How to: Stop Radio Glitching
 15 steps to stay in control |
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| Based on an article by STEPHEN BESS |
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A “glitch” is any type of interference that reduces (or eliminates) your ability to control your car or truck. This interference can come in many forms and levels of severity; it might be a slight hesitation to respond to a radio input, or a severe glitch that causes your RC car to twitch and jerk so that you loose complete control. Hunting down the cause of a bad glitch can be frustrating, but don't lose patience; the glitch “hot spots” are well known, and most can be eliminated by methodically checking them all.
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RADIO GEAR 1. Check receiver and transmitter voltage. First things first: does the transmitter have enough power to pump out a strong signal? Always keep fresh batteries in your radio, and if you run nitro, be sure your receiver pack is fully charged. Some transmitters have a digital voltage display, others use a needle or LEDs. No matter what your radio has, check the battery voltage frequently. |  |
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2. Protect the receiver from vibration. When it comes to preventing glitches, vibration is enemy number one. Most people have no idea how much abuse a receiver takes during a race weekend. Cushion your receiver by stuffing foam rubber inside the receiver box. If your receiver is simply stuck to the chassis, apply two or three layers of servo tape to the mounting area to damp vibration. If your receiver has room to bounce, add some foam padding to hold it tight and damp vibration. |
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3. Keep the receiver away from the motor or engine. Receivers are great “listeners,” so keep them as far away from electric motors and nitro engines as you can. It's also best to mount the receiver on its side with the antenna side facing upward. Standing the receiver on its side can improve reception and reduce glitching. An extra layer or two of servo tape can further insulate the receiver from chassis vibration. |
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4. Test the receiver crystals. Cracked or damaged crystals immediately cause problems. Crystals are fragile, and if dropped or jarred, they can break or crack inside their metal housings (where you can't see the damage). If you have an extra set of crystals, pop 'em in. If the glitches disappear, you'll know you had a bad set.
To avoid damaging them when they are not in use, store your crystals in a crystal case or in a box padded with foam rubber. For in-vehicle protection, pad the receiver as described previously.
Is this crystal good or bad? There's no way to tell just by looking, so always test your crystals at the first sign of glitching. |
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