R/C buddy box plugs/ pin assignment
For running a R/C transmitter with the R/C Interface the transmitter has to be equipped with a buddy box, that makes
the PPM-Signal accessible from outside. Unfortunately, each manufacturer uses its own type of buddy box connector:
Multiplex
Futaba
Robbe
Graupner/ JR
all
9ZAP/9ZHP, FF8/8UAP,
FF7/7UAP, FC16, FC18,
FC28, ..
CM-Rex, Terra Top
FMSS/PCMS, ..
FM 314, mc-10, mc-12, mc14, mc-15, mc-16, mc-16/20,
mc-18, mc-20, mc-22, mc-24,
FM4014, ..
European RF part and buddy
box: JR Quattro, JR 9x, X347, X-387, X-388, X-756, X3810, ..
DIN female plug 5-pin 45°
(180°), mating face
GND: 3
Signal: 4
short-circuit 3 with 5
(1: Bat+, 2: Bat+, 5: NC)
(DIN female plug 7-pin:
additional pins 6, 7 for
copying, 5-pin male plug
also fits the 7-pin female
plug)
DIN female plug 6-pin 60°,
mating face
GND: 0 = shielding
Signal: 4
short-circuit 3 with 5
( 1: Bat+, 2: Signal in, 5:
Bat+, 6 : +5V )
3PJ, T3PJ, ..
female plug for 3.5 mm mono
jack
GND: 1
Signal: 2
female plug for 3.5 mm stereo
jack connector
Signal: 1
GND: 2
NC: 3
DIN female plug 5-pin 45°
(180°), mating face
GND: 2
Signal: 1
(3: Bat+, 4: Signal in, 5:
Bat+)
3.5 mm st. jack connector
all MX transmitters with DSC
connector: MX-12, MX-16,
MX-22, mc-19 (with DSCRD8000, RD6000, VG400,
connector only)
VG600, Radiant, Vanguard
Sanwa
PPM, ..
appropriate male plug for
female plug
3.5 mm mono jack connector
American RF part and buddy
box: X-347, X-387, X-388, X756, X-3810, ..
female plug for 3.5 mm mono
jack
GND: 1
Signal: 2
FX15, FX18, ..
Hitec
Fokus 4, Eclipse 7, Flash female plug for 2.5 mm mono
jack
5, ..
DIN female plug 5-pin 45° 3.5 mm mono jack connector
GND: 1
Signal: 2
(180°), mating face
Micro 47G
GND: 2
Signal: 3
(4: Bat+, 5: Signal in)
Stylus, M 11, ..
2.5 mm mono jack connector
4C, 7C, 9C, FF 4, FF 7, FF 9,
T6EXA, Skysport T4YF
DIN female plug 6-pin
60°, mating face
GND: 0 = shielding
Signal: 4
short-circuit 3 with 5
( 1: Bat+, 2: Signal in, 5:
Bat+, 6 : GND)
Jamara
4 pin female mini DIN plug
(without blue contacts)
4 pin female mini DIN
plug (without blue
contacts)
female plug, square 6-pin,
mating face
GND: shielding
GND: 2
Signal: 7
Signal: 1
1+2 trough for plastic pin
short-circuit 5 with 6
(3: NC, 4: Signal in, 5: Bat in,
6: Bat+)
GND: shielding
Signal: 7
1+2 trough for plastic pin
4 pin male mini DIN
connector
Compa x4+1 Trainer
4 pin male mini DIN
connector
Spektrum 2.4 GHz
DX 7
M Zechs, ..
