I`m nearing the end of my flying my trainer plane (nexstar) and now looking to get another plane and a good radio. I have just started flying this spring an I`m new to this hobby and don`t know much yet about the planes and radios
As for the plane, for now I like slow and go flying.
The radio , I was thinking about the Futaba 6EX 2.4GHz FASST .
which are your thoughts. thanks , michael

Hi Michael, Welcome to RCU!

The Futaba 6EX 2.4GHz FASST is excellent. I recently reviewed it for RCU Magazine and I liked it a lot.

As for the plane, there are lots of good ones, but from what you describe, I would recommend the Goldberg Tiger II (It comes in Kit or ARF)

First for i plane i recommend a tiger, four star or a supersportster. Good choice to start with spread spectrum but ditch the 6ex. I had that radio except not 2.4 and outgrew it fast. I'd say get a spektrum dx7. I personally want the spread spectrum 9303. That definately is way to expensive for a beginner. I think the dx7 is a good comprimise. Most likely it will be just right as long as you dont do giant scale. I would love to have the spread spectrum 9303 but i will stick with the 9c because i already have futaba receivers. Plus high school and a 1000 dollar radio upgrade dont work well.

It all depends on your budget..

I'm holding out untill the FASST 9C comes out.

I have a pair of 7C's now, they are great but I'm lookin at building a giant scale and the mixes on the 7C are a bit limited.

The Futaba 7C 2.4 FASST radio was displayed at Toledo last month. Tower Hobbies doesn't have detailed information about it yet, but its release is imminent:

[link=http://2.4gigahertz.com/systems/futk7000.html]Futaba 7C 2.4Ghz Spread Spectrum[/link]

The DX7 is certainly a nice system also.

If a $325 radio is a little over your shopping budget, the 6EX FASST isn't a bad choice. By the time you add 4 servos to the price, however, you won't be too much further ahead.

As for which airframe to purchase next, I'd encourage you to look at an "Ugly Stik" varient of some kind. I fly a Thunder Tiger Tiger Stick .40 ARF that is so fun to fly, my face hurts when I come home from the field because I was grinning so much. The Great Planes Big Stik, Hangar 9 Super Stik/Ultra Stik, Model Tech Lucky Stik/Joss Stik, or the Sportsman Aviation Sport Stik would all be terrific second airplanes.

Stu Katz did a nice thorough review of the Sport Stik not too long ago right here on RC Universe:

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=767]Sport Stik Review[/link]

Combine a Sport Stik ARF ($89.99) with a Magnum XLS .46A ($59.99) and a flight pack for your Nextstar 4YF radio ($99.99) and you'd have a complete 2nd plane to learn aerobatics with for about the price of a Futaba 6EX FASST radio and four cheap servos.

Ok, hold on. Don't go buying more radio than you need.

Geeze, I just hate it when someone says they are just getting into the hobby (Or back into it) and people jump out of the woodwork suggesting high-end radios.

If you guys want a 9 channel radio, save up your pennies and buy one, but don't go telling someone who is looking at buying their second plane that they need one too.

Michael, if you are getting into your second airplane, the 6EX is more radio than you need, but it will give you a lot of room to grow. Go for it. Like Big Ed said, it doesn't come with servos, so you COULD just stick with the 72MHz version which is a lot less expensive and DOES come with servos.

Tower has a Futaba 2.4 FASST combo available with standard servos if you are interested.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0161p?&I=LZ2735

Other packages are also available.

Michael,

The fella who taught me to fly uses a JR 6102, It is 72 Mhz but has 10 model memory and computer programming seems easy to understand. I don't have any experience with the Faast system. For $250.00 you can have the full system with servoes, switch, and radio. (Maybe more) He fly's up to 1/3 scale and says it is more radio than he will ever need. Unless your flying at a field with very many guys I don't know that the channel problem will slow you down.

This will be my next radio.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Del

thanks, eveyone so far on your input. boy it sure is hard to pick a plane out with so many to choose from.I guess that why most guys have more than 1,2,3,4,5 or more planes .
I was looking at maybe a Great Planes Big Stik, I`m going to see if anyone is flying one in my club an ask them about.
i still like the idea of a futaba 2.4GHz FASST series radio, which one who knows!! how many planes can they handle or control?
Michael

I think if you're going to spend $300 for your second radio, you need to take a look at where you're going. What types of models interest you, and what areas of the hobby do you plan to explore? If you know where your interests lie, it's not too hard to do a bit of research to find the best buy for you. Everyone has different interests and tastes, and I think a lot of the radio recommendations made come from those sorts of personal preferences rather than what really is best for the person asking for advice.

When I started out I had a 4-channel Airtronics. When I decided I wanted a computer radio, I bought what I believed to be the best 6-channel computer radio out there at the time. It did most of what I wanted. It was an Airtronics RD6000. After seeing what friends had in their Futaba and JR sets of the same vintage, I sure was glad I did my research and bought the Airtronics. When I needed more channels, I got a JR 783. That was a mistake, as I soon needed an eighth channel. I got a JR 8103. That was the older analog trim version, and I did love the digital trims from the RD6000. I ended up getting the digital trim 8103. Somewhere in there I picked up a JR 421ex for $25 to use as a buddy box.

