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feature of FMA Direct receivers.  Reducing antenna length 

will

 reduce range, however.  

Proceed carefully, removing only a short amount at a time and be certain to ground range 
check the receiver with each incremental reduction in antenna length.  

NEVER CUT THE 

ANTENNA SHORTER THAN 18 INCHES!

  A special note to helicopter pilots concerning 

standard FM receivers and antenna placement:  FMA Direct receivers are tested thoroughly 
in all types of aircraft including helicopters.  Helicopters often create a challenge because 
they generate RF noise and heavy vibration from fast-moving parts.  In order to improve 
reception in a helicopter, it is recommended that you route the antenna of the receiver as far 
away from the tail boom as possible.  This is particularly true of carbon-fiber booms.  Nylon 
push rod material mounted to the underside of the skids provides a good channel through 
which to route the antenna.  When hooking up a servo to your receiver,  use TABLE 1 and 
FIGURE 1 to check its plug wire color orientation. 

 

• 

RANGE TEST 

To assure proper performance, the Fortress 2000 series receiver must be range tested with 
the "host" transmitter.  The major reason for this important test is that over time, all R/C 
transmitters are susceptible to de-tuning and frequency “drift”.  To ensure the utmost in 
secure RF reception, current technologies for narrow-banding used in FMA designs can 
actually place a higher demand on transmitters.  Power level and frequency accuracy of your 
transmitter are more important than ever before.  Therefore, for the initial range check and in 
rare cases when you suspect degradation of performance from your R/C system, FMA would 
like to suggest the following guidelines:  Begin by placing the receiver on a cardboard box or 
another non-metallic surface to elevate it about 2 feet off the ground.  Connect only one 
servo and the battery direct.  Do not install a switch harness for the initial range test because 
switch harnesses are often the cause of poor range.  Perform the range test with the receiver 
antenna fully extended VERTICALLY into the air on a dowel rod or the like, and the 
transmitter antenna collapsed.  Apply power and walk away from the receiver moving one 
stick on the transmitter.  You should obtain at least 200 feet of line-of-sight ground range if 
everything is operating properly.  If any loss of servo control occurs, the system must be 
calibrated by an FMA service station.  CALL (301) 831-8980 for FMA Direct technical 
assistance.  In certain cases, the FMA service station may ask you to send in your 
transmitter along with your receiver. 

 

• 

ACCESSORIES: 

Aileron extension cables, Y-harness, switch harness, and numerous other accessories as 
well as a full line of servos, batteries, and chargers are available for use with your FMA 
receiver either direct or from your local FMA dealer. 

FMA LIMITED WARRANTY ON RADIO RECEIVER PRODUCTS 

FMA, Inc. warrants this receiver to be free of manufacturing defects for the term of one year from 
the date of purchase.  Should any defects covered by this warranty occur, the receiver shall be 
repaired or replaced with a unit of equal performance by FMA, Inc., or an authorized FMA service 
station. 

LIMITS AND EXCLUSIONS 

This warranty may be enforced only by the original purchaser, who uses this receiver in its original 
condition as purchased, in strict accordance with the Fortress 2000 owner's manual.  Receivers 
returned for warranty service to an FMA service center will be accepted for service when shipped 
post-paid, with a copy of the original sales slip or warranty registration form, to the service station 
advised by FMA, Inc. 

THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO 

1. 

Consequential or incidental losses resulting from the use of this receiver. 

2. 

Damage resulting from accident, crashes, misuse, abuse, neglect, electrical surges, 
reversed polarity on connectors, lightning or other acts of God. 

3. 

Damage from failure to follow instructions supplied with the product. 

4. 

Damage occurring during shipment of the product either to the customer or from the 
customer for service (claims must be presented to the carrier). 

5. 

Damage resulting from repair, adjustment, or any alteration to product by any one 
other than an authorized FMA technician. 

6. 

Installation or removal charges, or damage caused by improper installation or 
removal. 

CALL (301) 668-7614 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICE AND WARRANTY REPAIRS. 

OWNER’S MANUAL 

8 CHANNEL FM UNIVERSAL 

RADIO CONTROL RECEIVER 

INTRODUCTION: 

 

 

Thank you for purchasing the FMA Direct Fortress 2000 FM receiver.  Fortress 2000 

receivers are designed to provide years of trouble-free operation.  You may fly your 
Fortress 2000 in anything from sport models to helicopters  to IMAA legal quarter scale 
aircraft with complete confidence.  Available in two models, the Fortress 2000 supports  
either Futaba/JR or “Old Style” Airtronics servo connector polarity.  These high-
performance designs incorporate the latest advancements in RF technologies available 
to the R/C industry.  Superior RF mixer technology and advanced circuitry for detecting 
and amplifying PPM information enable the Fortress 2000 to out-perform other single 
and dual conversion designs presently offered.  Heavy-duty, SMT construction on a 
single, glass-epoxy P.C. board provides outstanding reliability.  New, universal 
operation makes user-programmable shift switching a snap.  This means that the same 
FM receiver can now be programmed to operate with any FM transmitter regardless of 
the direction of the FM shift. 

SPECIFICATIONS: 

NOTE: PLEASE READ MANUAL COMPLETELY BEFORE OPERATION 

SIZE:   

 

 

2.18"L X 1.68"W X 0.82"H 

WEIGHT:  

  1.0 

OZ. 

DESIGN: 

 

 

DUAL CONVERSION, SUPER HETERODYNE 

CHANNELS:  

 

1-8 

MODULATION: 

 

FM / PPM (PULSE POSITION MODULATION) 

FREQUENCY: 

 

R/C CHANNELS 00 THROUGH 60 - U.S. LEGAL 50, 53, 72 MHz 

ULTIMATE BANDPASS:  ± 8.5 KHz @ >55 dB DOWN 
USABLE SENSITIVITY: 

> -95 dBm 

3OIP:  

 

 

+12 dBm 

OPERATING VOLTAGE:  +3.5V TO +26V DC LIMITED ONLY BY SERVO REQUIREMENTS 
LEGAL USE:  

 

MEETS AMA GUIDELINES/FCC 1999 RADIATION REQUIREMENTS 

FMA, Inc. 
5716A Industry Lane 
Frederick, MD 21704 

Sales: (800) 343-2934 -Technical: (301) 831-8980

 

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