Morning...Not sure if this is the right spot for this. I recently lost my escapade due to some kind of radio malfunction. I can't figure out what as I tested everything after the crash and it seems fine with a range test. Leads me to believe it was interference or something else.....I have a futaba 6exa fm system. I am looking to upgrade to 2.4. I know there are a gazzillion posts out there comparing them and peoples preferences. I am looking at the hitec optic 6 pro. Anyone have this and have any thoughts? They have a nice combo at tower with 2 receivers for 230 or 240 can't remember. My uncle/neighbor has the dx6i and sears by it, but I'm not sure which way to go. I like the futaba but the receivers are really $y...

Also, any reason not to go used? If it is from a reputable member? They are going for about 1/2 price. But I am leary about buying electronics used....

Anyone ??

Shane,

I have no experience with anything other than Futaba (31 years) and I love them. I've never lost a plane and that includes AM, FM PCM and 2.4. The receivers are not that much more expensive and you only need one. I've never understood the reason for needing two receivers in a plane. I would recommend a Futaba 7c and I think you won't be disappointed. By the way, if you know the person you are buying from, buying used is not bad but I am like you.........I like new.

Thanks for the input. I have a Sig bipe that is a pain to get the wing off so I would probably keep one in there and I could switch the receiver out in the others. I was looking at the 6exa 2.4 and never considered the 7c. I'll check them out.
Thanks again

First, are you wanting a new radio because of the malfunction? If so how do you know it was a malfunction if you cannot determine the cause? What exactly happened? Second all radios are susceptible to some form of malfunction, some brands and types make it rarer though. Futaba 2.4 is great, Hitec is also a good choice. Spektrum and other DSM type radios are very good also if you are diligent with your batteries.

shanet75 - just a thought on buying used. I have a Spektrum DX7. I have had a number of dealings with Horizon Hobby that provides all of the service for Spektrum. They have repaired / replaced / upgraded Rx and its firmware a bunch of times - for the cost of shipping. If you buy a Spektrum Tx - send it to them and have them test the equipment. I'm not saying they will, but they just might do it for the cost of shipping.

I have never owned anything but a Spektrum. Futaba or other manufacturers may well do the same.

Thanks for the replies. I am upgrading for 2 reasons I suppose. One is to move into 2.4 and the other is the malfunction, whatever it may have been. Could have been a battery connection coming loose, or really anything at all.

I've sent my DX6i in to Horizon a couple times to repair the trim switches and roller button. I've never been charged a single cent. They even covered the cost of shipping to send it back.

They've also repaired or replaced several other items in a similar manner. I'm extremely happy with Horizon's service. I'll stay with them for all my accessory needs such as radio equipment, etc. in a heart beat.

The Optic 6 2.4Ghz (rather than the Optic 6 Sport, they really are two different radios) looks to be an outstanding value. The bundle with two receivers is especially attractive.

I flown with a friend's Optic 6 radio in the past. It's well designed from an ergonomic standpoint and feels great in your hands. It has a good selection of mixing and programming features for airplanes, gliders, and helicopters. The Optic 6 2.4Ghz transmitter can also be fitted with a 72Mhz RF deck so you can fly your old receivers with it as well as your new 2.4Ghz receivers.

The Optic 6 2.4Ghz radio would be a really smart purchase.

I didn't even notice there was a sport and non sport. I'll look and see what the differences are, but do you know hand?
Thanks

Seems the non sport can use the old receivers.
I have also been reading really great things about the dx6i. Which is a bit less expensive. Oh boy...

I notice that the recommendations for the non-Futaba brand are based on having repairs or upgrades or recommending that you be "diligent" about your batteries. With Futaba, I've not had repairs, not needed upgrades and have not had to pay special attention to my batteries...................and I only need one receiver per airplane!!!!! This is based on my 31 years in RC

Does this include 2 - 3 years of 2.4 technology?

