Buddy Box

[the giant]

Making the learning process of flying easier and quicker is very critical to the satisfaction of a student and the sanity of the instructor.  That being said, i had the opportunity back in April to do some instruction using the buddy box system.  This is the standard throughout clubs, and now understand why it is the recommended process of MAAC.  So where am i going with this?
I am strongly suggesting that any modellers wishing to receive instruction in the 2005 flying season have a Buddy Box for their radio.  I will carry a futaba controller and chord for the round connectors (check the plug on the back of your tx) but, since i don't use JR/Airtronics, i will not carry that with me.  
The beauty of having your own buddy box is that it can be set up correctly for your airplane and radio without having to worry about resetting trims and changing control directions every time someone else wants to receive instruction.
I believe this technique will greatly improve the ability of a student to become confident and skilled to more quickly achieve their wings.

Wishing you great success,
Andre, the giant

[piker]

Andre,

Great to hear from you.

I understand CONGRATULATIONS are in order.  I hope thing are going well.  Please give my well wishes to Janet too.

So, what's your new daughter's name?

Robert

[Michael]

Wow! That's great news!

Mazal Tov! (That's Hebrew for Congratulations and wishing you the best of luck, all in one!).



Michael

[slo-poke]

Congratulations to you and Janet and your new daughter.
John
PS hope you are still able to get some flying in.

[the giant]

Thanks for the best wishes.
So what is your thoughts on the Buddy box plans?

I would love some feedback.
Andre, the giant

[piker]

The buddy box is a great idea.  I would be more willing to let more people have a go at my planes (even high performance stuff) if we had the luxury of a buddy box.  I'm going to get a cord so I can teach my kids.

I think a buddy box arrangement will make learning faster, as it will allow the instructor to allow the student more time to try to recover on their own.

Robert

[jimconnell]

Hi Andre

It's Jim

I'm not too sure just what you are recommending.  My radio system is a JR, so should I buy a buddy box?  If so, just where would one buy such an animal and at what cost?  Is it a complete dummy radio box or just the appropriate cord?

Looking forward to seeing you at the field this summer.

Jim Connell

[Kenvention2]

Hi Andre,

Congrats to you and your wife on the new baby!

Back to the foum: Buddy box stuff

I think they are a great idea. I've instructed for a few years using a buddy box system as well as the "grab the radio from the students hands in an emergency" old style system as well. The buddy box wins evereytime for safety and ease/speed of learning.

Most NEW Buddy box radios are around $60.00. Compare that to the cost of replaceing a crashed model . . .

If you go to RC club auctions sometimes you can get a used TX system (I picked up a Futaba 4ch, gold sticker for $20!) and just removed the battery. As long as it is the same brand of radio there should be no problem.

Also when you have learned how to fly you can always sell your Buddy box to a new student and recover some of your money or keep it and teach others this grea hobby.

Ken

[IanS]

RE: Buddy Box

It is a great idea.

A lot of usefull information can be found here:

http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX/tx2tx/english/tx2txgb1.htm

On the subject of JR to Futaba and vice versa - it could be done but one will need a small microcontroller. I believe that such a projects are available on the net(not sure at the moment if it is free or not).

IanS

[IanS]

quote:
Hi Andre

It's Jim

I'm not too sure just what you are recommending.  My radio system is a JR, so should I buy a buddy box?  If so, just where would one buy such an animal and at what cost?  Is it a complete dummy radio box or just the appropriate cord?

Looking forward to seeing you at the field this summer.

Jim Connell

Jim, you can use this one available from Great Hobbies:

http://www.greathobbies.com/scart/productinfo.php3?PartNumber=HAN173

Only C$19.00

IanS

[Bigstik]

Hi Ians,
Save yourself some agro. Buy another JR radio. The minute you start looking for adapters you're in trouble. As I recall at the recent AGM Harry Shelton had some JR stuff for sale. Even better, all you need is for one of the instructors with a JR system or just use someone elses at the field.



Bigstik

[Warthog]

One of my HITEC transmitters has a DIN connector on the rear. I presume that is for a buddy box connection.

I don't understand how this works; does my CH34 transmitter become the master to match my CH34 aircraft receiver, and then my instructor's TX over-rides my TX when necessary ?

Rod Clark
EMFSO/TEMAC/LSF/MAAC

[Bigstik]

The instructor's Tx becomes the master.The student's Tx the slave. The slave Tx is not turned on and in fact will operate as the slave without a battery. I believe that the frequency does not have to match either. The RF signal is through the master.

Bigstik

[Warthog]

OK, let's see if I've got this right now:

I take my plane with its matching RX and TX, and I hand the TX to Andre the Instructor. Now he has control over my plane. I buy a second HITEC transmitter (TX crystal immaterial) which must also have a buddybox connector, and the HITEC patchcord. This 2nd transmitter becomes my (The Student) transmitter but I leave it turned off or at least with no battery in it to avoid me shooting somebody else down in error.

Andre the Instructor delegates control to me only when he feels I'm ready, and he can take control away from me at the flip of his switch.

Sounds like a good plan. Is this pretty much how its supposed to work ?

My wife has just pointed out that I missed a TEMAC instruction time slot tonite because I stupidly spent the evening completing a new computer desk & reassembling our "family" computer.

Rod Clark
EMFSO/TEMAC/LSF/MAAC

Edited by - warthog on 01 Jun 2005  11:12:18 PM

[Bigstik]

That sounds right.The instructor has the master Tx, the student the slave Tx. All you need is a matching Tx and the appropriate patch cord

Bigstik