I'm looking for a good radio system for my father in-law thats getting into planes. Now I'm alreadyin into the rc hobby but in to cars and trucks so anything over 3 channels i don't know really anything about. Now i was looking at the futaba 6 ex and i read some good reviews about it but i would like some other input on it and on different radios as well. So any info would be great Thanks

I'm just a newbee in RC airplane but I do own the Futaba 6EX 2.4 Ghz and the only bad thing I can say is there is no timer function. I really don't understand why they didn't add this simple function ?? I will have to buy a separate timer and afix it on the transmitter. 6 channels for me is enough but you might investigate a bit more to find out what type of plane he plan on using and see how many channels he will need. 2.4 ghz is quite interesting for a new radio.

thanks for the info I think he was told to but a six and higher for just in case he wants to use it in a bigger plane

anything futaba is good. I usually suggest the 7C futaba so you have a good radio for many years if you want to go on in the hobby. If you quit, you can sell it and get something out of it. Lesser models are harder to sell and not always the best choice if you stay in the hobby.

ok i'll look into it

Look at the Hitec Optic 6. For a few dollars more, you can get a synthesizer radio that offers computer functions that are worthwhile for modelers who're moving into their 2nd and 3rd airplanes.

I vote for the Futaba 9C... Great radio and now that the 2.4 stuff is out they are more reasonable.. Also there will be a frequency module to convert the 9C to a 2.4 if you choose to do so down the road.. The 9C has multiple timers, and timers for timers.. (kidding of course) but it does have several mixing options that the 7C does not support.. I fly a ultra stick with the quad flap wing setup and if I remember correctly when I bought the radio the 7C didn't support some of the features that I wanted to take advantage of..(don't remember which ones though).. It's a great radio.. Also unless you drop/break it, it will be the last radio that you will need for ANYTHING that flies.

I wouldn't buy anything in the 72MHz band at this point. The Spektrum DX7 is the best buy for 2.4GHz radios right now, IMO. They sell for about $300 at http://www.myrcsupply.com .

Get the 2.4GHz stuff if you can possibly afford it. I couldn't at the time I bought a radio and that was my mistake.

This is coming from someone that just trashed his loved .40 plane to (@^%$ radio interference.

P.S. ...... and another one was lost in the same day as mine at exactly the same spot... radio interference. Except his was a $1500 gasser.

The new 7C in its 2.4ghz version seems quite tempting. 2.4 seems like a great solution as long as you set up the antennas in the airplane correctly.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LNSBX0&P=G

If the 2.4GHz version of the 7C has the same firmware & display as the 72MHz 7C, it doesn't have a graphical display for throttle curves, endpoints, expo, etc. The DX7 does have a graphical display, similar to the 9C.

so should i look into the 9c for the long run he did say if he does well with the plane he's making now hes going to get another one

I have a 9C, it was my first and only radio until getting the DX7. However, I don't care for the 2.4GHz modules for the 9C. The Futaba module only works with two Futaba receivers right now, and the antenna comes out of the back of the radio. The Spektrum system has a coax cable going from the module to the antenna on top of the radio, and their "Model Match" feature doesn't work in this module. Plus, the module systems won't have as fast of response time as the radios with spread spectrum built in.

If you want a 9 channel, I'd suggest getting a 2.4GHz JR X9303 when it's available.