Yes

The Hitec and Airtronics 2.4Ghz radio platforms are FHSS, like the Futaba FASST platform, and are equally flexible and reliable. I have several sport planes and trainers I've been flying on Airtronics 2.4Ghz radios for almost three full seasons now; they have 4.8V 600Mah NiCd packs for receiver batteries, and I've never had a glitch, brownout, or lockout of any kind on the Airtronics 2.4Ghz FHSS system.

The original poster specifically asked about the Optic 6 2.4Ghz radio system. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Airtronics SD-6G to someone looking for a full-featured, affordable sport radio system. The SD-6G also offers impressive features and affordable receivers.

The Optic Sport features 10 model memory but no model naming, your planes will be MDL1, MDL2, etc. and you will have to remember which is which. The Optic 6 has eight model memory but has model naming, so you can name your models to remember which is which.

The RF deck on the Optic 6 Sport is fixed, and the Optic 6 Sport isn't compatible with Hitec's Spectrum 72Mhz channel synthesizer. The RF Deck on the Optic 6 is removable, so Optic 6 radios can use 2.4Ghz or 72Mhz RF modules.

There are some minor feature differences as well. Hitec used to have a chart that detailed these differences between the two transmitters, found in .PDF format here:

So you have to remove that deck for it to work with fm receivers? Is this the one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hitec-Optic-6-2-...item5191d61ab6

This isn't an old otic 6 with the 2.4 module is it?
Thanks

Were you in the habit of leaving the radio on for extended periods of time with the antenna collapsed?

This is a no no...and I believe it ended up costing me a plane..and a radio system. I used to discharge the battery by just leaving the radio on, antenna down, in the basement, and ended up learning the hard way.

EDIT: Any way you cut it, there's nothing out there that's bulletproof...so unless the field you're at has interference on some of the FM channels..I wouldn't discount it right away.

What does that do to the radio. I have left the radio on a few times on accident with the antenna down in the basement.

It eventually burns them up, or makes them more prone to problems.

It's like having a CB radio, or a VHF-FM marine radio...and keying it up without an antenna, or a "dummyload"

It'd probably take more than a couple of times...I used to do it routinely. But I think it had a lot to do with a crash I had one day, with perfect batteries, no one else at the field..working swtiches, etc. I never flew the radio again so I can't say with any certainty.

You really should.

Futaba receivers will also "reboot" if voltage levels drop.

So, other than a range test is there anything else I could do in the meantime before getting a new radio to try to make sure that it wasn't either the radio or the receiver?

Anybody have this problem......with Spektrum DX7 Radio??[]


Lost 3 planes using Spektrum 7DX
About 600' away and after a couple of minutes of flight the plane goes straight into the ground.
First I lost my nitro Bronco.......Straight into the dirt.... twin engine plane Nitro...I thought it was pilot error    RX7000 Receiver
 2nd I lost my Handyman......a World Models Foam  A couple of minutes and straight down                           RX 6100
3rd I lost my Scale Cessna 182 ......This one hurt     A couple of minutes and straight into the dirt                RX 7000

All different RX's but same tx
Batteries fully charged...No other planes in the Air[]

Shanet75 - I like Hitec and have flown with a Laser 6 72 MHz radio for 3 years, but purchased a Futaba 7C 2.4 GHz radio after about two months of research. There are two reasons I went with Futaba versus the Hitec Optic 6. First, if you look at the back of the Optic 6, Hitech has an exposed cable from the transmitter to the antenna - it looks as if it could be damaged easily. Second, I watched the review of this radio on a youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6aNe...eature=related. The person doing the review showed the radio's output on a spectrum analyzer. Hitec has two transmission modes on this radio and one of the modes only transmits over half of the 2.4 GHz bandwidth (this will be explained better in the video). I am not a fan of that idea. Also the receiver antenna is a single antenna and requires a special mounting bracket as I remember. The futaba receiver, while more expensive, has two antennas which only require being at a 90 degree angle to each other. The regular price is $99.00 for the receiver, but I have purchased them as low as $75.00 - in fact, Tower has run them on sale for three months in a row. As stated above, I like Hitec a lot, but just couldn't see buying the Optic 6 and don't have $400.00 for the Aurora.

I think the FUTABA8FG is the best for the $$$$.