Horus X12s and X10S Low RSSI

[rexbirk]

I have a Horus X12S that is a year and a half old. Running OpenTx 2.2.3. I have had low RSSI issues with an S8R receiver for some time. Using both antennas on the transmitter helped that. This was in an 80mm ducted fan. Flew it today with the Horus as far as I could see it and got no RSSI Warnings.

The receiver and transmitter have the most current firmware. ​

Recently I bought 2 RX8R Pro receivers to put in some gas planes. From the beginning I get RSSI low at very short ranges. No loss of control just RSSI low or RSSI critical. When doing a range check I can only get 25' or so from the receiver before the messages start. This is repeatable with the receiver out of the plane and out in the open.

I bound my other RX8R Pro and tried that one. Same result. ​

The receiver and transmitter have the most current firmware. The receiver is bound to D16 Mode with channels 1-8 telemetry on.

Wayne thought, and I agreed it sounded like the rf board was failing. I replaced it and flew today. Same trouble. When I mean low RSSI at close range, I would guess 500 to 600 feet or closer depending on the planes orientation.

I bound my other RX8R Pro and tried that one. Same result.

I was losing trust in the X12S so I purchased an X10S last week. Installed OpenTx on it and copied the model over. To my surprise I have the same issue on the X10S with both RX8R Pro receivers.

Cant be antenna placement in the aircraft because I still have the issue with the receivers out of the plane with the antennas at 90 degrees hanging free in the air.

Any ideas? I am frustrated.

 

[rexbirk]

FYI. I just bound an old X8R to the Horus X12S and repeated the range test. I got at least 65' or more instead of 20 to 25.

I bought the two RX8R receivers at the same time. What are the odds I gave two defective? Hard for me to believe that.

 

[Skye]

I’m having the same experience with one bought from Wayne 2 weeks ago. I’m ditching it. I’m not risking a beautiful Krick Klemm 25.

 

[Skye]

Oh, my plane is electric. I was shocked at the range check but thought it was me. This really stinks. I’m glad you posted.

 

[rexbirk]

I think it will all get worked out. Aloft has good customer service.

I have a number of FrSky receivers in electric planes. No issues. Going the the RX8R Pro for Gas. These are my first two of them. I will advise of my outcome. Those receivers are grounded for now!

 

[Skye]

Mine is grounded after reading your comments. Please post the outcome if you make a warranty claim. I have scores of Frsky receivers, most from Wayne, and this is a first.

 

[Wayne]

Hey Guys - Please email us the details to: contact@alofthobbies.com and we will get the warranty process rolling for you. You are very much covered by our 1 year warranty we offer for most everything we sell here.

rexbirk - I had suggested the RF board as I recall you were reporting issues with range on all of your receivers. Sounds like you have some receivers that work fine, that suggests it would be a receiver issue. Sorry if I had missed that issue in our earlier conversations!

Word of warning to anyone reading this - PLEASE DO NOT FLY IF YOU ARE GETTING RSSI WARNINGS AT SHORT RANGES. This is the radio warning you that something is not working correctly. This is when some testing needs to be done to figure out if it is a receiver issue or a transmitter issue. The RSSI feature is a plane saver that is built into these radios, please allow it to do its job, if you get a warning, please take it seriously.

Thanks All and sorry for the problems. Sounds like FrSky had some bad units sneak past QC.

 

[Skye]

I’ve ordered an rx8r from progressive, which is local to me.

I prefer buying from you, but the back and forth delay of a warranty claim is an unacceptable delay. I’m old, in Gods waiting room and our season is short.

I’d rather fly without a redundant receiver than a crap main receiver, and I’d rather fly now.

I’ll drop you an email, but likely I can’t bother with the back and forth and I’ll crap can this one. While a bitter pill, it is a pill I can swallow.

The photo is my kit built Krick Klemm, which I had to import myself, a some cost! I’ll not risk it.

 

[rexbirk]

No problem Wayne. I have no problem with the board replacement. Better safe than sorry.

I sent in a request for assistance on the Technical Contact Area from your website.

 

[rexbirk]

Success! Sent back the two RC8X Pro receivers I had. Bought 2 new ones until they send my warranty replacements. Bound and tested both. They now work great and have great range in the test mode. Im a happy camper now. Now I can convert more of my gas fleet to FrSky.

Thanks for all your help Wayne.

 

[Skye]

Glad it worked out for you. Life is too short to diddle around. I crap canned mine. Good lesson.

 

[rexbirk]

Final update.

After many flights the problems with low rssi are gone. Now have great range with good rssi. This is with an electric ducted fan and a 30cc gas.

 

[Konrad]

So the issue was with the 2 RX. No other changes where made to get good signal strength. If so I'll need to test the 3 (NIB) RX8R Pro receivers I have. I had assumed they were fine. I have 2 in use and have had no issues.

FrSky RX8R PRO

An upgraded version based on the RX8R receiver, it has all the same features including redundancy. The Pro version has higher precision and lower latency. It’s deviation of PWM is reduced to 0.5us, and the delay of PWM output is 9ms less than that of the

alofthobbies.com

 

[Skye]

I had and tossed a duff one.

 

[Wayne]

Yep - good idea to test them if they were bought in the last 9 months or so..? Quick range test should do the trick.