[Thoughtful_Flyer]

My big 2.4 dither before taking the plunge continues.............

Moving on from 35 MHz (9 ZAP with mainly PCM 149 RXs)

Does anybody have first hand experience (good or bad) of the following.

Futaba 8 channel 2.4 module to go in my 9ZAP (about £118)

Futaba 7 channel receivers (currently on special offer at £50)

May also consider the equivalent Jeti gear. Their module is about £50 cheaper, receivers are a similar price.

My current thinking is either of the above for my better models (two receivers in the largest models to provide redundancy) plus my FrSky module (in a different transmitter) with their receivers for my seldom used slope soarers, trainer and any other "disposable" bits of fun.

Futaba in everything  would be too expensive.

FrSky somehow seems too good to be true for me to feel confident in the better planes.

I would also be interested to know if anybody has seen inside the Futaba or Jeti Modules. What is the build quality like, particularly the robustness of the connection socket. This is my main area of concern with the FrSky (see other thread)!

[aesmith]

Futaba in everything  would be too expensive.

FrSky somehow seems too good to be true for me to feel confident in the better planes.

How about Futaba transmitter(s) for everything, and use third-party FASST compatible receivers in your low risk models?

[brand1068]

We've had a couple of old flyers returning to the fold over the last few months.

Both had Futaba 7 or 9's and both we're looking at the module option.

I think Leeds models sorted them with new TX's in the end as the difference in price was very small.

I've also had a couple of Giant Codd RX's for my Futaba kit - had no issues with it to date. Though to be fair its not in my bigger stuff, £30 V £48 for the GC I think but i'll still put 617's in the pricey or very fast models I think.

Chris

[Thoughtful_Flyer]

We've had a couple of old flyers returning to the fold over the last few months.

Both had Futaba 7 or 9's and both we're looking at the module option.

I think Leeds models sorted them with new TX's in the end as the difference in price was very small.

Thanks

Yes, I'm sure that is true but I have to say I don't like the feel of the newer Futaba transmitters (apart from the 12 and 14 MZ).

The 9ZAP feels like a solid, professional piece of kit and the new 10, for example, doesn't! I've noticed similar comments from Spektrum users regarding their latest offering too.

Also I know my way round the ZAPs very well and ever model is setup on my main transmitter and backed up on the spare.

It is a good thought about the compatible receivers for the bottom end models. I think FrSky do a FASST offering, although it costs more than the receivers for their own system

[mike557]

18 Months ago I bought an Evo Pro to replace my battered FF9. the plan was to gain experience of the MPX programming and following lots of researchand go Jeti 2.4 in its entirety.

Fortunately since getting the evo I have managed to pick up enought MPX IPD's to render that plan void.

My belief is keep it simple, keep everthing a quality brand. This is where Jeti is appealling, bullet proof Teutonic tech at a cost that can be justified.

[Bad Raven]

CLIP.......


Does anybody have first hand experience (good or bad) of the following.

Futaba 7 channel receivers (currently on special offer at £50)

I have in excess of 30 of the 617 Rx's, never had a moments concern. Some are used several times every week.  In gliders, IC and EP planes and Heli's.

[brand1068]

Not seen any issues with the 10C and we have fair few Large models being flown with them at winterton.

But as you say it can be down to personal feel.

I've been looking at the 8 myself

Dunno about the Jetti - never seen anyone fly with them.

Cheers,

Chris

[grayuk]

The Futaba 8  TX now has an upgrade in firmware making it a 14 !
Upgrade is free download.

[MarkLincs]

Why go 2.4ghz ?

thats the 1s question

35mhz works - can get interference

2.4ghz works - can get interference

35mhz is R/C planes only

2.4ghz is open to many many uses!!

BUT Futaba costs more Oh please FASST Works you can lock in a receiver and it will stay binded! You'll never rebind one even after 3 months it'll work.

PCM receivers cost what ? and people moan about a 60 pound 7 channel receiver please.

Makes me laugh people put a 200-400-1000 model in the air and skimp on what one of the most important bits ??

[satinet]

.jeti works well. It has the benefit of low rx battery warning etc. I would use it in my expensive models, although i went multiplex before seeing jeti

the jeti rxs are well priced, especially the larger ones. A 14 channel is about £110.

The rxs also have a degree of programability, although that is probably not an issue if you have a decent tx like a zap, unless say you had models with more than 9 channels, in which case the rx can gang channels together (but each has its own centre). It can also mix channels together and set up special failsafes etc.

That being said it's just a normal system unless you start fiddling.

[bobt]

Why go 2.4ghz ?

thats the 1s question

35mhz works - can get interference

2.4ghz works - can get interference

35mhz is R/C planes only

2.4ghz is open to many many uses!!

BUT Futaba costs more Oh please FASST Works you can lock in a receiver and it will stay binded! You'll never rebind one even after 3 months it'll work.

PCM receivers cost what ? and people moan about a 60 pound 7 channel receiver please.

