Hitec eclipse 7, futaba 7cap or a jr 6102. I am going to be using it for a sig 4*60?

That's a Ford, Chevy, Dodge question if there ever was one. Strictly a matter of opinion. The 6102 has less channels if that is important to you.

Chevy,,, definitely!!!

Well i like Futaba, but that's just my opinion (oh yea i'll take chevy too)

I like GM as well, but if you're looking at the 7CAP, why not go a little more and look at the 9CAP? You would have the option of getting a synthesized module and receiver so channel conflicts would be nill. The 9CAP also has an available 2.4GHZ FASST module and receiver available for when you are ready to upgrade. Just a thought to ponder

I've got a Hitec, Futaba, and a couple of JRs. They're all good. Very little to choose from between radios of the same price.

Have you looked at the JR7202 Synthesizer radio. It's in the $300 range like the three above but has a power those others don't. You can change it's output frequency just by pushing a few buttons. It's as easy as resetting the time of flight timer.

It's the radio I'd have bought first had it been around when I got back into the hobby. And had I done that, it'd probably been the only one I'd have today.

I've got a Hitec Optic6 that is also a synthesizer radio. It's also around $300 if you can find one. It does almost all the things the JR7202 does.

I have a couple of Hitec E-Clipse Seven radios. One is PCM capable, "although I don't use any PCM Rx's. One is not, I'm very pleased with those radios and they have done all that I wanted until now. I bought a Futaba 9 Caps this week because I need another channel on some comeing projects. The Futaba is a little cumbersome to program when compared to my E-Clipses and does'nt feel quite as comfortable in my hands. I should mention however, that I started working on the programing just lastnight so I really have not had the time to climatize myself to the unit. The unit has considerbly more programing capacity than the E-Clipse, as it should have that and more considering it is twice the price. I think I will eventually like it once I learn it and get used to the feel.

I have products build by Ford (badged as a Mazda, but as I call it, a Mazda Ranger), Mopar, Chevy and Honda, so I won't comment there. As far as radio's, I have 6 Futaba's, 1 JR and 1 Airtronics. All are good radios have worked just fine but 3 are on the old frequency chart so they really aren't used except when I go out to a very remote farm in the middle of nowhere.

Just look at the specs on each radio, and see if you can get your paws on one at the LHS to see how it feels and make your decision from there. While people here can comment on their radios, only you can make the true determination of which is the correct radio for you.

Hogflyer

I just saw an ad in this month's AMA magazine, Model Aviation, that has the Hitec Optic 6 with Spectra Module priced at $179.

Now there's a buy.

All the ones mentioned so far are as good as each other, so next thing to consider is the price.

The ad is on page 46, right after the how-to article on making wings "separable".

Your new to this and will be flying on a buddy box, right?!? That being the case JR is different in that the buddy box needs its own battery pack. The Hitec, Futaba and Airtronics don't require battery packs in the trainer boxes. Due to that and the fact that Airtronics or Futaba may be more popular in the RC club, the club may have those brands of buddy box to help new flyers. Hitec and Futaba will work together, but the rest need the same brand of buddy box to match!

New at it?

Actually, the student's radio is almost always going to be the one the instructor uses to fly the student's airplane. And the cord used will have to connect to the student's radio and whatever other transmitter or buddy box is available or matches the plug on the other end of the cord.

When you're deciding on what radio to buy. Don't sweat the decision based on what buddy box you're most apt to find at whatever club you think you might find an instructor at and whether or not he might have what will match up to your radio. The two clubs I'm familiar with have never had a problem with not teaching anybody because they didn't have a radio that suited what the club has. Matter of fact, both clubs have all the different cords needed too. One brand by itself has three different cords.

When you're deciding on the radio, if you're worried, just ask the club if they can teach you if you show up with a Hitec, Futaba, JR or Airtronic. Ask up front.

BTW, a lot of clubs took advantage of the awesome offer that AMA has done the past year. When a beginner joined AMA, they could get a FREE buddy box with the membership. Either Futaba or JR was available. One club around here picked up one of each to have available for beginners.

If you are new at this, check and see if you can't get a free buddy box of your own when you join AMA. If they're still offering it, good. If not, your club probably has both.

Ironically, you missed the best value regarding radios in this price range. The Airtronics RD8000 is available from http://www.hobbypeople.net with a full flight pack all for $249.99. This radio is shift selectable (as is the Hitec Eclipse 7) so it can fly JR and Airtronics Receivers as well as Futaba, Tower, and Hobbico receivers. Unlike the other three radios mentioned by the original poster, the RD8000 is an 8-channel system that supports dual elevator servos.

Still, all of these radios have a lot to offer. The Hitec Eclipse 7 with Spectra frequecy synthesizer and a Hitec Supreme 8-channel receiver is widely available (without servos) for around $214.99 from a number of resellers; this is probably the most radio for the money available from the major manufacturers. The Polk Hobbies Tracker III Radio system with Seeker II receiver is also an outstanding value at $200.00

I own a Futaba 7CAF radio system and I have been quite happy with it. There are radio systems with more features available for the same or less cost, however.

flip a coin.

i am takin the chevy for daily driven but for work i take a ford. anyhow i kind of a jr guy my self your culb is 50/50 Futaba JR it just depends on your own taste, latey we had a lot of radio hits at our feild but it only effects futaba radio we dont know why yet but alot of people of lost some really nice planes..

ooo and just to add to the cunfusion dont leave out the dx7 for your shopping list

Chevaba !!! all the way

It's interesting just how passionate brand loyalty is in our hobby.

It seems that when some modelers choose a radio, they wind up joining the Crusades and head out for Holy Land and kill every infidel who gets in the way.

Almost every radio and brand of radio we have that is halfway popular is an excellent radio. There really aren't any that are lots better in any of the price categories.

But you'd think there really are major reasons to NOT buy one brand or other. Which brands to not buy? The ones the Crusaders don't use.

If you're a beginner, remember that when looking for your first radio. Any expert who winds up trashing every other brand but his own isn't really a good one to talk to. They're all pretty good. Ain't no losers in the lot.

Why is it nobody mentions a Spektrum DX6 or DX7?

Yet to get my first plane.


Jim

Dodge all the way!!!! [8D]

I use a Futaba 9c because I got it NIB with rx and 5 s3004 servos for $200

Well, the thread originator specified 3 radios he was particularly interested in so good manners dictated directing our replies primarily towards those. However, the DX7 WAS mentioned in post 14 by dragnbye since you are keeping track.

Yes, sorry, I'm not being very netiquette, I shouldn't have broght that up. I just was aware of the Spektrums before getting into this stuff and in lots of threads people only talk about the brands that started this thread, so I was curious. Apologies to all.

Jim