ORIGINAL: Propworn
Along this line has anyone else noticed that with the 2.4 systems there seem to be fewer and fewer actually doing range checks? I have.

Dennis

ORIGINAL: Muttdog

I have stopped doing range checks because of a crash a year ago. It was exactly the day after Christmas (2011), I got a new ARF still in the box for Christmas and was so excited I wanted to fly my current plane. No one was there and that is what took me out of my routine. I have a JR 8303 converted to 2.4 with a FR Sky module (that has been extremely reliable). The range test procedure is to hold a button down to activat the low power mode. I did the range test and everything was fine so I walked back. No one was flying to I just grabbed the plane and put her on the runway not thinking that I never turned off the low power mode. Normally I shut everything down and wait for my turn. When you turn off the radio it automatically drops out of range test mode but because I never turned it off, the low power setting was still active. The plane got off the runway and as I turned left the motor power dropped and I had no control. It was obvious that the failsafe was kicking in. It recovered for about 2 seconds and I realized something was amiss so I tried to trurn back towards the field and lost her for good this time. Now I range test newly built planes at my house where I put the plane in a closed room and walk outside the house in low power mode. Then I will do it once more at the field but never again.

There was only one mention of using a conversion module and I was surpised about that. Perhaps there are some downsides for top experts but for the rest of us it works just fine. You also do not need to have a module based radio as there are conversions available for non modules that are cheap and easy to install yourself. This opens you up to inexpensive chinese options that are proven reliable. I use FR Sky ( from hobbyking) in 3 of my planes now for over 2 years with zero glitches. I got the radio in a trade deal and really liked it so converting it to 2.4 was a no brainer. I know many are concerned with the Quality of Chinese radio products but if you do your research you will find there are many good ones out there. Research is the key here but I can attest to the reliability of FR sky. It also has telemetry and will notify me when receiver batts are low and if signal is lost or partially lost at times. My plan was to use the Spectrum 2.4 conversion and was willing to accept thehigh price until I saw how much Spectrum receivers were. Now you can use Orange Rx receivers but at the time it was not an option. Keep those old radios and convert them. Just my .02

ORIGINAL: Red B.

Here in Europe, THE radio to have at the moment is the JETI DC-16 and the soon to come JETI DS-16.
All over Europe JETI has a dead-solid reputation for reliability and the transmitters are top quality with CNC-milled casings, Hall effect sensors instead of potentiometers for the sticks etcetera. They are obviously built to last.

ORIGINAL: BuschBarber

Every year, technology advances exponentially. ''Built to Last'' means work as designed until newer models, with newer hardware, become necessary to take advantage of the newer technology. Firmware updates can only take you so far. I would expect that from now on, I would be purchasing a replacement transmitter every 3 years.

Look at Personal Computers. You only get perhaps 2 or 3 firmware updates in the first few years of a new computer's life and then there is nothing more for that model.

People are not going to be using the same transmitter for 5-10 years like they used to.

ORIGINAL: ZAGNUT


yes, it's very nice to see a manufacturer putting in a major effort to make real high quality hardware. with the other brands the top end models just replace the painted plastic face panel with cast magnesium....everything else stays the same old plastic garbage. IMO the jetis are the only high end radios on the market that actually justify their price.

ORIGINAL: Propworn
Like the full size finding a routine that leaves nothing to chance is a mater of survival. Find a system that works for you and make it something you do each and every time and you will find your brain farts will be far and few between. Along this line has anyone else noticed that with the 2.4 systems there seem to be fewer and fewer actually doing range checks? I have.
Dennis

ORIGINAL: ZAGNUT

yes, it's very nice to see a manufacturer putting in a major effort to make real high quality hardware. with the other brands the top end models just replace the painted plastic face panel with cast magnesium....everything else stays the same old plastic garbage. IMO the jetis are the only high end radios on the market that actually justify their price.

