Amen

I am still using a Gold Box Futaba, bought in 1987. Had to buy new, my Blue Max's from the 70s were on freq's no longer legal.

I mostly use my 6EXA. Am getting a new 6EXAS to have two almost identical radios. Plenty of features.

Just because something is newer and better, does not mean it is necessary for everyone.

Ken Erickson

And my grandmother still watches a B&W TV with tubes! Sure, there'll still be people using 72 MHz twenty years from now just as there'll still be people listening to vinyl records, using film-based cameras, and using VHS VCRs. The rest of us will have moved on.

I like to move onto new technology as soon as it's available, which is why I watch Blu-Ray discs on a 1080p TV, use a 12 megapixel digital SLR, and have thrown away all my old ham radio gear.

BetaMax? 8 inch floppies ?

And your point is? Why should I replace my radios if they still work and do what I need them to do? Just because something new is available? Sorry, you'll need to come up with a better justification than that. For a pilot that is flying on a crowded field switching to the new radio probably has its advantages, but for me at our field there aren't any. I have better things I can do with my money than dropping $350 on a radio that I don't need right now.

Ken

My point is that there are generally two kinds of people around: people like you who buy something that works and keep using it until it breaks, and people like me who pray at the altar of new technology and like to have the latest gadgets as soon as possible.

I, for one, think the new 2.4 GHz radio systems are a worthwhile investment because even if they save one model from being shot down by someone turning on a transmitter on my channel while I flying, the cost will have been worth it. Accidents do happen, even to the most careful people.

Soda Ant - 2 questions

1. What's a Blu-Ray disc?
2. Who cares that you have one?

Besides you that is.

Oh, this is Blu-Ray
http://www.blu-ray.com/info/
Big deal [:'(] another toy.

A Blu-Ray disc is a new technology developed by the Martians to control our minds. I've had mine for four months now and am already in daily communication with sub-commander Thaaal of the 3rd Federation.

Well FYI, I am an IT consultant. So I WORK on that very same alter you pray at. I myself buy new technology all the time. That that doesn't mean I will throw away my old radios just because I get a new one. And that was the point of my message, that just because something new comes out you don't have to get rid of the old. If it really matters I'm probably going to be getting a DX7 too in order to evaluate it, but like I said I won't be throwing all of my old radios away. But if you want to get all of your old radios just to play with a new toy, then more power too you. Have fun. But knock people that don't want to get the same things you do.

I simply made my points about the 72 Mhz radios staying around for a long time because it's really the simple truth. Here in the Beginner's Forum we are very careful about not letting new rumors getting started. New people in this hobby only have a few sources for info and this forum is a big one of those sources. If we take this case for example, a new pilot hears that because of 2.4 Ghz radios the 72 Mhz radios won't be around for long. So now he thinks that he's got to buy a new radio before it's too late. This is how crazy rumor get started in the first place, by people speaking out without thinking about the ramifications of their statements.

Ken

You just reiterated my point. I said in one of my posts that people will still be using 72 MHz 20 years from now, but if you're buying a new radio now, take a good look at 2.4 GHz before deciding to get 72 MHz because 2.4 GHz is the future, not 72 MHz.

Your point about starting rumors is well-taken, but I don't think anyone is saying 72 MHz is going away any time soon (at least I didn't).

I am a bit surprised that so many folks responding to pitch19's original question are recommending a $350 radio system with digital servos for a first radio setup. "What's the best radio?" and "What's the best radio for me?" are two different questions.

There seems to be two camps here as well. Some advocate buying a cheap, simple radio as a beginner, and others advocate buying the most capable computer radio you can afford right from the outset.

Some people have difficulties grasping complicated technology at first, and they're best served by starting with something simple and straightforward. Others easily cope with sophisticated technology and don't have any problems setting up and using complicated computer radios.

Everyone must decide for themselves which camp they fall into. It's up to the rest of us to provide both viewpoints.

I think we lost Pitch19 a long time ago. I bet he switched to cars.

