MULTIPLEX Advisories

June 2008

UK Product Recall ROYALevo and COCKPIT SX

[This advisory applies to units sold in the UK only. For other countries, please go to the MULTIPLEX web site]

The brand name MULTIPLEX for 50 years has stood for high quality, innovative radio-gear for model purposes. Quality, reliability and functionality were and still are MULTIPLEX standards.

As a result of this philosophy and in conjunction with our quality control management, it has been found that several transmitters in the ROYALevo and COCKPIT SX series have suffered severe failures when being operated under unfavourable conditions, and these failures were caused by a few components being of unreliable quality. This could, in rare and extreme cases, result in a total functionality loss of the transmitter and therefore a loss of control of the model (aircraft).

Affected are ROYAL evo and COCKPIT SX radios which were delivered or bought between 01.01.2007 and mid of May 2008. Not affected are radios which were delivered since end of May 2008. These radios are marked "MPX 08/05" (Year/Month).

Due to safety reasons, we have decided to ask you to return the radios immediately, so they can be checked and overhauled. Please do not use them until they have been overhauled.

We will return your radio as soon as possible. For your shipping cost we add as compensation for postage 1 Multiplex Nano-S servo. Please note; Parcels without postage paid can’t be accepted.

To identify the radios on arrival to receive preferential service and overhaul please mark your parcel with "RECALL ROYAL evo /COCKPIT SX " and use the following address (UK sales only):

Michael Ridley
C/O Mainly Planes 'N' Trains
6 Ashdown Road,
Chandlers Ford
Eastleigh,
SO 53 5RD

Also as compensation for all the trouble we will perform a free service check (worth 40,- €) for all radios which are sent in to be overhauled.

We thank you for your understanding with this issue.

Enquiries please send to: revision@multiplexrc.de
Best regards
MULTIPLEX Modellsport GmbH & Co. KG
Dieter Wörner
Managing Director

Article posted 12 June 2008


December 2004

Synths and Mobile Phones

MULTIPLEX is extremely sorry to hear of the unfortunate incident involving the gas-turbine helicopter in early October 2004. An immediate investigation was launched to ascertain the cause. We have also taken into consideration the BMFA Safety Bulletin No 6 relating to the use of mobile telephones in proximity to electronically programmed transmitters.

The UKRCC (earlier JRCUC) has reported there may be a problem associated with operating mobile telephones in close proximity of programmable transmitters causing memories to be partly or fully erased. This problem has yet to be scientifically substantiated, however, it is generally known that RF radiation can disable or permanently damage some modern electronic devices.

Although the risk may be small, we believe it should be minimised by bringing to the attention of RC pilots and clubs that pending resolution, we recommend that mobile telephones are not switched on within 10 feet of any programmable transmitter. This may appear to be ‘overkill’, but better safe than sorry. Care should be taken during pre-flight checks to ensure that all controls are operating effectively in their correct sense and to ensure that the memory has not been affected by any undetected or unknown transmission since the last flight.

The UKRCC (earlier JRCUC) pointed out that the International limit for radio control RF transmissions is restricted to 100 mW, this means that mobile telephone transmissions could be up to 30 times more powerful. Civil aircraft and hospitals etc. request all mobile telephones or similar electronic devices are turned off, and these are the reasons why MULTIPLEX points out in instruction manuals, particularly in the latest issue for the Royal evo, ‘Do not operate mobile phones within 2 meters (6 ft 8") of the transmitter’.

Care must also be exercised when modifying brands of radio equipment. The essential range test procedure, as clearly stated in every MULTIPLEX instruction manual, must be carried out. In extreme cases the manufacturer's warranty could be invalidated together with insurance.
Flair Products and MULTIPLEX dealers have been informed and are pleased to answer any questions.

The MULTIPLEX Team wishes you safe flying, but we need your assistance to make flying even safer!