ORIGINAL: rmh

The worth of a product is determined by performance in the market place
The marketplace is constantly in a state of flux- it remains to be seen ,how this rather unique radio appeals .

ORIGINAL: Propworn

One of these guys who think only the stuff he owns is worth anything! It’s so great I can see all the other manufacturers just wringing their hands. Good lord get a grip the bloody thing looks like ya need either a shelf or a full 5 point harness just to keep it in front of ya? Just because it happens to have parts made on a CNC does not make it any better than any other radio. You want to pay more for some guy to spend time machining your radio go right ahead I’m happy for ya! Only a complete ignoramus or a two year old yips ''My stuff is better than your stuff'' What next your dad going to beat up my dad. Looking down that long skinny nose with contempt at others who just happen to fly so called plastic junk must endear you the rest of the modelers. YEP YEP YEP I can see it now ''We are not worthy'' ''We are not worthy.[:'(][:'(][:'(]

Dennis

ORIGINAL: AA5BY

I've been doing RC planes for thirty nine years and have never heard of a TX pot wearing out though admittedly, I've not seen it all. I did see a guy chuck his Tx in the open trunk of his car once while the plane was still aloft... he had yanked a snap roll and broke the plastic gimble mounts and the whole stick assembly fell into the transmitter case.... but that was back in the day when the case was aluminum and it seems we were told a couple of days ago that those old aluminum cases were superior.

ORIGINAL: ZAGNUT


no, no, no, marketing is the only thing that determines how well a product does in the market place. how well a product is made has absolutely nothing to do with it.

face it, the jeti is innovative. everyone else is content to keep using the same old $1 pots because they do seem to do the job reasonably well. 10 years ago when i messed around with magnets and hall sensors i came to the same conclusion as well....but today the sensors have gotten a lot better and there's no issue with finding the proper magnets. probably cost's jeti the same as pots would but we're never going to be hearing about pots that wear out prematurely like with some other brands.

ORIGINAL: ZAGNUT
no, no, no, marketing is the only thing that determines how well a product does in the market place. how well a product is made has absolutely nothing to do with it.

ORIGINAL: Luchnia


Maybe this is true, yet in my purchases it is not true. Granted marketing is a large part and certainly gives us light as to what the product is all about or what new things are coming down the pike, however I am one of those guys that simply does not buy into hype at any level.

McDonalds markets the mess out of their food products and most of their food still taste like paper, so I don't buy from them. Maybe I am the exception to the rule and maybe their marketing determines how well their products do. Again their marketing means nothing to me.

I learned a long time ago the falsehoods of marketing ploys and the fasle logic advertisers use to bait folks. All the marketing in the world will not make a McDonalds burger taste any better. What will make it taste better is better meat which for the sake of profit they aren't going down that road.

I usually buy an item based on working with un-biased reviews (if you can find them) and my peers and user usage. All of this requires much research which I do and even though it is time consuming, for me it is worth it and there is an added plus - I learn a lot from the additional research.

Features play a large role for me as well. Radios are the same for me. I like most of the radios out there, yet there are a few features that work well for my liking. As I mentioned before, Model Match is a very nice feature for me. Does it somehow make the radio far superior than the others? Not really, just works for me.

Most of the radios I have, have been purchased used and are home runs for me. Never a glitch and flawless performers so far after around a 1000 fligths (guestimate, but probably much higher). If it is a solid performer that is more important than Model Match as I can learn new habits. I was fortunate to get used radios that have the Model Match feature.

ORIGINAL: Luchnia

McDonalds markets the mess out of their food products and most of their food still taste like paper, so I don't buy from them. Maybe I am the exception to the rule and maybe their marketing determines how well their products do. Again their marketing means nothing to me.

I learned a long time ago the falsehoods of marketing ploys and the fasle logic advertisers use to bait folks. All the marketing in the world will not make a McDonalds burger taste any better. What will make it taste better is better meat which for the sake of profit they aren't going down that road.