RE: Harry Higley's Programming Futaba's 9CA
Actually, while the 7C and 9C tranmitters have a very-much improved user interface over older systems, they are not the problem. The instructions and after-market user guides help people figure out the logic of what they have to do to get the mixing they need. Many modelers need to be led through the thinking process to determine what functions they want, and what ways the mixers can help achieve the goal.
One thing that helps is to diagram the model and then write out what you're trying to do. This will then help you make a flow chart of the programming hierarchies. Certain functions are primary, so they must be the master in the mix. Other functions are secondary, and must be the slave funtion. Also, other questions need to be answered, such as, "do I need trim?", "Do I need a switch? Which one?" and so on.
Easier interfaces make the job simpler to do, but the added number of mixes and the higher level of functions within the mixes adds to the complexity of the mixing process. There is a learning curve associated with acquiring the thinking process to set up the model. Users of older systems have found the 9C more intuitive because they've already learned the thinking process of setting up their model, and already know what the various aspects of the mixing functions mean.