My current method of controlling the locos bound to different transmitters on my railway involves me carrying multiple 2.4GHz aircraft stick style transmitters out to the layout which can be cumbersome.
Each of my transmitters have been modified so that I can control Two (2) locos from the one transmitter (See "Mode 3 Transmitter" below).
After reading the descriptions in the forum and blog posts below, detailing how to change the transmitters to control (Four) 4 locos (or more depending on the number of channels a transmitter has e.g Six {6}), I decided that this may suit my situation and lighten the workload.
Forum Repackaging a commercial radio control transmitter
Headings Old trams - modern control and
Making a commercial radio control suitable for tramway use.....
Following this method I converted a transmitter to test the concept of running Four (4) locos off the One (1) Transmitter.
I successfully tested binding Three (3) Receivers to the Transmitter. I didn't think the extra receiver was required for the test as Three (3) would suffice to prove the concept.
Then I connected Three (3) motor controllers (ESC's) to each Receiver and motors and controlled each motor separately from a corresponding channel potentiometer on the Transmitter.
At the end of testing the converted transmitter board then became the basis for the repackaging.
My method involved following most of the blog method but with some refinements to suit the packaging I was doing.
Changes I made were:
- Removed the "Trainer" plug as it was not used.
- Removed the potentiometer mounting boards and wired directly to the pots to make fitting easier.
- Install a 9.6V NiMH rechargeable battery pack that provides over Two(2) hours of charge.
- Relocated LED indicator from on board mounting to the front panel by way of extension wires.
- Removed board mounted power switch and replaced it with a On/Off/Charge switch mounted on the front panel.
- Cut the antenna out of the housing (being careful not to cut the thin coaxial cable connecting antenna to RF board) trimmed it and located it inside the box, testing did not reveal any effect on the range of the transmitter (original spec was an 800ft range).
- I did not move the "Bind" switch as this transmitter is dedicated to the Four (4) locos.
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| Stick Transmitter internals |
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| Repackaged Transmitter internals |
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| Antenna Location |
After completing the repackage I bound each Receiver in Four (4) locos that use my centre off motor controllers (Pololu, Syren 10 and Viper) to the Transmitter, I now only need to take one box out to the layout to run four (4) locos instead of two (2) stick transmitters as in the picture below.
NOTE;
I had to orientate the pots so that the centre on the knob was aligned vertically.
I did find that I had to reverse channel 4 "RUD" via its switch, not sure if it had anything to do with the Syren 10 motor controller.
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