Walkera
WK-0701
female plug for 3.5 mm
stereo jack connector
Signal: 1
GND: 2
NC: 3
DIN female plug 6-pin
60°, mating face
GND: 0 = shielding
Signal: 4
short-circuit 3 with 5
( 1: Bat+, 2: Signal in, 5:
Bat+, 6 : GND)
4 pin female mini DIN plug,
default colors of the cord
transmitter of model
"Calisto"
GND: 3
WK-701 PCM Signal: 2
3.5 mm mono jack connector
Nova 4, Nova 6
Kyosho
Caliber M24 transmitter
GND: 9
Signal: 3
1+2 trough for plastic pin
4 pin male mini DIN
connector
female plug, square 6-pin,
mating face
4 pin female mini DIN plug,
GND: 2
default colors of the cord
Signal: 1
short-circuit 5 with 6
(3: NC, 4: Signal in, 5: Bat
GND: 3
in, 6: Bat+)
short-circuit 3 with 4
UART PCM Signal: 2
connect 2 with 1 temporarily
to activate the signal output
or
9/10/13 1:23 PM
female plug for 3.5 mm stereo
jack connector
Signal: 2
GND: 1 Page 2 of 7
NC: 3
3.5 mm st. jack connector
T2M
transmitter E-Fly
Awesome R/C Product
by Model Engines
female plug for 3.5 mm mono
jack
GND: 1
Signal: 2
Transmitter E8 of model
"Twister CP"
4 pin female mini DIN
plug, default colors of the
cord
Lexors
3.5 mm st. jack connector
Walkera 4-channel
4 pin female mini DIN
plug (without blue
contacts)
female plug for 3.5 mm mono
jack
GND: 1
Signal: 2
PPM-Signal: connector for
crystal oscillator with crystal
unplugged
GND: 3 or charging connector
3.5 mm mono jack connector
Walkera 22 E (35, 36, 39)
GND: 5
PPM Signal: 1
E-Flite
Transmitter 6-channel
CCPM E8 of model
"Blade CP", Belt CP
4 pin female mini DIN plug,
default colors of the cord
GND: 3
PPM Signal: 2
Walkera transmitter of model
"Dragonfly R7C"
4 pin female mini DIN
plug, default colors of the
cord
GND: 5
PPM Signal: 1
PPM-Signal: connector for
crystal oscillator with crystal
unplugged
GND: other crystal pin or
charging connector
All female plugs viewed from mating face/ outside = view on solder side of the corresponding male plugs; blue bridges
are used for deactivation of the RF-part. The RF-part should be switched off in pupil/master mode because no
disturbing antenna is plugged into the transmitter and, therefore, the generated energy is not emitted, that can lead to
heating and destruction of the RF-part.
Your transmitter is not equipped with a buddy box..
.. is not intented to be used in pupil/master mode, but it should be connected to the PC. That is possible anyway, if the
transmitter uses PPM. With following steps, one can find out this and can upgrade the transmitter:
Choose microphone as input for your sound card. Test the setting with a real microphone.
Solder 2 wires at a 3.5 mm stereo jack connector (to contact 1 and 3, see figure of Graupner connector).
Plug the cord into the soundcard, open the case of your transmitter and switch it on. Touch the ends of the cord
with contacts inside the transmitter. If you hear a buzzing noise that changes while moving the sticks, you have
found the signal. Commonly, GND is the negative pole of the battery and PPM signal one of the wires leading
from the main board to the RF part.
Drill a small hole in the R/C transmitter casing and attach e.g. a 3,5 mm female stereo jack plug at the casing and
connect it with GND and PPM signal.
Further information:
more detailed information about buddy boxes
free oscilloscope program using sound card
Experiments with the PC sound card (German)
http://users.belgacom.net/TX2TX/tx2tx/english/tx2txgb1.htm
http://polly.phys.msu.su/~zeld/oscill.html
publikationen
traced PPM-Signal of Graupner/JR mc22 visualized with Oscilloscope program
hints:
Upgrade your transmitter at your own risk.
Be careful while seeking the PPM-Signal in the activated R/C transmitter, cause no short-circuits.
The self-made buddy box may work well with the RC-Interface, but not in the pupil/ master operation with
another transmitter as master. Without further knowledge both transmitters can be damaged.
upgrade example 1 - Graupner mc 15
Since a buddy box is offered for mc15, upgrading should be no problem. The PPM-Siganal is detected fast:
A matching self-made buddy box looks like this, the prefabricated parts are easily to get from the direct mail selling or a
local electronics store:
The protection resistances are important if a short-circuit happens through a faulty plug.
upgrade exampe 2 - Graupner FM 314
A low priced, used FM314 is optimally suitable for flight simulators and for buddy box operation. Unfortunately, the
manufacturer doesn't offer any body boxes, however, it can be upgraded easily with the same parts as with the mc15.
There is the FM314 in 2 different versions, that don't differ externally however.
v1: used signals are 2 GND and 1 PPM v2: used signals are 1 GND and 4 (or 5) PPM OUT on the transmitter's circuit
OUT on the transmitter's circuit board board, right beside the connections for the axis resistors
The signals are connected though the same two resistors with the female stereo jack plug: If the male jack connector is
plugged in, its top is connected with PPM-Signal and the middle with GND.
This is FM314 v2.
On the circuit board right beside the connectors for the axis resistors is the 5-pin row. GND is the most upper pen,
PPM-Signal of the 4th. GND is connected through a 100 ohm resistor with the middle contact and the PPM-Signal