Range Testing on the DX 7 Spektrum

I have three gas airplane setups using the DX 7 and AR 7000 receivers.  All have both primary and secondary receivers installed per instructions, with the receivers' antennas oriented 90* to each other (one parallel to the wing spar, one parallel to fuselage centerline).

I decided to really use tough ground testing parameters, just to "know" how well the link really was before flying.  Engine OFF tests yielded 46 paces (almost 50% more than spec) and engine RUNNING gave 42 paces.  These were approx. 30" paces, so these work out to 115 feet for 46 paces, with 75' being the 30 pace instructions specification.  Not too shabby!!

Here is my configuration.

I oriented the airplane (secured) pointing nose first straight out into out flying field.  Turned on the TX, then the RX, verified controls.  Next, I walked in front of the airplane, and with my back to the airplane, TX held level, antenna straight out pointing away from me in front of me, I started walking in a straight line in line with the fuselage.

I depressed the bind button the whole time, and moved the controls until they stopped.  Antenna pointing away from the airplane, my body between the TX and the airplane, and the receivers in the "shadow" (at least partially) of the large gas engines, ignitions and batteries in the airplane.

At the point the controls stopped, I turned 45*, holding the TX as before, and regained signal!!!

With the antenna bent upward, and FACING the airplane, the range was MUCH further, although I stopped walking at 60 paces with everything working....  Bind button depressed.

Oh, one of the setups is a Great Planes Ultimate, so the aluminum cabanes were also in between the RX and me during these tests.

Your results may vary, but I thought it was pretty good to see such a good test using a procedure that should have been very difficult for a 2.4Ghz signal.