I did most of my buying and selling of radios here on RCU, so all my changes didn't end up costing me much. Sometimes I sold a radio for more than I bought it for. If I'd been buying new radios, I'd have spent a lot more than I needed to with all of my switching in and out of models.

Take some time to figure out where you want to go, and then find out what those models need. 7 channels? A crow function for the wing? Helicopter programming? Dual elevator servos? Is 2.4ghz important where you fly, or is 72mhz problem-free? What sorts of extra features appeal to you? (An integrated timer/stopwatch is pretty important to me.)

Once you figure all of that out, you can narrow your choices pretty easily. If 2.4ghz is important to you, it may well be that your best option right now is to wait for more product offerings to hit the market. At the rate that new radios are coming out, I'd imagine there will be 2.4ghz radios available across most product ranges by this time next year. Maybe your current radio will suffice for this season?

If money is an issue, consider buying used gear. The next couple of months will be particularly good for finding 72mhz bargains as the people with 8 and 9 channel radios move to the 2.4ghz equivalents. There are some great deals in RCU's swapshop and other swapshops at the moment. Play your cards right, and you might be able to buy a very nice radio inexpensively this year, sell it next year for about the same price, and then move into 2.4ghz when there are more models available there.

One thing to keep in mind is that different radios will feel differently in your hands. Try'em out at your hobby shop, or ask someone you fly with if you can see how their radio feels. Some will feel very cheap, with chromed plastic switches and the like, others will feel too heavy to you, have funny balance points (do you hold the radio, fly with a strap, or use a tray?), some gimbals are smoother than others, and some gimbals offer quite a bit of adjustability in terms of stick height and tension. Personally, I find the rotary knob on my 8103 to be near useless--I've got no desire to look down at it while flying, and other than the limits of its travel I can't tell where it is by feel.

Of course, you could just say "%*^$ that's a lot of work!" and just buy whatever. If you find yourself needing or wanting a different radio you can always sell whatever you buy.

I'll put my 2 cents worth in too. I bought for my 1st good radio the JR 6102 complete system for $259. It's only a 6 channel but seems to be more than sufficient for me. As someone stated above it has 10 model memory, is fairly easy to use & understand (if you can do a little reading) but once you get her figured out she is very easy to program & I aint no computer whiz-kid beleive me!!

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...odID=JRP6644**

Shortly after buying my 6102 JR came out with their new Sport line. The idea was that now everyone could afford the quality of a JR radio. When I read the specs it seems to do just about everything my 6102 will for a $100 less. Not quite as fancy looking but it does have all the same features mine has. 10 model memory, 6 channel. & all the mixing abilities as well. I believe you get the whole system for $159. Tx, Rx, Xtrals, Battery, switch, & 4 standard spor servos. I'll put up a link for ya to check it out with.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...dID=JSP16000**

I think this is a great radio system for the money!! With plenty of room to grow into it. They also have a a park-flyer version of this radio but why limit yourself to parkflyer range when you can do it all with this one?

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...odID=SPM2460BR


This is the park-flyer version of the new Spektrum, but it is my understanding that they have the standard size version available now for about $250 as well. A friend of mine has just recently bought one & loves it. I guess Horizon just hasn't hasn't updated their site yet to include the standard size system but again it is for the full system. No more radio hits or waiting for your channel to fly. I'll be getting a Sprektrum just as soon as I can afford one.

My seond plane was a Cap 232, but not the suggested way to go. The general concensus around here is the Sig 4* & the Goldberg Tiger II. I'm going to throw one more in the mix Even though I have not been a huge fan of Hangar 9 in the past. I do really like their new Pulse XT. It was designed to be a number 2 type plane. I went ahead & got one just because it looks so nice & I had taken a short hiatus from flying, leaving my WM Ultimate 40 just a little on the hot side when I first got back in the saddle. I flew it just fine & did not crash it or anything like that but I could tell I would be better of taking a step back & getting my thumbs back with a more forgiving plane. So I went out & got a Pulse XT & put my OS .46 FX it. I set it up according to factory specs for both low & high rates (with flaperons) & I have been having a great time with it. I liked it so much I even scooped up the E-Flite Mini PulseXT. The Electric version of it too. It flies jut like it's bigger glow brother & both of them go from mild to wild at the flip of the switch. I think they are nicer looking than the 4* or the Tiger II & both fly superbly. I've really been having a great time with them. Now I bought the ARF version, not the more expensive "plug & ply" version. I couldn't see spending all that extra money for an EVO engine that I am again not very impressed with, or radio equipment that I already had. Absolutely no regrets, I love this plane. It even does very well in the winds too. So far I have flown it a 20 mph wind with no real problems to speak of. These are true 20 mph winds as well, not just guessing as we have 3 diferent ananometers at the field. The flaperons are not neccessary but I have a lot of fun with them.

