Castle Creations Castle Link USB Programmer Adapter

This is the Castle Creations Castle Link USB Programmer Adapter for Castle Creations brushless speed controls, featuring all-in-one support for Phoenix, Phoenix HV, Phoenix Ice, Thunderbird, Mamba Micro Pro, Mamba Max, Mamba Max Pro, Mamba Monster, Sidewinder, Hydra , and CC BEC, and CC BEC Pro products!

Is "stick" programming your Castle Creations brushless controller getting old? Can't remember what settings are programmed in your ESC?

Why hassle with transmitter stick programming when you can plug your brushless controller into the Castle Link Windows compatible programming adapter and the USB port on your PC? This little gem just made your speed controller even better by allowing:

• Set up of programmable options with point and click ease.
• View your current Phoenix program settings.
• Customize values for low-voltage cutoff, prop brake strength and governor mode gain.
• Download new software updates via the internet as they become available.

NEW revised interface featuring:

• All-in-one support for Phoenix, Phoenix HV, Phoenix Ice, Thunderbird, Mamba Micro Pro, Mamba Max, Mamba Max Pro, Mamba Monster, Sidewinder, Hydra , and CC BEC, and CC BEC Pro products!
• Now with saved settings files!
• New "check for updates" feature!
• Totally automatic install!
• Expanded programming and parameters for all Castle car controllers

The easiest programming tool just got easier to use and configure your Castle Creations controllers!

No complicated connections! It's as easy as:
1.Download the interface software from the Software area on Castle's website
2.Plug the Castle Link into the receiver lead on your controller and attach the mini USB cable included in the kit.
3.Connect the USB cable to your PC.

Features

• View, change and customize program options
• Update ESC software via the Internet
• Compatible with Windows XP and Vista (32 and 64 bit)
• USB port required

Includes:
One instruction sheet
One USB connector
One PHX link Interface

Requires: Internet ready PC with an available USB port

Specifications:
Length:
PHX link:13-1/2" (343mm)
USB Connecter: 71" 180cm

The Best Kept Secret You Already Know
If you know about Castle Creations Speed Controllers, you already know about the Castle Link (formerly know as the PHX-Link). It is the device that allows you to connect your Castle Creations Brushless Speed Controller directly to your Windows computer through a USB port, right . . . ? Well, yes, but that is only a small part of the Castle Link story. Many Speed Controller companies offer a way to program their products but only the Castle Link program allows you to update the entire software within the controller. Lets look at why this is so important.

What is a speed controller? The hardware itself is just a bunch of small chunks of silicon, and a few electrical support components fastened to a high copper content circuit board. By itself it can do nothing. The real magic in a brushless speed controller is in its software. It is the software that allows the speed controller to vary the speed of your brushless motor to match the motion of your transmitters throttle stick. It is the software that allows the speed controller to interpret the commands from your transmitter, to sense the motors motion and to send commutation pulses to the motor at precisely the right time which make the motor spin at the speed you select in the direction you want. It is the software that sets timing advance dynamically several thousand times per second, to get the most power and efficiency from the motor at any and all RPMs. It is the software that brakes the prop in several different ways, protects against over current situations, protects your battery investment by check battery voltage and cutting motor power to prevent over discharging. It is the software that allows you to hook up to the Castle Link, and set all of the other functions you can change on the controller with the Link. In short, everything the ESC does, is done by software.

So it goes without saying then, the software is the most valuable part of any brushless speed controller. Lets say you have five one year old speed controllers that are not capable of automatically setting the cut off voltage for lipo packs. You buy several new lipo packs to replace your NiMh and NiCad packs you were flying before lipos became mainstream. You want this feature because you fly with several different lipo packs and you don't want to reprogram between flights. With any controller other than a Castle Creations, the company adds the auto lipo detect feature to the software, slaps a different label and shrink wrap color onto the same ESC, and sells you the new and improved speed controller, now with auto lipo detect. The cost to you is the cost of five new controllers. Now you have invested in ten speed controllers, and five of them don't have the features you want. With five old Castle Creations controllers and a Castle Link, you simply download the software with the new features, install it on the five speed controllers, and voila! You now have five new speed controllers with the new features you want. The only cost to you is the cost of the link amortized over the five controllers. The software is by far the most valuable part of the speed controller and Castle Creations gives it freely to our customers. While some might ask: “Why does Castle Creations give away its most valuable asset?” We answer with: “Why don't other companies care enough about their customers to offer an ongoing update path?”

What this all means is, that with a Castle Link you avoid your current controllers becoming obsolete as rapid changes continue to occur in the technology of electric RC Your original investment in your Castle Creations speed controller is protected against changes in battery technology, motor technology, and any other unforeseen change in the world of electric powered RC. We all know that at this point in the evolution of our favorite hobby/sport that change and rapid advancements are inevitable, and occurring at an ever increasing pace.

While the Castle Creations business model is in direct opposition to the norm, it was designed as a simple commitment of ongoing value to our customers. It would be great if this philosophy spread to the rest of the RC industry. Imagine if you could update and add new features to you precious computer radio. What if you could update all of your RC components so they would work with each other as an integrated whole, and then be able to provide you with data about what is going on with your system? And then have all of the above displayed in real time! The future of RC is in the software used to run the devices that make our passion possible. Once the barriers presented by proprietary software, and the idea of planned obsolescence come down, the world radio controlled flight with make a quantum leap forward in performance, reliability and usability. As consumers, we can make this happen by supporting those companies who put their customers interest FIRST and are willing to work with others in the industry to break down communications barriers between equipment.