Following the successful conversion of my Digimac III to 2.4Ghz, using Phil's excellent encoder and the Lemon 2.4ghz module, and locating some other MacGregor transmitters, I'd put out a wanted ad for a Digimac 1+1 transmitter, which would have been my first choice back in the 70's, rather than the Gem 1+1 that I did eventually get.
Thankfully Phil was able to come up with a spare that he wasn't using, which arrived yesterday, complete with his 1+1 encoder and the Digimac 1+1 leapt to the front of the queue, ahead of the Digimac IV.
The set is quite well used and Phil had already depopulated the board leaving just the stick unit, on-off switch and single channel button for his own conversion. I could have replaced the latter two items, but they seemed to be in reasonable order, so I thought I'd try them out.
The various components are secured with cable ties, some double sided servo tape and in the case of the throttle setting LED a blob of hot glue. Power is supplied by a 2s1p 450mah Lipo, of which I have quite a few spares.
The 1 +1 encoder is encased in heat shrink, all pre-wired with flyleads and just needs crimping a servo plug on the PPM feed to the module, a wee bit of soldering to secure a battery supply via the switch and to tag onto the stick potentiometer. So in short order the Digimac 1+1 was done and bench tested. The biggest part of the job was reaming out the wee plastic housing for the aerial from around 8mm to 10mm, so as to allow passage of the 2.4ghz antenna and drilling a small hole in the face of the transmitter to allow the throttle setting LED to be seen. It's not pristine and exactly as original, but this is a transmitter to be used, rather than sit on the shelf.
Thanks again to Phil for his help and coming up with the goods to expand my small collection of vintage transmitters. It really does make a difference to be able to fly the classic models with period appropriate equipment and I've really enjoyed dipping my toe in the single channel flying challenge.
