Using an old TX with 458Mhz openLRS

Well this turned out to be a remarkably straight forward job by simply plugging an Orange module (Thanks for the module Dave J) into the  Trainer socket of  an old transmitter. (In this case one of the late Brian A's old aircraft transmitters a 35Mhz Skysport 7 transmitter.)

I removed the aerial and crystal to knock out the Radio Frequency section. (I think that is the right thing to do - perhaps someone could confirm this?)



I identified the Trainer socket pin-outs from one of the many online guides e.g:

http://www.endurance-rc.com/pinouts.php

http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX/tx2tx/english/tx2txgb7.htm

You need to identify TX battery positive, ground and ppm out.

In the TX I used this was:

Pin 1 , +ve
Pin 2, ppm out
Pin 6 & cable screen, ground

(It is a good idea to check these with a voltmeter, if you have one. If I recall correctly the ppm signal will appear as an intermediate voltage.)

Connect these up to the input pins on the Orange module. (I wired up a socket to help with this. You can identify the correct pins by reading the printing on the circuit board.)

On the TX module I used the pins are from left to right:

RF - aerial connection , so not used
GND - ground
VIN - +ve transmitter voltage in
GND - ground
PPM -ppm in

Plug in, power on and bind the module to the Orange RX by pressing the "Fail safe" button on the back of the module as you power up the TX.

You will then find the TX functions as before but with a new, whizzy state- of- the-art radio frequency section. The Skysport is a non-computer set with lots of twiddly controls in the battery compartment to do servo reverse and perhaps some mixes. I didn't touch these!

Remarkably simple to put new life into old transmitters!

My aerial/module fixing arrangements could be improved of course. If there is space it may be possible to put the bare module in the TX case. It might also be possible to modify TX's without Trainer sockets but you may be getting a bit skinflint to have to do that! (They will be very old sets.)

David

This was sparked off by a conversation with John W at Haydock Park.

This link shows that you get really retro with state of the art openLRS stuff!

Substitute an Orange openLRS module for the 2.4Ghz, I assume?

http://www.modelflying.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=94809&p=1

So don't throw away those old TXs.

David

Later Edit , April 2016

I have just put the Arduino Sketch for Phil's encoder in the Files section of the Website: (Thanks John and Phil)

http://associationofmodelsubmariners.com/files.php