I'd like to re-hash this one as well, if I may just for the purpose of total clarification.

We were test-flying a new big bird yesterday with my 9Z. We did the initial range check initially with the antenna totally collapsed (I know that and why you're not suppose to do this BTW but it was only for a few seconds. Anyway...). I couldn't get 40' steps from my plane. Once we extended the bottom section completely, it would range check forever which pretty much verifies what you have said.

The radio just recently went back to Tony at RS (2 months ago) for a total rebuild/overhaul. I'm very pleased with my 9Z but I also want to be very convinced that the TX is 100% reliable, or at least as much so as I can. Should I be confident after range testing with one section extended? This goes against everything I have ever been taught because the entire purpose of the ground test is supposedly to make sure the radio works at a maximum range with the antenna collapsed.

Another question is this. I have a bad habit (nerves) of "spinning" the bottom section of the antenna of my radios and I know I've done this to the 9Z. Where does the wire attach to the antenna? Is it attached to the bottom of the antenna (it can't be because surely we'd have broken wires by now!) or is it somehow attached to the supporting section up top? If it's attached at the top; this would probably explain why my 9Z doesn't ground check in the "traditional" manner very well since it doesn't get really tight until I extend the first section.

I hope I have explained this adequately to get a solid affirmation of my beliefs. Like a lot of others; I will be flying some pretty high dollar (to me anyway) planes with this 9Z. That's the major reason I bought it. I just want to be ABSOLUTELY sure it's right.

Thanks in advance.