RE: Secure channels for RC planes
The problem with spread spectrum is that it uses non-licensed channels that have even stricter power output limitations than does the 72mhz band. Also you have a billion other devices that use the same frequencies to contend with, and even though spread spectrum helps dealing with interfereance it can not eliminate it, range still suffers in the presence of noise, considering the power output limitations are already pretty high it's a little chancy to use these for RC applications without illegal boosting the power. Car systems are out because cars don't go to nearly the range an aircraft does. While it's probably a solution for some hardcore jet fanatics in remote locations untill they open up a non-licensed band with higher power output I doubt these systems will catch on in the maintstream.