Just curious as to general feelings about the long term change to 2.4. Will we be able to fly 72 for the foreseeable future? I heard that Joe Nall will require everyone to fly 2.4 starting next year. There appears to still be an abundance of folks flying on 72 and Iknow for a fact that not everyone can switch over due to cost.

While I can see major events switching to 2.4, I think 72 will still be useful on a club level for some time to come.

That said, I think anyone buying a new radio should seriously consider getting 2.4 for a variety of reasons.

Iagree Minn, if I were just starting out or advising someone, I`d encourage them to go 2.4 if they could afford it.

Joe Nall
Top Gun
Florida Jets

These are just a few events that I know for certain will be 2.4 only next year. From what I have seen at these events I would plan on seeing more events making this move in the future. I talked to Frank Tiano about it and he said he simply can't afford to pay an impound crew to babysit only a few radios on 72. It's easier for him to simply make his events 2.4 only

My crystal ball says that eventually we will probably lose the 72 Mhz band completely (please, I am not trying to start a discussion here about this issue. Simply stating my beliefs). When that happens those that didn't make the switch may find themselves having to buy a lot of receivers at once in order to keep flying. IMHO it's easier to start now and make the switch over a little bit at a time. For those just starting out, I recommend going 2.4 and don't even worry about the 72 mhz radios.

Ken

As Mike said, 72mhz will be an option at clubs fields for some time. In fact, with more flyers using 2.4gig equipment, there will be less congestion on the 72mhz channels. Over the next few years, I think, the choices of new 72mhz radios will continue to taper off and eventually, the only new units available will be 2.4gig (unless something else comes along to replace it).Even then, Iexpect that we will still have the option to use existing 72mhz radios if we have them.
JMHO

With the ease of use and benefits from 2.4, I don't see why everyone would not want to switch over. Two main benefits are no waiting on an open frequency and no long reciever antenna to route.

It's simple really. My dad, for example has 6 receivers on Ch 22. When he wanted a new Tx, he wanted one that would work with all of his receivers.

For me, it is a matter of money, I don't have enough and want to keep all that I can. I currently have 1 transmitter that works fine and 4 receivers that work with it, and most of those receivers I paid around $40 or less for. For me to replace with Airtronics (which would be similiar) it would be about $400.

Just a note. I have switched 2 years ago and now have many Spektrum RX. What I see for the near future is a reduction in costs for all major 2.4 systems. Why? Just look at what the Asian 2.4 systems are selling for. I don't intend to buy them since I don't quite trust them. However, competition is what generally dictates price. Of course I realize that Futaba etc. are Asian but those are not what I'm referring to

Yep, In a year or two we may well see prices on the "name" brand 2.4 TXs and RXs come down some. That would certainly help those of us with limited funds for anything but the absolute life`s essentials.

we may not get much of a choice, in just the last 6-8 months I've noticed JR has really dropped their line of 72"s, only ones their making now are a 9 and 10ch, and advertised as "heli",  futaba and airtronics still have 72's, but wonder for how long?</p>

Iwouldn't count on much longer. The demand for 72 mhz equipment has really fallen off lately, and Idon't see them providing for too much longer. It's all about money for these companies. If there is money in something then that is what they are going to do, or not do if there isn't enough money to justify selling it. Evidence can be found on Ebay in the amount of 72 mhz equipment that is available there. There are tons of it available. But this would go back to what Isaid earlier, if the FCCup and decides that we can't use 72 mhz any longer then there isn't much we are going to do about it.

Here is what my crystal ball tells me. With the recent conversion from analog to digital broadcast television signal our hold on the 72 mhz frequencies just got a lot weaker. Earlier this year the FCCauctioned off a chuck of the of old UHFTVfrequencies and they brought the largest amount ever paid for bandwidth to the FCC. The large Telecoms want these frequencies because they are perfect for long range wireless internet applications. And the newly freed up VHF channels are even better. With the switch to digital these frequencies are now free to be auctioned off. And the Telecoms are all lining up at the door drooling to start the bidding wars for these frequencies. So how does this affect us??well, our 72 mhz frequencies sit smack in the middle of those used by television. The FCCmay just decide to auction off our 72 mhz band as well. Our biggest argument against doing this has now been eliminated by the spread spectrum radios. They will just tell us that we have something else to use and we don't need to use 72 mhz any longer. And I've also heard the argument that the AMAwill stand up for us. Yes, Itruly believe that they are going to try and have a voice in this. But, when the players in the room are the likes of AT&amp;T, USCellular, Verizon, Sprint, Google, Microsoft, and Apple the AMAis going to be nothing more than a tiny little voice in the back of the room going "uh, excuse me!!". There is a lot of money involved in this playing field and 72 mhz radios may well be the loser. This is why Iencourage people to start switching over now when it can still be done a little bit at a time. We may very well wake up one morning and find you only have weeks or months to convert all of your radios over to 2.4 if you still want to fly.

