Signal Boosters .. or Not?
 

So I'm playing with my own individual project, trying to learn electrical and programming (since I'm a mechanical guy). I'm using a mini-controller hooked up to a Hitec receiver. I'm looking to hook up some Victor 883s/884s to the mini-RC and then connect the mini-RC to the Hitec. My question is checking on whether I need signal boosters (seen here: http://robotcombat.com/products/IFIW-SIG36.html) anywhere in this crazy wire run to run between the mini-controller since I'm using a non IFI actual receiver, or if I can just run standard PWM cables. I'm just trying to clarify this before I order too much that I don't need.

If this needs any clarification, just let me know. Thanks.

-Greg P.

Re: Signal Boosters .. or Not?
 

Yeah, that needs clarification! Maybe you could draw up a block diagram, showing power and signal connections.

It appears the booster may be needed to run the Victors from an R/C receiver....but I don't really understand what you mean by a "mini-controller", is it an electronic speed controller or something else?

Re: Signal Boosters .. or Not?
 

running a victor on anything but an IFI controller is usually very unreliable.

I had some victors of mine "boost modded" which puts a booster inside, and I've used the ifi boosters on others. Both work well.

Re: Signal Boosters .. or Not?
 

Sorry, didn't clarify the mini-controller, it is one of the smaller versions of the IFI RCs that was released a while back. Link is here: http://www.ifirobotics.com/edu-rc.shtml

Since I obviously have lost my writing skills today, I drew a diagram per your suggestion.



Soo.. my question is, do I need to put one of the aforementioned signal boosters in place of my badly drawn PWM wires (which look strangely like the German flag). I only worry because I am actually hooking the Victor to the RC, but then I am going to the Hitec, and I don't know if the signal will be reduced in that step.

-Greg P.

Re: Signal Boosters .. or Not?
 

Ahhh...now it makes sense....

According to the manual for the controller, it can drive Victors directly, so you would not need boosters. The HiTec receiver would be connected to the PWM inputs on the controller, and the Victors would be connected to the PWM outputs on the controller. Should work ok as far as I can tell from reading the manual.

Re: Signal Boosters .. or Not?
 

Feeding what back to the receiver?

I would expect that the receiver is a source of signals to the rest of the system, and that you wouldn't be "feeding" anything to it except power (and an antenna). Your diagram isn't helping me to understand what you're connecting.

I'm pretty certain that you don't need a booster between the IFI mini-RC and a Victor. I'm also pretty certain that you don't need one between the other device and the mini-RC, but I'm not at all certain that I know what's going on there.

Re: Signal Boosters .. or Not?
 

I understand your confusion, and most of it is brought on by my poor choice of wording. I was running out of good wording and typed something that sounded relatively technical at the time. My apologies.

Re: Signal Boosters .. or Not?
 

Like Squirrel said, you don't need a signal booster between the Hitec receiver and the mini-controller and you don't need one between the controller and the Victors, either. I'm pretty sure that the signal boosters are just for using between Victors and a non-IFI signal source, to make sure the signals are compatable. Because IFI makes the mini-controller, it shouldn't be a problem.