Newbie!! Some very very basic questions...

[tbip2001]

Hi guys, im new to the forum and to the world of R/C.

Ive been looking around the net for basic guides, and for books on the basics, but nothing seems to quite fit what im looking for. It all seems aimed at the more advanced user.

I was hoping you guys could answer a few basic questions for me, so I can start to pout some kit together...

1) what is the differences between 2ch/3ch/4ch etc controllers? Am I roight in saying that a 2ch wil have a forward/backward (ie 1 ch) and a left/right (2nd channel)? Does this mean a 4ch will have forward/backward and left/right on the one side and then forward/backward and left/righ on the other side?

So a 2ch can control 2 servos, and a 4ch can control 4 servos?

2) Can a transmitter control the speed at which a servo moves? or is it just like a switch, its either on or off and the servo moves at whatever speed it moves? Is there a way to have progressive control of a servos movement? ie pushing the 'stick' slowly forward will result in a slow movement of the servo?

That will do for now guys, hope you can help...

tbip2001

[Grizzbob]

Sounds like you have the right idea, the number of radio channels determines how many servos(or other devices, like Electronic Speed Controls) it can control, & in the case of steering & throttle control, the transmitter has fully proportional control over the servos' movement(not simply an on/off switch, you get fine control, & in many transmitters that can also be adjusted, either faster or slower then you're actually moving the control, it's called exponential)....:cool:

[bmxRRT]

Grizz is right, and so are you.

However the servos only move based on the percentage you turn the controller wheel/trigger, and they are very precise now-a-days.

Most car/truck R/C's run on 2 or 3-channel(<--for 2 speed transmission applications).

The steering servo is the only servo needed for electric single speed vehicles, the other channel is digitally controlled via your ESC(electronic speed controller).

[sixshootertexan]

Electrics mainly have 2 channels while nitro's have 3 channel's. The third one is for reverse.

[pasan]

Electrics mainly have 2 channels while nitro's have 3 channel's. The third one is for reverse.

To clarify on that, the 3rd channel is used to control a servo which shifts the transmission into reverse. But not all nitros have reverse either.

[pasan]

Hi guys, im new to the forum and to the world of R/C.

Ive been looking around the net for basic guides, and for books on the basics, but nothing seems to quite fit what im looking for. It all seems aimed at the more advanced user.

I was hoping you guys could answer a few basic questions for me, so I can start to pout some kit together...

1) what is the differences between 2ch/3ch/4ch etc controllers? Am I roight in saying that a 2ch wil have a forward/backward (ie 1 ch) and a left/right (2nd channel)? Does this mean a 4ch will have forward/backward and left/right on the one side and then forward/backward and left/righ on the other side? You've got the gist of it, basically you assign a servo to a channel, or an ESC. You can replicate servo movement by using a Y splitter which is like your telephone line splitter. The movement is not limited to any single axis i.e. forward/reverse or left/right.

So a 2ch can control 2 servos, and a 4ch can control 4 servos?Yes

2) Can a transmitter control the speed at which a servo moves? or is it just like a switch, its either on or off and the servo moves at whatever speed it moves? Is there a way to have progressive control of a servos movement? ie pushing the 'stick' slowly forward will result in a slow movement of the servo?Yes, what you're referring to is proportional control and all hobby grade radio systems use this for obvious reasons. If you're using a multi channel radio, you can configure the "on/off" movement you mention, which is often used for shifting transmissions in 2 and 3 speed monster trucks and also shifting into reverse in nitro powered models. Such applications require full end to end movement only.

That will do for now guys, hope you can help...

tbip2001

My comments in bold.