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nigel1 -> Hitech Zebra final result. (6/26/2007 4:19:05 PM)
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readers please bear in mind I am in the UK where crystal changing is legal.
this posting is with reference to the problems i have been having with Hitech zebra radios on the UK surface frequency 40Mhz FM.
I wrote a letter to the management of the shop where I purchased the Hitech Zebra 4 & Zebra 3 radios and took the letter with me along with the two radio sets.
I was advised by trading standards to quote the UK consumer law and that the radios were not fit for purpose to what would normally be acceptable to a consumer in the UK.
for example the crystals could not be changed without incurring serious interference even if branded crystals were used.
The shop Manager read my letter and explannation as to what we had tried to remedy the interference, moving the reciever away from the batteries, standing further away from other radio users, making sure that the RX aerial,was externally fitted, checking all connections and making sure all batteries were fully charged.
I also included page 9 of A.T's "what happens when I twiddle the sticks" manual which talks about the setting up of reciever and transmitter ocillators and tunning them.(thank you A.T.)
I also mentioned that I had telephoned the suppliers of the Zebra range of radios in the UK Amerang and spoken with the technical advisor, (phone 01903-765496) who told me that they had no specialist testing equipment and if the shop returned any hitech radio to them all they would do is a range check and if this worked ok they would return the radio equipment to the shop as tested ok.
Apparently they only stock hitech radios and would not be able to test how other signals from other makes of radio affect the Zebra radios.
I also congratulated the shop for excellent service help and advice in the past in my letter.
Howes decide to refund me the cost of the two radios and I have switched to futaba skysport 4YT's on FM 40mhz, I learn't to fly on these radios on 35 megs.
After purchasing the two futaba 4YT's I was told that they have had a lot of difficulty in purchasing hitech crystals, they did not say why.
I know at least i can purchase futaba crystals locally and they will work without causing unecessary interference to the radio or causing it to recieve interference from other R/c equipment. Futaba also have a proper service centre in the UK not just a techy who does range tests like amerang.
I had to pay more money which is not surprising considering the difference between the quality of Zebras and the futaba radios.
I would never buy another cheap hitech again esspecially if I am going to put an expensive model at the recieving end. My
lesson is learn't. The hitech Zebras were ok if you want to stick to the crystals they were supplied with then they would behave fine but changing the supplied crystals cause a lot of problems with interference, with the radios i purchased, there is no decent service back up and parts are difficult to source for them (according to the shop).
I am now going to be very busy fitting radio to boats. If anyone else UK or otherwise suffers similar problems I hope this helps.
Thank you to everyone who commented on the Hitech zebra problem threads, I have learnt a great deal in the past few days from all of you and very much appreciate your help. all the best and
kind regards
nigel1. [:D]
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