Radio in a Box (RIB)
 

One night I was talking with SparkyJ how were sick of waiting for a decent affordable 4+ pistol grip he mentioned thinking of using two radios and then after a couple we came up with using project boxes. So we set off to make our RIB's and here is mine as it sits today. Basically it's a losi 2 channel built in to a box with plugs on the back to plug in varies switches.
In the photo it's set up for my super and the lower trigger is my rear steer that I steer with my ring finger:mrgreen: I'm currently working on a winch down for the other channel. I got to use it at the Colorado comp this weekend and I loved it didn't even notice the extra weight.
For my scaler now I have 5 channels to play with! I'm thinking of building one out of a 3 channel so I'll have 6:mrgreen:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...n/super017.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...n/super018.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c7...n/super016.jpg

Nice work! How long did it take to get used to controlling that other radio with your pinky?

I'm still learning but it's not to hard, specially on technical stuff where you get time to think. I'm working on a ring that will just slip on to the tip of my finger (I've been using my ring finger) The great thing is that I have proportional steering and not lock to lock:) and of course everything else set up the same as 2.2 (steering,throttle,dig)

Thats pretty sweet! So say I wanted to go dual ESC in my MOA, but didnt feel like spending 300 some bucks on a 4ch, i could just make me one of these from my DX3 and work fine?

Yep you'll just have to run 2 rx's in your rig.

This is a great idea on the cheap! I got a chance to try it out personally, and it works flawless! It does, however, make you use your brain a little more. But is no different getting use to than a stick radio. Nice work Mica and Sparky!"thumbsup" Forgot to add that it is very light weight and not cumbersome at all. You don't even notice the lower box.

And thats with no mod's to the DX3R either... Nice idea...

What are you doing about Batteries in it? Does it share the DX3R's or have it's own?

Yep no mods completely removable"thumbsup" It's got it's own batteries in the box:)

so the bottom radio you only plug in the steering servo to the throttle channel, right?

is the 3 wire coming out of the DX3 running power to the lower box?

No I run two rx's the bottom box runs the rear steer through the steering channel on 2nd rx my trigger is hooked up through the boards steering channel . The wire is for the trigger switch to communicate with the box. :mrgreen:

Pretty sweet idea. Hope it works out for you.

Thanks, So far working out well (just need to train the brain"thumbsup")

I had a chance to drive this around.

Let me tell you, this thing rocks. Like Mica said, once you train your brain to work properly, it really is a sweet unit.

Mica and Sparky J really did a good idea proud on this one.

Can't wait till Sparks get's his hooked up, (da rat bastard still took 1st without it at the last comp), he will be feared throughout the land. They both will.

Nice works guys.


JC
8)

Wheelchair did this years ago, you guys are behind the times :flipoff:

My step by step 5 channel
 

I figured I would post up my step by step custom radio."thumbsup"
I had the Losi radio kicking around so this is what I used.

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5843/img2800k.jpg

Started by mounting the new switches in my radio.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9017/img2802d.jpg

I then started tearing down the losi radio freeing all the main components from the radio housing.

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/8769/img2807r.jpg

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2588/img2808k.jpg

Once the circuit board is free from all the fastening screws I went an cut the wires going to the battery pack, throttle an steering switches. Leave anough wire on each in order to resplice them without having to mess with the circuit board.

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/7017/img2809p.jpg
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/8246/img2810u.jpg

Next I disconnected the antena by cutting the plastic sleve that holds it on.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4749/img2812e.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9643/img2813z.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8002/img2814ci.jpg

Before I removed the board I labled what all the nobs were doing;-)

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5862/img2816u.jpg

The hardest part of the whole process was finding the right size box to fit the board in. Mica found a 6"-2"-3" project box from Radio Shack that was going to be the closest thing we could find.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3340/img2817i.jpg

I used a new compact battery holder and cut in a new on/off switch in the box.

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/3111/img2818qa.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2128/img2819m.jpg

I then mounted the box to my radio using 3-m3 screws that I traced from the 3 mounting holes on the circuit board.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9665/img2822ou.jpg
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/948/img2823z.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4030/img2824j.jpg

After mounting the box I used some rubber spacers that I found in a servo horn bag for a insulated mounting point for the CB.

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/8503/img2830de.jpg
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/9038/img2831.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3497/img2833u.jpg

I then soldered in my switches and battery case to the CB wires.

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8943/img2835v.jpg
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/7268/img2837fp.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/5792/img2839m.jpg
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/7890/img2840c.jpg

So thats really it.. After all the wires and switches are soldered up just bind the radio to the rx and close everything up.."thumbsup""thumbsup"

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2258/img2841p.jpg
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/6289/img2842o.jpg
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3016/img2843g.jpg

Sweet project guys!

Maybe Im missing something, you did this to add 1 channel?

EDIT: Missed this
So by switches Im assuming you added 2 channels.

2 more channels totaling 5 at the push of a button;)

Actually, it's 2 channels, as the Losi Spectrum radio had steering and throttle.

So, with that added, it free's up the 3rd channel on the DX3 radio to become used as dig, you now have a steering channel already to go, say for rear steer on the SUPER, plus an additional channel for say a winch-down or something else.

It works really well too.

Nice stuff you two.

JC
8)

Thats right.. I will still be using my 3rd channel for rear steer and the added 4th channel for front an rear dig on my Super. Still haven't found a good use for the added 5th yet, maybe a winch down8)