The Spektrum AR620 is a 6-channel sport receiver that works on both DSMX and DSM 2 protocols. These are Spektrum’s proprietary protocols for their 2.4GHz receivers and transmitters. The AR620 has an antenna-less, compact design that makes it easy to install. It also comes with fly-by-range telemetry. That’s all great, but the AR620 does have some problems.
In this write-up, we will go through the most common Spektrum AR620 problems and try to understand what causes them. Of course, we will also talk about what we can do about them. A malfunctioning receiver can lead to the untimely device of your favorite RC unit and, in some cases, might lead to some injuries as well. So, you have to act promptly.
Common Spektrum AR620 Problems: Potential Fixes
Problems | Troubleshooting Guideline |
| Loss Of Signal | Make sure the frequency is right, check the batteries, and try rebinding. |
| Signal Interference | Try operating the plane in free airspace. If there are tall trees and buildings around, it can mess with the signal. |
| Range Problems | Keep the transmitter and receiver distance within 2 kilometers. |
| Binding Issues | Check the manual. Make sure the transmitter is working correctly. |
| Can’t Identify Ports | Check the manual |
Common Spektrum AR630 Problems And Fixes
1. Loss Of Signal
The sudden signal loss can bring disastrous consequences for your RC plane. Thankfully, the Spektrum AR630 comes with a failsafe feature that comes into play as soon as the receiver loses signal. The aircraft will keep sailing in the air until the connection reestablishes. But the risk of banging into a tree, an electric pole, or a building persists.
What leads to signal loss? There could be a myriad of reasons. Perhaps, the plane has flown out of range. The receiver or transmitter battery could be dead. The internal antenna might have stopped working. The servos on the transmitter might be malfunctioning as well. You need to rule out all these scenarios one by one to get to the root of the problem.
Solution
The first thing you need to check is the batteries. Take out the AA battery from the battery compartment and put in a new one. If it’s a battery issue, the aircraft should get back online. However, if it’s a receiver battery problem, there is not much you can do about it. So, make sure the receiver battery has sufficient charge before flying the plane.
It could be an internal antenna issue. To detect that, try flying another RC aircraft with the transmitter. If you can’t, the transmitter is faulty, and the internal antenna is the first thing any repair expert will look at. If the antenna checks out, examine the servos. Replacing them could help stabilize the transmission.
2. Radio Interference
Radio interference can also mess up the transmission and cause the plane to crash. The presence of another RC airplane nearby can lead to signal interference. Even if the other aircraft operates on a different protocol, like the FHSS, it can interfere with the DSS protocol Spektrum transmitters and receivers use.
Solution
Unlike RC vehicles, RC airplanes have to operate in the same band, which is the 35MHz or the 2.4GHz band. For this reason, two model airplanes flying side by side are highly likely to cause signal interference. Mobile phones, cell towers, motors, electronics, and other sources of electromagnetic waves can be responsible for signal interference.
3. Out Of Range
Another reason for a lost signal is the aircraft moving out of range. As magnificent Spektrum transmitters and receivers are, they have limited range. So, you can’t get much far. The range in these units is about two kilometers. If the airplane flies too far away, you will lose connection, and the aircraft will shift to failsafe mode.
Solution
You have to be mindful of the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. If it increases beyond range, the receiver will disconnect from the transmitter, and you will lose control of the aircraft. So, make sure you don’t fly the airplane out of range.
4. Binding Issues
Unless you buy a ready-to-fly model aircraft, you will not get to fly it right away. You need to buy the transmitter and receiver separately and then connect them. The connection is called binding. The receiver should lock into the transmitter code after a successful binding process. But, many Spektrum AR620 users have reported having difficulties binding.
Solution
First and foremost, make sure you have a DSM 2 or a DSMX-compatible receiver. If you don’t, the AR620 will not bind to the receiver. Once you have checked that, have a look at the throttle trim. It needs to be as low as possible. Also, keep other electronics and mobile phones away to avoid signal interference during the binding process.
5. Can’t Identify Ports
After you unbox the Spektrum AR620, you will notice that there are no channel labels on it. You have to do a throttle calibration before using it, but how can you do so without knowing which port is for what use? You would often see new Spektrum owners complaining about it on forums.
Solution
Of course, you can look at the manual to see which plug goes to which port. But what if you bought a second-hand product with no manual or lost your copy? Don’t worry. We got you covered. Here’s the list of ports on Spektrum AR620:
- Port 1: Throttle
- Port 2: Aileron
- Port 3: Elevator
- Port 4: Rudder
- Port 5: Gear
- Port 6: Aux 1
The channel labels for all modern Spektrum transmitters follow this pattern. Since there is a dedicated bind button, there is no separate bind port.
Final Words
These are the much-maligned Spektrum AR620 problem. You will face most of these problems with other transmitters. The lack of identifying labels on ports is certainly a matter of annoyance, but you can figure out the functionality of the ports by looking at the manual. The signal drop is also disappointing, but you can get rid of it by following the guidelines we provided above.
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