Posts tagged ‘trainer-cable’

I recently bought the Phoenix R/C simulator. It comes with its own USB-cable to plug into your remote controller’s trainer cable. A friend of mine has a Spektrum remote, and the stereo 3.5mm jack plugs right is.

I have a Futaba FF9 remote, so they wanted me to buy the “adapter cable to FF9” for €16. Since I already had the pinout of the FF9-connector figured out, I figured I could make this cable myself.

Continue reading ‘Phoenix R/C simulator cable pinout’ »

As a follow-up on my previous post on the Futaba FF9 trainer interface, I’m reporting the measurements of my E-Sky “0404” remote.

The E-Sky uses a much more popular 4-pin miniDIN connector:


Pin numbering is left-to-right, bottom-to-top: left-bottom is 1; right-bottom is 2; left-top is 3; right-top is 4; shield is all around.

Using the described pin-numbering, I measured the following signals:

  • pin 1 – shield: negative modulated PPM. Mostly high (1.7V), shorter pulses low (0V)
  • pin 2: high impedance/not connected
  • pin 3 – shield: 4V DC; probably used for remote power to the slave
  • pin 4: low impedance, no signal; probably PPM input when in master mode

When learning to fly a remote controlled model, getting a good teacher is worth a lot. But if all the teacher can do is watch the plane crash, he/she is of not much use…

Most transmitters have a “trainer” connection. This allows two remotes to be connected together. One is preforming the master-role and is actually controlling the model. The other remote is the slave and sends signals to the master. The teacher can program his master-transmitter to copy some of the slave’s signals, thereby letting the student control the plane. A simple toggle of the switch returns the control to the teacher.

Obviously, each brand of transmitters has its own “standard” of doing things. Some use a DIN6 contact, others use a mono- or stereo 3.5mm jack and there is the obligatory “proprietary connector”. Here are my notes of the expedition into the trainer-cable jungle.

Continue reading ‘Futaba FF9 Trainer interface’ »