Manual Introductory Section
RADIO INSTALLATION
Please observe the following precautions during
the installation of the radio into your model and
subsequent flying activities:
Servo Installation
Mount each servo snugly to a sturdy plywood
servo tray or use the provided mounting trays. Use
the supplied rubber grommets on the mounting
ears, and tighten the screws to hold things snugly
but try not to crush the grommets completely.
If you squeeze them too much, their vibration
dampening characteristics will be reduced.
Receiver connections
Connect the receiver, servos, switch, battery,
and gyro (if used) in accordance with the model
setup directions given in the appropriate model
sections. For aircraft, see page 80. For helicopters,
refer to page 104. For sailplanes and electrics, use
page 130.
Receiver Installation
Wrap the receiver in cushioning foam rubber,
and place it in a sealed plastic bag to prevent it
from fuel leaks or inadvertent water landings. Use
rubber bands wrapped around the receiver to
provide strain relief for the antenna, switch, and
servo wiring. Secure with foam pieces on all sides.
Run the antenna down the inside of the fuse-
lage, or secure it to the top of the vertical fin
with a small rubber band. Do not shorten excess
antenna wire, or tie it into a bundle. Reduced
range could result. If you experience problems
with an internal antenna, try routing it differently,
or move it outside of the model fuselage.
Switch Harness Installation
When you install the switch harness, be sure
that the rectangular hole is slightly longer than the
full switch stroke, so that it moves smoothly from
On to Off and vice versa. Try to install the switch
on the opposite side from the engine exhaust, and
away from dust or dirt.
System and Servo Operation Check
Turn on the transmitter power first, then the
receiver power. Be sure that the transmitter anten-
na is fully extended. All servos will travel to their
neutral positions. Operate the transmitter sticks,
knobs, and levers individually and be sure that the
appropriate servo follows the control movement.
If a servo does not move as it should, first check to
see that it is plugged into the correct receiver out-
put. If it is not, move it to the correct output. If it
is in the correct location, verify that you have
activated the appropriate mixing functions.
Now, connect each servo with its pushrod.
Again move each transmitter control in succession,
verifying that control movement is the proper
direction. If a servo does not move in the proper
direction, use the reversing function [REV] in the
Model menu.
Servo Throw Adjustment
Operate each control over its full travel, and
check that the servos don't bind and that there are
no loose connections. If the servo does bind, the
current drain will be very high, and your battery
will not last for much time. This exposes a risk of
crashing due to a low receiver battery.
Make sure that the servo can move its entire
throw amounts (including trim) without binding
anywhere. If necessary, use the Adjustable Throw
Volume [ATV] menu to reduce servo travel so it
does not bind.
Range Check
After installation is complete, perform a ground
range check by extending the transmitter antenna only
one step. With the receiver antenna full length, step
25-50 paces from the model. The servos should
operate normally at this distance. Continue walking
away until control is lost, and note the approximate
distance. This is your ground range, and should be
repeated before each flying session.
Electrical Noise
Electrical noise is created by the touching of
two metal parts, and creates "static" similar to
that heard on an AM radio during a thunderstorm.
Your Futaba radio set is resistant to electrical
noise, but no set may be made completely im-
mune. For best flying range, avoid metal-to-metal
contact wherever possible.
Manual Introductory Section, Page 17
