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Signal Lost,,, Ideas?

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R

robtangie

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Albia, Ia.
RC Driving Style
  1. Bashing
Classic Maxx with 3 channel Traxxas RX and TX. Began to work intermittently one day while I was doing setup during a winter cleaning/rebuild.
I checked the crystals to assure they had a good seat. Checked batteries and checked the power was getting to the RX with a volt tester. All checked out fine and eventually while I was trouble shooting the problem it quit working all together. Everything I seen lead me to believe the RX had quit, so I ordered a new one which arrived today.
Hooked it up only to find the same trouble... Not working... Again checked to assure power is getting to the RX and it seems fine. I do get the common servo jump when I turn the power on but no control from the TX.
I did try a second TX I have with no results either, but it is a 2 channel and I don't know for sure if it should work with my 3 channel RX.
Any ideas? Because I'm at a bit of a loss...
Thanks,
Rob.
 
Check your TX and RX antenna... That's about the only thing that you haven't mentioned checking...
:cool:
 
Ok, since maybe I've left little option for input let me ask this... Should the 2 channel TX also work on the 3 channel RX (provided they have the same crystals) ?... Because on my test it did not and I'm trying to figure out if I've had a crystal go bad. Or if something has gone wrong with the TX.

As for the antennas,,, Well both exist, and even if one or both were bad I should still get signal at bench testing distance.
Thanks,
Rob.
 
In a word: yes. The two channels (in this case steering and throttle) SHOULD still work all other things being equal. By that I mean AM vs. FM. 27 mHz vs. 75 mHz and so on...
 
I'm starting to think the Transmitter Crystal has gone bad.
I would suggest getting one with a different channel # and color than the one that's in it. It's always good to have a different channel in case one is being interfered with, and if there's still a problem, well, at least you still have the extra set.
If it all works, throw away the Tx crystal that's in it now.
 
Thanks for the input guys... I'm headed to the LHS (20miles away and Traxxas supporters) tomorrow. Planning to take the truck with me and try a set of crystals there. But if the problem merits buying a new TX I'll be invoking the Traxxas exchange program and coming home with a 2.4Ghz system...
I too feel it's most likely a crystal, but thought it seemed very odd for it to just quit during a bench test situation as opposed to during a good bashing. On the other hand I'm glad it did quit during a bench test because I watched as it stayed WOT (not running) as the TX/RX failed, giving me an easy lesson in why a Fail Safe is a must. So I also purchased a Venom fail safe to install when I find the problem.
I'll be sure to post in later with the results of my trip...
Thanks Again,
Rob.
 
Last edited:
Made it to the LHS today after all... Sure enough a new set of crystals brought it back to life. Good thing too because the LHS doesn't have their first shipment of the 2.4Ghz TXs in yet.
Regards,
Rob.
 

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