2,4 Ghz DSM radios

First from Wessie vd Westhuizen:


DSM 2,4 Ghz radio legality

Just spoke to Bob Skinner, so you can take this as the OFFICIAL SAMAA standpoint.

The Spektrum system DSM radios are 100% approved, and you are covered insurance-wise if you are using these systems.

SAMAA reccomends the following :

That Clubs have a GREEN area on their peg boards, where DSM users can place their peg, to indicate that wide spectum users are flying. (this is their only must-have provisio, Club managers take note)

That no more than 4 DSM systems are in use at the same time at one field, as the range of these systems is influenced by the number of users.

That's it.
From a HOBBY SHOP and FLYER point of view, we encourage the DMS systems to be used for PARK FLYER applications only.

Wessie

Now a technical view from Mike vos:


I have a lot of telecom experience in the 2.4GHz band...or shall we say headaches or maybe even nightmares.

Tom, you made a good comment…do you need a peg for your Blue Tooth? What is that ­ I thought someone mentioned the colour green. I think rather use red. Or polka dot or stars, because you will see more of that…..maybe green was the right colour….The Grass…oh so painful.

The 2.4GHz band is known as the ISM band. Set aside for Industrial, Scientific and Medical apparatus generating noise. Any device in this band must accept the noise levels of the band ­ not protection will be provided.

Although it sounds quite romantic the way these sets select an open channel and avoid the interference consider the full picture before you sell your 35Mhz on next week's hot specials. Equipment like these radios, wireless video cams, WiFi, BlueTooth other wireless links and network equipment could not be properly managed by the regulators so they said go manage yourself. It is something like opening all 6 lanes on the N1 (Pta to Jhb), yes North Bound and South bound and you go pick your "free slot" and get to the other side. You might just get there. But size is going to matter.

Consider this: The radios probably transmit something like 100mW, similar to WiFi equipment. (the legal approved ones ­ not the ones people put up with large grid pack antennas making them illegal in power output) These devices look to each other like noise. So the more radios the more noise and thus distance comes down. Maybe this is where the park flyer caution comes in…stay close. Now….Switch on your Microwave Oven! 1000 Watt!! 10 000 times the power, slap bang in the 2.4GHz band. The pie is going to be nice and warm you are going to buy now just after you pick up the pieces. There are illegal links running many kilometres and ICASA can't close them all down, they pop up everywhere. So with 4 pegs on the green board….what about the link running over the club's flying field drowning your radio's signal when you pass through it.

To go back to Tom's comment. Why even put up the green space? Why stick to a club's flying field? Any one can switch on his Bluetooth, WiFi router or Microwave oven without telling the neighbours.

So be careful ­ this band is VERY much FULL of INTERFERENCE but only looks like noise and as long as you can see a bit of signal you maybe ok. I will certainly not try it out just yet. The radios do seem to have great features.

I just think that after the first couple of pilots are going to try those on planes this group is going to make nice entertaining reading, please add pictures and video….uhm, will that mean then just 3 planes in the air? Just do not mail it with Bluetooth then only 2 planes can fly.

A word of warning from Eric Arnaud

Just a word of caution,

I bought a Rc plane from one of the advertisers on sarfly, one of those radio+plane thingy jobbies. Plane package R 399 + R100 postage.

Turned out the range was crappy and the plane would not fly more than 10m away ! Contacted the guy and asked for some assistance. This is the reply I got

""All goods come with a 24 hour, self test guarantee."

So as you can se there is not much I can do, you are welcome to return it at your cost for postage, as well as the return postage at your cost, so I can take a look at it. If I am unable to solve the problem there is not much I can do, sorry about that."

So as you can see, another R 200 on postage back and forth and I may as well buy another from a local Junk shop in Randburg. Just be careful what and where you order, as Charl says, if its available locally in your area, and it costs a little more, pay the price but at least have the no nonsense return or exchange policies, as they carry the volumes and are willing to exchange.

Cheers

Eric

Gliding Postals -- Pam Lightfoot

John is in hospital but has asked me to send out the results below just to let you know the rest will be sorted out/posted when he is back home which hopefully will be next week.

Pam

1 C. Goodrum MMS 2291 0
2 A. Sneedon DMAC 2280 0
3 M. Stockton MMS 2251 0
4 T. Potter DMAC 2187 0
5 P. Rheeders BERG 2187 0



1 Midrand Model Soarers 6671
2 Durban Model Aircraft Club 6476
3 Black Eagle Radio Gliders 5873
4 Southern Soaring Club 5517

Unallocated subs payments

Please help Bob Skinner if you can with these subs payments he has been unable to identify.
Here's a link to the splendid version of the information, a 700k pdf.
Here's a link to the utility version, 120 k pdf

A rainy Sunday

Two desperate characters flying in the rain at a secret location near Sterkfontein.
A clue to its whereabouts is Evan Shaw's house in the background.

Results of monthly Large Scale comp at Barnstormers, from Rob Hearn

Sportsman's class
Max DeWeijer	61.36%,
Warren van den Fyfer	57.57%,
Bert Strydom	53.96%,
Mark Buckthorp (KZN)	46.8%,
Arthur Colby (KZN)	46.01%,
Andre Louwrens	36.5%.
Expert class :
Ian Edwards.	62.75%,
Mike Hearn	52.0%.
Open class :
Neville Wright	65.42%,
Gavin Walton	63.94%,
Lawrence Robinson	54.24%.

Entry form for 2006 Free State Aerobatic Champs

Link to 350k word DOC