One of the most frequent questions we are asked concerns moving a SAFE receiver or AS3X receiver to a different plane. Customers ask "If I crash or destroy an E-Flite BNF plane, I want to keep the receiver which has AS3X and move it to a new plane. Can I do this?" I'm going to try to make this a short and simple as possible.
Moving a Spektrum receiver with AS3X to a different plane:
First, check the part number on the receiver. If it is an AR636, it has standard AS3X settings which work for pretty much any plane. If the part number is AR636a, the receiver has been programmed at the factory with AS3X settings specific to the plane in which the AS3X receiver was originally installed. AR636 can go into any plane. An AR636a will need some reprogramming to get it setup for the new plane. You need one of the following programming cables to change AS3X settings:
USB programming cable for computer: https://www.motionrc.com/collections...-usb-interface
Programming Cable for Smart Phone: https://www.motionrc.com/collections...udio-interface
SAFETY NOTE: always rebind the receiver to the radio when moving it to a new plane. I heard many horror stories of planes flying away on their own because the throttle settings and fail safe settings did not match the new plane.
AS3X is pretty easy to program. You can turn the AS3X gain up or down to taylor AS3X to your personal taste. If you find a control surface fluttering at higher speeds, you need to turn down the gain for that specific control surface. A fluttering control surface (ailerons, elevator, rudder) indicates the gain for that surface is too high and needs to be turned down. both AR636 and AR636a can be programmed to your own taste.
Moving a Spektrum receiver with SAFE to a different plane:
Receivers with SAFE are considered locked. There are some changes that can be made BUT it will take away SAFE. While some people have tried SAFE receivers in many different planes, I advise that you only use a SAFE receiver in the plane for which it was designed. This recommendation is due to the complexity of installing SAFE in another plane. First, the AS3X settings are specific to the plane the SAFE receiver was designed for and may not work in another pane. Next, you must physically orient a SAFE receiver in a specific position for it to work properly. Any change from the factory orientation will cause problems. Finally, physical servo reversers are often necessary and I've seen many planes crash due to faulty physical servo reversing cables. I would never recommend the use of a servo reversing cable. There are much better SAFE like solutions out there which are made to go into any type of plane. Many are mentioned in this same forum.
NOTE: SAFE requires a channel on your transmitter. If you have a 5 channel plane and add SAFE, you need a 6 channel radio.
NOTE2: The Spektrum DX6i is NOT compatible with SAFE. The DXe, DX6, DX8, DX9, DX18, and DX20 are all compatible.
What about the new receivers with SAFE Select?
It is my understanding that receivers with SAFE Select are locked and cannot be adjusted. However, SAFE can be turned on or off during the bind process. If SAFE is off, the receiver can be used as a standard AS3X receiver, but the AS3X is locked and cannot be fine tuned.
Moving a Spektrum receiver with AS3X to a different plane:
First, check the part number on the receiver. If it is an AR636, it has standard AS3X settings which work for pretty much any plane. If the part number is AR636a, the receiver has been programmed at the factory with AS3X settings specific to the plane in which the AS3X receiver was originally installed. AR636 can go into any plane. An AR636a will need some reprogramming to get it setup for the new plane. You need one of the following programming cables to change AS3X settings:
USB programming cable for computer: https://www.motionrc.com/collections...-usb-interface
Programming Cable for Smart Phone: https://www.motionrc.com/collections...udio-interface
SAFETY NOTE: always rebind the receiver to the radio when moving it to a new plane. I heard many horror stories of planes flying away on their own because the throttle settings and fail safe settings did not match the new plane.
AS3X is pretty easy to program. You can turn the AS3X gain up or down to taylor AS3X to your personal taste. If you find a control surface fluttering at higher speeds, you need to turn down the gain for that specific control surface. A fluttering control surface (ailerons, elevator, rudder) indicates the gain for that surface is too high and needs to be turned down. both AR636 and AR636a can be programmed to your own taste.
Moving a Spektrum receiver with SAFE to a different plane:
Receivers with SAFE are considered locked. There are some changes that can be made BUT it will take away SAFE. While some people have tried SAFE receivers in many different planes, I advise that you only use a SAFE receiver in the plane for which it was designed. This recommendation is due to the complexity of installing SAFE in another plane. First, the AS3X settings are specific to the plane the SAFE receiver was designed for and may not work in another pane. Next, you must physically orient a SAFE receiver in a specific position for it to work properly. Any change from the factory orientation will cause problems. Finally, physical servo reversers are often necessary and I've seen many planes crash due to faulty physical servo reversing cables. I would never recommend the use of a servo reversing cable. There are much better SAFE like solutions out there which are made to go into any type of plane. Many are mentioned in this same forum.
NOTE: SAFE requires a channel on your transmitter. If you have a 5 channel plane and add SAFE, you need a 6 channel radio.
NOTE2: The Spektrum DX6i is NOT compatible with SAFE. The DXe, DX6, DX8, DX9, DX18, and DX20 are all compatible.
What about the new receivers with SAFE Select?
It is my understanding that receivers with SAFE Select are locked and cannot be adjusted. However, SAFE can be turned on or off during the bind process. If SAFE is off, the receiver can be used as a standard AS3X receiver, but the AS3X is locked and cannot be fine tuned.
Comment