Futaba FASST (Full Version)

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flyinrog -> Futaba FASST (5/15/2008 2:17:31 PM)

The thought struck me to look into getting the new 2.4 system..with my tax rebate check, you know so I can help the economy and all, that is untill I saw the Rx,,its small enough,,,but at $100 each,,,too much $$...Rog



Raymond LeFlyr -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/15/2008 2:39:25 PM)

Rog,

I bit into the Futaba 2.4 Gig apple thinking that it would be a good way to avoid frequency conflicts with the people I fly e-combat with (and Reedie Races). The good news is that the receiver, like you said, is certainly light and small enough for 1/2A-sized models. The bad news is that replacing an $80 receiver if you get T-boned is a bummer (you can find them that cheap if you look hard and squint).

However, I expect the price will be coming down hard in the future since JR is giving them away (sorta) and if you pop the case, there ain't much in there. I think a price war between Futaba and JR is in order here.

On the other hand, maybe its back to the Coronas (sp?) from PBHobbies and Bergs for me for a while.



fizzwater2 -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/15/2008 3:27:13 PM)

mmm... Corona with lime.. :)



digital_trucker -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/15/2008 5:08:49 PM)

Keep in mind also that since there are no crystals in these things, they're much more crash resistant. I think it's pretty rare for a receiver to get physically damaged in a crash (I've never seen it happen) but crystals can get cracked fairly easily.



Tee Bee -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/15/2008 5:32:47 PM)

I recently bought a FASST radio and am happy with it but only plan to use it on my larger models until the Rx prices come down. I like the price and size of the Berg 4L receivers for my little planes. At $30, the Berg is hard to beat and I've never had one glitch in flight. If the spread spectrum receivers get down to the $50 range, I would commit to the 2.4Ghz system for all future models.



Mad Man Marko-RCU -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/15/2008 6:17:30 PM)

I would buy a Spektrum as they work really well and replacement receivers are only $50. They are half price of the Futaba or maybe the futaba is 1/2 Fasst. Been a Futaba guy since the old PCM 8 512 and every time they come out with sopmething new the old stuff is obsolete. Got lots of old obsolete Expensive Futaba stuff in my radio collector drawers.

Switched to Spektrum and the new JR 9303 no troubles with either.

Bye Bye Futaba!!!!!!!!!

Peace

Mark O
[:D][:D][:D]




digital_trucker -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/15/2008 6:40:29 PM)

I've got the Spektrum micro system in my Cloud Ranger, and a standard flight pack in my US60 - performs flawlessly. The Spektrum doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a Futaba system, but I don't need all that jazz anyway.



supagloo -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/15/2008 10:53:30 PM)

Beside the problems some Futaba sets had with encoding (*) there is only one thing that keeps me from changing to 2.4 GHz: power consumption!
A 4 Channel receiver draws a current of 80 mA (**) This is allmost 10 times the current a "normal" receiver uses. For small planes with limited battery lifting capacities this might be an issue.





*: http://at.robbe-online.net/rims_at.storefront/en
**: http://at.robbe-online.net/rims_at.storefront/482cae5100143aa7271d3e0dc146061a/UserTemplate/1/?ISID=482cae5100143aa7271d3e0dc146061a



rainedave -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/15/2008 11:54:24 PM)

I've heard great things about the resolution and precision of the 2.4ghz systems. When I got my check from Flying Models I seriously considered buying the new Futaba 7C SS radio. In the end I bought the 7C FM/PCM radio for one reason: I have eleven planes in my hanger that are currently flyable. There's no way I could afford to buy ten more receivers along with a new radio system. And I saw no sense in having to bring two transmitters to the field every time I wanted to fly more than one plane. So, I'll be on channel 39 for a while, at least until the receivers become more affordable.

David



BobHH -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/16/2008 12:18:05 AM)

Well I picked up 2 Futaba 6EX systems with 2 receivers each fairly cheap because they quit making the R606receiver and it will not work with any other transmitter. I flew it in one of my QuikShots at Burlington a few weeks back. Works great and I was using a 150 mAh pack. Must have had 10+ flights with no issues.

I also have one in my Quickie 25 model. Seems to work well. But I'm still in the testing mode. I want to convert my 9Z over sometime but want to play with these some more.

Bob Harris



Walther -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/16/2008 2:45:01 AM)

Bob,

Where did you get the 150 mah battery pack from?



Toad -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/16/2008 2:56:02 AM)

I converted my 9z over to it, I have had no glitchs, It took me a while to not walk to the freq board after each flight though...old habbits, that and realiazing I dont have to extend my atteena also. So far I really like it.



