User Manual

SBUS Decoder SBD-4 and Programmer Instruction

Manual

The SBUS system was developed by Futaba; it can use one receiver connector to

control multiple servos and allows you to drive multiple servos from the same

receiver channel.

Standard PWM servos (conventional servos) can’t connect to the SBUS port

directly. The SBD-4 decoder is a programmable SBUS decoder, used to connect

up to four conventional or digital servos to single SBUS port. It functions like

the Futaba SBD-1 Decoder.

SBD-4 Overview

This SBD-4 decoder device is an SBUS compatible item, with one SBUS IN

connector and four conventional/digital servo OUT ports. The SBD-4

Programmer is used to set each of the SBD-4 decoder outputs to follow any of

the transmitter’s channels (1-16 or DG1-2)

How to program the SBD-4

Connect the SBD-4 decoder directly to the SBD-4 Programmer card (To

Receiver S.BUS) plug. Be sure to get the power and signal pins correct.

Connect a power source to the SBD-4 programmer card (To Receiver S.BUS)

plug. You can do that with the supplied male-to-male cable through a receiver

port or hook a battery pack directly to the programmer.

1. Use the “OUT Select” button to select the SBD-4 decoder plug (1-4) that

you want to program. A red LED will indicate which output channel you

are programming.

2. Next use the “Channel Select” button to select which transmitter channel

(1-16 or DG1-2) will be directed to the selected decoder plug (1-4)

3. Repeat steps 1-2 as often as needed to setup all of the four SBD-4

outputs to the desired transmitter channels.

After you have finished programming the SBD-4 decoder disconnect the SDB-4

Programmer card and power source.

How to hook-up the SBD-4 Decoder to your receiver

Program your transmitter so that you have a control input (joystick, slider,

switch, mix, etc.) assigned to each of the receiver channels that you programmed

into each of the SBD-4 decoder outputs.

Read your receiver manual carefully to make sure your receiver is setup properly

to provide SBUS output to the selected receiver port.

Make sure the SBD-4 decoder is plugged into the correct SBUS port on the

receiver (some receivers have SBUS and SBUS2 ports, they are not the same).

Plug a servo into each of the assigned outputs on the SBD-4 decoder and power

up the transmitter and receiver.

Test each of the transmitter channels to make sure the servos are functioning

properly.

Note: Some (older conventional or analog) servos may not work with the SBD-4.

If your servos are not responding to transmitter inputs try using newer

conventional or digital servos to trouble shoot the problem.

PAGE 1
SBUS Decoder SBD-4 and Programmer Instruction Manual The SBUS system was developed by Futaba; it can use one receiver connector to control multiple servos and allows you to drive multiple servos from the same receiver channel. Standard PWM servos (conventional servos) can’t connect to the SBUS port directly. The SBD-4 decoder is a programmable SBUS decoder, used to connect up to four conventional or digital servos to single SBUS port. It functions like the Futaba SBD-1 Decoder.
PAGE 2
Helpful hints for getting the SBD-4 working: Video Instructions: If the SBUS port on your receiver is a configurable port you need to make sure it is in SBUS mode and not CH 8/9 mode. The easiest way to do that is to hook up a conventional servo to the port and verify that it no longer works on the SBUS port.