The G-RX8 receiver is NOT ready for the mass market

[Konrad]

Wow, I'm really disappointed with the FrSky!

The G-RX8 receiver is NOT ready for the mass market, as of 03/07/2018!!!
https://alofthobbies.com/frsky-g-rx8.html

I just turned my G-RX8 receiver into a 6 plus 1 channel receiver. Or more to the point "I" just burned up the 7th channel output.

The RX clearly states that if the connectors are misaligned and plugged in improperly that the Rx will be damaged. While setting up a new glider I did just this. I missed one of the pins while plugging in a flap servo (ch7). Normally one isn't plugging or unplugging servos on a hot bus. But when we are trying to set up models this often happens if we plug the servo into the wrong output. This is a real world activity.

I'm dismayed that FrSky would bring to market an RX that isn't protected against this (mis-plugged servos). I can't fathom FrSky risking their reputation and my wallet on such a poorly executed product!

Luckily for FrSky I'm an ardent fan of their radio system. Mainly for the programing power of Open TX! But this experience and that of the mini Lipo Voltage Sensor leaves me looking for a better vendor of hardware! I'll still use FrSky products but the bloom is off the rose!
https://alofthobbies.com/smart-port-mini-lipo-voltage-sensor.html

To be clear the G-RX8 still functions as a good Rx and it still outputs S-bus. But if I'm to fly a seven channel model I have to go through some cumbersome programing in my radio set up.

Again FrSky was well aware of this problem and choose to just add a sticker to the package rather than address the core issue in the hardware.

Please do not purchase FrSky products that show such lack of engineering integrity!

I can't in good conscience ask the vendor (Aloft) to warranty this as I operated the product outside of its parameters (I plugged in the servo incorrectly). I place the issue squarely on FrSky for bringing a product to market that can't live (perform) in the real world!

At best this is a pre beta (testing) product! NOT READY FOR SALE!

Edit:
CORRECTION THE RX DIDN'T FAIL!!! Please see post #29

As 4/2018 per FrSky the G-RX8 is now voltage protected

 

[Skye]

And, altitude is useless....

 

[Konrad]

Altitude is very useful! It is the runway behind you that is useless.

 

[Skye]

May I suggest keeping your day job, or, if retired, remain so. 👀

 

[Konrad]

If you think my assecement of the product is unjustified and in error please enlighten me of its, the review's, shortcoming.

All the best,
Konrad

 

[Konrad]

I should go into a bit more detail about the failure mode. It looks like the way I plugged in the servo resulted in Ch7's signal pin providing the ground path for the servo's power. The silicon junction in the chip the for the signal cannot handel this kind of current. FrSky should have added a bank of blocking diodes for the signal output pins. The forward bias voltage would have litttle or no effect as the servo's responce as it is looking for signal width (time) not a voltage level.

 

[DougSimmons]

On one hand, you're right; on the other, in addition to the sticker, at least when I bought it, Aloft's product page for this unique receiver stated, and not in a small font, "IMPORTANT: Be mindful of battery polarity when connecting to the G-RX8. If it is plugged in backwards it may be damaged. Sorry, warranty does not cover this mistake. FrSky is working to improve this issue."

Is that not a fair warning of a serious defect, an advisory not on the product pages of competing distributors?

I'd like the option to buy something with qualities no one else has managed to cook up even if it has a major deficit so long as I'm warned about the deficit and clarity on warranty coverage. I'd also like that distributor's site to have not just a responsive contact email but a forum where customers can vent or ask when the new batch with the problem resolved will arrive and so forth. If I did not want that option, I'd know where else to go.

Basically what I'm saying is I'm seeing sufficient transparency in how it's being handled by Aloft, and I'm suggesting what we're seeing, in addition to dead channels, is the beauty of the free market.

Having said that, yes, you're right.

 

[Konrad]

That sticker does NOT exonerate Fr Sky for a faulty product. And yes, I hope the free market puts a lot of pressure on FrSky to STOP producing faulty products that can be easily corrected in the design stage of their development!

FrSky has products on the market that meet the same function that don't have these flaws. I point to there other RX and voltage sensors. FrSky produced "sold" the faulty product to recuperate their cost in designing of the product. We the customer should not be expected to absorb their poor design processes. Like I said I'm shocked that in the free market Fr Sky choose to actually bring this G-RX8 to market.

We as informed customer can and should go with OEMs that actually make superior product. Not patronize those that make half baked products that have a lot of potential promise as opposed to real functionality. That is why I call the product G-RX8 as sold 03/07/2018 an engineering exercise and not a product suitable for the customer (mass market).

I too thought that I would be smart enough to not mis plug in the Rx. And while I did not reverse the polarity of the plug. I did mis-align it allowing the signal pin on the RX to become the power (current) ground.

In my case I'm not too miffed as I still have an Rx with Vario, redundant Rx capacity and full S-bus abilities. This for $35 is still a great value even if I only have access to 7 of the 8 PWM outputs. But there is no engineering reason to have brought this product to market with its inability to survive in the real world. In a test environment it would have been fine, but not for customers at large.

Like I said I'm only out $35. Had this happened out at the field I'd be out my free time to go to the field. And this is far more valueable than the $35. I will be putting this RX under the hammer when a properly designed product is produced, ether by FrSky or other trusted OEM.

