Further Along . . .

I have servos plugged into a Hitech Six Channel 2.4 Gigahertz Optima that matches my Aurora Transmitter (aka Tranny).  I have to enter the model and bind the receiver to the transmitter.

Binding means the tranny only recognizes that receiver.  There are two different process for binding, one is named the Normal Mode.  The other way is known as the Scan Mode.  I only use the Scan Mode.

These new systems use a channel hopping process where some fixed number of channels are use, something like 20 or so channels.  Thus the tranny is moving every few milliseconds to a new channel.  In the Normal Mode those channels are more or less preselected and used over and over again.  The difference lies in that the Scan Mode actually goes out and checks to make sure no other transmitter is using that frequency.  That way, you are assured no one else is on the channel you are about to use.

The 2.4 Gigahertz frequency is very very broad but I suspect we are only using a small portion of that band in all our 2.4 Gigahertz equipment regardless of manufacturer.  That means even though there are literally millions of channels to use, we are really sticking on one area  in that wide open band.  After all the electronics is not that broad in band operations and thus one is kind of restricted to that area of say a million or so frequencies in that band instead of the hundreds of millions bands available.  Thus Hitech has essentially said, even though there is a very broad spectrum of frequencies to use, we are not really doing that.  So the Scan Mode is safer in that no one else will be in that frequency with you.  So in the Scan Mode the tranny is looking ahead and making sure you will not have a problem.

The different manufacturers are using different frequency hopping techniques unique to their equipment.  But if you just happen to bump into someone on that frequency their equipment may cause you some interference.  It is not likely and highly remote but not so remote as not to happen due to the restraints of the equipment to use the entire band.

No other brand of 2.4 Giga Hertz has a scan mode.  In the last couple of years I have not had any interference, no loss of aircraft due to signal interruption, or intermittent responses.  I had a lot of problems with JR's Spektrum DSM2 system (Note Spektrum is in the process of abandoning the SM2 system and move toward Futaba's rapid frequency hopping system).  I have had no problems since I acquired the Hitech Aurora tranny.  BTW way JR stands for Japan Radio, probably second to Futaba in the RC world.  Both are generally very good equipment, but JR's rush to get the lead in the 2.4 Giga Hertz world led to a lot of garbage and problems.  I personally think JR now is junk, especially the Spektrum brand.

Spektrum cost be a couple of airplanes.  I would not even give the stuff away, but relinquished when a friend I respect a great deal asked for it.  So I gave him the stuff.  He is a happy camper.

Anyway off to binding now.