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WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
10-05-2003, 07:41 PM
#3
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
All of the radio companies you mentioned in your poll are good. Airtronics, JR and Futaba are a 3 way tie for the best with Hitec coming second. I only say this because I have had several Hitec Servo failures and none at all with the others over that last 17 years I've been in R/C.
You will find that you will get an equal % of problems with any brand. Thats just how it goes. You cant make 1000's of radios with out a few % of problem units. However, if you do your job as a modeler, build right, protect radio equipment with foam, mount it properly and range check you will find any problem WAY before you get to the field.
Once you find a problem all four of the companies in this poll will stand behind their product and make it right. Hitec fixed all all of my servos...
The best way to decide on a radio is to get what guys at your field have. That way buddy boxes all work and you have guy locally to ask for advice.
That said...I have used Airtronics 14 of the last 17 years that I have been flying planes and driving cars and I feel no need to change.
You will find that you will get an equal % of problems with any brand. Thats just how it goes. You cant make 1000's of radios with out a few % of problem units. However, if you do your job as a modeler, build right, protect radio equipment with foam, mount it properly and range check you will find any problem WAY before you get to the field.
Once you find a problem all four of the companies in this poll will stand behind their product and make it right. Hitec fixed all all of my servos...
The best way to decide on a radio is to get what guys at your field have. That way buddy boxes all work and you have guy locally to ask for advice.
That said...I have used Airtronics 14 of the last 17 years that I have been flying planes and driving cars and I feel no need to change.
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Retrodude (08-31-2021)
10-05-2003, 07:46 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
You don,t see Airtronic or Hiteck, at many of the big IMAC events.
Its either Futaba or JR, they must know something?
Its either Futaba or JR, they must know something?
10-05-2003, 11:13 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
What's the point? Unless you know the distribution of total radios to those that "caused a crash", statistically this poll means nothing. Just opens up the arena for bashing and worthless stories.
10-06-2003, 01:17 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
I just had to reply to the Heathkit statement. I built two Heathkit radios and they were both perfect. Never had a problem of any kind. Matter of fact I still have one of them in working order. [8D]
10-06-2003, 01:48 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
1.)Most "radio" crashes seem to be battery related rather that receiver or transmitter.
2.)Other "radio" problems seem to be extensions of a previous crash (cracked circuit boards, cracked crystal, bad leads, bad switch).
3.) Still another "radio" problem" is in the installation - battery or power leads too close to the receiver, metal to metal contact, insufficient foam around receiver, antenna too close to power or leads.
4.) Radio out of tune - not being sent in for periodic maintenance.
If you remove all of the above - how much remains to be classified as radio problems.
personally I think most of the radios are good. The options are the add-ons in pricing.
2.)Other "radio" problems seem to be extensions of a previous crash (cracked circuit boards, cracked crystal, bad leads, bad switch).
3.) Still another "radio" problem" is in the installation - battery or power leads too close to the receiver, metal to metal contact, insufficient foam around receiver, antenna too close to power or leads.
4.) Radio out of tune - not being sent in for periodic maintenance.
If you remove all of the above - how much remains to be classified as radio problems.
personally I think most of the radios are good. The options are the add-ons in pricing.
10-06-2003, 06:42 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
Yep, MonkeyBoy, harphunt, and dant have my sentiments summed up.
The radio that causes the most crashes?? I'd say the one turned on in the pits/left on in the pits.
The radio that causes the most crashes?? I'd say the one turned on in the pits/left on in the pits.
10-07-2003, 06:26 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
Still another "radio" problem" is in the installation - battery or power leads too close to the receiver, metal to metal contact,.......
10-09-2003, 04:00 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
4.) Radio out of tune - not being sent in for periodic maintenance.
Out of tune from the Mfg. Tx is less than three months old. He is also sponsored.
Mfg? JR.
10-09-2003, 05:01 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
Helicopters can't really fly...
they're just so ugly that the earth repels them.
they're just so ugly that the earth repels them.
Poor radios get blamed too often. You think 99% of the ones on the field are defective. I have a Cirius radio that is +25 years old and it still works...its illegal so I can't use it....but if it weren't, it still would be working.
10-09-2003, 06:35 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
Kaoma,
Metal to Metal noise is generated when 2 pieces of metal rub/vibrate against each other.
Unless the metal is bonded to each other, 2 differing potentials will be generated. This will cause minute sparks to be generated. As a spark generates wide band noise albeit at extremely low levels, if its is proximity to a receiver this will raise the noise floor of the receiver. This then means that the Sig : Noise level reduces, hence a reduction in range.
Metal to Metal noise is generated when 2 pieces of metal rub/vibrate against each other.
Unless the metal is bonded to each other, 2 differing potentials will be generated. This will cause minute sparks to be generated. As a spark generates wide band noise albeit at extremely low levels, if its is proximity to a receiver this will raise the noise floor of the receiver. This then means that the Sig : Noise level reduces, hence a reduction in range.
10-10-2003, 04:37 PM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
Re: WHAT IS METAL TO METAL CONTACT
When two metal surfaces make contact, such as a metal clevis loosly fitting the throttle linckage on an engine (ie. the hole is too big) . then the vibration of that engine can cause this contact point to actually generate RFI (radio frequency iterferance) thus causing problems for the reciever and intermittant signal loss.
When two metal surfaces make contact, such as a metal clevis loosly fitting the throttle linckage on an engine (ie. the hole is too big) . then the vibration of that engine can cause this contact point to actually generate RFI (radio frequency iterferance) thus causing problems for the reciever and intermittant signal loss.
11-09-2003, 05:49 AM
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
this reminds me of the old saying
'A bad work workman always blames his tools'
or in this case
'A bad pilot always blames his radio equipment'
As other replies have stated most radio problems occur by some stupid action by the user or another flyer, with todays equipment and build quality a radio will give you a lifetime of service if you look atfer it.
As to the radio at shows, most of the flyer require far more channels and mixers than the Hitec and airtronics/Sanwa currently offer, (Hitec now have Multiplex which can also been seen at shows over here).
'A bad work workman always blames his tools'
or in this case
'A bad pilot always blames his radio equipment'
As other replies have stated most radio problems occur by some stupid action by the user or another flyer, with todays equipment and build quality a radio will give you a lifetime of service if you look atfer it.
As to the radio at shows, most of the flyer require far more channels and mixers than the Hitec and airtronics/Sanwa currently offer, (Hitec now have Multiplex which can also been seen at shows over here).
11-09-2003, 09:51 AM
#22
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RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
For the most part I have to agree with the pilot causing a crash, either through dumb thumbs or dumb building or dumb maintenance, but there were/are problems that can be attributed to the manufacturer, like the Futaba 8UA module pins that came loose from the extending/retracting cycle of the antenna.
Dan
Dan
11-09-2003, 03:10 PM
#24
RE: WHAT RADIO CAUSED THE MOST CRASHES
since 1990 or so i've been flying with airtronics module7 radios. never had a problem until a couple of months ago when a ail/elv gimbal totally fell to pieces during a flight. opened the radio and found that the cheap POS plastic parts on these former "top of the line" radios were FULL of cracks and crumbled with the light touch of a screwdriver.
dave
dave