Thanks go to forum user Timbo for spotting this story recently and passing on the news relating to the “QuickConnect” Voltage Recovery System for DSM2 AIR receivers.
Performance modellers have known for some time that care must be taken to ensure adequate power supplies for their airborne system. It’s true for all radios systems, but it’s doubly important when using high performance servos, flying harder manouevers, and trying to save weight with inadequate batteries and/or regulators.
Spektrum systems are designed with an operating threshold of 3.5 volts, and lower voltages causes the system to shut down. When adequate power is regained (usually the drop is momentary) earlier Spektrum systems re-boot and rescan for two previous channels before control is restored – a process usually requiring two-five seconds.
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The new “QuickConnect” feature, however, eliminates the scanning delay and restores control almost instantly. Spektrum have been integrating this upgrade into receivers but here’s how to identify if your receiver has “QuickConnect” and whether it requires a software upgrade.
QuickConnect allows most flyers to fly through common low voltage situations caused by insufficient battery “headroom” – in many cases, without knowing a problem ever occurred. As a result, Spektrum engineers decided to program the system so that the receiver LED’s would flash, should the QuickConnect feature be triggered in flight. This can also be demonstrated on the bench, by toggling the airborne power.
If the receiver is missing one or both of these features then, first off, it’s important to recognize that the vast majority of flyers using normal servos with properly charged batteries will be unaffected by low voltage issues.
However, if you’re using numerous high-performance servos and wish to have your receiver system upgraded then simply return it to Horizon Hobby UK for free upgrading. Please return your receiver and all remotes, as all components must have the upgraded software for the new features to function. The best fix, however, remains assuring adequate power supply to the airborne system with sufficient voltage “headroom”.
