LouJitsu82

Ok, so I'm now pretty well dialed in with My J-3 Cub BL, And i think im ready for my next plane. I was thinking about a 4 channel T-28 trojan. Does anybody know if the PZ ZX-10 5+ rx/tx that comes with the RTF is any good? Could it go into any ARF? Possibly a nitro plane later on? Is there any affordable alternatives? I just dont think im ready for a DX6 yet. Any imput would be helpful. Thxz

Leo L

As long as you aren't looking for any "bells and whistles", the transmitter that comes with the T-28 is excellent. Its the same transmitter that comes with the Typhoon. I bought six additional receivers and currently have five different planes that I fly with this transmitter: ParkZone Typhoon, E-flite MiniFuntanaX, ParkZone J3Cub with TowerPro Outrunner and LiPo, GWS Corsair and GWS Mustang. Since there is no model memory, you must change the servos switches for the different planes and some of the planes fly better at low rates, while others are better at high rates. You MUST do a careful check of all of the control surfaces to make sure that they are not reversed,, before each flight. Its actually a 6-channel transmitter. I have retracts on my Mustang and Corsair that I operate from the fifth channel switch.

LouJitsu82

Great! Thanks for the response Leo. I couldn't wait and i ordered the RTF T-28 with extra 2200mah batt. last night. My lhs is currently out of stock...

So I would have to buy a 72mhz reciever with the same channel(as the t-28) to use with my J-3 BL? It currently haz the ZX-10 3ch but i think its on the 27mhz band. Does it need to be from Parkzone?

Do you think PZ has started producing units not succeptable to the common ESC problems?

Thanks for the help.

-Lou

Leo L

When PZ was selling the original Typhoon, you could buy replacement receivers with any crystal that was being offered by them. The new radios, for the Typhoon2, T-28, etc. come standard with Channel 17 crystals. If you want another channel, you also need to order replacement crystals, which are about $10 per set. If you plan, eventually, to fly more than 2 planes with this radio gear, you might find it cheaper to switch the T-28 that you ordered to Channel 17, rather than buying a new set of crystals for each plane.

In general, receivers don't have to be from the same manufacturer as the transmitter, as long as they have the same positive or negative shift. However, I found it a lot easier to buy both from the same manufacturer, thereby reducing the potential problems.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

STANDARD RADIOS vs. COMPUTER RADIOS
by Ed Anderson
aeajr on the forums

I think you will find the economics of computer radios have changed in the
last 3-4 years. This is partially due to the advance in electronics and
partly because people are buying that second, third plane much sooner. We
have flyers in our club who have been flying less than 6 months who have 3
planes already. The cost has dropped so much, and the availability of ARFs
and high quality kits have made it cheaper and simpler to get the next
plane. There is little to hold them back.

I recommend new pilots go directly to the computer radios. If they start
with an RTF, then they use that radio to fly that plane. When they buy the
second plane, they get the computer radio.

A quality electric ARF parkflyer or simple to build kit, with the motor,
can cost as little as $40. A flight pack for that plane can be as low as
$70. You can put it in the air over a weekend.

An ARF 2 meter sailplane can be $90. The electronics to put that in the air
can be around $70 and can be completed in a couple of evenings.

In the glow and gas powered world these low costs and rapid adoption of
second and third planes might be different. I can't say.

BACK TO RADIOS

Just as computers have wiped out the typewriter, so the computer radio is
making the standard radio obsolete. Today, nobody buys a kid a typewriter
to type his school papers, they buy a computer.


I have come to the conclusion that the only reason to buy
a standard radio is lack of confidence that you plan to go forward, or
the standard radio came as part of an RTF package.

Here is a quick look at some key points.

Economics - Let's compare - Tower Hobbies catalogue

Hitec Laser 4, std Radio and 4 standard servos - $120
Futaba 4 EXA computer radio, receiver, 4 standard servos $140
Airtronics VG6000 6 ch computer radio, receiver 4 St servos $170

Difference is $20-$50

Looking at the Airtronics VG 6000, 4 model memories so you can instantly
switch
to any of 4 models without having to reset anything. If we ignore servos
and receiver, the VG6000 covers your next three planes. If we spread the extra
$50 over those three planes it is only about $16.33 each.

With the standard radio you need to reset for each plane, try to carefully keep
all
planes tuned identically, or buy a radio for each plane so you can tune it
to the plane and keep the settings. That would cost about $60 per plane for
each standard radio, or an additional $180. With the VG you only have to
charge one radio and bring one radio regardless of which plane, or planes
you wish to fly.

