I used to have a Futaba 7 channel years um decades ago. I lost it and all my RC stuff in a fire so am years out of date on all things technical. An add in my local paper for a plane and four channel Futaba conquest has sparked my interest in getting back into R/C flying again. For about $200 I could get started with his setup.

But since my real interest is in gliders at least to start, I was thinking of investing in a better radio to get me going and building a trainer glider for just a little more money. I was first drawn to the Futaba 6exas as a good start for flying gliders but with future potential. But reading here I hear talk of possible obsolesence, that the 2.4 ghz is the radio of the future.

So you know what I am working towards: I am going to build a training glider to start and would like to build a better performer in the future and maybe explore combat gliders. Somewhere down the line I would like an acrobatic airplane. So this is where my radio needs lie.

Can someone please explain the main advantages to the new 2.4 ghz. radios?

Will the receivers and parts for the older radios like the 6exas become hard to get?

One major concern is the cost of flight packs for future endeavors. The only receivers I can find for the 2.4 ghz are 7 channel and $99. While I can see whole flight packs for $50-80. If I am correct in assuming it will be much more expensive to add planes to a setup using a 2.4ghz radio.

Will all radios be compatible to use in a training situation? If I purchased the complete setup locally and then upgraded to the Futaba 6ex or 6exas could I use the two transmitters together for training?

Thanks for any insight.
PP

My opinion?
FM radios are not going away for a good while. Too many people with large investments in them to just drop them all together.
The only adavantage I see of the 2.4 Ghz radios is no channel assignments but that has never been an issue where I fly.
I will stick with 72Mhz myself and the $50 Hitec recievers are fine with me.

Same goes here. Where I fly we've had no probs. whatsoever. I fly with the same 6 guys all the time and we all have our own channel assignments. I have over 20 recievers so it major problem to switch to 2.4--- would cost me way to much!!

Curt

Its nice to grab an open flight box and go flying and not worry about some kid showing up with a park flyer and knocking me out of the air before he knows anything about what a pin board is.

I've purchased three radios since I've been flying for 8 plus years now. I'd first ask you how deep do you see yourself getting into the hobby again? When I first started flying I had no idea how 'addicted' I'd become. I quickly outgrew my radio due to needing more model memory and more functions. I then outgrew my second radio so I bought a second identical radio, wanting more memory. I then ran out of functions and needed a radio that supported dual elevator servos, more channels and I liked the idea of taking only one radio to the field.

So I'd recommend buying at least a computer radio 7 channels on up. That should be a great starting point. Radios like the Hitec Eclipse 7 or the Futaba 7 cap are great for the money and won't break the bank. I can't comment on Airtronics and JR as I have no experience with them. I personally fly with FM (Futaba 9cap made the recent move from a Hitec Eclipse 7). Spectrum is nice, but I don't fly with many others and frequency channels has never been an issue in 6+ years that I've been flying with this latest group. As the above said, FM will still be around a long, long time.

Good luck...

After being shot twice , this year , I found the 2.4G gives me peace of mind.

IMO, 2.4 is a viable platform ONLY if you have severe frequency conflicts or interference problems where you fly. Other than that, it's just not necessary for the average sport modeler. Your basic or standard FM or PCM computer radio will offer you 99.9% of the bells and whistles you will ever want. For a basic glider, the Conquest you spoke of will perform nicely.

Dr.1

So FM is not a bad way to go? Thanks for the info.

About the receiver crystals. Does the transmitter have a specific frequency and you have to buy equivalent crystals for the receivers or are the transmitters changeable and you can have different crystals? I hear good things about the Hitech servos for combat durability. Are servos interchangeable or do I need to get a Hitech radio to work with their servos?

I’m in this hobby for about a year and i have two radios 72 MHz and 2.4GHz, its not the smartest setup…
I’m building my third plane now and it will be with the 2.4 GHz.
On 2.4 the antenna is shorter and doesn’t need to be out of the plane.

Saw myself buying these flight packs which are not that cheap and thought better sooner then later to get this 2.4 GHz.

Sure its cheaper to have the 72 MHz but sometimes conflict with others at the field.

It depends on the field and how much you want to get into this hobby.

I have the tower hobbies 6 channel, its cheap, working well, warranty, dual rates and end point adjustment and that’s what I need.

You can order your radio on any frequency you want. Both the TX and RX aer crystal cotrolled. It is illegal for anyone but a Technician license or higher to change the TX frequency, but it's commonly done. You buy a matched crystal set and they simply plug in. In theory, you can change from any frequency to another within the same band. In practicallity, I wouldn't stray more than 2-3 channels either side of the original frequency unless I had the radio retuned. All this is for 72 mHz FM, 2.4 and Spektrum-type radios are another animal entirely.

I have the highest praise for Hitec servos. They will work with any modern radio system. Since you mentioned it, I also highly recommend the Hitec radio systems. I've used Hitec for many years. Lotta bang for the buck in their radios.

