Hey just noticed this post..

Range checking my radios is something I do with every new Transmitter, and every new receiver... When installed in the aircraft / helicopter I will set up my transmitter, and walk, holding the model and turning it in all orientations.

I keep walking until I lose signal..

I do this with every new item before I trust it in an aircraft.. (I found one lemon receiver this way that lost range at 200 meters,even though it passed the "standard" range check as recommended in the Tranmitter manual)

ingeneral the range of my Futaba and Spektrum2.4 Ghz equipment is fabulous.. I easily get over 2 kilometers... at that distance even a person is too small to see.

I always use full range receivers.. even in my park flyers..

Here is my post about range checking futaba and Spektrum beside a 30 year old radio..

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9829320

And at the beginning of this video I talk about range checking my DX8 with the AR8000 receiver.. well over 2 Kilometers again..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV_SaVm-xlo[/youtube]

I do these range checks with every new receiver