Fr Sky has tainted their image as a viable progressive firm focused on bring the best to their customer. Selling these poorly designed products has damaged the firm. Much more than if they had eaten the production run, with these engineering failures, and delayed the release until the problem was corrected with the addition of the blocking diodes. This is a problem with corporate culture. Many firms don't make "scrap" rather they often sell a faulty product at a lower price. This is much like what FrSky did, they sold what should have been scrap.

Aloft is trying to protect its customer base with the warning. I have no issue with Aloft as they clearly warn us that the product is not ready for the mass market.

Much of this might be driven by FrSky trying to pad their bottom line ahead of their IPO offering. This might be another ugly side of the free market. Focus on the bottom line rather than on the customer experieance


All the best,
Konrad

 

[Wayne]

Sorry, been away from the forum for a bit and just reading this now. Please bring the receiver in on your next visit. We have collected many of these as I believe that FrSky has created a manufacturers defect with these units. We will be sending them back to them very soon. I'm sure they will not be happy.

The good news is the stock we have now are all protected according to FrSky. Even though some of them still have the warning sticker. We checked the production dates, and they are all good.

Konrad, thank you for the honesty.

 

[Konrad]

Wayne, THANK YOU!

To be clear everyone has been very forthright with this product and subsequent issues. I have no issues with Aloft, it was made very clear what I was getting into. And my only issue with FrSky is that they knowingly sold an engineering beta test unit.

I will only take you up on your more than gracious offer if you have financial recourse with FrSky.

This is great news that FrSky has corrected the issue! I just placed an order for 2 of these redesigned RXs.

All the best,
Konrad

 

[Gliderguy]

So, how are the altimeters on these for accuracy? Might just have to get one for my Chrysalis Lite.

 

[Skye]

Useless.

 

[Konrad]

Precision (response) is ok. But , actual accuracy reading (value) not so much.

On your Chrysalis Lite 2 meter F3-RES I think you would be much better served by just reading the aircraft's response to the lift. With the small 2 meter you really can't venture to faraway.

What I think is of value is that this is a redundant capable RX. When using 2.4 gHz in a carbon environment or at a great distance the more antennae one has the better.

The XM+ Rx makes a good redundant RX. It also makes a good primary Rx combined with SD1 Sbus converter for the servos.
https://alofthobbies.com/xm-plus.html
https://alofthobbies.com/frsky-sd1-sbus-converter.html

Disclaimer:
I actually don't like to fly with varios ( I do use them at times). I feel they are far too distracting and detract from the joy of reading the aircraft.

All the best,
Konrad

P.S.
I now own 3 of these G-RX8 and will be putting them in my F5J type gliders.

Edit: Add links

 

[Gliderguy]

Ok. That's good to know. Could you go into more detail?

 

[Skye]

Substantively, altitude readouts are wildly wrong, but it is a great, light receiver and dynamite with a redundant receiver.

 

[Konrad]

Ok. That's good to know. Could you go into more detail?

More detail about what?

Redundant RX, allows the loss of one Rx and still maintain an RF link. You might know these as satellite receivers. This feature alone is reason enough to buy the new family of FrSky Receivers. I just bought a couple of XR8R-pro to replace my XR8 receivers. I've never had a problem with the XR8 that couldn't be traced to the loose nut on the sticks (me). [ got the pro to work with flight controller (gyros) and take full advantage of digital servos].
https://alofthobbies.com/frsky-rx8r-pro.html

SBus, allows one to use the serial nature of the RF data link all the way to the servo. This saves on wiring weight and ups the system response speeds.

As to the Vario, as mentioned earlier the vario is not a good altimeter. The actual reading is of little value. But its ability to read the change in air pressure (an indirect way to measure altitude) is adequate to help you learn if you are in a thermal or in sink. This might be a helpful crutch for the beginner thermal flier. But unlike reading the aircraft it (the vario) tells you little as to where the thermal is.

 

[Konrad]

Substantively, altitude readouts are wildly wrong, but it is a great, light receiver and dynamite with a redundant receiver.

It is now ,with the output design fault taken care of (4/2018). Against full range RXs like the XM+, I think most look at this as a mid-weight RX. It is a feature packed mid-weight!

 

[Wayne]

We will have another vario option available soon, this one will support a TEK (aka TEC) nozzle.

What is TEK anyway?
TEK simply means the suppression of the "stick thermals" by considering the ride of the model. This is achieved by connecting a TEK nozzle to the Variosensor.
Our TEK nozzle works on the principle of the "Brunswick nozzle". The man-carrying aviation uses this design today almost exclusively. The design is more elaborate than the simple curved Nicks nozzle, but is unsurpassed in the compensation and delivers perfect results even in model flying.

I haven't tested this yet, but am looking forward to getting them in.

 

[Gliderguy]

So not so good as a altimeter but still functions as a vario fairly well right? Seems like lots of people use these things. Maybe they just use them for signaling lift or sink? I'm kinda new to all this telemetry stuff but knowing change of altitude would be kind of cool.

 

[Konrad]

Wayne, very good information! Not too technical but with enough information to allow a meaningful "Google search".