I've been flying Hitec now for 4+ years and just purchased my second Eclipse 7, but thinking I may have jumped the gun. I believe Hitec and Futaba are both negative shift which means I could use all fly Hitec electronic equipment with the Futaba radio, right???

Has anyone used both radios? I like the 10 model memory of the Futaba and the ability to set up flaps with using switch vs. a knob. What's a good online source for the Futaba 7CA? Just considering the tx.

I would start by reading the Futaba manual:

http://www.futaba-rc.com/manuals/manual-7c.html


and go from there. I've been flying Futaba for 30+ years and like them just fine. Like all brands, you will always see something the other guy has that you like. You just have to optimize your decision.....

I've called Hitec Tech support twice now and received two totally different answers to my same exact question.

Have you posted the question here somewhere? [sm=confused.gif]


Sorry, thought you were talking about an additional question.

Yes you can use the Hitec equipment with a futaba transmitter. I have hitec receivers in just about everything. Work great last long time.


Andy

Yes, I sent Mike Mayberry a PM. He just responded with a third answer. No worries though, I think I got it.

Negative shift Hitec PPM RXs will work with the Futaba TX (Hitec makes positive shift RXs to work with JR/Airtronics TXs as well), but the Hitec PCM RXs will not work with the Futaba TX... Futaba and Hitec have their own versions of PCM...

You shoulda did what I did....Instead of the Futaba 7C, get the 9C. Reason being is that the radio uses Campaqs (memory device).
The # of aircraft that you can save setups on is unlimited. I use two of the campaqs so far and have 20 models in memory.
Sold my Eclipse on ebay last year and got out $20 more than it was when purchased new.

Dave...

Cruz, you need to sell (give) that Eclipse to me.

How are you buddy.
Thanks for the pics.

Bill

i love my eclipse and wouldn't change it for anything less than the 14MZ!!! but it really depends on what you fly. i love the spectra module and feel that it is the best thing since sliced bread. i use it with my polks hobby synthesized rx and am NEVER grounded. only problem is that i have a bunch of frequency tags. the eclipse has some shortcomings like it's difficult to use dual elevator servos and there isn't a graphical display of trims and expo but other than that... i love it. and the service has been excellent from them as well.

as for the question, you can use all the PPM equipment you have with the Futaba in PPM mode. No problem... but why?

What I'm after is this. I'm currently building a WM P51D and what I would like to do is assign the flaps to a 3 position switch as:

1 position no flaps or neutral
2 position 15% down or so
3 position 40% down or so

From what I understand the Eclipse 7 will not support that. Please don't get me wrong, I just purchased my second E7, due to running out of model memory room on my present one. I like it a lot, but thinking about returning it or selling it to my good pal "Red Wing". Also, a friend of mine has the Futaba 7CA and I like where the retract switch is located on the tx vs. where it is on the Eclipse. What I need to do is begin flying with a neck strap as that'll free up a hand.

What do you all think? Should I keep my second Eclipse 7 or trade it for a Futaba 7CA which I think can support flaps on a 3 position switch and has 10 model memory vs. the 7 of the Eclipse.

cruz... no problem... i would also go up if i had the requirements. i almost purchased the 9C when i wanted two elevator servos but luckily i solved the problem with a bell crank instead. don't really like the way the 9C looks.

i'm dying for hitec to make a 9 channel radio with assignable switches like their optic 6... don't know how long i have to wait though!!! i spoke with hitec and got the "we're working on it". anyway, i'm sticking with my eclipse even though it only does have 6 model memories, which are all used up. i use a futaba 6exa for lesser planes, hehehe.

Yeah, I'm out of memory on my current Eclipse. I like the radio a whole bunch just wish I could assign the switches a bit more and I think I can get that with the Futaba 7CA. Plus it's 30.00 cheaper than the Eclipse and has 10 model memory vs. the Eclipse's 7.

ooo cruz... you are wandering close to dark side. is that right, though... 7CA is that cheap?

Yes Sir, 149.99 at servocity

GET OUT!!!! that's a steal!!! they must be losing money on each of those units! is that TX only? module included?

Servocity add:


http://www.servocity.com/html/7ca_transmitter.html

The 7C doesn't use modules, unfortunately. It will come with a crystal and be tuned to that freq... if you decide you want to change the 7C's freq, you've got to send it into Futaba to have it retuned. the Hitec Optic 6 and the Futaba 9C both use modules... I'd stick with one of those, personally...

i agree if it's that troublesome. that means that cruz, you will have to get the exact frequency you need and only one. is that going to work for you?

Sure, it'll work, been flying for 4+ years now and that issue has never come up.

Cruz, when you fly out in the middle of nowhere....

I'm just really undecided. I like my current Eclipse 7, but have just run out of memory as I have more than 7 flyable planes right now. I figured I'd best buy another, but something about the Futaba I like. I really want to control the flaps on my P51 with a switch rather than a knob. Plus, I want to have my cake and eat it to by having the flaps assigned to a 3 position switch.

Positions:

1. 0% or neutral flaps
2. 15% flaps down
3. 40% flaps down

or something like that, I'm sure I'll end up playing with the percentages. I just can't seem to get a straight answer form Hitec. I've asked 3 different service technicians now and received 3 different answers causing me to get really confused. I've read and read the manual, but just can't seem to make sense of it. Someone please send help.

Please note on the WM P51 the flaps are serviced by a single servo, not dual servos.

Hey "Red Wing", good to see you chime in.

Yeah, I fly with only a small group of guys and frequency issues have seldom come up.

yeah... i just looked at the manual and it looks as though you can't get exactly that function with the Eclipse. i don't know why you would have to have those exact flap degrees but i guess that is just your preference. i am a futaba user as well but find that i like the eclipse just a little bit more. if only the optic came with 8 channels i'd upgrade in a heartbeat.

Nah, the flap degrees I mentioned are just ball park figures. I'm sure I'll have to do a lot of adjustments before I get them the way I want them. I just posted those figures so people would get the idea of what I am considering and after with a setup. You currently fly Futaba and like the Hitec Eclipse and I currently fly the Eclipse and like the Futaba. Maybe we should go into business together.

Oh, forgot to ask, what cub is that in your avatar? I have the Great Planes Cub, like it a lot just wish it had better landing gear.