hey, im a new flyer in new york, still getting trained. now, i own a expert (jr) 4 channel radio system in an Eagle 2 w/a Magnum .46. now, i also own a 2 other airplanes. a super wasp scratch built w/no engine or radio and a piece o cake w/ a norvel .061. now, when i get done w/ my eagle, im going to take the radio equipment out of it and put it in the piece o cake, so that will be flying. i will take the magnum .46 and put it in the wasp. now, i need a radio for the wasp. the wasp is an extreme aerobatic machine. im lookin for a nice and cheap computer radio. im tryin to decide wether to go with the JR XF631 Click Here (to keep the JR trend) or i can go for the gold and get the Hitec Eclipse 7 Click Here . If anyone finds another radio that would suit my needs please reply. THANKS!

I also scratch built a wasp that weighs 3 pounds 12 ounces. Although it is very aerobatic and maneuverable, Don himself will tell you that it doesn't necessarily need a computer radio. Don uses one servo on his ailerons and likes it just fine. Although this doesn't answer your question directly, it may give you some things to think about. Just go with whatever radio you like and the best you can afford and move on to put your energy elsewhere

I personally own futaba, hitec and jr. i like the futaba better than the other ones. it is just a personal opinion though. i only owned one airtronics since i've been flying and didn't like it. the only person at our field that consistently has radio trouble flies airtronics. coincidentally, he is the only person with airtronics. i agree with bob_nj, go with what you can afford because it doesn't really matter.

Just by going from other flyers at our field I would stay away from Hitec. The radio, servos ect. at our field have been a problem. I started with Futaba and its my personal preference but there are some JR's at our field and they seem to be nice radios. I have also trained some newbies with their JR radios and I like them.

Futaba 6XAS should have what you're looking for.....for less than the Eclipse

Go to www.Chiefaircraft.com and get your shelf a JR652 radio for $183.00 . Does it get any better then that?


I had an Eagle 2, real lite trainer.

I have heard good things about both radios.

The JR probably would be the better quality radio but the Eclipese 7 is pretty nice (in fact that guy that goes by the name RCAdmin uses a eclipse 7)

if you are truely addicted to this hobby I say buy the best one that you can afford (you will "find" a use for just about every feature it has)
I dont think you could go wrong with either though.

Before you decide, take a look at the Hitec Flash 5SX that can be had rather inexpensively.

I own a Futaba 6XA and the Flash 5 and I use the Flash 5 for my models and the 6XA on the FMS simulator.

Just my .02 worth,

The only thing I would add is to pick one brand and stick to it. It comes in very handy if you ever need to scrounge some equipment (like a servo, or battery pack) out of one plane to put in another.

Just for your information :stupid:

JR and Airtronics ar compatible
Hitec and Futaba are compatible
MUltiplex stands by itself
What this means is that you can mix and match servos, receivers, etc form the compatible brands but not with the other brands unless you specifically adk for them or change the leads, etc,etc.
I would go for the Flash 5 Or in sencond the Futaba
Regards,
Patrick

i think im gonna go for the JR XP652 for 184.99. you honestly cant beat that, horizon hobby is asking 269.00!!

anyways, has anyone ever dealt with http://chiefaircraft.com/???? thanks, mark

I deal with Chief aircraft all the time ! They are very fair and easy to deal with.(returns,replacments,etc.) The reason Horizon has the radio at that price is it has been discontinue.(that was the going price) I have a JR four ch Max, 652, 8103, And just ordered a 10x.
I started out with the 652 and enjoyed using it. I don't think you can go wrong with that radio.




Good luck with it

Doug

Although it is not going to alter spankyhappy’s choice, I would just like to ensure that everyone knows that Multiplex does not stand on its own. It is shift compatible with, I think, JR rather than Futaba, and its receivers and servos can be bought with “uni”plugs which are JR. All their transmitters except the 3000 series have a software switch to use Multiplex or Futaba/JR servo time pulses and the 3000 series is easily adapted to centre and travel with Futaba/JR servos – I know because I use the truly magnificent Multiplex 3030 with JR Rx and Futaba Rx and everyone’s servos. In case you are wondering how I use Futaba Rx with Multiplex Tx, here in Europe we do not allow the silly shift incompatibility that you allow in the Americas.

If you want a 9 channel or more Tx, your only choice is between Multiplex, Graupner or JR. Despite Futaba’s misleading names for its Tx, the 9C and 9ZAP are 8 channel radios.

Harry

harry you're right the Multiplex has the same shift as the JR, now a qestion, does the Cockpit MM also has this selectable function for positive or negative shift? Most of my gear is Futaba/Hitec compatible, and I'm oogling for a Multiplex Tx but this issue has kept me from jumping in.
Regards,
Patrick

As far as I am aware, it is positive shift (JR compatible) only, though I think I have read that MultiplexUSA can adapt Txs to be selectable. Shift is not a problem in Europe so we tend to ignore America's self-inflicted wounds!

There are 2 things to beware of with the Cockpit though. 1-You can not name models, the memories are identified by numbers 1-9 only. The JR652 uses 3 character names, I think the Futaba 6X still uses numbers. 2-The cockpit has no user defined mixers, only the ten pre-defined ones that come with it. That means you can not make things like knife edge mixers.

If you can afford it, wait for the new Royal Evo to hit the shops any day now. I had my hands on it at the UK's main show in May, and it is quite fantastic. Here in the UK the 9 channel version will be about 1/2 the price of the Futaba 8+1ZAP. It is likely to drive down the price of the 3030 or more probably bring 3030 production to a close, if you can then get your hands on the 3030 at a good price, it wipes the floor with the Futaba 8+1ZAP

Harry

I agree with Stomper!! I bought my JR652 from chief 1 year ago for $260.

I never though I would admit this...but time is telling it's story. We have 9 transmitters and 20 flight packs. 8 of the Tx's and 19 of the flight packs are Hitech. One set up is JR. I have had my share of crappy connectors, chattering servos, bad switches...and worse yet...servos that just crap out totally (micros) for no reason. As my equipment gets older (and I'm very rough on it) the quality of the Hitech stuff is giving way to break downs, and especially with the servos...reliability is getting worse. It's almost as if the stuff was made to last a certian amount of time...and when it runs out... poof.

But the most noticable thing out of all this...one radio has not given me a lick of trouble. It is my oldest radio (8 years old), still using all original equipment (even batteries), and Is used in my favorite plane that I fly the most...and that's the JR!

I'm using JR radios that I bought in the mid 70's.

Would not have anyother brand of radio.

As an owner of a XF631, I can attest that it's a great radio, very easy to program. It was the perfect first computer radio for me, but as my involvement in the hobby progressed, I outgrew it. It's limited in terms of it's capabilities (no expo was my biggest gripe). The 652 has a lot more features and is very cheap from Chief Aircraft.

TATTOO AND HIRCFLYER HAS SAID IT ALL. GO WITH THE BRAND THAT HOLDS UP FOR YEARS. I HAVE A JR 7 CHANNEL THATS 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS NEVER ONCE GAVE ME A ANY PROBLEMS. AND I USE IT EVERY WEEK.

thanks

That's just not so. Since Airtronics has gone to their Z connector, all four major brands have compatible servos and batteries. The only issue left is positive and negative shift on the receivers. I've got equipment from all sorts of companies, and it all works very well together.

well dont look like im getting a radio soon.... no money - im only 14 - that's a bummer

Spankkyhappy, I'm 14 also! I own a JR652! I talked my parents into splitting the cost with me. I was 13 when I bought it for $260 new at Chief Aircraft. Now they are $180!!

You have a radio that will do the job - be happy! See if you can get a flight pack!!