Hobbies And Interests
Transmitter
The transmitter puts you in the cockpit of your RC plane, giving you varying degrees of control, depending on the number of channels with which you're operating. The number of channels varies from one to 16 or more. One channel controls only the rudder. Most popular in use today are four-channel transmitters. In the past, they operated on a 72 MHz frequency, but recently spread spectrum technology has enabled RC pilots to operate at a more powerful, dependable and secure frequency of 2.4 GHz. Security comes into play if somebody else is flying a plane nearby and is on the same frequency. A standard four-channel transmitter is an attractive, round-cornered box, roughly 9 inches square by 2 to 3 inches thick, with a handle and antenna on top. On its face there are two joysticks to operate the control surfaces of your plane as well as the throttle for your engine. These are proportional controls. Today's RC transmitters also feature an LC readout to help you monitor battery life and other electronic functions of your RC components. More channels will add more switches above the two joysticks and enable you to control additional functions such as trim, flaps and retractable landing gear.
Receiver
The receiver is your on-board pilot. It's a small, rectangular box, just a couple of inches long, and no more than 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide and high. It connects with tiny electronic cables to the battery pack and servos inside the plane, and the thin 2- to 3-foot wire antenna that is affixed to the outside of the airplane. The receiver operates the same way a radio does, receiving signals broadcast from your transmitter and passing it on to the appropriate servo to move the desired control surface, throttle up or down, or raise or lower landing gear.
Servos
Servos are the workhorses of the RC plane. The number of servos you include in the plane depends on the number of channels and tasks you want to perform. Each servo is a plastic casing under 1 inch square. Inside are a tiny circuit board, powerful electric motor, and a set of nylon or metal gears which operate the servo's horn. The horn is usually a small round disc on the exterior of the servo which has tiny holes in it to insert the ends of connecting rods. The servos generally consist of a throttle servo, elevator servo, aileron servo, rudder servo, and possibly a landing gear and trim servo. Historically, these servos have been analog, but in recent years, digital servos have proven to respond more quickly and provide tighter control of the aircraft.
Battery Pack
Batteries used in the transmitter and receiver are rechargeable nickel metal hydride cells. Traditionally, nickel cadmium cells were the norm, but NiMH cells provide much higher capacity and better performance. The transmitter requires eight cells and the receiver requires four. They're each encased in a battery pack. The transmitter battery pack is usually inserted into the base. The receiver battery pack is mounted inside the airplane.