Buddy Box

[Fritzngertie]

I am a newbie and I need some help on Buddy Boxes.

I purchased a Spektrum DX7 and I don't know anything about Buddy Boxes. Does my Buddy Box have to be the same make/model? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[flydiver]

It needs to be Spectrum or JR (Spectrum is made by JR). A myriad of models in those families will work. It does not have to be 2.4. I have heard the DX6 will not work but that does not make sense to me. The DX6i will work as will the DX5e, JR7202, JR6102, and JR662. I have personal experience with all of those.
I think some folks get a JR400 or the like for that. DX5e are pretty easy to come by as lots of folks get them with RTF packages and dump them.
Hooking higher end TX together gives you more options.
Either can be the Master, BUT, the Master has to have the corresponding RX in the plane.

If you are new at this you don't want to be trying to cross models brands like to a Futaba or Hitec.

[Fritzngertie]

Thank You for the information. It was clear and concise and even a newbie like me can understand.

Have a nice day.

[flydiver]

The manuals are not terribly helpful. When I first tried my 6102 to the 662 the 6102 manual was absolutely worthless. Oddly the much older manual was better. The DX7 should be work well (7202 is a non-Spectrum DX7) except that whole business of normal vs p-link stuff is not well explained to the point I'm still figuring it out a year later. Part of the issue is the more sophisticated functions of p-link are dependent on the slave capability.

Basic principal is the master BROADCASTS signal to the plane. The slave is NOT turned on but the sticks become active when the BB line is plugged in. When the master button is pushed the slave stick information is passed to the master and transmitted.
For some slaves the set-up has to EXACTLY match the plane being flown including trim. This is certainly true for all [normal] links. Some p-links allow the master to re-scramble slave signals to match the master.

For the DX7 you have to go into the 'computer' and turn on that feature. For some TX just plugging in the line BB does that.

[Fritzngertie]

Thanks again for you quick and appreciated response.

[flydiver]

Example of a perfect BB for that:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2676173

[Fritzngertie]

I see that E-Bay has a couple of these. Looks like what I am looking for.

[bassplayinDude]

The manuals are not terribly helpful. When I first tried my 6102 to the 662 the 6102 manual was absolutely worthless. Oddly the much older manual was better. The DX7 should be work well (7202 is a non-Spectrum DX7) except that whole business of normal vs p-link stuff is not well explained to the point I'm still figuring it out a year later. Part of the issue is the more sophisticated functions of p-link are dependent on the slave capability.

Basic principal is the master BROADCASTS signal to the plane. The slave is NOT turned on but the sticks become active when the BB line is plugged in. When the master button is pushed the slave stick information is passed to the master and transmitted.
For some slaves the set-up has to EXACTLY match the plane being flown including trim. This is certainly true for all [normal] links. Some p-links allow the master to re-scramble slave signals to match the master.

For the DX7 you have to go into the 'computer' and turn on that feature. For some TX just plugging in the line BB does that.

I have a question for you if you don't mind.

I have a DX6i and have ordered a DX5e as a buddy box to get my 4 year old son into my planes. If the DX6i is doing the transmitting, will it perform mix / expo functions on the signal it receives from my DX5e slave? I'm thinking I'll need lots of expo for my son at the start.

[flydiver]

No. The signal will be whatever comes from the DX5e. It has to be set up exactly as if it was running the plane. That unit does have a hi/lo switch and that works with the BB if I recall.

[bassplayinDude]

Guess we'll fly the Vapor only to start then. :)