The dark side of the DX8

[Tomstoy2]

[redbird300]

Originally Posted by jperkosk

Can't do that, I'm afraid, I need one backup unit...

...Sounds like a plan is forming here...

I can see where this is going. Ask HH if they give you a discount before buying two DX18s, Jerry !

[jperkosk]

They won't !!!

[Tomstoy2]

JHC, Jerry! I just took a look at the HH site for the dx18. That damn thing is sweet!
You know, it's not a heli, so Jack can't give you crap about it!

All those channels can come in pretty handy with a multi. What, with the normal flight controls, adjustable gain settings, gimbal controls, retractable landing gear, downed acft locator, dispensable flares, emp generator, and auto shotgun it could come in very handy indeed!

[Grant_beltcp]

I got to have a play around with a DX18 this weekend at the Zone competition (some amazing flying by jamie robertson and dunkan bossion!) Must say it's a really nice bit of kit. I think I'll be getting one. Nice to see that all the switches are fully programmable.

[TheMark]

I bought a brand new DX8 direct from HH a few weeks ago... Although its PID supposedly isn't affected by any issues... The tail kicks and sometimes the Heli loses power completely when the timer/buzzer goes off. Guess its going back for repair, this sucks because I thought this mess was resolved a long time ago.

[jperkosk]

It was. Can you see the output channel jumping around on monitor screen when the buzzer kicks in? If not, your problem is elsewhere.

[TheMark]

Thanks for that tip Jerry... I just checked, and the monitor is perfectly still. Guess I'm back to the drawing board.

[jperkosk]

Next test to do to eliminate any Tx malfunction would be to sit the heli on the bench, TH engaged, sticks released, and trigger the buzzer while watching both the channel outputs and servos. If the servos are perfectly still then you have no radio issues at all.

What heli are you flying? Give some more info and we'll help you sort it all out here. We'll also make you want to buy more expensive helis, but that comes later

[TheMark]

Haha! I already have the itch to buy a third heli... Trying to warm the wife up to it :-)

I tried it with both my MCPX and 450X. I just got off the phone with HH, they want me to send it in after we did some troubleshooting over the phone. I'm still within my 30 return window as well, so I'm sure they will sort it out. The channel monitor doesn't show any activity, but the exact same symptom happens on 2 different birds.

[jperkosk]

Well, that should fix it then

The problem of the buzzer affecting the channel output was one of the first problems reported and fixed by HH on DX8, so it only showed up in a couple of initial production runs. My first DX8 was on the recall list, but had not displayed the effect. When I got my second DX8 I noticed the buzzer was much stronger making the original one look puny, so they must have felt confident about having the problem fixed.

But of course there is always a possibility of a cold solder joint in the assembly process...

Good luck with your replacement radio and quick turnaround from HH

[jperkosk]

Pheeeeew..........

[ragge1]

very nice
congratulations

[ragge1]

have you guys seen this

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw6hTDj_rws&feature=g-all-lik[/ame]

[jperkosk]

I'll test it later on today, haven't used DX18 on the sim yet. Have 1.01 on mine already so it should be a quick check. Saw this guy complaining about the issue a couple of days ago, but haven't had time to verify it myself. And he sounds like a Spektrum basher, so that reduces his credibility by about 85% in my eyes before even the test is done. Will report the results.

[jperkosk]

Well, it's true. DX18 with firmware 1.01 locks up in Phoenix as soon as I touch the throttle and the only way to reset it is to pull the battery plug out. Spektrum Airware download page has a huge warning about it in red and promises to release a firmware patch within a few days, but this warning wasn't there last weekend when I downloaded the newly released firmware. All in all minor software glitch, they're aware of it and are working on it.

[Praztek]

Dx8, removed the six screws from the back as outlined in the manual, how much force is needed to pull it apart, afraid of breaking something.

thanks

[Praztek]

info sent from fastrunner, thanks. guess I'll tackel this later.


quote from that thread
"... A problem now: the TX won’t open yet, although the manual tells you it should. You need to peel away a part of the thin rubber protection sheet at the sides, only at the backsides (or bottom if you like) of the TX, they will remain hanging on the frontsides. Use a flat screwdriver to get under these flaps to start, they are hard to remove"

I don't remember exactly, there might be plastic tabs that hold the 2 halves together, so use a flat screwdriver, try to trace along the edge to see if there are any tabs.

[Praztek]

This worked, thank you so much !

peel away a part of the thin rubber protection sheet at the sides,

[sxe_shok]

I had my DX8 to start malfunctioning lately, thanks to helifreak forum and to redbird300 post it helped alot on finding a clue what causing the problem!
I just wanted to add something... I also made my investigation and to me it's clear it is not by hazard if only rudder and aileron channels are concerned. Those are the only 2 axis that make a movement in their wires precisely at the connector on the pot. And the connection looses more and more with time.
What i did i eliminated the connector and soldered the 3 wires directly on the pot circuit. I also secured the wire in the plastic slot nearby with epoxy. No pot opening and cleaning at all. I havent took pictures cause i did it as a test, but as it look to be a success on my aileron channel (my rudder is not concerned yet) i'll do the same for the rudder tomorow, and ill take pics of the job done.
Thanks again!