ZAGNUT

My Feedback: (1)

maybe they aren't programmable in the modern sense but the old futaba FG radios were built better than just about everything on the market today. good gimbals, good switches and nice metal cases. if all you want to do is go fly instead of playing the "my radio can do more than yours" game there is no reason not to use them as long as you change the batteries.

and since these more than likely have a removable module you could also upgrade them to 2.4GHz with no problems. hitec, futaba and sprectrum all make modules that will work. my fave is the hitec as they just seem to work and are the least expensive, something like $120 will get you a combo with a module and three receivers. there are also a bunch of super cheap low end module and receiver combos out of china that will work as well. all of these modules are based on the newer small futaba module but the pinout is the same so you just have to tape them in place in an old FG.

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

You loose some features and system speed by running a module

AA5BY

With the last aluminum case radio I had, if one cell of the transmit pack failed... it was crunch time. If a servo needed reversing, one had to open up the servo, fire up the soldering iron and swap the motor leads and and move the pot wire to the other end of the pot. And... if one had two or more flight packs on the same transmitter, all controls had to be configured the same in each plane and every linkage had to be trimmed on the plane. Those are just for starters of the inconveniences.

No thanks... while I appreciated that transmitter in that day... I don't want to go back.

1THEPALMER

My Feedback: (1)

How do you loose features by changing the module in a module based radio? Please explain how you will loose system speed also. Links to actual tests/data will help.
Thanks

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

You misunderstood (or I was unclear)

You loose features over using a native 2.4 radio.

The reason is pretty simple, you're converting to PPM and back again, and older module based radios are where near as fast as todays radios.

Features like servo synch (remapping the outputs so that things like dual ailerons, dual elevators, and 3 servo CCPM helis get their position updates at the same time no matter where they are physically plugged in instead of polling the channels 1 through 9 regardless)

Model Match on JR/Spektrum isn't available with most of the modules.

eddieC

My Feedback: (2)

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Sure, the way model match works is when you bind a module the last two digits of the GUID are 00

When you bind it to a native system like an 11X or DX7 the 0's are replaced by the model memory number, effectively giving each model memory its own GUID

1THEPALMER

My Feedback: (1)

I puchased a native 2.4 system for those exact reasons.

AA5BY

Interesting stuff... thanks for sharing.

Zeeb

My Feedback: (41)

Please remember that Model Match is a patented feature only available on the Spektrum radios as well as the JR 2.4GHz radios running either DSM2 or DSMX RF formats.

ZAGNUT

My Feedback: (1)

i would consider model match more of a hindrance than a "feature".

Zeeb

My Feedback: (41)

Hindrance? I used to think I'd never start a model with the wrong one loaded into the tx due to the way I preflight my models until I did it one day. Pretty good scare as I had a YS-110 swinging an APC 16x6 "knife" at about 9500 RPM and couldn't shut it off or even reach a fuel line, but all the control deflections were correct. If it hadn't been tied down at the tail, that thing would have eaten my lunch before I could have gotten out of the way.

Now after playing with RC models for a number of years, my personal opinion is that those who deny ever having started a model with the wrong one up on the tx are either lying or only have one model. Oh wait, there is another type; those guys usually have orange T-shirts to go along with their opinion that Model Match isn't a good idea or worthwhile safety feature 'cause their radio manufacturer doesn't have it.

There; I've rekindled the age old argument.

BuschBarber

My Feedback: (2)

There is virtually no one who does not find the "Model Match" technology to be sound, regardless of which RC radio manufacturer they favor. You obviously do not have the capacity to understand it, or you are just a Troll trying to stir up some resentment.

ZAGNUT

My Feedback: (1)

no matter how useful it may be if it can't be turned off or disabled then it's a hindrance. been using programmable radios for 15 years and no mishaps. right now i have over 90 setups in my radio's memory.

ZAGNUT

My Feedback: (1)

have they changed it to allow the binding of more than one receiver to a single memory slot? if not then it's still a hindrance and unusable for a lot of what i do.

if they have changed it then that's a step in the right direction.

BuschBarber

My Feedback: (2)

As long as the Rx is the same Type (DSM2 and DSM2 or DSMX and DSMX) then more than one Rx can be bound to the same Model Memory.

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

I have run into model match when using others equipment no big deal. Like failsafe, some like it others don't. I once asked if it could be turned off and was told they did not think so. I also asked if more than one receiver could be bound to operate on the same model number at the same time and again no one was sure. They had these radios with these features for quite some time but never bothered to understand them. In my opinion it would not have made any difference to them if they had it or not. On the other hand I often have two or more receivers in a model and as long as it is bound to my transmitter it works fine. The only time I have ever started a plane on the wrong model has been when a transmitters only had one model and no memory. The second model needed to have the rudder reversed when I flew it ( I know bad setup in the first place) . With the advent of the computer radio and the ability to name each model I haven't had a repeat of the wrong model. No need in my opinion for model match if you’re careful. I can see it being useful for some but hardly what I would call a necessity.

For instance a few weeks ago during an indoor flying session one of my control surfaces failed to operate after a mid air. The servos we use are inexpensive and sometimes fragile. It was quite easy to check by simply turning on a second model that was bound to that transmitter. It worked fine confirming what we suspected that the servo was shot. With model match from my understanding this would not have been possible.

Dennis

ZAGNUT

My Feedback: (1)

and both operate at the same time?

AA5BY

The elite must hang out here because at my field, guys try to fly with the wrong model regularly. I call it flight line rodeo.

rmh

Absolutely -
When Spektrum brought 2.4 to the fliers - I was lucky enough to get one of the first batch of DSM (the DX6) and since then -like others -have tried to find what it would would not do.
There are specific types of rx - DSM DSM2 DSMX and there are some versions of DSM2 which were default 1024 and others 2048
. A s long as all the rx in question are SAME rx default - you can bind a thousand at a time - (to one tx)
Real world testing shows it works easily and is used by more than a few fliers .
If you think you are careful enough to never start a model unintentionally- good for you -
Looks like you haven't flown long enough to enter the world of encountering a brain fart.
It will happen sooner or later .
My own requirements in selecting a new sysem start with "does it have Model Match?"
If not - Not Interested .

BuschBarber

My Feedback: (2)

Andy Kunz is the best person to answer these types of questions. He has done so many times in the past and on this same subject. I have not Bound two receivers to the same transmitter, with a Spektrum radio that has Model Match, but it is my understanding that it works perfectly. You Bind one receiver at a time, one after another.

I have been flying RC for 35 years and I have never had a need to use Redundant receivers. I have never had a receiver fail in the air. On 72Mhz I have had glitches caused by RF Noise. I have used Redundant Rx batteries on occasion. I fly Giant Scale Gassers, Turbine Jets, and everything else. I realize that many pilots who have expensive aircraft do use multiple receivers in the same aircraft. Some are for Redundancy and others just to simplify assembly at the field.

rmh

Done this quite a few times - that is why I note that the default must be the same - on early 1024 rx and later 2048 types - I found you got a confused set of rx!
Ask Andy -
Or try it yourself - -Ue a 2048 TX - see what happens.

eddieC

My Feedback: (2)

rmh

Kraft introduced that concept -as I recall- and it was a dial a crash.

BuschBarber

My Feedback: (2)

I have Synthesized 72Mhz RF Modules on a Futaba 9CAP and a JR XP9303. I always check the Tx to see what channel the module is set to and obtain the appropriate Frequency Pin before turning on the Tx. No Dial a Crash possible if that procedure is followed. I have since abandoned 72Mhz and use a Spektrum module in the XP9303. I also have a DX8.