I've seen the hobby take a jump and leave some equipment obsolete before it's time. This happened when we shifted from the colored flag frequencies to the channels in the mid 1980s. I also think this jump was responsible part and partial for the demise of many prevalent radio manufacturers of the time (Kraft, EK Logictrol and Proline, to name a few).

As we all know, the hobby does change over time. Equipment constantly becomes obsolete as new stuff comes on the market which is better, easier to use and offers more bells and whistles. The obsoleteness only occurs due to market demand: Do you remember radios which didn't have servo reverse? Do you remember when the truth was you had to build them to fly them?

I'm not saying 72 MHz is dead! However, I think any new radio I buy will be 2,4 GHz spread spectrum. I think I am intuitive enough to see where the hobby is heading and know what's going to happen! By the way, the first starter radio I bought cost $350.00. It was a Kraft Gold medal 4 channel. This was in 1968.

I also don't think it hurts anyone to be aware of potential shifts in the technology. When the shift from colored freq. control to channel numbers was in-process (in the mid 1980s) the price of R/C equipment took a drastic nose dive. Previously high priced equipment could be bought at much lower prices. This certainly created great deals! The problem was that the equipment was going to become obsolete and may not have been convertible, when the channeled freq. took effect. Since 72 MHz and 2.4 GHz are two distinct radio bands, the 72 MHz equipment won't be forced into obsolescense, as before.

It is the beginners job to learn as much as they can, before making a purchase decision (an educated decision). Some of you feel suggesting the latest technology or even computer radios to a beginner is wrong. I disagree!

in all my planes including my jets i use full sythesized receivers and one in my pcm9x sereis 2jr trans. I learnt over 8 years ago about getting a better trans for i have 9 planes. with a 4 channel you can out grow it quickly but all depends how far into the hobby you want to go

i think going to a club and talk to club members is a good idea. I brought a 4 channel trans when i first started and liked the hobby that i out grew my trans so i up my trans to a new one. i dont believe a person should waste money if he or she don't like the hobby but also don't beleive to waste money on a 4 channel if you am gonna out grow it. the money save could buy you another plane

I bought a Hitec Laser 4 for my trainer back in 03 for $119.00. I only planned to use it with that one plane. That is almost as cheap as just a flight pack. As I added more models later I bought a new trans and more recs and servos. I sold the trainer but reused the radio gear in my sons new trainer. Plus I have also let others use it as a buddy box. A lot of use for just 119.00.

Futaba has come out with a 2.4 transmitter module and reciever for there high end surface radios, it is only a matter of time before this is in there aircraft radios, problem is the radio retails for $300 and the module and reciever is $200. for the airtronics guys they also have a sport oriented surface 2.4 radio that is coming out in march, I think that by the next holiday season all the major manufacturers will have dsm in there aircraft radios. Will it be worth running out and spending the $$$ ?.

The reason I mention surface radios is because even spektrum / JR started that way, and the DX6 was released a few moths later.
Hopefully for those of us who are not yet using high end radios we will have the choice to go with DSM in the near future, and it looks like the major players are getting into the game.

I satarted with a Hitec Flash 5 radio. Great radio to begin.

I have done a little more investigation on the DX7 radio. This radio will store up to 20 aircraft in its’ memory. In order to take full advantage of this capability, one would need to invest in 20 AR7000 receivers at a cost of approximately $2,000.00. Few of us might
take advantage of this 20 plane capacity. Personally, I feel keeping ahead of the maintenance on 5-6 planes to be adequate work. The AR7000 receiver’s price is comparable with 7-9 channel PCM receivers, so I’m not saying their price is exorbitant, only that there is a little more reality to consider.

Beginners might not consider much beyond that first trainer airplane and getting it up and down in one piece. However, the reality is that most of us whom are fairly deeply involved in the hobby have many airplanes which we fly regularly using a single transmitter. So, understanding a modern a R/C radio’s capabilities is good education for beginners!

One of the best features which has been added to R/C radios in the last 10-15 years is a radio’s capability to store multiple airplanes within it’s memory. I would not consider the purchase of any radio which does not at least have this feature