Transmitter woes

So i was out today Tx battery display showing 50%, started flying, every time quad got 50meters or so away it lit up red and just returned home. So ofc i concluded it had lost TX signal, odd though as TX was showing still 50% power. Sure enough another fresh set of six Duracell's saw things return to normal.

But whats the deal at this rate its going to cost a small fortune in Duracell's alone ! what are you guys doing for the TX ? rechargeables ? or a Lipo conversion please advise me.

I did notice on the TX it does show the voltage which with fresh batts is 9.2v when i was having issues it was 7.2V

Some users have done a lipo mod I intend to do it one day but until then I am lidl rechargeable batteries and recharge after each time out

Don, i thought rechargeable only gave 1.2v per cell not the 1.5v of a normal AA, doesn't that in itself cause range issues ?

I've not taken mine to far out so cant tell you on that one

You may have more of an issue with the TX. I have used mine on 50% until it drops to 1 bar before swapping and didnt notice a problem with range.
If the wire antenna in the TX is not cut to the correct length it will affect its ability to transmit properly.
Although this hasnt been a problem with the 380 it only takes 1 dodgy antenna out of the whole batch and someone will have reduced range.

The Mod Don mentions is sourcing a 2S for the TX. A 2S, when charged fully has 8.4v, which is pretty close to the 9v you get with 6AA.
I Do have 6AA rechargeable which i use in my X5 or MJX600 and they work ok but would be best to charge after using as the capacity is not that good.
I would go for the 2S in the 380's TX, which is what I am going to do after i get through my 30 duracells.....Which is close now.
You can also get a 2W signal booster for the TX. This should give you 3-4km range if you really want it. Mine should be here soon. Then I will be doing that 2S mod as well.
Take a look at this video Dustin's TX mod. This guy really knows his stuff and is worth looking at some of the other things he has done.

M_Levitation wrote:You may have more of an issue with the TX. I have used mine on 50% until it drops to 1 bar before swapping and didnt notice a problem with range.
If the wire antenna in the TX is not cut to the correct length it will affect its ability to transmit properly.
Although this hasnt been a problem with the 380 it only takes 1 dodgy antenna out of the whole batch and someone will have reduced range.

The Mod Don mentions is sourcing a 2S for the TX. A 2S, when charged fully has 8.4v, which is pretty close to the 9v you get with 6AA.
I Do have 6AA rechargeable which i use in my X5 or MJX600 and they work ok but would be best to charge after using as the capacity is not that good.
I would go for the 2S in the 380's TX, which is what I am going to do after i get through my 30 duracells.....Which is close now.
You can also get a 2W signal booster for the TX. This should give you 3-4km range if you really want it. Mine should be here soon. Then I will be doing that 2S mod as well.
Take a look at this video Dustin's TX mod. This guy really knows his stuff and is worth looking at some of the other things he has done.

I have three X380s and modded Tx of all of them to 7 rechargable Eneloop batteries. It is a neat solucion, gives you the desired voltage and batteries are loosing very little charge while not beeing used.
BTW, have over 200 logged flights between them flying long distances with no problems.
You find pics from my installation on the RCForum. Mod takes about 30 minutes

I think i'll take a look inside the TX and see whats what !

A full wavelength of 2.4GHZ is 12.5 cm.
A 1/2 wavelength is 6.25 cm
A 1/4 would be 3.125 cm
If you get to check it.

Well had a look inside all looks well, antenna's are equal in length and same as a donor 2.4ghz off a router. I did try the "main antenna mod" well started but i cant see how you can drill out the core of the antenna case to 5mm ? its just not wide enough, i've destroyed the donor trying... i can see how it makes sense to extend the coiled antenna to full length.

Oddly and i hope i measure accurately, im using digital caliper, all 3 antennas are 2.955mm not 3.25cm......even the router one ? surely all 3 are not short.(below is router one)



I think this is what your supposed to drill through to take the antenna but no way does a standard one accommodate a 5mm drill bit, thats the width of the shielding on the stock antenna



Inside if your interested, you can see both antennna's



Stock antenna, measured

It actually 31.25mm that is the ideal length(Ill assume you made a typo)
If all 3 look a bit short then probably there is is small amount that is part of the soldered wired.
Cant really think all 3 would be short.

I have just checked mine to see and they measure same as yours (around 30mm from the same point you are measuring.)

Just seems odd to me that you are getting a range issue when the TX is still indicating 2 bars as when I see 2 bars I think I have 2 good flights left before needing to change.
Possibly see if uncoiling that antenna helps at all. Mine was straight when I checked it.