BobHH -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/16/2008 3:51:13 AM)

Walther, I went out to check and found out it was not the SR batteries 150 mah pack I thought I was using but the MPI 110 mah pack. I've got several of the little 110 mah packs. Matter of fact all my QuikShots have them. Tiny yet I've flown at least 15+ flights/races with a single charge with no issues. I use the HS 55 and some Dragon Fly 9G servos. I've used them on Futaba PCM receivers as well as the 127 receivers with no problems. It appears the drain of the RS606 2.4 ghz receivers are close to the 72 units.

Bob Harris



digital_trucker -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/16/2008 4:03:34 AM)

I fly my 1/2As on a 370 pack (5-cell) I can put in plenty of flights before drain starts to become an issue.



johnvb-RCU -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 1:29:26 AM)

I found the Tx battery is a little ordinary and I'll replace it with NiMh soon. Otherwise, absolutely great! Love having no frequency clashes, and the resolution seems much better than the 36mhz gear I need to sell. I lashed out an bought 3 more receivers so I don't see that I'll need any more than that.



Raymond LeFlyr -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 1:38:36 AM)

Yes JohnVB, I felt the need to replace the transmitter battery too. It came with one that was labeled 600 mah but either it was overstated or the transmitter draws more current than my other Futabas.

Anyway, now I feel more confident . . . yes confident with the feeling of machismo that bigger batteries will give a guy (snort, spit, crotch grab).



OzMo -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 3:43:29 AM)

There has been some talk of the 2.4 receivers shutting off when subjected to heating up in the sun. IE a clear canopy allowing direct sunlight on receiver. simply turns off. [:@] I don't own one yet but I fly with an electrical engineer that is familiar with 2.4 stuff and he flies the big Gassers... any how I consider him a knowledgeable source.



digital_trucker -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 4:48:38 AM)

Something interesting Spektrum sells for us folks who run small Rx packs and are worried about a voltage drop cutting the Rx out in flight....

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SPM1600



rainedave -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 4:51:09 AM)

Looks like a basic capacitor.



digital_trucker -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 5:14:36 AM)

That's exactly what it is....a capacitor on a battery wire. For $6 though, it's a decent deal if you're ordering something from them anyway (saves the hassle of making one yourself). A neat idea, I thought. The thing about 2.4 systems is that the Rx and Tx are locked together, and they relock together when you turn them on. If you should happen to have a severe enough voltage drop, the Rx could lose it's lock, and then it may take a few seconds to reinitiate. The The Rx does automatically set the servos to a default position when it's not in communication with the Tx, but it could get a tad hairy in flight.



rainedave -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 5:54:00 AM)

I agree, $6 isn't much over the cost of parts for that device (if you were to buy only one or two of each component). I wonder if your planes would sound better if you used Mallory's?

David



digital_trucker -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 12:10:57 PM)

How can you possibly improve on the sound of a screaming little tiny finger-biter?

P.S. What's a Mallory? Too durn lazy to google.



rainedave -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 2:00:34 PM)

d_t, that brand was used in a lot of old tube guitar amps and many people believe they are partly responsible for that "vintage" sound you hear on old records.

David



Raymond LeFlyr -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 3:35:28 PM)

From what I've read in the "legitimate press" (that I believe, not just the usual internet rumors), early JR receivers would reboot when the voltage dropped. This caused a three-second loss of signal. I understand that this has been fixed. But the capacitor is still cheap insurance and makes sense to me. I have not seen that particular problem attributed to the other manufacturers, yet.

I am still not totally committed to 2.4 gig (Futaba in my case).
But I DO like the little antenna.
Somehow I find myself drawn to small things of all sorts (free shot anyone?); models, minds, memories.




BobHH -> RE: Futaba FASST (5/17/2008 5:13:30 PM)

Well, I'm doing my own testing as I can't seem to get a straight answer from the manufacturers. I do know the receivers will reboot if a spike drops it below a set voltage around 3.5V. This can happen if you have a stalled servo or in the case of the giant scale models with multiple servos on one control which can cause a spike in voltage. I’ve had this happen on the bench by operating the system with a 150 mah pack and grabbing a servo arm and holding it. The 2.4 GHz receivers are so fast they see this drop and reboot when the voltage returns whereas the 72 receivers are a bit slower and the spike really does not bother them.

My 2 6EX 2.4 GHz systems have worked perfectly in my QuikShot and Quickie 25 racers with no issues. I have experienced almost a 50% increase in range than the manual states during testing but have seen funny phenomena with out of site testing. If you put the plane in the back yard and the transmitter in the front it will not transmit but my 72 systems do!!

The last question I have are these jammers available on the internet. It seems you can purchase a hand held unit that can jam from 1.8 GHz to 3.0 GHz within various ranges. They are supposed to be illegal but so were the linear amps for CBs in the 60s!! All we need is to have a idiot come by the field and turn one on!! This sounds kind of rare but why do the idiots create viruses for computers!

Anyway, my experience with the 2.4 GHz Futaba system has been positive. Like any other machine it does have its limits and you just need to understand them and operate the accordingly.

Bob Harris





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