New DX8 - great tx but just a question on results of a range test....

[MartinW]

MQX has limited telemetry.

[EDIT] Well, the DX8 reports that it does at least!

[patmacca]

Thanks for all the replies. What I did was walk back slowly from the model (facing it at all times) and just to verify the antenna was in the 11'o'clock position for the testing and i got less than 10 metres when those readings appeared. I've been in touch with Horizon and they're suggesting that I return the DX8 to them for inspection just as a precaution along with the MQX as it does sound like a problem with either one. I'll keep you posted on what the results are.

[Zeeflyboy]

Yeah well 10m is short.

Just FYI to the best of my knowledge the telemetry regarding frames etc is part of the DSM X protocol... It's not full blown telemetry. When you bind you'll probably notice it goes to DSMX and will say telemetry too.

The 130X is the same.

[patmacca]

Brilliant news, got my dx8 back today and it has been passed with a clean bill of health. Horizon sent a note to say all the tests were fine. They've asked me to send in the MQX (I didnt send it in originally) but I'll not bother as others have said it will never get very far from me and there has not been any flight problems just the range issue. I'm just relieved that I can get back to flying while we still have decent weather.

[patmacca]

Well had my tx back 2 days and now I've noticed my aileron won't centre properly despite recalibration. It constantly flickers between 0-2 and has been upto 4 on the monitor ( with no input from me). I've got a small gitter on the servo of my blade msr that appears to correspond with the aileron movement on the tx. Guess its back to horizon again, they've had my tx more than me. Not good

[patmacca]

I got the dx8 back today and the note from horizon says -

Remarks: Could not replicate fault here, gimbal has newer style pots and always returning to 1-2% when tested here even after working the gimbal for some time.

Resoluion: Right gimbal replaced, calibrated and both gimbals tested, all working ok. Returned directly to customer as requested at following address......


Great I though until I turned on the monitor and still have the same issue. Despite recalibration the monitor still shows the intermitant not centering (flickering readings at centre) I may be a little OCD but as far as I'm concerned that's not acceptable however Horizon are saying tough, it's within there acceptable tolerances. Does anyone else think this is right? Are people flying issue free with similar problems on their dx8's.

[Swashbuckler]

No it's not right and is such a frequently occuring problem with the DX8 I for one think it shouldn't be on the market. Horizon are "good" with their service but this isn't about that, it's about a product not being fit for purpose, I sent mine back for the 4th and final time after it smashed my logo for me. I sent a long letter with pictures and detailing the previous 3 returns (all gimbal faults), I asked them to give me my money back for the TX and to compensate me for my Logo. I know of at least two people that they have compensated for damaged models which says to me they know only too well about the DX8 problem. Guess what 5 months on and I have not had a thing. I have long since replaced my model and switched to JR. As far as I'm concerned Horizon sell shoddy goods at the cheap end of the market, and the only reason that they have a good reputation for service is that nearly everyone who has bought something from them has had to return it. If I was you I'd demand a refund and buy a different transmitter, and it wouldn't be a DX10 or DX18

To Horizon: YOU SUCK.

[patmacca]

Well according to Horizon unless it's faulty I cannot return for a refund. Guess I'm stuck with it then.

[jimmyhorns]

Great I though until I turned on the monitor and still have the same issue. Despite recalibration the monitor still shows the intermitant not centering (flickering readings at centre) .

What are the readings flickering inbetween?...

[patmacca]

What are the readings flickering inbetween?...

when i power on the tx and go to monitor it flickers 0-1 it seem to get worse after extended use. Sometimes it centres on 1 or 2. I know its not massively off but it annoys me.

[miniconverter]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but I doubt Horizon will ever fix it. Gimbals RF boards DSM2 backwards compatibility issues vibration alarm problems its got the lot. Have finally got rid of my DX8 (I know I should have thrown it in a skip) and will be buying a JR XG11 when I have been on holiday in a couple of weeks.

Receivers are expensive for the JR but cheaper than smashed up helis and planes. Will also be geting rid of the DX7 and 13 receivers as I will need to fund some receivers when I have the JR so watch this space. Must admit the DX7 has been faultless but its really a JR. Will also be geting rid of the Msr and the Mcpx, and will never again spend 1 penny of my money on an Horizon product.

Swashbukler is correct and very polite by saying Horizon sell shoddy goods as I can't put what I think as children may read it. Horizon somehow have built some kind of great reputation through great customer service but just ask why do they need this customer service? Forth rate products from a third rate company and all at top prices.

And to the Horizon rep that told me at the nationals that he didn't know of any real problems with the DX8 I hope you read these forums.

[Swashbuckler]

IMO it starts small then one day boom it can jump to 10+. Mine boomstruck while doing nothing strenuous, when I landed my monitor read a centre of 12 and was flickering about. Flybarless electronics doesn't like to be messed about like that. When it was down in the "acceptable numbers" (LOL) it would frustrate me that you could never get the vbar subtrim and endpoints quite right, as one day it would be centring properly then another it could be 1 or 2 which throws the endpoints out as well. My JR doesn't, I'd place a bet the Futaba doesn't, Hitec, Multiplex and probably Turnigy and Frsky don't. The DX8 is flawed they know it and they don't want to deal with it.

[Swashbuckler]

Mini I just stuck with DSM2 and bought the JR DSX11. Saved all that money on rxs. I have 2.5 planks and 5.75 helicopters.

[jimmyhorns]

when i power on the tx and go to monitor it flickers 0-1 it seem to get worse after extended use. Sometimes it centres on 1 or 2. I know its not massively off but it annoys me.

Thats actually not bad for a mechanical system to centre to that level. I get 0s on mine, sometimes 0-1 sometimes 0 - -1 , and that only represents 1% over the whole scale, just like yours (its reads 100 - 0 - 100 on the monitor, which is actually 200%, so a reading of 0 to 2 is only 1% of the scale).

This isnt going to make any difference, as it will be within the 'dead zone' of a gyro or FBL systems as I understand them (just starting to dabble with the Vbar).

If it was jumping about with no stick movement, i.e. going from 5 to 15 or similar then this is an issue, but yours isnt. moving from 0 to 1 doesnt represent a significant change.

There are plenty of Spektrum haters about, and I can see both sides to the story, however I have had no significant issues with mine.

If you arnt happy with yours then either sell it and get something else, or just get something else. I suspect you wont have trouble selling it though.

[Swashbuckler]

Far from being a Spektrum hater, maybe a Spektrum ex lover. I had the DX7 when it first came out, then a DX7 se, then the DX8. I stuck with it for over a year even though it periodically went back and everyone else at my club abandoned theirs. Indeed I still happily use Spektrum satellites with my JR. What I and Miniconvertor have said on this thread is that the DX8 has flaws with this gimbal problem being one. We and a lot of other people believe when they parted with JR and made the DX8 they lost quality. On a brand new transmitter you would expect it to centre reliably, not flicker about. I don't believe its the gimbal pots anyway, more some sort of firmware bug that they can't trace. Whatever its dodgy and you will eventually find that out. Why did they feel the need to add user access to calibration? That's the sort of thing that should only need doing at a service centre when a pot is replaced.