while on the ground, turn on your tx/rx, and have your buddy then stand next to you and turn his on. see if you get any glitching. You might want to disconnect the motor (electric?) just in case.....Would hate for a stray signal to fire that puppy up!

Thanks, but I just retired my Hitec Feather RX (cheap, single conversion RX) to my spare parts bin, and installed a Hitec Electron 6 (good quality dual conversion micro RX) in my foamy... I doubt I'll have any more problems now. I've flown several different dual conversion RXs (including Electron 6 RXs) with that same guy & his "illegal" TX, and never had a problem. I've also ordered two more Electron 6 RXs for my other two foamies that are under construction. I'm not going to cheap out on RXs any more, not even for foamies...

It would be interesting to do an experiment that compared the effects of the illegally switched transmitter with one that was legally on the same frequency. Many of those in the willfully ignorant camp contend that the FCC is being over controlling and that there is no risk of interference. Perhaps some real life evidence would help convince some of them.

Unfortunately, the only experiment some people will understand is when their (or someone else's) plane gets shot down. And then will deny they had anything to do about it rather than admit they illegally changed the freq of their transmitter.

Kind of sad isn't it? A person who spends thousands of $ on airplanes won't fork up less than $50 to ensure their transmitter doesn't shoot other people's planes down.

Yup. You're very right. And the sad part of it is the only real thing we can do is land and get out of the way until that person leaves, or leave ourselves. Not a good situation. We've been lucky at our club.. so far.

Well, here's my "theory" on what's happening with my buddy's illegally tuned TX...

What I know so far...

1) We both flew cheap single conversion RXs
2) My RX had little to no glitching when I didn't fly near his TX
3) My RX had severe glitching when I flew near his TX
4) His RX had no glitching when he flew near my TX
5) I've flown dual conversion RXs near his TX with no glitching

I suspect that he has enough leakage into adjacent channels with his illegally tuned TX to screw up the cheap single conversion RXs, but the dual conversion RXs can reject this well enough not to glitch. His cheap single conversion RX doesn't glitch near my TX because I have a factory tuned Futaba module without any adjacent channel leakage.

If I still get the same glitching while flying with him after I switch to an Electron 6 RX, I'll definitely give him some grief about it... he's very good friend and flying buddy, so things will get resolved peacefully...

The AMA Membership Manual on Pg 17 also calls for realignment after a crystal change, even if not changing freqs. EVERY crystal is different.

Violation of this would therefore be grounds to deny AMA insurance coverage IMHO if they were to wish to do so.

(Disclaimer) Well whatever the "negative" is that comes out of my remarks this time is not necessarily what i do or what i support, Its only what I see.

I was a military pilot from 75-95. Add on doing whatever it is I do now to include radio control, trucking, communications etc, not one time have I ever heard of or known anyone who received any form of letter or violation from the FCC. Nada! If I were to guess, I bet they rely on the locals to sort of "self enforcement" at around our level.

The FCC has its rules and the AMA has theirs. there is no way either department is going to know what anybody does with their radios unless something disatrous happens. There is no way your going to know what anybody did to their transmitter unless they tell you. 5 guys out flying, one gets glitched and it goes in. I would like to see anybody, say "I think it was me! I just changed the crystals for the heck of it and did not get it tuned!"

Anybody ever read that hugh poster on the AMA safety code? I did once and if you follow it, you may as well pack up and go home. As i recall a statement in their about flying a giant scale plane while a smaller one is in the air and some "distance thing" Whatever it was, you can't do it and yet it is done routinely.

I think the chances of you getting shot down are far better by some cheap $15 parkflyer in the area than some guy fooling around with his crystals.

I certainly am glad the people I fly with take safety and personal responsibility more seriously than those who make it seem that changing transmitter crystals without retuning is not a big deal. Who cares whether or not the FCC or AMA can enforce the rules? It's there for the good of everyone. People who ignore this rule are showing they have little concern for safety and a lack respect for their fellow modelers.

Thank you Chuck. I believe I'll just stay away from New Mexico. That will make at least 2 people happy.

I just re-read the safety code. I could find nothing about flying giant scale aircraft in the presence of smaller aircraft. There were some items about keeping aircraft minimum distances from certain places/people for safety purposes. These all seemed reasonable to me and are also incorporated within my clubs field rules.

Maybe it was that 25ft rule or something. I don't rmember . I'm surprised they have not re written it regard the 40%planes and crowds or turbines. I am not knocking these but planes have tripled in size in the last few years. Who knows, but it'll happen

You just don't know when to quit do you. I have been making statements here based on fact and what I have seen. Where did I say that is what I do or support it. We have rules and regulations coming out are back end and their is a large percentage of people who don't care.

On my way to the field this morning I and driving past a older guy walking/exercising in the bike lane which is essentially part of the road. Less than 6 ft to his right is a perfectly good and new sidewalk!. Whats my point? Common sense say use the sidewalk but their are alway those who just seem to have a screw loose.

Just because I am telling the story does not mean I agree with this idiot walking in the street.

I guess my only request would be that you at least encourage people to follow the rules for the sake of all concerned. As perhaps one of the more experienced pilots in your area, they may listen.
Hope you had a good day of flying, we had too much wind here.