I am a licensed ham, and new to R/C. I got my first 4 ch. radio and trainer on 72 mh, but now am looking for a computer radio and second plane. I plan on keeping the next readio for a while, and use with more planes. I assume I should go with the 50 mh band since I will have far less frequency conflict. Any comments?

50MHz has the advantage of less people on it, but I'd check prices and availability of the 50MHz equipment. 72MHz is the most common, so getting a good deal on new and used 72MHz equipment will be much easier, and I think you'll have much more brands and models of equipment to choose from in the 72MHz band. I haven't looked for 50MHz stuff myself, but I know that 75MHz surface versions of the RXs & TXs are much more expensive, and there are much fewer choices.

Been flying on 6 meters since 1957. Look at the mid and upper range equipment for 50 mhz systems. You will find that JR, Futaba and Airtronics have 50 mhz equipment available. Stay with 50 mhz instead of 53 mhz. The 50 mhz stuff is not any more expensive than 72 mhz gear for comparable units. There is usually less of a selction for receivers but my JR 50 mhz are bullet proof. If you are looking for receivers for small models then look at Berg (very good) and FMA receivers.

I fly JR equipment. Any JR transmitter that has a frequency module can be put on 50 mhz. I have a 388x, an 8103 and two 10X's all on 50 mhz, but I can put the 72 mhz module in any time I want to.

Rich
AD9V

I would expect that the only problem would be a delay due to having to special order the equipment. Most local shops won't stock due to low volume. Tower or Horizon and the like might and should certainly order it for you as should a LHS.

I was looking at FMA RXs on fmadirect.com, and they want $20 to $35 more for the 50MHz versions of their RXs...

I just ordered a Futaba 9C Super on 50 MHZ at my LHS. While it is true that they did not have the 50 MHz radio in stock, it is also true that they did not stock any 9C radios, so no matter what frequency I wanted I would have had to order it.

Secondly, I ordered it last Saturday and it arrived on Thursday, and I picked it up last night. It cost me no more than a 72 MHZ radio would have cost.

What was the difference? It cost me thirty dollars more that if I had ordered it from Tower, it did not take any longer for me to get it than mail order, it was not left on my front porch by the delivery guy, and I was able to support my LHS.

Berg RXs and the new Shadow receiver will work with this, and the 50MHz RXs are no more expensive than the 72MHz ones.

Doug