Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Water Models / December 2004

Hi All,
   I received quite a bit of emails concerning adding more channels
to
an R/C system, so I will give you more inf., and if this is not quite
understandable, then send me another email.
   The systems I use are from Robbe and MCD in Canada. The Robbe
offers switchable in 8 channels as well as proportional in 8 channels.
MCD offers only switchable units in 8 or 16 channels. I just finished
a
custom 3 stick tranny with 16 extra channels for a fireboat.
   Both systems require adding switches to the tranny, and Robbe
requires adding pots for their proportional devices.
   The MCD design is one 3 x 4" decoder PCB that is extremely well
designed and built, that goes into the boat. It is an open PC board
that
you mount with screws in each corner. The tranny component is a nice
metal extrusion with momentary "tact" push switches. You can eliminate
these switches and use momentary toggles with center off to put
2 actions on each toggle. You place the switches as desired, but
I only use Robbe/Futaba Promars, F-14, F-16 type of trannys that
have unique "dash boards" to add the switches/pots. The MCD and Robbe
units have the feature of selecting toggle or momentary action for
each
channel.  MCD also needs to be calibrated, but this is easy to do.
   The Robbe has the tranny components mounted on prebuilt PC boards
that are snap in designs, for their radios, but can be modified for
other
systems. Robbe decoders are in sturdy plastic cases that look like
receivers.
   To install the systems, you plug/wire the tranny component into
the last
unused channel, and do the same for the decoder.
   For the submarine you can use proportional for left/right,
up/down,
engine, periscope, and diving planes for five channels. Add 16
switched
channels for radio channel number six, with one unused channel in a 7
channel radio. Or add 32 switched/proportional channels and use up all
7 radio channels. The ballast tank, 4 torpedoes, lights, sound, deck
gun
movement, crewman in a deck hatch, and everything else can be run from
the decoder.
   I prefer to use the MCD product since it is much cheaper than the
Robbe
and so far I have never had to use more than 6 proportional and 16
switched channels.
Hope this helps, have fun!!!