[NSRCA-discussion] Looking for a Proline Tx with Chidgey sticks

Wed Mar 15 03:56:44 AKST 2006

I built many of the Ace kits including an "ultimate" silver seven.  Articles
were published (I think by Jim, or was Fred Marks writing them) of combining
different option boards.  I remember combining circuits so that I had, dual
rates, expo with adjustable curves on a rotary dial (you had to switch 2 or
3 resisters to change curves), and 2 mixing circuits that could be switched
from the outside of the transmitter (dumb idea actually), but the mix could
be turned on or off.  I remember it being very hard to get everything to
work without moving the center position of the servo when flipping circuits.
Numerous caps soldered to ground and braided shielding around bundles of
wires to try to avoid this.  I used a standard red aluminum case with the
top angled like some of the "new" imported radios, and the cool Kraft dual
side by side meter, with RF on one side and battery voltage on the other.  I
had to make my own circuit using zenar diodes to get the meters to work.  No
clue how that worked :-)  The transmitter was damaged in a car crash and I
had to switch to my new Futaba 512 pcm 2 weeks before the 85 Nats.  I was
waiting till after the Nats to switch so I didn't have a new radio to get
used to :-) 

Stuart

  _____  

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ed Miller
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 5:43 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Looking for a Proline Tx with Chidgey sticks

Did this many years ago. Had a Kraft Gold Medal series 6 channel with the
chrome cup sticks on 27mhz. The first Ace Silver 7 parts to come out were
made to fit into an existing transmitter.  At the WRAMS show I purchased the
kit and installed it in that old Kraft, dual rates, end point adjustments,
AM 72mhz RF board, Ace 7 channel AM dual conversion RX, exponential, snap
button, etc. Sold the TX and RX some years ago to a flyer in NJ. Built my
share of Heathkit radios, 1 complete Silver 7 and Controlaire servos. IMO
you'd be hard pressed today to build something as feature rich and
comfortable as what is commercially available from Futaba, JR and
Airtronics.

Ed M. 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: John Pavlick <mailto:jpavlick at idseng.com>  

To: Emory <mailto:emorydmd at earthlink.net>  Schroeter ; NSRCA Mailing List
<mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>  

Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 9:55 PM

Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Looking for a Proline Tx with Chidgey sticks

Emory,

These guys are out of control. Well, at least I know Ed is and I suspect
that Gordon is too although I have not met him personally. Don't try this at
home... OK, if you must know, they're building transmitters with custom
encoder modules. Basically a "computer" transmitter built out of the old
(high-quality - not cheap plastic) guts combined with a micro-controller
based encoder. Lots of fun!!! I guess I have to build one now too. Check out
Gordon's site - lots of cool stuff: www.mstar2k.com
<http://www.mstar2k.com/>  .

John Pavlick
http://www.idseng.com <http://www.idseng.com/> 

-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]On Behalf Of Emory
Schroeter
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 9:41 PM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Looking for a Proline Tx with Chidgey sticks

Alright. My interest is peaked, but I have no clue what you guys are doing
to these Proline transmitters. For those of us that may be electronically
challenged, what modifications are you floks making???

Thanks, Emory

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Gordon Anderson <mailto:GAA at owt.com>  

To: 'NSRCA Mailing List' <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>  

Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 9:33 PM

Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Looking for a Proline Tx with Chidgey sticks

Ed,

6.8K SIPs will work fine. I used 10K but these are just pull up resistors so
6.8K will work fine. The source code is available, I have been sending it
out on a request basis but I will post it on the web site soon. Regarding
the receiver; the MC13111 is indeed discontinued but I have 250 of these
parts in stock. I did a life time buy as they were going out of production.
This is a great part, a one chip synthesized receiver chip, perfect for a RC
receiver. 

I too build a heathkit RC system with my dad years a go, indeed the good old
days! Growing up with single channel escapement systems and reeds is what
captured by interest in electronics, remember the Digitrio systems? I have
all the documentation and a complete system.

--Gordon

  _____  

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ed Alt
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:06 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Looking for a Proline Tx with Chidgey sticks

Hi Gordon:

I've been a lurker on the MP8K list for a while and finally decided to build
the mstar 2K yesterday. I'm just about done except I have to get
replacements for the resistor networks, having 8 pin SIPs instead of 9 pin -
whoops! Those are 6.8K, correct?  Other than that, I haven't run into any
snags yet, but I will definitely take you up on your kind offer to assist if
needed.

I thought I saw something about source becoming available for the MP8K, but
I didn't realize the mstar 2K would be open source - very interesting.
Looking forward to the upgrade as well.  Re. the PulseStar receiver, that
looked really interesting too.  Did the MC13111 really get discontinued?
It's a shame if so.  I have to say, the projects you have done are really
admirable.  It's great to see this kind of project still available these
days.  I built a Heathkit GD-19 when I was a kid, when it was still fairly
common for hobbyists to build their own stuff, including servo kits from
World Engines etc.  That Heathkit still works, KPS-9 servos and all and I
flew with it right up until the mid 80's, though I did eventually replace
the receiver with an Ace Silver 7.  The good old days...

Thanks

Ed

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Gordon Anderson <mailto:GAA at owt.com>  

To: 'NSRCA Mailing List' <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>  

Sent: Monday, March 13, 2006 10:52 PM

Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Looking for a Proline Tx with Chidgey sticks

Ed,

Thanks for the interest in my Encoder. The Proline transmitters are getting
hard to find, the last one I picked up was at Northwest Model Expo. I'm sure
you are aware of my web site, www.mstar2k.com, you can find all the
technical data on this site. I'm happy to help you with this project.
Electronics is my second hobby and my projects open to the public through my
web site. I would estimate about 50 to 70 systems have been built to date.
This is the only "open source" design available.

I will be designing a next generation encoder using the PIC18F8722. This
encoder will be smaller but it will be next fall before it is complete. This
version will have digital or analog trim options as well as other upgrades.
Again, thanks for your interest and good luck with your project.

--Gordon

BTW; I'm a licensed Radio Amateur (KG7YU) and all my home built electronics
are on the HAM bands.

  _____  

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ed Alt
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2006 7:30 PM
To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Looking for a Proline Tx with Chidgey sticks

I'm looking to buy a ProLine 2 stick transmitter for an update project I'm
doing.  I'm building a Gordon Anderson Microstar 2000 encoder and was
originally going to fit it into a Kraft Tx, but the fit is fairly tight and
the open Gimbal Kraft sticks just aren't as good as the Chidgey sticks were.
The ProLine was taller and everything ought to fit better.  I can make the
Kraft conversion work, but the ProLine approach is much more appealing.
Anyone know of a source for one?  Tired of trolling eBay...

Thanks

Ed

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