Having experience with 2.4GHz DSM2 systems I wondered if I could use my cheap Orange R610 receiver with a cheap DSM2 transmitter. And the answer was a big YES.
I have just trialled the above installation on my Cheddar/GRS tram and was impressed with the slow running that was achievable with the oscillating cylinders.
The Orange R610 receiver ( http://orangerx.com/category/receivers/page/3/ ) has been phased out and replaced with the R615 receiver ( http://orangerx.com/category/receivers/page/2/ ). Hobby King UK currently have these on back order but they are still readily available on eBay.
The transmitter (it is similar in size and weight to a games console control than a full size R/C transmitter) is a customised 5 channel version made by Horizon Hobby under the Force RC brand, which are micro attack helicopters. The transmitter is Mode 2 (throttle on left stick), but can be switched to Mode 1. The throttle channel is the only one fitted with a reversal facility and has no centering spring or rachet but I found it easy enough to leave in a set position, and Channel 5 is actually trigger switches on the top of the transmitter which operate a built in machine gun sound (ideal for those killer bunny attacks!) whilst operating an infra red unit on the helicopter, so would be ideal to operate a steam whistle or diesel horn. There is no servo throw adjustment option, and the channel trims are the push buttons at the side of the stick controls. The other advantage of these transmitters is they only need 4 x AA cells (not 6 or 8 like the bigger transmitters).
The R610/R615 receivers are provided with a Bind plug, and the transmitter is put in Bind mode by pushing the left stick down till it clicks prior to switching the power switch on.
The transmitter is currently being sold on eBay for £12:99 inc P&P - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E-Flite-Spekt ... 35c5f65519
I'm using an Acoms BEC battery box. That BEC plug is thicker than the slim JR/Hitec servo plug that fits these receivers but you can plug it into any of the unused channel sockets (throttle channel is next to the Bind/Battery socket at one end of the channel sockets).
Chris Cairns.
