Poor Radio Signal/interference (27 MHz)

There are many potential causes for poor radio reception, or glitching as it\'s commonly referred to in RC terms. Some of the glitching problems could be generated by the RC vehicle itself, which you can control, and some of the glitching problems could be caused by sources that are out of your control. Lets look at both types of potential glitching sources.

Examples of potential glitch sources that are out of your control are high power lines, chain link fences, stray CB radio signals, radio or TV antennas, neon or florescent lights and steel building structures. Running an RC vehicle around any of these interference sources is not recommended. Here are some of the potential glitch gremlins that live inside your RC vehicle.

-Low transmitter batteries will have a drastic affect on reception, if the battery light on your TQ radio system starts to blink immediately stop the vehicle and replace the batteries in the transmitter.

-Low or discharged batteries in the 4-cell battery holder will also have a drastic affect on reception. If the steering and throttle/brake servos begin to feel sluggish, replace the batteries (or recharge the batteries if you have installed Ni Cd or Ni Mh cells) before continuing to run the model.

-Damaged or frayed wires can cause all sorts of glitching problems. The receiver, servo(s), speed control and battery pack all have electrical wires in several different diameters. If any of these wires become cut or frayed, they could become a source of radio interference. You can repair the damaged wires yourself, or have a knowledgeable hobby shop employee make the repair. You can also send the damaged component to Traxxas to have it repaired or replaced.

-Damaged frequency crystals will cause glitching problems. The frequency crystal is a delicate component that can be easily damaged if it\'s handled improperly or ejected out of the vehicle after a serious crash. If your model has a serious glitching problem and you suspect that you have a damaged frequency crystal, borrow another set (TX & RX) from a friend, or a hobby shop and install that set in your vehicle.

 -If you\'re running your vehicle at a track where other RC vehicles are being raced, you must first clear your frequency (make sure that nobody else is currently using the same frequency crystal) with the other drivers before you turn on your radio. Your TQ radio system operates on the 27 MHz frequency band, which is divided into 6 channels. This means that 6 models can be run at one time without interference problems (1 car per frequency channel).

-If someone forgets to turn off their radio and happens to be on the same frequency that you are, you will experience severe interference problems when it\'s your time to race. That\'s why you must be very careful when operating your vehicle in a crowded racing environment.

-Make sure that the RX crystal goes into the receiver and the TX crystal goes into the transmitter. If the borrowed crystals work satisfactory, then you\'ll know that you have to replace your damaged crystal set. Traxxas 27 MHz crystals are available at your local hobby shop. Listed below is the selection of crystals that Traxxas has available for purchase.

Crystal Set, Channel 1, Brown #2031
Crystal Set, Channel 2, Red #2032
Crystal Set, Channel 3, Orange #2033
Crystal Set, Channel 4, Yellow #2034
Crystal Set, Channel 5, Green #2035
Crystal Set, Channel 6, Blue #2036

-Upgrading to a 2.4 GHz radio such as the Traxxas TQi 2.4GHZ Intelligent Radio System will help with poor signal and interference issues.  The 2.4 GHz system is less prone to outside inteference than 27 MHz radio systems.  For more information on upgrading your radio system to 2.4 GHz, please see our Power Up™ information page.