Causes: Various.
Fixes: Various.
The purpose of this article is to explain safety considerations only. Causes and Fixes can be explored in other articles in the Radio: RF Signal category. Links to individual articles are listed under 'Related Article Links' below.
Detail:
In earlier radio systems, e.g. 27 MHz, RF Link failure often led to fly away and/or crashes. In current 2.4gHz systems RF link failure leads primarily to failsafe operation.
The unique advantage of current failsafe systems is that on board electronics recognise the failure of the RF Link and primarily shut down the throttle, preventing a fly away. This action contains the event closely to the flying site and thereby prevents two serious safety risks in particular.
1. Flyaway which gains height and so runs the risk of collisions with aircraft, and the loss of life that might thereby result.
2. Flyaway which could take a model aircraft into crowded urban areas before all fuel is used and the aeroplane descends, again with the risk of injury and worse.
Failsafe systems do not however protect personnel on the ground at the flying site and so this protection need is left to clubs to develop and decide their own flying field safety protocols or safety codes.
Whilst the vast majority of flying field failsafe events are benign, the worst case result remains a possibility, and as the model pilot bears total responsibility for his aircraft in flight it matters to ensure that the RF Link is as robust as possible, if not bullet proof.
To that end the following articles on this website may be of interest:
Related Article Links:
2.4 gHz. RF link problems 1. New equipment failure.
2.4 gHz. RF link problems 2. Tx/Rx RF link principles.
2.4 gHz. RF link problems 3. Advanced Range Test Protocol.
2.4 gHz. RF link Problems 4. Causes and Fixes
2.4 gHz. RF Link Problems 5. Failsafe Triggered
2.4 gHz. RF link Problems. 6. Failsafe Strategies.
2.4 gHz. RF Link Problems 7. Faultfinding.
2.4 gHz. RF Link problems 8. Failsafe Recovery Time.
