Garden Railway Forum

I want to refit the radio control in my Merlin. It has two servos still in place but nothing else.
I have been looking at various systems from various sources such as chuffed2bits.
I don't know which road to go down. A Spektrum DX5e or the Ripmax Saturn. I don't mind spending the money for the Spektrum if it will do what I want.
I would like to use the control for other locos as well, possibly I/C or Battery. I know I can do it with the Spektrum and the extra RX units seem cheaper than the Ripmax.
The other option is a 20 quid ebay cheapy.
What do people think? How universal is the Ripmax?
What should I do?

I' ve got a Spektrum, nice to be able to program models.
The other set is a PLanet, works just as well and can have other receivers bound to it, just reset the trims.
Haven't tried the real cheapie ones but I guess if they work, that's great and money in your pocket.

The main problem with 2.4GHz systems is the standards adopted by the various manufacturers can vary which limits which receivers are suitable for which transmitters.

A look through various Radio Control Forums comes up with very little information on the Ripmax Saturn 2.4GHz system, but it seems you are limited to their receivers (at £19:99), and the TX uses 8 x AA cells.

Similarly the Planet 2.4GHz system is limited to their receivers (from £14:99), but the TX only uses 4 x AA cells.

With the Spektrum 2.4GHz systems you can use the cheap Orange RX receivers which are readily available for just under £8. The DX5e will bind to a limitless number of receivers but they must all be the same type (DSM, DSM2 or DSMX).

For a cheap DSM system have a look at my Topic here - http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/about8102.html I used the same 2.4GHz DSMX transmitter for both locomotives with 2 Orange R615 DSM2 receivers. Downside is there is no servo reverse available on the throttle channel (it is available on the other 3 channels) and the aerial is not hinged so you need to make sure the aerial is not pointing at your model for the strongest signal.

Chris Cairns.

I use the Spektrum handsets as well, though I didn't know about the orange receivers - have forked out for the spektrum ones! Doh!

I bought a Planet T5 off ebay second hand for my Countess. It was okay, but I acquired a Spektrum set second hand a few months later. It gives you a little more flexibility when adjusting the throw of servos than the Planet did. 3 out of 4 now have the Sprektrum sets, while my Planet now does service on my Bagley.

Its sometimes worth keeping an eye on ebay for second hand sets, I've got a brand new Spektrum set for less than half price with receiver, and a few other budget sets for £10-£15.

Another suggestion is the budget sets from Giant Cod/Giant Shark which I think Chris Bird has mentioned in the past. I have one of those fitted to my other diesel.

http://www.giantshark.co.uk/product/168 ... ransmitter

Hope that helps! Its alot more plug and play than I thought when I first started.

I have a radiolink tx that I have used with model aircraft, I have both the computerised and non computerised both have proved good value and to be honest more durable and reliable than spektrum stuff though not as pretty!

Thanks for the advice and pointers folks.
I have ordered a Spektrum unit which I look forwards to playing with. At least they don't look too hard to program.