EzUHF wireless repeater

[htran]

Ok, I've just received my EzUHF. I have a Futaba 14MZ radio with a FASST module and a JR9XII with RMILEC LRS module. I want to use the EzUHF with my Futaba 14MZ.

First test was putting both RX next to each other and seeing if putting the other's TX antenna next to the RX antenna would cause any glitches or failsafe.

The good new is that EzUHF and RMILEC LRS play nice with each other.

However, three things disappointed me with my EzUHF.

1. The carbon fibre panel as shown on all the online pics doesn't exist on my EzUHF TX, its all metal case.

2. The EzUHF wasn't able to draw power from the 14MZ using the supplied trainer cable. The only way I could get power from the 14MZ is to switch Teacher mode on instead of Student mode, but obviously teach mode is for receiving PPM not transmitting PPM. I know this isn't a EzUHF issue, but it needs to be mentioned for other 14MZ users.

3. Can't mount the EzUHF onto the 14MZ, as it can't take a normal TX stand, you can't just strap it onto the TX stand.

I managed to make a work around to points 2 and 3.

I bound my FrSky TF4 FASST RX to my 14MZ and I set it to output PPM. I then cut the EzUHF to Futaba trainer cable and plugged that into the FASST RX's PPM output. This in theory means that I could put the EzUHF/FASST repeater on a pole or in between me the destination to extend me range. It also means the Futaba radio needs not reconfiguration what so ever.

From what I can see it works, all the controls work, and failsafe works.

[Mictronics]

1. The carbon fibre panel as shown on all the online pics doesn't exist on my EzUHF TX, its all metal case.

Psst, over here...I will tell you a secret: There is no carbon fibre panel on the EzUHF TX. Just imitating print scheme on black plastic. But, don't spread the word! ;) :D

[ImmersionRC]

Psst, over here...I will tell you a secret: There is no carbon fibre panel on the EzUHF TX. Just imitating print scheme on black plastic. But, don't spread the word! ;) :D

Actually, that is only true in a limited number of cases... there is a bit of history here. The 'early adopters' received genuine CF endplates. The second batch, much smaller number, went with the 'imitation CF' endplates. The volume production run went with screen-printed Alu plates. The good news is that the contents of the box are the same... you know, the thing that makes a good long-range link a good long-range link :-)I guess if our biggest problems these days are the end-plates we must be in good shape :-)

[ImmersionRC]

The 14MZ issues are news to us. There are obviously a huge number of radios out there, and we can't possibly test with all of them (especially the ones that cost more than a small village in Thailand :-)Can other 14MZ users on this forum confirm this behaviour?, and maybe know of a workaround?The PPM Rx -> EzUHF idea is a great one, and we don't expect any ill-effects from this. It seems to have several advantages, one of which is while flying in the middle of winter the Rx/UHF Tx combo can be sat on the roof of the car, while the pilot hides out of the wind and cold in the car.
Ok, I've just received my EzUHF. I have a Futaba 14MZ radio with a FASST module and a JR9XII with RMILEC LRS module. I want to use the EzUHF with my Futaba 14MZ.

First test was putting both RX next to each other and seeing if putting the other's TX antenna next to the RX antenna would cause any glitches or failsafe.

The good new is that EzUHF and RMILEC LRS play nice with each other.

However, three things disappointed me with my EzUHF.

1. The carbon fibre panel as shown on all the online pics doesn't exist on my EzUHF TX, its all metal case.

2. The EzUHF wasn't able to draw power from the 14MZ using the supplied trainer cable. The only way I could get power from the 14MZ is to switch Teacher mode on instead of Student mode, but obviously teach mode is for receiving PPM not transmitting PPM. I know this isn't a EzUHF issue, but it needs to be mentioned for other 14MZ users.

3. Can't mount the EzUHF onto the 14MZ, as it can't take a normal TX stand, you can't just strap it onto the TX stand.

I managed to make a work around to points 2 and 3.

I bound my FrSky TF4 FASST RX to my 14MZ and I set it to output PPM. I then cut the EzUHF to Futaba trainer cable and plugged that into the FASST RX's PPM output. This in theory means that I could put the EzUHF/FASST repeater on a pole or in between me the destination to extend me range. It also means the Futaba radio needs not reconfiguration what so ever.

From what I can see it works, all the controls work, and failsafe works.

