does anybody use pcm or ppm anymore? or is it just fm and 2.4 ghz?

PPM and FM are the same thing. 2.4 is coming on strong; however, the old frequencies will likely be in use for quite some time. My guess is PCM (which is a part of the old 50 frequencies) will eventually go with the old 50 frequencies. If you have the 72 Mhz stuff, and your club seems to be able to control their use, I would not jump, just because the new stuff is available. For one, your old 72 Mhz is selling for peanuts on Ebay, and is worth more then it is selling for, because of the 2.4 ghz. This means there are fantastic deals on very usible equipment out there and it is a great time to get started in the sport. If I were a beginner, and didn't know if I was going to stay with the sport, there would be no reason to do anything other then buy 72 mhz equipment.

PCM and PPM are informational coding schemes. FM, frequency modulation is a way to put that into the air. AM, amplitude modulatin is another. PCM and PPM are just different ways of coding information into the FM or AM signal. They can be used across a wide variety of frequency bands. Common ones are 35, 40, 50 and 72 MHz.

So PCM and PPM are not directly related to FM or AM. I imagine you could use PPM on 2.4 GHz too if you wanted to, but I am not certain of that.

2.4 GHz is a frequency band, like 72 MHz, not a coding scheme. As we have seen, each of the 2.4 GHz providers are using their own special coding scheme. So you can't mix and match receivers with transmitters. PCM is the same way. You have to match brands.

Hope that helps.

What you need to know about receivers
http://forums.flyesl.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=258

i appreciate the info guys.

This is a great time to get a good 72 MHz transceiver and receiver cheap if you are on a budget. And the frequency control board is getting empty with so many guys upgrading to Spread Spectrum. Fewer and fewer times do I find another guy on my channel. Harmonic or off channel interference is much less or nonexistent now.

I have an 8 year old JR 8103 and it’s never let me down. I use only Hitec 555 or Hitec Electron 6 receivers (the best I think). Note: use only Hitec dual conversion crystals on these. Other more expensive (premium) Hitec and JR receivers I have had problems with.
FM dual conversion receivers are old school and they work great. I won’t use PCM because I can’t tolerate even a second of “lockout� on a plane going over 150 mph.
Also, PCM can hide a glitch, and I need to know if I have an impending problem when I see glitch so I can land and fix it.

I still use them both.

i'm starting to look for a new radio.i noticed that some of them are capable of using fm or pcm receivers. in a small flying club, i think that would be plenty good enough. but i was worried that in a couple of years everything would be spread spektrum and i would have to switch over to that. so none of ya'll have a problem with flying one of your best models on fm?

if your looking into a new radio, as I just was, a lot will depend on you choice of brands, as far as "new" radios go, JR is only making two FM radios, a 9 ch and a 10 ch i believe, Futaba has more choices in FM as far as number of channels, we have several members using fm/pcm without any problems

I'm flying off of three fields and the pin board is still there and used. All of us still on FM get there, pin up and then walk the line just like we always have. Other then that I haven't seen any difference between FM and 2.4, maybe a lot of mystery crashes with 2.4 but that seems to be happening a lot less these days as people get used to the new system and the set up. I'm still using a Futabe 9-C and in the future I may change it over to 2.4 but that could be a long while?? I still fly everything from 30% to 60 size with mine. No new problems, gas or glow. There are a lot less people using the pin board these days though.

I like the 72mhz for now, its all getting way cheaper,I can buy much less expensive RX's for them.

My channel seems to be always open. It just makes sense for ME to stick with the 72 and get while the gettins good

If I went to a lot of fly-ins or had a lot of members always at the field, I would look into a 2.4 but here in the sticks, on a good day we have 5-6 at the field normal is 2-3.

Guess I am trying to say evaluate your situation and go with what works best for yourself.

thanx for the response and good info.