BTCat
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Post by BTCat on Jun 9, 2009 16:42:39 GMT -6
A simple question: How Do You Time Your Flights? I have been going by my watch, but that's kind of hard to keep up with if you crash every time you look down ;D. So what are you guys using? I don't particularly like the idea of a bulky timer. I tend to stroll around a little when I fly. And as cool as my Blackberry looks, it doesn't have a timer feature.
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akent
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Post by akent on Jun 9, 2009 17:09:17 GMT -6
I use the timer on my DX7. The DX6i has one too.
Kent
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Tony
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Post by Tony on Jun 9, 2009 18:05:52 GMT -6
I don't. I have some pretty major hearing loss (due to too many years of guns and engines and no hearing protection) so I can't hear the timmer on my DX6i beep. That is, unless i have the Tx pressed firmly to the side of my head ...which makes flying a little difficult.
I have my esc set to the highest cutoff voltage with a soft cutoff so I just fly until I feel its starting to loose too much power.
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BTCat
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Post by BTCat on Jun 9, 2009 18:35:31 GMT -6
I use the timer on my DX7. The DX6i has one too. Kent I didn't realise Spektrum had that feature. No feature like that on my Futaba 6ex. Tony, I have high frequency hearing loose too. But I can still hear my motor beep on startup most of the time. I could probably hear a timer. |
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Post by Solitaire on Jun 9, 2009 19:18:44 GMT -6
I've seen guys with one of those solar timers with the magnet and spring clamp for sticking to your fridge. They just clamp 'em to their antenna.
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BTCat
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Post by BTCat on Jun 9, 2009 19:25:23 GMT -6
I've seen guys with one of those solar timers with the magnet and spring clamp for sticking to your fridge. They just clamp 'em to their antenna. Sounds like an idea, but I'm not sure what a solar timer is. Don't tell me sun dial ;D |
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McKrackin
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Post by McKrackin on Jun 10, 2009 14:47:59 GMT -6
Ipod ;D I put on a six minute song and have a ball  |
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Tony
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Post by Tony on Jun 10, 2009 19:20:16 GMT -6
Great idea Ern, I could definitely hear that.
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Post by heliraptor on Jul 13, 2009 20:28:27 GMT -6
I also use the timer feature on my DX7.
I also fly with a JR X9303 and that has a timer.
Many people I know use a timer that they clip on to their clothing or the TX Antenna if it is a FM TX.
After you fly for a long time you tend to build this internal timer that seems to just work, many times I come in to land and the time on the TX rings almost at the same time.
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BTCat
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Post by BTCat on Jul 13, 2009 21:01:06 GMT -6
I found a cheap timer with a clip in the cooking section of WalMart for about $5. It is easy to set and I can clip it onto the TX handle. Loud too.
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Post by heliraptor on Jul 13, 2009 21:05:57 GMT -6
I found a cheap timer with a clip in the cooking section of WalMart for about $5. It is easy to set and I can clip it onto the TX handle. Loud too. This brings up a good point. Many of the TX's today include the timer feature but the volume level is pretty low, especially when you have several nito planks and helis going all at once. Where I fly we have at least 5 pilots in the air at a time on a good day. When this happens the TX timer can barely be audible. This might be a better solution for most. Thanks for the info. |
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Post by dubehigh on Jul 14, 2009 13:58:21 GMT -6
Ipod ;D I put on a six minute song and have a ball great idea ern. i will try that. right now i just use my timer on my phone, on vibrate and put it in my front pocket ;D |
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Post by akphill on Jul 14, 2009 14:54:04 GMT -6
I just tell wife I'm busy phone goes off every five minut's
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19000rpm
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Post by 19000rpm on Jul 16, 2009 7:35:01 GMT -6
I bought a 19 dollar coleman digital watch at target with a very big display. It has a countdown timer with a buzzer. Depending on what I'm flying I might not hear the timer, but the display is plenty big enough to see the count down. When I'm flying, I wear it with the face on the side of the wrist so I don't have to move my hand to see the time.
Happy landings
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BTCat
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Post by BTCat on Jul 16, 2009 19:26:48 GMT -6
That WalMart timer is working very well and is loud and persistant. If you don't reset it, it will nag you to submission ;D ;D
BUT, I have found, like heliraptor said, my timing instinct is working pretty well. Today I went through 3 batteries at 8 minutes each. I tried to time my landing to be as close to the alarm as possible (I clip it to my handle, but it flips where I can't see it when I fly). I was within 20 seconds once, within 5 seconds once and was about 40 seconds off once. I'm not giving up the timer, though.
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