JR XP6102

Model Airplane News, May 2004 by Yarrish, Gerry, Bell, Rick

A multifunction 6-channel programmable radio with a sport-flyer price!

Have you ever wanted a full-feature programmable radio but just didn't want to commit to a 9- or 10-channel top-of-the-line system? High-end systems may be fine for dedicated, full-fledged competitors, but they are a big investment for average sport fliers who just want more versatility.

Enter JR: distributed by Horizon Hobby, the new 6-channel programmable JR XP6102 radio has a 10-model memory and features programming for airplanes and helis at a very attractive sport-flyer price tag. JR has taken the extra step to gather many great functions that, until now, haven't been available in a 6-channel RC system. Let's see exactly what the XP6102 has to offer.

FEATURES

With its wide-screen display, 10-model memory and user-assigned switch placements for specific functions, the JR XP6102 is a serious radio for the price. The transmitter fits nicely in your hands, and its user-friendly layout positions the dual rate, flap and landing gear switches in the upper right corner. The two inwardslanting Scroll and Adjust thumb switches located on either side of the main LCD screen are a departure from the several small adjustment buttons found on JR's previous radios. They give radio programming an entirely new feel; they're easier and more comfortable to use.

The two main control sticks, as usual, are adjustable in length, and the rudder, throttle, aileron and elevator tension can be fine-tuned. The XP6102 also includes direct servo control (DSC), so you can adjust your model at the field without transmitting a signal. The radio frequency is selectable for either pulse-code modulation (PCM) or pulse-position modulation (PPM)-often referred to as standard FM.

The standard system components include the transmitter, an R770 (PCM) or R700 (FM) receiver, an airborne 1100mAh Ni-Cd battery pack and charger, NES 537 servos (four for airplane and five for heli), a 12-inch aileron extension, a standard switch harness with a charging jack, servo mounting hardware, a hex-wrench and the instruction manual. For those who prefer it, a baseloaded transmitter antenna is also available. Features of the XP6102 include:

* PCM throttle fail-safe. The radio comes set with the throttle programmed to go to idle if the signal is lost.

* Servo-travel display. This helps to sort out the various servo positions and is very helpful when checking out your program mixes, functions and proper direction and control throw settings.

* Assignable switch placement. Start with the preset positions, and then adjust them to your liking.

* On-screen offset mix point adjust. You can dial in the offset points for various channel-mixing adjustments while looking at the graphic display.

* 5-point graphic display. This screen in the heli system allows simple pitch- and throttle-curve adjustments.

The owners' manual is very well illustrated, and it includes all the programming information needed for the airplane and heli systems. The flow charts for the System and Function modes are shown (pages 19 and 31, respectively), and each category is highlighted with page numbers to direct you to more detailed explanations of the settings and adjustments.

INPUT AND DISPLAY

The Scroll key allows you to move through the various program functions while the Adjust key increases and decreases selected function values; the Select key is used to advance the channel and select function. When you turn on the transmitter, the Normal mode display includes the model number, model type, model name, modulation type, how long the transmitter has been on and graphic representations of the digital throttle, rudder, aileron and elevator-trim settings. If you press the Scroll Down function and the Select keys and then turn on the radio, you are able to enter the System mode.

The Airplane System mode flow chart includes model selection, wing type, switch select, trainer settings, modulation type, model copy, model type and model name entry. When you reenter the System mode, the display shows the last program selected.

Pressing the Scroll Down and Select keys while the radio is already on calls up the Function Mode flow chart. The Function flow chart includes Dual Rate and Expo, ServoReversing Switches, Sub-Trim, Travel Adjustment, Ele->F mix, Ail->Rud mix, Throttle Cut, Flap System, Program Mixes 1 through 4, Fail-Safe and Servo Travel.

The Scroll key takes you through the selected flow charts. Once the appropriate function is displayed, use the Select and Increase/Decrease keys to make changes.

For quick access to the various screens, rum the radio on and then hit the Scroll Up and Select keys at the same time. You can then navigate through the list and press the Scroll Down and Select keys at the same time to enter the menu that you have selected. Again, the ease with which you can move into the various menus is welcome.

SWITCH SELECTION

Several options are available for the dualrate, landing-gear and flap switches. The aileron and elevator dual rates can be programmed to be activated with their own switches with "Individ," or the aileron, elevator and rudder rates can be combined so you can turn them all on using one of four switches or rockers. The Flap and Gear channels can also be programmed to use one of four switches. To allow the Gear channel to be used as a slave channel for mixing, it can be set to "Inhibit" so that none of the switches can activate it.