Going to a new radio...

[Djbrady]

So I currently use an Airtronics Blazer radio and I want to move to a JR R-1 radio that I purchased with another car but sold the car, kept the radio.

I'm still new to the electronics portion of this hobby... apparently there's a huge difference from my Blazer to the R-1 and my current receiver pack won't cut it.. is that the case? Will my current XLs work with the new hardware or will I need to change them as well?

Thanks in advance.
-brady

 

[RC Addict]

Why would your receiver pack not cut it? What kind of pack is it?

 

[Djbrady]

It's also an Airtronics. It's an AM 75mhz.

I assumed there was something different from AM radio to the PPM or SPCM functions of the JR. (selectable w/in the radio). I thought the Blazer was an analog versus the R-1 being digital?

When I power up, the servos twitch like an idiot if the radio is w/in 3' of the car.. if I move it away from the car, they stop twitching but still don't respond to the controls. I did notice that the twitching distance increased just a bit from SPCM to PPM (about 1' further for PPM)

 

[RC Addict]

You said receiver pack earlier so I was assuming you were talking battery pack. So you are trying to use the Airtronics reciver with the JR transmitter, correct?

If that is the case it will not work. The Airtronics is 75 mHz AM and the JR is 75 mHz FM.

 

[Djbrady]

Doh... yeah, I meant receiver electronics, not batteries..

Okay.. AM/FM is the difference there..

Will I have to change the crystals as well? (are they am/fm specific?)

I'll pick up an FM receiver on ebay in a few and crystals if needed.

Thanks again.

Ok... got one other question....

Going from an AM to an FM receiver, will the power requirements be any different or can I use the same battery pack?


Thanks again.

 

[Scrogg]

Just get a matching AM or FM system and you'll be fine. I always recommend running a 1200 mah NiMh Rx 5 cell pack or higher. Radio gear is not the part of the hobby to be cheap with.

 

[Djbrady]

It's not a matter of being cheap about the radios.. I just wanted to see if it would work or if I needed to upgrade.

So FM is FM is FM? I see things like FM Narrowband and FM PCM and things like that... I didn't know if that limited my options... there's some Futaba, Hitec and Tekin FM 3 channel radios for a decent price that I'm looking into, but wanted to make sure that they would work alright for me.

Thanks again

 

[RC Addict]

Doh... yeah, I meant receiver electronics, not batteries..

Okay.. AM/FM is the difference there..

Will I have to change the crystals as well? (are they am/fm specific?)

I'll pick up an FM receiver on ebay in a few and crystals if needed.

Thanks again.

Ok... got one other question....

Going from an AM to an FM receiver, will the power requirements be any different or can I use the same battery pack?

Thanks again.

AM is Amplitude Modulation and FM is Frequency Modulation. They are in no way compatible.

You don't need crystals. Get this receiver: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/products_id/3452 and "dial in" your chosen channel and program the R-1 with the same channel.

Like Scrogg said: Get the best receiver pack you can--1200 to 1600 mAh.

 

[Djbrady]

No no... I know that... when I said, "AM/FM is the difference there", I wasn't making that a question... I was saying, "OH... the difference there is AM and FM.

Based on what I read, I thought there was a difference in AM and FM crystals.. but you say that any pair of crystals will work in either radio system?

 

[ohmygahitscoby]

Your transmitter and receiver can only be AM compatible or FM compatible.

 

[RC Addict]

No no... I know that... when I said, "AM/FM is the difference there", I wasn't making that a question... I was saying, "OH... the difference there is AM and FM.

Based on what I read, I thought there was a difference in AM and FM crystals.. but you say that any pair of crystals will work in either radio system?

If you want to use the JR radio it does not use crystals. Therefor, if you get the receiver I suggested you just set the two pots to the channel you want to use and then program the transmitter with the same two digit code and you are good to go. No crystals at all.

 

[Djbrady]

Taken from my JR R-1 manual,

"Transmitter Module
The R-1 features a replaceable module which allows for the
changing of frequencies or bands. To remove the module,
press the tabs located on the module inward while pulling
the module out. Replacement crystals and modules are
available separately, allowing frequency changes to be
made."


I went all through the setup and I don't see where it allows me to program a frequency. Unless I'm mistaken, this radio gets its frequency from a crystal.

 

[RC Addict]

Sorry if I was wrong about YOUR radio. Was just trying to help. I thought you had the JR R-1 PMC...

This http://www.rcboca.com/dsm-3ch-surface-system-jr-r-1.html will snap right into the module center on the back of your R-1 and allow you true Digital Spectrum Modulation. This would really rock. Later...

 

[Djbrady]

No worries... just wanted to make sure I had all the information correct.

That DSM is a pretty sweet setup, but more coin than I want to invest in a basher for now.

Okay... ordered some FM crystals and an FM 3ch receiver. Will see how all that works out when it comes in.

Thanks for all the info.

 

[RC Addict]

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you. I have a JR XR2i and absolutely love the radio. Top-notch gear IMO!