ORIGINAL: Aiyura
Thanks a TON Aeajr.
What are your thought on FM vs. AM for transmitters/recievers?
Can you convert an AM to an FM by simply switching out the crystal?
No you can't switch from AM to FM by switching a crystal - nuff on that.
Here are answers to your questions, and things you didn't ask but might want to know anyway.
AM vs. FM
AM is fine. I had one that came with my first RTF sailplane and had no problems.
FM is better based on lots of technical stuff. Same as the sound on your FM radio in your car is better than the AM channels. If I was buying a radio for long term use, I would only look at FM. If an AM came as part of an RTF package, it would not bother me.
Receivers:
Dual Conversion FM receivers are generally better than single conversion as it
does more to filter out stray signals and other garbage. There are receivers with DSP, digital signal processing that claim to be as good as the DC receivers, or even better. I can't say they are wrong but I don't know.
Range
Be aware of range and how far out you are likely to fly your plane. This is
partially a function of how big your field is and what you are flying. Range is more a function of the receiver than the radio. So check the rating on any receiver you buy.
Here are some thoughts:
Indoor flyers will no likely exceed 500 feet and 300 is probably enough.
Slow flyers, small parkflyers, say 36 inch wing spans and below with speed 280
class motors and below, are probably OK with 600 - 1000 foot range. More is better
For two meter sailplanes and larger faster parkflyers, as
well as small to medium size glo planes, half a mile/2500 feet, would probably
be OK. The sailplanes tend to get high and the others are fast enough to eat
up ground quickly.
For larger glo planes, 3 meter plus sailplanes you want the 1 mile class of
equipment.
There is no such thing as having equipment with too much range, but a three
meter sailplane can exceed a half mile because it is large enough
to be easily flown that far away. You don't want to be flying at the edge of
your equipment's range. Weak batteries, interference and such can shorten the
range resulting in you losing control when you seem to be with the working
range of your equipment, so when in doubt, bump it up some.