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Posted

I recently purchased the DF95 kit with the FS-ST8 radio. I am very happy with everything except I keep running out of range around the 300 feet mark. Has anyone else had range issues with this set up or know whether I can do something to improve the range. So far I have tried it with the ariel that screws into the top of the transmitter - no difference. Also tried different positions of the receiver ariels but no joy with that either. 

Posted

Stolen from elsewhere, but what I follow for twin receiver ariels 

 

Yes its the inch or so at the end that does the receiving, so the radio can go anywhere convenient letting the aerial go where needed. 
The active bit of the aerial needs to be above the waterline, it should be remembered that anything that can conduct electricity will, if in line of sight between transmitter and receiver, block the signal.  Dry wood and plastic, OK.  Metal, soaking wood (shouldn't happen, but still....), carbon fibre, metal plated plastic, all of these can block the signal. 
Single aerials don't care which way they point.  Twin ones do say in the instrucions that the two elements should be at 90 degrees to each other, but it doesn't matter whether thats vertical or horizontal or anything between.
Old style long aerials were difficult to block, the relatively tiny 2G4 aerials can be accidentally blocked much more easily.

Posted

What batteries are you using in the transmitter?

One of our members found the signal strength was much reduced if he used rechargeable 'AA' batteries rather than standard 'AA' cells.  The rechargeable giving 4 x 1.2v (4.8v) rather than 4 x 1.5v (6v) of disposable's.

[I think this was a Flysky Fs i6 transmitter but don't hold me to this.]

Posted
10 hours ago, Andrew Start said:


Single aerials don't care which way they point.  Twin ones do say in the instrucions that the two elements should be at 90 degrees to each other, but it doesn't matter whether thats vertical or horizontal or anything between.
 

Not my understanding.  Hopefully we all know that the TX field has a null in the direction of the aerial - so you should have the TX aerial perpendicular to the boat.  The RX aerial should point at the Tx for maximum gain so the recommendation is that both aerials should be horizontal but at 90 deg to each other.

I've done some experiments and in truth it doesn't make that much difference.  I've also tested the attenuation of a carbon hull and it produced a range reduction of about 25%.  Personally I tape the aerials under a deck patch.  The idea is that (except at extreme heel angles) the signal passes through the deck patch rather than the hull.

6 hours ago, Eric Finley said:

One of our members found the signal strength was much reduced if he used rechargeable 'AA' batteries rather than standard 'AA' cells.  The rechargeable giving 4 x 1.2v (4.8v) rather than 4 x 1.5v (6v) of disposable's.

Possible.  You can be almost certain that the Tx will contain a voltage regulator.  If this is a 5V regulator then 4 NiMhs could cause problems when they get about 50% discharged.  These days a lot of electronics run at 3.3V so 4 NiMhs would be fine. 

 

300 feet is less than I would expect.  I have found that the receiver makes a big difference - I tested an 'eBay' spectrum compatible and it had about half the range of an Orange receiver - about 150 v 300 yds.  The genuine Spectrum receiver was still working when my assistant reached the edge of the field - about 500 yards.   

Can't remember the exact details but there is some EU? legislation about transmit power but many radios can be set to a 'Non EU' setting which gives more range.  

 

Posted (edited)

I know Phil Burgess (Chairperson of International DF Association) recently posted comments on FB specifically about the ST-8 and poor reception and aftrr meeting the people from FlySky in China was going to be testing a new receiver from FlySky to see if issues could be mitigated.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/hrpsyM5jYszR2uv7/

Might need to follow-up on this as I also have a ST-8 but went back to a FS-i6 as it was impacting my sailing outcomes.

Edited by womble66
Typi
Posted

Thanks very much for your replies folks. I will investigate further based on your advice and see if the range improves. To be honest I think my set up already complies with most of your suggestions except the battery one, currently I am using rechargeables.

Posted

If you click on the FB link you will see an updated reply that acknowledges the issue for which FlySky apparently may be doing a software upgrade early next year to address the issue.

Posted (edited)

Bought one of these early this year. Reason was to monitor RX battery voltage in the boat as I’m not using a pot in my current IOM.

Nice light feel and good features, but has a habit of buzzing at distance or weakened signal. Used it at the Chelmsford Ranking last weekend at its first event outside of club racing and not great. Let me down on the Sunday with the receiver unbinding when called to the water and spare new receiver not binding. 
Won’t be trusting it again and gladly back to my reliable Futaba 6ex system that has been near faultless for 10+ years.

Edited by Brad Gibson
  • Like 1
Posted

For anyone concerned about Tx battery voltage - These are Li-ion 1.5v. A little more expensive than Nimh but last far longer. Other makes are available.

IMG_8674.JPG

Posted
3 hours ago, Jim La Roche said:

For anyone concerned about Tx battery voltage - These are Li-ion 1.5v. A little more expensive than Nimh but last far longer. Other makes are available.

IMG_8674.JPG

FYSA, when I got mine one of the advantages of the FS-ST8 was it came with a 2S LiPo 1500mAh battery and fitted without modification using t g e JST plig so similar to my boat so recharging was easy and well understood. 

Unfortunately the reception issue negated this advantage and its now sitting and waiting for the FW update 😞

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I bought one of these last year when they first came out as my old Futaba was giving trouble with the rudder trim . I took it to Spain to sail in their regatta and was disappointed to find the same range problem as has been mentioned here and as a result had to abandon my sailing in the regatta.

on my return to the uk i spoke to the supplier who told me they had supplied many of these transmitters and had not had any problems. Its now back in its box.
incidentally  i was using the  2S LiPo 1500mAh battery fitted with a JST plug.
i have now purchased a new Futaba which is working perfectly!

 

 

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