Makes me laugh people put a 200-400-1000 model in the air and skimp on what one of the most important bits ??

I am one of many who have been forced down the 2.4 route as all the shows now insist on it. (Strange how a couple of years ago it was banned by the LMA....)  I have a Futaba module for my FF9 and use Futaba 7 channel Rxs.

[MarkLincs]

I am one of many who have been forced down the 2.4 route as all the shows now insist on it. (Strange how a couple of years ago it was banned by the LMA....)  I have a Futaba module for my FF9 and use Futaba 7 channel Rxs.

Why do all Shows insist on it ?

Now thats almost amusing, They do know of course that in theory security cameras at these big sites could be on 2.4ghz ? or for that matter other security systems for that matter on 2.4ghz and that wait for it could in theory cause an issue.  (I mean the likes of shows held at Event sites not a flyin etc etc) Think someones making an error somewhere they need to remember the 2.4ghz range is not just for model flyers!  35mhz is Just for Model flying.

Why force people down a route that is no safer overall than 35mhz ?

oh I do fly 2.4ghz and 35mhz and you know theres a difference granted but 35mhz still does the job and has better Range!

[bobt]

Preaching to the converted here mate. Nowt at all wrong with 35meg and I shall continue using it for most of my models. The show thing started with Telford (Weston Park) and all the others jumped on the bandwagon. Exception is Winterton.

[satinet]

Why do all Shows insist on it ?

Now thats almost amusing, They do know of course that in theory security cameras at these big sites could be on 2.4ghz ? or for that matter other security systems for that matter on 2.4ghz and that wait for it could in theory cause an issue.  (I mean the likes of shows held at Event sites not a flyin etc etc) Think someones making an error somewhere they need to remember the 2.4ghz range is not just for model flyers!  35mhz is Just for Model flying.

Why force people down a route that is no safer overall than 35mhz ?

oh I do fly 2.4ghz and 35mhz and you know theres a difference granted but 35mhz still does the job and has better Range!

they probably do realise that and they probably also realise that those things don't shoot down planes with 2.4ghz radio.

Of course there is a theoretical possibility of a problem but it is clearly less than the probability of a shoot down on 35mhz when there are potentially a lot of people around with radios.  And of course it makes life a lot easier for people who are organising it.

I think we are a long way past the does 2.4ghz radio work debate, surely. 

[Skyleader]

Not seen any issues with the 10C and we have fair few Large models being flown with them at winterton.

But as you say it can be down to personal feel.

I've been looking at the 8 myself

Dunno about the Jetti - never seen anyone fly with them.

Cheers,

Chris

A member in our club replaced (or got a radio techy to) the 35Mhz innards with JETI stuff.in his FF9. Works wonderful; but, I hope i'm not liable here, the techy that fitted it said ' flaming hell. not the best quality in the world ' ot words to that effect. But it works......

[drone]

My experience, and I wish I had hindsight before I got the experience is that I've a giant cod 6 ch 2.4 and 7 rxs they work fine, I have a frsky module in a FF9 and 4 x 4 ch rxs that I use in small stuff and a 10 cg 2.4 only and 7 617s rx and I wish I'd spent the money that I spent on GC and frsky on futaba. I also have a 6ex as backup and a 7 ch futaba 2.4 module too for my ff8 plus 3 gc frsky fasst compatible rxs that work fine.
If you want the 10cg to feel more professional put some ballast in where it suits you, there's plenty room in there. TBH I wish I'd bought the 8 channel one and spent the difference on futaba rxs. I even feel comfortable with the 6 channel tx as my days of bling are over.

[BrianB]

Skyleader

It's all relative I guess. I recall reading a report on a US forum some time ago, where a techy had been testing what he referred to as the "uplink" (the strength/quality of the signal actually being received and processed by the receiver).

The Futaba FF9/PCM receiver combo was one of the worst he'd ever encountered!

And among the best?   HiTec, and a German sourced radio who's name escapes me just now..........

How's that for shaking your market perceptions?

[Mole Hunter]

As a recent converter to the Futaba side from Spektrum I can honestly say that I don't regret the decision for a moment. I paid £256 for my Futaba 8FG, battery and charger from SWM (you need the charger as it's unique to that radio).

The 8Fg is a bit of a nightmare to program if all you've ever known is the DX7 but I'm slowly getting my head around it. There's nothing wrong with the tx it's just me. The versatility is excellent and the programming very powerful. Any channel is assignable to any input (4 joystick axis, two volume knobs, two sliders and eight switches (mainly three position), there are several flight modes and the 14 channel upgrade works just fine. There are also 4 virtual channels to help with your mixes, so you could argue that there are actually 18 channels!

You can also obtain your 14 channels with two 8 channel rx's and a jumper. This to me is arguably batter than having one 14 channel rx as you can seperate the copntrol surfaces so that, if you had a switch, battery or rx failure you could still control the model on the other rx. Cheaper too that way

It balances perfectly on a neck strap too....