[NSRCA-discussion] Futaba and pattern

[Gordon Anderson]

Ron,
 
There is a Yahoo email list and a good size group of subscribers,
MP8K at yahoogroups.com. A fellow named Dan Thompson has has the MicroPro source
code and has developed a few upgrades to the transmitter.
You can see my developments at www.mstar2k.com. I designed and built an encoder
that is similar to the MicroPro, I call it a MicroStar. Mine has 1024 resolution
where the MicroPro is limited to 256. About 100 or so MicroStars have been
built, its a pretty small group of electronics geeks. The Yahoo list caters to
both groups.
I have also designed a receiver and a few other items, all on my web site.
 
--Gordon

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From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ron Van Putte
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2007 8:30 AM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Futaba and pattern


I was talking with a local R/C electronic techie a couple of days ago. He built
one of the Micropro systems years ago and he still uses it. Apparently there's a
"support group" for these radios. There are repair and service items and even
new "stuff" is available from a few sources via a url that I could find out, but
didn't at the time. 

Ron

On Dec 22, 2007, at 8:16 AM, John Ferrell wrote:


FWIW, I am with you all the way on this issue. 

It is unfortunate that the Micropro was killed in its infancy. The auto trim
feature seems like a no brainer to me.
The rubber duck antenna was handy as well. 

If the legal aspects would permit it I believe it might be practical to build a
MicroPro type radio with Futaba and/or JR RF modules.

Another neat feature it had was that you only needed to transmit the channels
you were using. I cannot remember if that permitted a higher update rate for the
servos.
John Ferrell W8CCW
"Life is easier if you learn to plow 
around the stumps"
http://DixieNC.US


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bob Richards <mailto:bob at toprudder.com>  
To: NSRCA Mailing List <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>  
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 5:56 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Futaba and pattern

Ok, my 2CW.
I really like the idea of the USB connector. Hmmm, not a new idea, really, I
could do that with my Ace Micropro back in 1992. Could save all the airplane
programs onto computer disk via a serial port. Could pull up the program
information on the computer and edit the values (although it was not a GUI
interface, it was still nice).
Another thing would be program independent buddy box capability. In other words,
the slave transmitter need only to send the stick positions to the master radio.
That information would then be applied to the program in the master radio. No
need to make sure the slave and master radios are operating with the same
program. Hmmm, again, not really a new idea, I could do that with the Micropro
radio back in 1992. :-)
Autotrim. Lets say you have just taken off with an airplane that is out of trim.
Instead of fumbling around for multiple trim levers (or buttons) you just press
one button and keep flying the plane straight and level. The autotrim function
will apply trim changes automatically to any of the the three flight channels so
that the sticks slowly move back to neutral. Again, the Micropro had that
feature.
I liked a lot of the features of the old Micropro radio, my big complaint was
that it was only 256 resolution. That alone was reason not to use it in pattern.
As for the 2.4 ghz using the internal antenna connection, that is not likely to
happen on the old radios. I like the fact that I can swap the module with a 72
mhz module and not have to fumble with mounting an antenna with an external
cable.
I have flown Futaba for over 20 years, and have had good service. However, I
wish there was better support/marketing in my area of the country. We had a huge
fly-in last year (Fly-for-Tots) with over 200 registered pilots. Horizon/JR sent
lots of stuff, including sponsered pilots to fly demos. Futaba did send a couple
of flags and items for the raffle, but it was a hugh disparity with what
Horizon/JR did. I am in a distinct minority in my club since most of the guys
fly JR, so I caught a lot of crap as a result.
Just my 2CW.
Bob R.


Derek Koopowitz <derekkoopowitz at gmail.com> wrote:

Futaba is looking for some new product ideas for upcoming equipment and they are
interested in seeing what ideas we all have for the pattern arena that could be
new and inventive. This could be anything from updating current equipment to new
product development. 
If you could put some thoughts together in an email to me, I'll make sure that
they're sent to Futaba USA's attention. I'll need to have this back no later
than the end of the year!
Thanks!
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