That's $50 extra for one radio that handles 4 planes. And the VG
does a whole lot more than just provide model memories. This is an
excellent first radio.

Big savings and enhanced flexibility with the 6 channel computer radio!

In the Tower hobbies catalogue:

Standard Radio - 6 channels
Hitec Laser 6 with 4 standard servos and receiver 139
Computer Radio - 6 channels
Futaba 6EXAS 6 Ch computer radio -4 std servos & receiver $179

For $40 the 6EXAS gives you 6 model memories and a whole pile of features
the Laser 6 standard radio can't touch, and you divide the cost over 6
models. The computer is cheaper and more convenient.

What else can these entry level computer radios do?

Split Ailerons/flapperons: -

You can install two aileron servos and connect each to a separate channel on
the computer radio. This makes it very easy to trim each servo to get each
aileron just right.

You can set up aileron differential, if you wish, to reduce drag. Very popular
on sailplanes and aerobatic planes.

Or let's say you have a plane with ailerons but no flaps. You fly the
plane normally. Then flip a switch and turn the ailerons into flapperons.
Now you can use your ailerons as flaps during landings. Flaps on a 4 channel
plane that doesn't have flaps. You can just as easily set them up as
spoilers, which are commonly used on sailplanes during landings.

Cool!

Coordinated turns - Mix rudder into your ailerons so you have a coordinated
turn. On a standard radio you have to do this manually. With the computer
radio you can do it manually too, or you can focus on the plane while the
radio handles the coordination for you. You can override the mix and add or
reduce rudder at any time.

Exponential, dual rates, model memories, channel mixing, digital trims and
lots more. Some of these features can be very helpful in getting new pilots
in the air.

Are computer radio hard to use?

No! In fact if you want, you can just use it as a standard 4
channel radio until you want to use the other features.

Take a look at this thread, starting at post 49. This guy talks about using
flaps as ailerons for flying and flaps for landing on a R/E/F sailplane.
Pretty cool idea. Can't do that with a standard radio!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...6&page=4&pp=15

So, for about extra $40 over a standard 6 channel radio, you get
a radio that handles multiple models and lets you do things that the
standard radios can't do. Go up a another $30-60 to the Hitec Optic 6 or
Futaba 7C and it is amazing what you can do and now you get 8-10 model
memories.

Will you need this on the first plane? No, but they can be helpful and you will
be set for your next 3-7 planes, depending on the radio you buy.

Most radios that come with RTF packages, and most standard radios don't have all
these
features. You don't have to use them right away, but it is great to know
that you don't have to buy ANOTHER radio when you realize you would like to
have them. The price difference over a standard radio is now so small
that for all but the very few, the computer radio is now the economic entry
level radio of choice.

TRANSMITTER MODULES

Many computer radios in the midrange and upper range use removable
transmitter modules. These allow you to change channels by swapping out the
transmitter section. It also allows you to change the frequency range on
the radio. This might allow you to use the same radio to fly 27 MHz, 50 MHz,
72 MHZ, 75 MHz or even 2.4 GHz. So you could use the same radio for planes,
cars and boats just by swapping out the channel module. Quick and easy to do.

Hitec, Futaba and JR have channel synth modules that will allow you to
select any of the 50 72 mhz channels that can be flown in North America.
There are also radios like the Evo 9 and 12, and the Polk 6 and 8 channel
radios that have built in channel synth. If you want to avoid channel conflict,
a
computer radio that can change channels could be a great asset.

There are lots of good reasons to buy a computer radio. If you get into
even semi serious aerobatics or sailplanes, a computer radio is a huge
benefit and for some things, almost a requirement to bring the plane to its
full potential. Even the pilot of a 3-4 channel parkflyer, or someone
flying a simple R/E sailplane with spoilers or flaps benefits from a computer
radio.

There is only one reason to buy a standard radio these days, "I don't know
if I will like RC flying so I want to spend as little as possible". Or the
standard radio came in an RTF package like an Multiplex Easy Star RTF, a
Great Planes Spirit Select RTF or a NextStar Glow RTF.

I have used Hitec and Futaba and Airtronics as examples but JR, Polk
Spektrum and others have entry level computer radios
that are a much better value than any standard radio. In many cases these
entry level computer radios will serve the needs of the pilot for many years to
come.

Get a computer radio, save a bundle of money, get a bundle
of features and really have fun with your RC flying.

This may also be useful:

What you need to know about receivers:
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/show...2964#post72964

2.4 GHz - A Broad Market Review
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6130963/tm.htm