I have an older (mid to late 90's) Futaba 6ch skysport 72mhz radio with the round trainer cord connection. (I will have to Post Actual model # later when I can look). my question is, can I buy the trainer cord from Tower and hook up to any other Futaba 72mhz radio as a buddy box, or do I have to buy an actual buddy box kit.

here is the link to the cord I found
[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBEK8&P=M]Trainer Cord[/link]

Yes, that will hook up to any Futaba Transmitter that has the square plug

It should work if the plug ends are the same as the cord. I think older Futabas have a different style plug.

The older has the round pins the newer (if thats a word) has the micro. They actually sell round to round and the round to micro. So the older tx's will still work with the Newer tx's.

I have the airtronics rds8000 2.4. What do I need for a buddy box.

The RDS8000 will buddy box with a wide variety of other Airtronics transmitters. You can buy a VG400 buddy box with chord from Hobby People at a very reasonable $29.99:

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/479300.asp

I bought a second RDS8000 to use as a buddy box and "backup transmitter" and to get an additional two receivers. If you buy another full radio system, you just need the Airtronics buddy chord:

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/477100.asp

At $15.00, it's an inexpensive add-on.

Next question on the Buddy Box topic. I checked last night, and I have a Futaba Skysport 6A transmitter. I have been thinking seriosly about upgrading to a futaba 2.4ghz system. Would my old futaba 72mhz system work as a buddy box with the new 2.4ghz radio system???

See top of page 19.

http://manuals.hobbico.com/fut/6yf-manual.pdf

I don't think so. It would need to be a computer radio I think. Download and read the manual for the radio you are interested in. It will list the types of radios that will work as a buddy box.

You should look into the Wireless Buddy Box - it solves all buddy box issues between any TX's of any brand name!

This device allows any two TX's of any brand/technology to be used together as a buddy box. There is no cable connecting the 2 pilots on the ground, you can switch up to 6 channels to the trainee and have full programming capability on both master and slave TX's.


Read up about it at:

www.2icrc.com

It is also very simple to wire...really, no biggie there. As you continue to move deaper into the hobby this device will continue to serve your learning curve needs as you flight train for bigger and better/faster aircraft.

I have read the manual for the 7C 2.4 and the you can use any futabaradiowith b.box connector as a buddy box.
even the mixes on the CPU radio willwork if it is the master TX. I have used the 6EX 2.4 as a slave to the
skysport 4 with no problems also.
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I have a futaba 6ex 2.4, i use it as the master and an older futaba 72mhz, 4ch conquest as the slave and I also use an older futaba 72 mhz, 7ch as a slave without any problems, I know the manual says different, but hey it works and why would futaba make such a trainer cord?</p>