A simple Pro and Con List for Digital vs Analog Servo – note and tip for applying it to your RC application – Useful links for Digital vs Analog Servo
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Analog Servo
Pros of Analog Servo
- Less noise
- Less power used
- Less overheating
Cons of Analog Servo
- Less responsiveness
- Less holding power
- Less effective with small movement
- More dead-zone
Note… With Analog Servo – Because of the lower Hz, (1.) The noise is at a lower frequency giving it a nicer humming noise. – (2.) The servo effectively has longer off zones and uses less power. – (3.) With the longer off zones in the frequency, the servo has time to cool.
Digital Servo
Pros of Digital Servo
- More responsive
- More holding power
- More effective with small movement
- Less dead-zone
Cons of Digital Servo
- More noise
- More power used
- More overheating
Note… With Digital Servo – Because of the higher Hz, (1.)(2.)(3.)(4.) The higher frequency leaves fewer gaps of off time, in turn, giving it more positional increments (servo resolution). so yes a Digital Servo is better overall!!!
The reason you should most likely be picking a Digital Servo
Tips… #1 Good Analog servos are harder to find, Digital Servo has taken over the mid to upper-range servos market for many reasons. A lot of it is due to the advancement of battery technology. basically, taking away one of the biggest needs of an analog servo (using less power). With noise not really being a performance thing, the only thing analog-servo has going on nowadays is they run cooler. In return of running cool, they should last longer. But with little to any upper-end analog servo, you might not even find one that gives you the benefit of running cool.
Analog vs Digital feel
Tips… #2 Personally, I like the feel of a high-end old-school analog servo. where it has a neutral (slow) feeling in the middle and picks up power as it moves. Where Digital servo feels more twitchy in the middle. (note) you can make the Digital servo softer in the middle and have a more analog feel, but it’s not the same.
Useful links for Digital vs Analog Servo…
islproducts.com – Servo Motor Fundamentals
radiocontrolinfo.com – The Difference between Analog and Digital RC Servos
rcroundup.com – Analog vs Digital Servo
kookye.com – Analog Vs Digital Servo
rchelicopterfun.com – RC Servos: The Muscles of Our Hobby
rchobbytips.com – Analog Vs Digital Servo: Which One’s Better?