I'll put up a link of the pulse for ya in case you'd lik to look at the specs, as well as posting a couple pics of the ones I fly. Good luck in your decision making process.


http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN4100

That's the ARF version of the glow model, & here is the ARF version oif the Mini E-Flite Pulse XT. Mines flys very well with an E-Flite park 450 outrunner on it.


http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=EFL2375


I just realized I did a quick reply so I will have to post the pics of mine in the following post.

Here's the pics of my Pulse XT's

Ok here i go. I have an Eclips 7 from Hitec. Maby not the best of the best out there but hey plenty of preprogramed mixes for you basic needs and up to 9 programable mixes. Very Easy to use. The company has an awsome customer service. Their Servos and Rxs are respected by everyone even the big time JR fans. and you can get a full setup with 4 BB 60oz torque servos an 8 channel receiver Battery for receiver switch harness neoprin wrap for receiver Frequency tags only thing you might want seperate would be a neck strap for 2 bucks. It also has 7 model memories so you can set up 7 diff planes and it has 3 possible flight modes per plane. All this and it's very easy to use and i have never had a single hit or glitch with mine while the JR guys at the club get em all the time sometimes bad enough to put a plane in for good. Also it can be set up for heli's, planes and gliders. Best part is it's only 219$ for this particular setup and can be upgraded to synthisized tx and rx. I'm sure i left out plenty of features but you can read the rest at their site. Good luck which ever way you go. As for the plane i also like the tiger for it's characteristics, but your second plane dosent have to be ugly. The RV-4 is a very sleek pretty airplane that flys great.

No need to apologize for flying a Hitec radio, burnin1st. The Optic 6, Optic 6 Sport, and Eclipse 7 are all fantastic values. All of these radios are shift selectable and can fly Airtronics or JR receivers as well as Futaba or Hobbico/Tower receivers. The fact that all of them are upgradable to the Spectra synthesized frequency system means they'll most likely be 2.4Ghz upgradable whenever Hitec figures out what direction they want to go with their next-gen equipment.

The simple fact is that everyone makes a great 6 to 8 channel computer radio in the $159 to $275 price range. I'd be quite content to fly my planes with a JR Sport SX600, an Airtronics VG6000, or a Hitec Optic 6 if I didn't already own my Futaba 7C.

I'd go so far as to say being able to buy an Optic 6 with the Spectra synthesizer module and an 8-channel shift selectable dual conversion receiver all for $179 is such a great deal that it's almost silly. 8 model memory with model naming, plenty of mixing and programming features, shift selectable to work with virtually any 72Mhz FM receiver, fly on any channel you want with the Spectra module, fly airplanes/sailplanes/helicopters off the same radio, and QPCM compatible all for $179??? Why the heck wouldn't you want one?

When you move up to the Eclipse 7, you get all of this plus more advanced mixing capabilities, a seventh channel, and more. Hitec radio systems are an outstanding value.

hi elenasgrumpy,

I love this plane Pulse XT of Hangar 9, and I love the planes of Hangar 9, they really do have some great models.

Pulse XT is a second plane or 3rd plane, and how does it behave while flying, and and how many maneuvers is it capable of doing?

Thanks

Mody

It has no bad charachteristics that I am aware of. As far as what manuevers it is capable of, on high rates it will do pretty much anything I ask of it & alot more that I'm not capable of yet. As I stated I'm still trying to get my thumbs back after a long hiatis from flying so I've been taking it fairly easy just trying to get good & comfortable again before I finish my 27% Extra. Then we'll get back to trying the stupid stuff.[X(]

This is my .02 since I am going through the same dilema as you. I have got back into the hobby after 15 years. I have a Eagle II, and a Futabe 4 channel Skysport that I have learned to get my thumbs back with. For my second plane I am currently building a Sig Mid star 40, and i am in the process of radio shopping. The 6 channel Futaba 2.4 gig will cost you right at $300.00 with everything including servos. Which is the way I am leaning but a flight pack for another plane be costly since just a reciever is around $90.00. Another option I have been considering is the Fuatbe 6channel FM computer radio. Full set up for about $175.00 and flight packs are around $115.00 for add on planes.
By the way Minnflyer always has great advice. He has answered a lot of my questions as well as the hundreds for other fine folks who participate here.

One of the stupidest things about the hobby industry is the cost of flight packs. Hitec makes a great universal (shift selectable) flight pack with nice servos for $99.99. Tower sells the Futaba flight packs with NiCd for $109.99. Both of these flight packs require that you spend another $10 to $13 for a receiver crystal.

You can buy a complete 4-channel sport radio with everything the flight pack includes, plus the receiver crystal, transmitter, transmitter battery, wall charger, and (sometimes) a neckstrap all for $119.99. In the case of Futaba brand equipment, Futaba literally gives you $3.00 to take their 4YF transmitter with battery and charger. That's the cost difference between buying the whole radio or just a flight pack and rx crystal.

You can stretch your hobby budget a lot further by simply buying extra 4YFs, Laser 4s, VG400s, or Quattro 4s and then selling the transmitter, battery and charger here on RC Universe. Folks buy them as buddy boxes, spares, for replacement parts, or to use with flight simulators. Considering that buddy boxes sell for $40 new, this makes buying a complete extra radio system just good thinking.