Analog vs Digital Steering servo
 

Can anyone explain the difference between an analog and a digital servo? I have heard a lot of hype about them but I am not sure if they are even necessary. Is there any special equipment that needs to be purchased for a digital servo to work? I was noticing on the amainhobbies site a product that was almost like a tekin hotlink but it was for hitec digital servos. Is this special program box required? I have a Futaba 2.4Ghz 3PM-X radio. Is this radio compatible with digital servos?

I was looking at the Power HD HD-5680BB High Speed Digital Servo from amainhobbies.com. Has anyone used this brand? It has pretty good stats. I was thinking about using it in a T4.

Spline Pattern: Futaba Type
Connector: JR Type
Gear Type: Plastic
Operating Speed: 0.14sec/60°at 6.0V
Stall Torque: 90.20oz-in @ 6.0V (6.5kg-cm)
Dimension: 40.7x20x37mm
Weight: 41g
Operating Voltage: 4.5 - 6.0V

Your radio will work with either digital or analog servos. Here's a fairly detailed explanation of diff in the two and the advantages of digital servos (a little advertising tossed in a long the way...) -


http://www.futaba-rc.com/servos/digitalservos.pdf

Digital servos do two things for me.

1) Much faster response time for steering corrections (working around an accident or correcting my own steering error).

2) They seem to have more torque than an equal analog (unless my analog of equal torque was worn out). This allows me to "walk" my way off a tube as opposed to waiting on a marshal sometimes.

IMO digital is superior. One critical item is to make sure your end points and centering is adjusted correctly. Digital servos while they are superior (IMO) they are not as forgiving. If they aren't set up correctly they will crap out.

You have that backwards, digitals are better because they are more dependable. they make more tourque and are faster and can handle more power. there isnt really a use anymore for analog servos other than Ready To Run's.

Thanks for the great responses. I never thought about having more torque being helpful in getting off the pipes. For years I used the dependable Futaba S9304 an never had one fail; however, I did start striping the nylon gears when I got a T3. I have a metal gear Jr Z590M. I think it has approximately 95 oz of torgue compared to the aforementioned futaba 86 oz (give or take a few oz. How much is needed for a T4 or a B4?

I have a Futaba BLS451 in my XXX-T CR and it seems like plenty.
0.10 seconds and 147 oz/in at 6V.

Uh...no. I've seen many 1/8 scale throttle scale servos crap out from poor set up.