JR Macgregor - DSX9

[trvo]

You can in fact switch the flight mode switch over.. my dad has done it to his PCM9xII.. and no doubt will be doing it shortly to his DSX9.. I think it is close on the leads but from what I remember it will reach.

Cool, I didn't bother trying as it wasn't my tx.

Is this only with the 9 ch spectum rx?
I have 2 AR7000 and 1 AR6200 and had no probs at all so far - but with one heli out of commission I'm wondering about sending them off one by one for quick connect upgrade.
I'm hoping your problem isn't a downside to the quick connect software upgrade!

This was only the 9ch, the 7ch's that I had were flawless...

Trev

[Tom Burgess]

Is the DSX9 the same as an X9303 in the states?

Tom

[SRH990]

Is the DSX9 the same as an X9303 in the states?

Tom

No, apart from the obvious output level difference the X9303 is fixed mode and has an anologue throttle trim plus differences in switch placement, the DSX9 is programmable mode, any from 1 to 4, and has a digital throttle trim.

[Janek]

Why would we pay this amount of money for a relatively old Tx that's just had a 2.4G module fitted ?

Their having a laugh

I'll lay money on them saying "but we had to pay all that money for CE type approval". . . . . . . I say bull locks

[marktigere1]

Why would we pay this amount of money for a relatively old Tx that's just had a 2.4G module fitted ?

Because this is Rip Off Britain thats why.

Makes me sick

[Bruinbear]

I still want a DSX9, but will be waiting a while until they become available at a sensible price.
It looks really great in the posted photo, but why does it say 'JR Propo' on the box ? Surely it should be 'JR Macgregor' ?
Forgive me for being stupid here, but why exactly do we have to have less power output than in the USA ?
Mike.

[mac_man]

Guys, I wish I could say something to ease the situation but I can't. Mike, the reason why we have less power than the USA is because we are tied down by the European Regulations as to what power output we can use. This is reinforced by OFCOM. Luckily its not a DSSS system otherwise we would be lower powered.

The box is the bog standard box that all DSX9's are shipped out in irrespective of its final destination.

All JR Propo high end systems are manufactured in Japan, their lower systems are made in Malaysia. The Spektrum systems are manufactured in Taiwan etc.

It's not just a 9XII with a module fitted, the 9XII board has been added to, the firmware has been rewritten using the 9XII as its basis so as to give the modelmatch functionality & the servosynch.

JR HAVE to buy the preloaded RF pcb's in from Spektrum/Horizon. They do not manufacture this part as far as I am aware. The RF pcb has the Spektrum copyright & logo embedded on it.

I have no idea if Spektrum are loading the price on these as this would be between JR & Horizon. The RF board has the EU limits preloaded (think of when you are installing a wireless network, you get the prompt asking you what part of the world you are in ? This loads the limits allowed into the software. As our system is sold within the EU, this decision has already been taken for us).

All I hope is that one day JR can develop their own system again.

But pricing is out of my hands completely, but I can think of various factors.... increase in cost from JR, increase in fuel costs, decreasing value of the £ / Yen, "normal inflation", etc etc.

Trust me, we are not driving Bentleys, smoking 14" fat yank cigars or washing our hands in Dom Perignon.

[Toolman]

Hi Macman,

Just found your home on RCMF, like the Scotty Avatar!

Could you advise on relocating the Flight mode & hold switches, swapping them round.
Also will moving affect warranty?

Thanks

Tim.

[mac_man]

Tim,

I will look into it in the morning (assuming I'm fully compos mentis. Just had to take my eldest to A&E and am expecting a call back some time in the early hours to go and get her or possibly take an overnight bag for her. ) and will get back to you.

If the install is done in a neat & tidy manner, I forsee no problems as to voiding the warranty. I have seen some abortions in my time on soldering ( big clumpy soldering joints with stray solder blobs shorting connectors out !!).

You "may " have to extend the 2 switch cables but until I look in greater detail at the pcb & wiring I can't tell. It might even be as easy as swopping over 2 of the socket inserts, it looks difficult but it is a doddle.

Will report back ASAP.

As scotty says, ye canna change the law of physics captain ! probably my favourite saying !

[pchristy]

Regarding swapping the switches around: I've done this on my old PCM9 (a mk1, not a mk2) and I've just done it on my new, gleaming DSX-9. It isn't hard, but you DO need to be good with a soldering iron, have steady hands and reasonable eyesight!!!

(In my case, experience compensates for the latter two!!!)

