Digital Servos?

[MustangMan]

OK, excuse the ignorance here; just getting back into the hobby from a two year break...

I have all RTR stuff except for one Tamiya I built for my daughter. Since they are RTR they all have AM tx. I want to upgrade to a 2.4ghz system and have one tx for my five cars. I'm researching and looking for deals. I know you guys like the Spektrum, but I can't shell out 3 bills for something like that right now. Matter of fact I'm looking at the MX-Sport, as I've seen them online for under $100 (but you still get hammered $50 bucks a pop for rx!).:whhooo:

Anyway, I noticed some of these systems come with a digital servo. Again, with RTR stuff (roughly four years old) all my servos are basic except I have a Hi-Tec for steering in my Savage and converted the steering (with an HPI metal gear kit) to my throttle servo. Otherwise all my touring cars, MT2, etc. are stock servos.

Now to my question (finally, I know right?). Do I have to upgrade my servos to digital style to use 2.4ghz or is that just the newer style servo and that's what comes with these systems? I'm getting light headed at the thought of a new radio setup, four additional rx, and possibly all new servos!

So, what's the dealio?

Thanks...
Mark

 

[olds97_lss]

Old/new/digital/non-digital servos work fine with my spektrum.

I use the following servos on my rigs:
JR Z590M - standard metal gear - aftershock steering (2), jato t/b
JR Z8550 - digital high torque - savage steering
Hitec 985MG - coreless non-digital high torque - aftershock/savage t/b
TowerPro 995MG - Digital high torque - jato steering

I have used traxxas 2055/2018, futaba S3305, Hitec 645MG as well, all non-digital.

Digital servos are better in general for precision and holding power. They update their position more times per second which adds more holding power because they try more frequently to be where you tell them to be than a standard non-digital servo. This is partly why they use more power than a standard servo. They also have a tendency to whine when they are under load or the linkage is binding a bit. Those are the trade off's I know.

 

[Macguyver]

this might help understand things ..found that today while browsing

http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-servos.html

 

[Lessen]

No, you do not need digi's to run 2.4ghz.

 

[MustangMan]

Wow, that was a great read Macguyver. Thanks!

Thanks to Olds for the comments on your servo use. Nice to know I can hit the ground running with a new radio in the coming months and not need all new servos (though I will upgrade to digital ones as my old ones wear out/break)...

Mark

 

[Macguyver]

Wow, that was a great read Macguyver. Thanks!

Thanks to Olds for the comments on your servo use. Nice to know I can hit the ground running with a new radio in the coming months and not need all new servos (though I will upgrade to digital ones as my old ones wear out/break)...

Mark

no prob i found it pretty informative to

 

[Rolex]

I've got 5 helis, and I've been upgrading the older ones to digital. With a heli, digi servos are almost a must.