SEN 1398

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Category: Archive 2010
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Table of Contents - SEN 1398


  1. USA Junior Team Shirt
  2. Airtek Updates
  3. Endless September- October


USA Junior Team t-shirt

USA Junior Team t-shirt available: We have very nice team shirts available to sell, in small, medium, large, x large and xxlarge. They are $15 each, plus $5 postage for up to 5 shirts. Send you order to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I'll get them moving your way. Thanks, George Batiuk



Airtek Updates

I would like to make readers aware of a few changes to my free flight electronics.
 
First news is that I will no longer be making the Altimax altimeter because the sensor parts I use are no longer in production.  However I still have a small stock of altimeters that are built and ready to use.  I expect these may last the rest of the year but after they are gone there will not be any more.
 
Second news is that the RDT receivers are now available in several different configurations to suit various applications.  As RDT is now used in everything from fast power models to light indoor gliders it has been necessary to modify the design hardware and software for optimum performance in each case.  The original “timer” version and the more recent “stand alone” version will still be the standard solutions for most people, but the newer versions expand the possible applications of RDT.  One of the main features that is adjusted in these versions is the tradeoff between the receiver response time and the battery life.  The original receivers were designed to use very little battery power but the resulting response time could be up to a few seconds which is fine for most DT applications, but some newer applications demand a quicker response at the expense of using more power.
 
Note that there are no changes to the RDT transmitter and any of these receiver types can be made to match an existing transmitter.
 
The six receiver versions are summarized as follows:
 
RDT Receiver Options June 2010
 
RDTRX-TIMER
Original version designed to plug into existing electronic timer in the model.  Very low 2mA average current and response time of 1 to 3 seconds.
 
RDTRX-TIMER-IMMEDIATE
Plugs into existing timer like original version but operates at 100% power to give instant response for applications like power models where a fraction of a second can save the model.  Average current is 20mA.  The power can alternately be controlled by the host timer so that during critical phases of flight such as the power pattern response is immediate, but during the latter gliding flight the power can be cycled to save energy at the expense of a slower response.
 
RDTRX-SA
Original stand-alone version plugs into servo / battery.  Battery current is a very low 2mA average which easily allows for eight or more hours of flying with a 60mAh LiPo battery.  Response time up to a few seconds.
 
RDTRX-SA-FAST
Just like original stand-alone except programmed for fast response using more power staying awake 3 times more than the original.  Response time almost immediate at 0.5 seconds maximum and uses about 6mA average current.  Allows safe flying for a few hours.
 
RDTRX-SA-MOT
Stand-alone version optimized to drive a small pager motor instead of a servo for very light weight models.  Provides 2 wires which the user must connect to his own motor in place of the 3 pin servo connector.  Power to motor is applied for 10ms at DT which has been shown to be adequate to allow for reliable mechanism release but not too much to waste power or cause mouse trap problems.  Standard low 2mA current and response time of up to a few seconds.
 
RDTRX-SA-MOT-FAST
Same as the stand alone pager motor version above except with fast response.  Response time almost immediate at 0.5 seconds maximum and uses about 6mA average current.  Allows safe flying for a few hours.  Was developed for flying indoor gliders where a quick response can save a glider from being lost in the hanger girders or flying into scoreboards, lights, walls, etc...
 
Full details are on my website at:  http://mysite.verizon.net/resrqa3z/airtek/
 
Thanks, Ken

Endless September to October

Roger,
I have heard that motels in Lost Hills for the time we will be there for our Finals are filling up very quickly. Sounds like a lot of other things happen right then, ie, harvesting, construction, dog people, etc. Better make your reservations very soon.  George Batiuk




.........
Roger Morrell