The leads won't reach across the box, so you will need to make up an extension and solder it to the existing leads. Each switch has an earth wire, and one or two signal wires. The switches just short the signal wires to earth to indicate whether the switch is open or closed. The earth leads (black) do NOT need swapping over, as they are the same for each switch.

So - you need to extend one wire across the case for the dual rate switch, and two for the flight-mode switch. I used a piece of computer ribbon cable, and stripped three appropriately coloured strands out of it. Keep your extensions reasonably short - having long wires flopping around close to RF modules is a BAD idea! When you join the leads, make sure to cover the joins with heatshrink tubing! Having exposed solder joints flopping around inside is also a BAD IDEA!

Before you start, make a sketch of which colour wire goes where, so that you can refer back to it when you get confused ;-)

After that, its pretty plain sailing. I'm not going to go into any further detail, because if you can't figure it out from there, you SHOULDN'T BE ATTEMPTING IT!

DON'T DO IT unless you are REALLY confident of your soldering skills!

Regarding power output, I've said this time and time again - THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED for more than 100mW! All the Futaba 2.4 GHz sets are 100mW. All our 35 MHz gear is 100mW.

Remember, these rules were drawn up for short range computer data links - NOT RC!

In the US, distances between buildings are greater, and they need more power to punch through walls at a distance. This doesn't apply to RC! Believe me, 100mW is more than you will ever need!

To use an analogy: There is nothing stopping you putting a 1000 BHP engine in your car - but that doesn't mean its a smart thing to do!

I don't think I am breaching any confidences by adding to what MacMan has said - no-one ever got rich working for MacGregors! But bear in mind that MacGregors are still going strong and supporting their products long after Skyleader, Sprengbrook, RCS, and all the other "big name" manufacturers of a few years ago have long since disappeared!

When I buy a set of radio gear, I treat it as an investment, and I expect it to last me many years. I still have - in working order - a Bonner Digimite 8 that I bought 2nd hand in 1967, A Grundig Variophon from 1965, and a Sprengbrook from 1972. OK, they are museum pieces now, but they could still be used if I wanted! I expect my DSX-9 to have a useful working life of an absolute minimum of 5 years, hopefully nearer 10! Look at the price over that period, and it becomes a much more attractive proposition!

Cheers,

--
Pete

[Toolman]

Thanks guys,

It’s great to have advice from someone who has done this already.
I am going to have a go probably at the weekend when I have more time.
Will post pictures if anyone’s interested.

Pete, did you do anything with the labels or just leave as is?
Where's that dymo printer . . .

Tim.

[marktigere1]

Tim,

I will look into it in the morning (assuming I'm fully compos mentis. Just had to take my eldest to A&E and am expecting a call back some time in the early hours to go and get her or possibly take an overnight bag for her. ) and will get back to you.

Hi Mac_man

Hope everything is okay with your eldest.

My comment about rip off Britain was not meant personally at JR but more a sweeping statement which I usually try not to do in public forum.

I try and keep away from political stuff on this forum as well as it usually leads to bad feeling.

I work in the electronics industry and believe me find it amazing that we can afford to make anything at all. Component costs are not on a level playing field. We manufacturers in the UK pay a lot for components which is why most move abroad. The government rather than helping manufacturing industries such as mine, do little and prefer to call it the 'Global Market' ie. live with it and our tax system. That makes me even more sick.

Apologies if I caused any offense Mac_man

Cheers

Mark

[pchristy]

Pete, did you do anything with the labels or just leave as is?
Where's that dymo printer . . .

Tim.

No, I just left them as is!

I know which switch is which, and that's all that matters !

8-)

--
Pete

[mac_man]

No offense taken

Brain is still sluggish... dropped daughter & memsahib at A&E at about 1230am, got back to assist youngest with her preparation for Uni interview this afternoon, dropped off to sleep in chair about 3 ish, got the phone call to go & pick up from A&E at about 0550, got back home for about 7, shower then off to work !!

So I'm in zombie mode at the moment.....

Tim, are talking moving all 4 switches ( ie T Hold & Rudd DR to the right hand side and putting the TRN & Flight Mode to the left ) ??

If so then I shall have to rethink. I might try and get some Mode 1 label sets (if they are available) from JR.

Tony

[pchristy]

MacMan,

I don't know about others, but I just switch the FlightMode and Rudder Dual rate switches over. That way I have all the throttle commands on my left hand - as on the PCM-10 - except the "kill/trainer" switch.

If its any consolation, kids don't get any less troublesome as they get older!!!! 8-/

--
Pete