An “international” charger comes with the DX18 (above left). Besides the variety of interchangeable plugs, the charger will handle the 7.2V Li-Po installed
that comes with DX18 and has 11 ports at the end of the device. These ports are split into two rows, one row for five ports, the oth- er for six. The 6-port row is strictly for servo connections 1–6. The 5-port row uses two of the ports to connect two more servos if need- ed. Of the three remaining ports in that row, two offer the option of connecting a separate battery(ies) to power the servos from the module. The last port is the SRXL port that connects the X-Plus module to the SRXL port on the receiver host.
One key item to note is the use of the jumper when the servo power comes from the host receiver battery alone. If that’s the case, a jumper must be plugged into one of the battery ports, and the instructions strongly suggest keeping the module close to the receiver. That will minimize the power loss from a longer cable. If an auxiliary bat- tery is used, then the jumper must be re- moved, and a long cable, if needed to locate the module closer to more remote servos, can be used.
And there’s one more caution that applies to the servo applications for the X-Plus. The instruction sheet notes that only non-essen- tial servos, i.e., primary control surfaces and throttle, be connected to the X-Plus. There is also a limit on the frame rate that the X-Plus module will allow. It can only provide a 22mS frame instead of the faster 11mS frame that some transmitters, like the DX18, have as an option.
in the transmitter. Some minimal accessories are included (above right). The neck strap will help since the radio weighs in at 2 pounds, 2 ounces.
So what about the transmitter? External- ly it looks the same as the DX8 as already mentioned, but it’s the electronic guts of the DX18 that really makes the difference. All those sticks, switches, levers, and knobs can control one of the 18 channels available with the X-Plus receivers. Channel assignments consist of two types, the receiver, and the in- put devices. Any receiver channel can be switched to whatever function it will control. The same is almost true of the transmitter, though the first four stick channels—throt- tle, aileron, elevator, rudder—are reserved for those functions. But with the option of choosing four different modes, the sticks can switch primary functions based on the mode selected.
While the capability exists of assigning any channel to a switch, some of those switches will probably be reserved for func- tions like dual rate/expo. That doesn’t mean some channels wouldn’t be available. The one scenario easily cited and understood is the use of retract gear doors. The tiny servos used for those would be on their own unique channel(s) but be operated in a mix and through one of the very nice features on the DX18, the Sequencer. More about that later. In keeping with a more traditional ap-
proach there’s a 2-tier menu structure, the System Mode and the Function Mode. As usual, the System Mode is accessed by pressing the roller selector and turning on the radio. Keep pressing the roller until the
System Mode menu displays. When you do this the RF isn’t turned on to prevent any in- advertent action on the model.
The roller selector functions just as it has with previous Spektrum and JR radios. Roll it to move around the menus and press it to select or set an input. One subtle new fea- ture is the ability to get back to the Model Select screen in the System Mode menu by pressing the Clear and Back buttons simul- taneously. Once there, another model can be selected that gets you into the complete Sys- tem Mode menu.
There are only a few differences/additions to this tier of the DX18’s menu structure. It pretty much follows the same choices avail- able in the earlier DX7 and DX8 systems. But some of the menus have been expanded. One quick example is the Frame Rate menu. Besides choosing the more standard 22mS setting, and the 11mS setting for digital ser- vos, it also offers the choice of using X-Plus or not.
In the System Setting the choices have been expanded to three pages, one of which offers the calibration of the sticks. It also provides all the serial numbers of the specif- ic transmitter that is used to register the system. That’s important since the DX18 has already gone through three software up- grades since it was first introduced six months ago.
Instead of having to lug a computer to the field to upgrade software, the files can be
Spektrum’s AR9020 9-channel receiver comes with the DX18. It’s one of the Spektrum receivers that is specifically X-Plus capable. It includes the SRXL port that provides connection to the X-Plus channel expansion module. The X-Plus
FLYING MODELS
Module connected to the AR 9020 (above right). The module (R) can use an alternate battery to power the servos connected to it, but if this feature isn’t utilized, a binding plug has to be inserted in one of the two battery ports.
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