KO Propo Vantage Esprit II conversion
 

Hi,

Does anyone know if the KO Propo Vantage Esprit II can be converted to 2.4ghz. If so, how much will it cost and who is able to do it.

Cheers :eh?:

Give Cardnim a shout on here, he does them for a fantastic price :thumbsup:

I have just converted mine to 2.4 using the FRSKY hack module,just 3 wires to solder I can send you some pics and instructions if you want it was very easy to do,hack module and rx was 30.00 delivered from T9 Hobbysport

Cheers Iain, if you could send me the pics and instructions that would be great....

You can get the module and receiver from GiantCod delivered for 25 quid.
I charge 45 for it all in (thats the module and rx as well) but its easy enough if you are good with a soldering iron - hardest part is mounting the module correctly so the led and bind button look good and you dont mangle the transmitter.
Ive seen an online guide that put a hole right through the front panel of the KO Esprit II nameplate - yuk!!! :p

If you need any help mate, give me a shout. :)

Thats cool I was thinking about doing something like this, anyone got any pictures of one finished/modified. :thumbsup:

Hi personally dont have any issues with 40mhz especially since no one really uses it other than me anymore LOL:woot:, I dont ever have to switch crystals.

What are the benefits of switching from 40mhz to 2.4?

ko a go go
 

I've got a 2.4 converted esprit vantage II and it is the nuts, advantages include, no more 'have you caught anything mate' jokes due to your long tranny aerial and of course the wonderful Spekky recievers! Do it, the Esprit is awesome anyway and with the conversion it is retro old school looks with top up to date guts...win and win :) long live esprit vantage II :D

KO Handset 2.4ghz Conversion
 

Here are some pictures of the conversion i did using the FRsky hack module conversion it is very simple and only needs 3 wires soldering on


Here is the link for the conversion that i did,the only thing i didnt do which i didnt like was to make a hole in the front panel,so i put the bind button in where the module goes (see pic)


http://81.98.145.74/rays/rc/ko-frsky.html

Good to see few more Esprit 2 conversions. I modified mine a few months ago to get over the 40mhz interference curse at RHR. My conversion is similar to to Cornishboys, except I mount the aerial inside the case. about 2mm of the aerial sticks out of the original aerial hole with a rubber o-ring to help keep it in place. The bottom of the aerial is tie-wrapped alongside the mounting of the original aerial. Also I solder the three wires to standard 1/10th pins used in computers etc. They can be bought at Maplins in strips of 10 or so. This way I just plug the wires in where the original plug-in module went. The conversion does not require any holes or modification to the KO case, and can be converted back in minutes if need be. Once the rx has been bound to the tx there is no need to see the very bright led, so mounting it in the old module case is ideal. I have no problem using it and it doesnt seem to matter if the rx is switched on first, unlike some of the more expensive systems.
My next conversion is to use the telemetry modules to get readings of
battery voltage, motor speed etc. Has anyone done this yet ?

Mike
YORCC

Is it possible to do this on a KO esprit 3? Love the handset but not the ko 2.4 system

You can just get the Spektrum module for it and it plugs in place of the KO module, no mods required :)

Know of any being sold anywhere? Not seen any about for ages

Yes, the FrSky system is compatible with any "modular" transmitter.
To date, Ive only done it on KO and Sanwa, but also know of it being done on a JQ and a Futaba 3VC.

Thanks guys this is just the info I need. Been wanting a 2.4Ghz for a while but could not afford a decent one and love my KO II 40MHZ. Been suffering random interference at some meetings not others so this will be great. I thought it was over £100 to get it converted not £25. Going to place an order now. Brilliant :thumbsup:

What receivers are being used with the frsky module?
Do you have to use the frsky one with sticky out connectors or can you get one with connectors in the top with plastic case?

Using the Frsky one, but it's tiny and no problem to wire neatly

I have the same question, the 'hack' Tx bit is easy to pick, for me there are too many receivers to pick from, 6channel, 8channel, Fasst compatable, some look a bit lightweight and open, some plug in the ends. Those flight guys.......

I am going to 'do' our Sanwa Gemini2, should work well on 2.4, may have a go at the Super Exzes if it goes well, but the plastic internals are not good and are cracking up.

I have done a bit of reading and seems if you can find the +, - and ppm points to solder to almost any Tx can be converted.

