Free at last, Free at last First freedom from the frequency board and now freedom from the buddy cord! That is from a simple instructors point of view.

This most definately has been a long time coming an sorely needed. OK first the disclaimer I choose to post about this in the beginners forum as this is a most important device to both the beginner and the student instead of the radio forum where in the last two years I posted hoping aginst hope that Hitec would provide one of these devices but alas nothing and considerable disinterest and even some contempt for even requesting such a thing from forum regulars.

I also am not an electronics enthusiast or hobbiest of any sort beyond just whats neccessary to know using much of the modern equipment avialible to us now. The fact that I am not has been what has held up this project for almost two years but I was able to convince some folks who are to help bring this to fruition.

This device is called a Cordless Buddy System that Futaba came out with almost two years ago. I take most of the Hitec students and one of the other instructors takes most of the Futaba students and he purchased the system when it first came out (hundred bucks and change) and it has proven fantastic. There is a most noticible and positve effect on the students. I have used his system also and find it so liberating and that has an amazing effect on the students. For two years now my Hitec students have been asking for this when they see it but of course no interest from hitec.

Well those folks who are the electronic types that I am indebted to came up with a 2.4 itty bitty five channel Rx that we attached to the back of one of my Aurora 9 and by using a patch cord that plugs into the A9's trainer plug, now this Rx is bound to the student radio. In the case of the Futaba system it is powered up through the buddy cord but that is not possible with the Hitec system and it had to powered externally. At first we attempted to power it with a patch cord to the plug in back of the A9 that normally powers up the Hitec Voice. This did work intermintantly but only just. So I went to a small 270mah Nicd that will go for many days just powering that little Rx.

The Maxima Rx is one of those sold from the Hong Kong suppliers and cost nine bucks but cost is not what this journey has been about but all about just having this cordless system to use with the Hitecs is 'Priceless'.

So anyway here it is and I used it yesterday for the first time who happened to be a lady student and had just recently started. The system worked flawlessly and at times I was as far as thirty feet away. The possibilitys are endless and don't poo, poo this if you are an instructor and never tried it, You will be amazed and I think the training times of your students will be vastly improved of that I am certain.

Yes I feel Hitec has dropped the ball and screwed the pooch on this one, pics up shortly.

John