[Mictronics]

I guess if our biggest problems these days are the end-plates we must be in good shape :-)

Obviously. :)

[aeryck]

The PPM Rx -> EzUHF idea is a great one, and we don't expect any ill-effects from this. It seems to have several advantages, one of which is while flying in the middle of winter the Rx/UHF Tx combo can be sat on the roof of the car, while the pilot hides out of the wind and cold in the car.

<threadjack>

Actually, Airborne and I devised a method to do this with any receiver, and any radio system; not just those that have an internal PPM output in the Rx. Result is the same, test flights yesterday went extremely well. Another added bonus is that you do not have to do anything to your radio (No internal PPM mods, battery mods, etc that would void warranties). A pretty nifty way to add LRS to any radio system regardless of trainer jack style/PPM availability on the transmitter itself. You can even add it to ground radios that typically do not have trainer jacks (Read: All you FPV ground pounders can use your wheel radios w/ LRS!)

</threadjack>

With regards to the 14MZ issue - Have you tried powering the ezUHF from an external battery? I know it's not as convenient but it may be a solution. Of course, the repeater idea is a great one (see threadjack heh) and should work quite well.

[htran]

On Wednesday, I'll be catching up with a friend who has a Chainlink, and we will see if EzUHF, RMILEC will play nicely with Chainlink. He hasn't had much luck with Chainlink > 8 channels so he has bought a RMILEC. Will have to see if two RMILEC systems will play nicely with each other.

I'm pretty happy with the PPM RX -> EzUHF workaround, as even if I could draw power from the 14MZ, mounting it on the radio without a TX stand is not very nice, as velcro-ing it would obstruct the FASST module port.

Will actually swap out the Skywalker's FASST RX on Wednesday and test fly with the EzUHF RX. So far so good.

Comparing EzUHF with RMILEC

I like the RMILEC better because:
- its a JR Module, so if you have a JR/Turnigy radio its a nice clean installation
- 12 Channel system
- comes with antennas
- cheaper
- RX is nicely packaged

I like EzUHF because:
- it's firmware updatable
- more antenna options and mounting options on the RX
- Works with most radios
- Failsafe sets without having to rebind
- spectrum analyzer function
- User selectable UHF bands
- Head tracker support, although 8 channels means that I only have enough channels for pan, as 2 channels for FY21AP, 1 channel for flaps, plus 4 primary control on my Skywalker.

[htran]

Today I put a Chainlink, a RMILEC and an EzUHF receiver withing a couple of meters of each other, plugged in a servo, and turned on all 3 transmitters, moved the servos, moved the TX antennas next to the opposing systems RX antenna.

And to my surprise (after reading a number of threads), they all played nicely with each other. The only time I saw the servo glitch was when the TX antenna was placed next to the servo wires, I believe this is normal.

None of the systems went into failsafe.

[ImmersionRC]

Interesting test, but it really needs to be repeated with the receivers far from the transmitters in order to reproduce the conditions we see 'in the field'. The RMILEC and EzUHF should play well together, but from following some other threads over on RCGroups, and also listening to feedback from customers who have the DL and EzUHF, it is not clear that they play well together, even after the EzUHF frequency band is moved away from the band used by the DragonLink.Seems to be an understood problem, documented in more detail here: http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread.php?2632-Dragonlink-issue-with-other-UHF-things-quot/page3
Today I put a Chainlink, a RMILEC and an EzUHF receiver withing a couple of meters of each other, plugged in a servo, and turned on all 3 transmitters, moved the servos, moved the TX antennas next to the opposing systems RX antenna.

And to my surprise (after reading a number of threads), they all played nicely with each other. The only time I saw the servo glitch was when the TX antenna was placed next to the servo wires, I believe this is normal.

None of the systems went into failsafe.

[htran]

Interesting test, but it really needs to be repeated with the receivers far from the transmitters in order to reproduce the conditions we see 'in the field'. The RMILEC and EzUHF should play well together, but from following some other threads over on RCGroups, and also listening to feedback from customers who have the DL and EzUHF, it is not clear that they play well together, even after the EzUHF frequency band is moved away from the band used by the DragonLink.Seems to be an understood problem, documented in more detail here: http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread.php?2632-Dragonlink-issue-with-other-UHF-things-quot/page3

I sold my DL before I even used it because I had hear that DL doesn't play well with others, hence DL wasn't tested.