I'd like to know if you can use any other receivers with the hack too, would be nice to use one of those ultra tiny KO receivers if possible?

As far as I am aware you can only use the FrSky receivers,the one I'm using,if you want to plug your transponder in,use no 3 don't use no 4 as that runs at different voltage or something????? (so I have been told anyway)

I have had no problems with mine and it is def value for money!!

Is this a simple case of soldering 3 wires to the existing module board in the KO esprit 3?

Really tempted to give this a try

Does anyone have an picture of a KO Esprit 3 with the Spektrum DX3R internals fitted ?

Just threw together a bit of a how to...
http://www.oople.com/forums/showthre...738#post628738

HTH :)

Great work Andrew, very good indeed.:thumbsup:

Very nice work, do you feel a utube coming on?

oh, and thank you:thumbsup:

LOL. I have an incredible boring voice from Northern Ireland which means I speak too fast so that noone can understand me. :woot:
The vid would be in the top 10 worst of all time list on Channel 4 next week ;)

Hi All,

I came across this forum, as I am looking at upgrading my KO Propo Vantage Esprit 2 Type R to 2.4gig. I have no real issue with 40mhz anymore but 2.4ghz is just more convenient.

I was surprised to see so many positive comments, so easy and so cheap to do an upgrade. Seems like its rock solid which is great. For the price im very keen on giving this a go. Can I confirm that these items are what I need please?

http://www.giantshark.co.uk/frsky-24...-p-405206.html

http://www.giantshark.co.uk/24ghz-fr...-p-404806.html

Is it possible to use say Spektrum 2.4 with this hack? Im guessing not. Also does this FRsky fit into say the original KO receiver housing?

This is for 2 channel car racing in Australia iof that amkes any difference. I am seriously the only stick user left! I have been out of racing for 6 or so years and look whats changed!

That is exactly what you need

+1 Yup.

Genius! Thanks guys!

Have ordered the components and look forward to doing this!

Parts ordered, will convert next week.

I see and like the advantages, but is that a good idea, placing the 2.4 antenna almost completely inside?

Yay parts have arrived. Just wondering if people put the V8R4 receiver into some kind of housing to protect it and the pins etc? Seems like it might fit into the old KO housing. Also with the short antennae does it just hang anywhere? I thought there was still a small antennae with 2.4gig in the car. Does anyone have pics of their cars with these receivers at all?

Cheers

I glue the antenna to the reciever casing ALWAYS!
If you leave it loose it will eventually break off and the range of the radio is greatly reduced. Just gently fold the antenna around the side of the reciever and use a drop of supergle to hold it in place. Don't worry about having it in an aerial tube through the body, this doesn't seem to effect the range at all.

Great thanks. Hard to get used to the idea of no antennae after all these years! So you just servo tape the receiver down. No protection for it in a box or anything?

Yup yup.
The little RX thought flimsy looking seems fine.
Ive sent mine through crazy crashes, huge jumps and mud and its come out without a bother.

As Legacy says, glue the aerial down if you want some extra security.
Or, what I did was to tie wrap the aerial to one of my servo wires. This keeps it very secure, can be removed easy enough.

And it doesnt poke out of the shell in any way, yet range seems to be ridiculously good. I reckon I would lose sight of the car before I went out of signal range!! :thumbsup:

Enjoy :drool:

Job all done. Was super easy I must say and worked first time. no wonder these items and this method is getting rave reviews. 21st century Ko sticks yeah!

Out of interest, are stick radios declining in Europe now? I have always been the only one at race meets in Australia with a stick radio. I could never be bothered learning the wheel. When I came to England to race the Nats, 9/10 were using stick radios. I see however there is a huge loss in 2.4gig stick radios now. So does that mean everyone is using wheels?

apparently the hack modules been discontinued :( anyone know of anything else that can be used?

apparently the hack modules been discontinued :( anyone know of anything else that can be used?

Yes the FrSky DHT telemetry module. you just don't switch on the telemetry bit.
http://www.t9hobbysport.com/item.asp...234&prodid=703
They work as the original hack module.

V8R4-II receivers:
http://www.t9hobbysport.com/item.asp...36&prodid=1034

Everywhere i look this module is out of stock!!! what is going on i hate using 40 mhz :cry: and you cant preorder from anywhere! HELP!!