JR XP9303

Model Airplane News, Jan 2005 by Yarrish, Gerry

EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK!

JR XP9303

9 channels

30-mode memory

3 mode types

THE LONG WAIT IS OVER: JR'S NEW XP9303 radio system is here! I've been a JR user since the early,'80s and I still have my first basic Max 4 and 6 radios. They served me well, and even as I've progressed to more sophisticated radios, I just haven't had the heart to get rid of them. Every new radio in the long and successful JR line has brought with it new features to help modelers gain a competitive edge. JR's latest offering is a 9-channel computer radio with some pretty interesting features of its own. Let's see what's new.

FEATURES

The XP9303 radio system comes with three basic software menu choices for powered aircraft (Aero), sailplanes (GNd) and helicopters (HeIi). My review radio came with four DS811 digital servos, a PCM NER-649S receiver, an 110OmAh Ni-Cd pack, a standard switch harness, an overnight wall charger, a 12-inch aileron servo-lead extension and basic servo hardware. The instruction manual is well written and includes several illustrations to help you understand the radio's various functions.

Working clockwise from the transmitter's upper left corner are the following switches and buttons: gear, trainer, elevator dual rate, flap, flap trim, auxiliary channel trim, auxiliary 2, aileron dual rate, mix, auxiliary 4/rudder dual rate, right lever, rolling selector, enter, list and clear and left lever. Each switch/button is easy to find and comfortable to use.

Digital trims are used with the rudder, elevator and aileron, while the throttle trim remains the friendly and easy-to-manage mechanical type. The transmitter has a nice ergonomie feel, and at first glance, it looks very similar to the JR 10×. Closer examination, however, reveals a new twist: a handy rolling selector just to the right of the large LCD display screen. This selector is the biggest difference between the 9303 and the 10× with its touch-screen data management. The navigation and adjustment of these menus are quick and intuitive using the Enter button or the rolling selector. Very cool!

MAIN DISPLAY

The 9303's graphics shown on the main screen are very well thought out and easy to read. There's little to confuse you. Trim positions are clearly shown, as are all the names for the various menus and functions. Displays for dual rates, expo, throttle curves and programmable mixes are large and displayed to the right of the screen when needed.

The first stop for setting up the radio for a new model is the System Menu. Press down and hold the enter button (or the rolling selector) and turn on the radio. This brings up the menu choices for Model Select, Model Name, Type Select (Glid, Aero, Heli), Model Reset, Data Transfer, Trim Step, Device Select and Wing Type. After you've made your selections and/or adjustments, press the List button (or select LST with the rolling selector) to return to the main System Menu.

To adjust the usual model function values, enter the Function Menu by turning on the radio and then pressing "Enter." Here you can use servo-reversing, dual rates/expo, subtrim, servo-travel functions as well as the advanced features, including flap system, servo speed, snap-roll, programmable mixers 1 through 6, throttle curves, aileron-to-rudder and elevator-to-flap mixing.

MODELS AND MEMORIES

I doubt whether anyone will complain about having 30 model memories at their disposal; for me, that's several years of model building! Gone are the days of four-letter names. To assign names to your various model setups, you have a generous eight-character display to play with (PittsS2B, for example) and an impressive 95 character options! These character options appear in a pop-up window to really speed things up.

WING TYPE/DUAL CHANNEL

The Wing Type menu offers three control choices for normal, flaperon and delta-wing configurations and also includes programming for V-tail control. Wing Type also provides dual-channel functionality so that a second channel can be slaved to any and all of the primary aileron, elevator, rudder and flap controls. The new Twin Engine (Twin E) is also found under Wing Type, and it allows you to set up a second throttle channel complete with its own trim and throttle-trim curve adjustments. The dual-channel-selection feature is very useful because so many models today require two aileron, flap, or elevator servos for proper control. Note that to activate the Dual Channel function, you must first inhibit the various "Mate" channels that you couple to the primary channel.

A not so obvious feature is the automatic renaming that occurs in the menus when you activate the dual-channel system. In SubTrlm, for instance, the normal menu shows each of the nine channels you can adjust. But when dual channel is activated, it shows subtrims for each of the two aileron, rudder, or flap servos as well. The same is true for all the menus; you can adjust all the functions for each of the Mate channels.

SERVO SPEED

This function is especially useful to the scale modeler. It allows you to adjust the speed for each channel in both directions from the servo's normal speed and slow it down to 15 seconds for 60 degrees of rotation. It cannot, however, be used to make the servo travel any faster than at its own speed rating. This function allows the flaps to move slowly to their extended positions to minimize trim adjustments. Landing-gear doors and retracts can be adjusted so the doors open quickly and close slowly so as not to interfere with the gear, as they move down slowly and retract quickly. The possibilities are endless!