[NSRCA-discussion] RX choices

[Bob Richards]

John,
   
  I'm not surprised the manufacturers keep the PCM information (like packet specification, operating parameters, etc) private.  For one, that information could be considered a trade secret and they would not want competitors to know about it. On the other hand, they might be worried that a competitor would examine the data and discover some flaw or limitation in the technology and then publicly announce this fact. Still, I'm surprised no one has reverse engineered the PCM data stream from either JR or Futaba (maybe someone has, I just don't know).
   
  I'll take some issue with what you have said regarding the technology not changing since the '50s. I believe the '50s saw super-regen systems? After that, there was (is) super-heterodyne systems. Then, dual conversion and narrow band systems, as well as FM instead of AM.  PCM was added (really nothing to do with the RF, just a data link added to the existing RF systems). I think the systems today are more reliable than in the 70s when I first started, and they are having to do this in a much more polluted RF environment.
   
  Still, I agree with you that, as a group (modelers in general), we have not done a good job demanding more from the manufacturers. For most, cost seems to be the big issue, but we don't look at cost in terms of the big picture, like "a cheap receiver will cost you a lot AFTER you buy it".  Those of us that are competitors do a better job demanding more, IMHO.
   
  Bob R.
  

John Ferrell <johnferrell at earthlink.net> wrote:
  Although I fly Futaba I have a lot of respect for the JR receiver 
technology. It is the only thing new in receiver design other than the 
Futaba synthesized receiver since the early 1950's. The technology made the 
change to solid state but that was not taking advantage of any new design.

I can assure you that Ham radio receivers have made steady progress during 
that time even as prices came down.

The bigger problem is that we have no idea about the real specs on these 
receivers. The maintenance information is held very close and parts even 
closer. We have no idea how long it takes to cycle in and out of fail safe 
let alone any control over it. In fact we have no real indicator of failure 
thresholds. George Steiner has done a lot of work in this area such as his 
"missing frames" detector but his work has been hampered by lack of 
published specs by the manufactures with PCM.

I had hopes of improvements when HiTec swallowed Multiplex but it seems to 
me they have only used the acquisition to leverage their efforts to become 
another Futaba/JR/Airtronix.

We have not been demanding customers and we have put way too much faith in 
letting the suppliers make decisions for us!
John Ferrell W8CCW
"My Competition is not my enemy"
http://DixieNC.US

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ed Alt" 
To: 
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] RX choices


>
> Yep, I've been flying JR single conversion ABC&W sine the late 90's in 
> quite
> a number of different locations around the country and have never, not 
> once
> had the slightest indication of a problem. Lot's of time with ignition
> systems too. Must be some other cheesy single conversion receiver?
>
> Ed
>


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