I was at least able to visit the annual 'Wings 'n Wheels' model show on the Saturday, where I cast my eyes on the new Spektrum DX10t.

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Loosening the shackles of Windows

Having been spent much of my professional life dependent on Microsoft Windows, it seems odd to start doubting its utility. Yet with the popularity of Mac and Linux, not to mention upstarts like Android and Chromium OS,  the options are widening. For me, this comes as good news.

Monday 7 February 2011

Dogfight double: Jeti Duplex and Multiplex M-LINK

With all the talk about Multiplex's M-LINK telemetry system, it's easy to forget that it was another manufacturer, Jeti, that was first to market with a reliable bi-directional 2.4 GHz system. In fact M-LINK and Jeti's Duplex system are very similar - so similar that's it's hard to believe that Duplex wasn't in Multiplex's minds when they were designing M-LINK. Both systems permit the design of small telemetry-capable receivers, with the option of programmable external sensors. And both systems work very well.

Friday 4 February 2011

Some thoughts on the latest Multiplex releases

Those clever chaps at Multiplex must have been working pretty hard recently, judging by the number of M-LINK 2.4 GHz products launched at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. Some interesting/curious/cool things which caught me eye:

Friday 28 January 2011

Multiplex at Nuremberg

Amidst all this talk of gloom and doom with the economy, I've been told that Multiplex will be cheering us up with the release of some interesting M-LINK goodies at Nuremberg.

Multiplex are also supporting third party manufacturers who wish to incorporate M-LINK telemetry  in their products. For anyone interested in R/C, and in particular for Multiplex-watchers, it's interesting times!

Update 31 Jan Gordon Upton has posted a 'teaser' on RCMF

Wednesday 19 January 2011

Telemetry with M-LINK, and some thoughts on the Spektrum DX8

Today I had my first taste of Multiplex's telemetry system in action. I flew my Easy Glider electric with two sensors: the 35 Amp current sensor, and Altimeter/vario. Controlling this lot was a Multiplex Royal Pro 12 M-LINK transmitter and RX-7-DR M-LINK receiver.

Monday 3 January 2011

Multiplex M-LINK telemetry - first thoughts

Multiplex are making quite a splash these days. Their M-LINK 2.4 GHz spread spectrum system is bi-directional, and supports a neat system of fully integrated telemetry.