Dr.1

Not mentioned, there are 72Mhz radios (Hitec has one) that uses a synthesis module, or something to that effect, where you can dial in any channel you want.
It is a good idea to go to the field you will be flying at and see what channels are not being used before buying your radio.

I'll come in on the side of the people still using 72mhz. I also don't see it going away anytime soon and Rx's are already starting to get a little cheaper. I leave my TX(futaba 9c) on one channel and just buy the same channel RX crystal for all my extra RX's. Would cost me well over a thousand just in recievers to change over. For someone just starting out though you might be better off with 2.4 unless you think you'll be getting alot more planes in short order. The increased cost of RX's wouldn't be as bad if done over a period of time. As others here have already said, it really depends alot on your local flying situation.

About the Hi-tech model with the synthesis module is that the Eclipse with Spectra Module? How easy is it to swap out crystals on the RX? Would it be possible to have a spare crystal or two of different frequencies to prevent conflict at an airstrip with the Hitech model?

If I am to work with someone in a buddy box situation, do I need to have the same manufacturer of radio? How about model?

Buddy boxes must be the same radio brand. As for different models, most are compatible but don't quote me on that. Usually, if the BB cord plugs match up, the radios are compatible.

The RX crystal simply plugs into the circuit board and is usually accessible through a slot in the RX case.

Dr.1

Except for those radios that have the frequency "modules" or "synth" modules.

In the former case the electronics of the module are pre-tuned for the specific frequency, and in many cases these cannot be changed ( though I have a BUNCH of "exceptions" ), although you can purchase other modules that service other frequencies.

Except for those radios that have the frequency "modules" or "synth" modules.

True. I should have made it clearer - "swap crystals".

Dr.1

Used, buy 72. New, buy 2.4. As far as trainer (buddy box) - you can mix and match. If you buy the local setup, it'll buddy with a 6EX 2.4 or a 7CA 2.4 just fine. Or you can get a buddy box real cheap - I'll send you one for the cost of postage.

No way I'd buy a new 72mhz system today. They cost 75% of the cost of a 2.4, and are obsolete. A new 6EX 72 is $180 at Tower, a new 6EX 2.4 is $230. The 7CA is $240/$320. Looks to me like 6-7 channel Futabas won't be produced on 72mhz much longer. IMO, a used 4 channel FM is worth about $50 complete. Check Ebay and see what they are selling for - and see what they sold for a few weeks ago. Used 72 stuff is in freefall.

BTW, make sure that's a Conquest FM. If it's a Conquest 4AM, it can't buddy box.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/market/item.cfm?itemId=354658

Get Servo City or Tower to match - see threads on this vendor.

If I was buying a new radio I'd go with 2.4ghz. To be honest I wouldn't buy a used or new 72mhz system. At my flying field we have a problem at times with 72mhz radios getting hit. I’ve also been to several flying events and have seen people get hit by people who either didn’t impound their radio or the impound made a mistake. In my opinion you would be better off going with the new technology and almost eliminating some of the weaker points 72mhz has.

Really it just comes down to “what’s your investment and time worth?” Is it worth the risk spending the price of the kit plus forty to several hundred hours building a plane to save roughly sixty dollars? If it is then by all means go the cheapest route you can. Speaking for myself I’d rather sit on the ground for an extra week or two until I could afford the 2.4 system. For years 72mhz systems were the best we had now we have a choice of a system that is much better. Who knows several years from now we might have a system that’s a huge improvement over 2.4.

me, im new into the hobby and my next purchase is most likely going to be a 6 channel 2.4 ghz radio system. ill probly keep my 4 channel 72mhz for now and use it on my trainer.

You'll find the 7 ch sets only cost a few more dollars and have a lot more features.

Thanks for all the input. Yes the futaba conquest is an FM one but I am now leaning towards a new radio instead and a glider to start off. I really need a computer radio if I am going to have a glider and who knows what else.

I am leaning towards the Hitech Eclipse with a spectra module for flexibility in channels. I would pay the extra for a 2.4ghz. if the receivers were not so expensive. I could get FM flight packs for $50-70 while just the 2.4Ghz receivers are $100. I forsee myself spending more time flying gliders on slopes or park flying where other transmitters are not an issue.

If FM stuff is in a freefall, then I should not have a problem picking up cheap receivers down the road.

My LHS sells Futaba 7ch 2.4 rxs for $79.99 a pop, which isn't a lot more than the FM ones were. Lots of the new park flyers are coming out on 72mhz, so flying in a park may soon be subject to interference.

If you really want to go 1st class, go to www.servocity.com and get a Futaba 9CASuper with a synth module for $329.99, then get a 2.4 module and receiver later. My LHS sells them for $195.

BTW, servocity sells the Eclipse with the Hitec synth module for $209.99 shipped......