Will this come to be??Maybe, maybe not. But this is my read of the situation from what I see in my job in the ITfield, and having a lot of experience of watching the government work. Ido hope that I'm wrong. But it never hurts to be prepared.

Ken

allot of us who have been in this hobby awhil, it would cost a whole lotta money to switch over right away. for me it be about a grand in recievers plus the radio. Some of my models I'm would not be looking forward to digging for the reciever. I find now that as more and more people switch to 2.4 I get to fly allot more and have fewer glitches in the air

Well, in this economy, if that happens I for one will have to leave the hobby. I`m out of work and can`t afford to spend hundreds of dollars on all new radio gear. Survival of the fittest I guess.

Ken; I'll agree with you 100%, you being in the IT field, probably hear rumbles of whats coming down the pipe on computer suff, think maybe JR has heard a few and jumped the curve? this way they don't get stuck with a bunch of useless 72's? I work for the government, I don't think many people realize just how much money does talk,

Do you plan on being out of work forever? Don't get me wrong, I am very empathetic of your situation, and am sorry the economy has you down. No one is saying the sky is falling and you ahve to do it all now. Just possiblities.
I for one started the changeover almost as soon as the spektrum 7 channels came out. I now have a grand total of (drum roll please) 4 planes on 2.4. I have 6 still to go. I am in no hurry, although days like last Saturday (our fun fly) make me wish they were all on. Of the four, one has a ruined battery (that I caught with my triton the week before), one is missing a muffler bolt, one I flew at the fun fly once, then found a stripped ailerons servo before going up the second time (Ialways do a "wiggle" test before every flight), and the fourth was too light and small for the wind conditions. I simply did not want to fool with impound, so after one flight (ten bucks for landing fees), I packed up and went home.

Hold it, I should add my T-rex 450, I guess it's the "fifth" aircraft...although I haven't flown it in a while. However, I was getting all kinds of glitches with my JR 7202, and they all went away after switching over to spektrum.

Hold your head up, and when your personal financial situation turns around, start thinking about switching over.

Well...I'm brand new to the hobby. In fact, I just bought my first bird last Friday, still to be 'maidened.' I wanted an RTF, for starters, and I wanted the Avistar, but the RTF version has been discontinued - most likely due to the 72 mHz 4-channel they bundled with it going into obsolescence. Most of the other RTF's are 72Mhz as well. I wanted semi-symmetrical, but I wanted to stay around a price point as well, as a newbie. Doing my research, I knew that 2.4GHz was going to be ascendant, so I'd better start right there. Spec'ing everything out as an ARF, engine, and all new 2.4 gear as separate purchases was going to cost me - and the only 'logical choice' (for me) was the Alpha 40, as it comes with the entry DX5e and AR300 receivers (I think), all 2.4. At $299 (list - less, actually), I'm at least  'in the door' and will grow into different airframes and gear as I go, FWIW...<div>
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The government will probably quietly give the 72 mHz frequencies away and tell us we can still use them but will really be worthless.  I don;t think the change is going to happen overnight, but as I replace radios, I am replacing with 2.4.  People at my club have really gotten sloppy and just flip on their 72 mHz radios, thinking they are on 2.4.  I take a plane on both bands and only fly on 72 if there are just a few people and I know them...

We have come pretty far in this hobby over the years.  I bought a Kraft Series 74 in 1974 for $400.  It was a 5 channel.  The transmitter and receiver were match tuned....no going to the hobby shop to add a new receiver.  It had to be matched to the transmitter.  Two servos rotated one direction, two the other.  Servos were $40 each.  If you crashed and the crystal broke, everything had to be sent back for servicing.....  Ten years earlier, in about 1964 a Bonner proportional radio was $400.  That was a lot of money in those days....you could buy a new VW for $1600.

The move from wide band to narrow band seemed like it took about 10 years and that is my guess on how long you will be able to limp along with 72...if you want to risk your airplane.  I read where no manufacturer is investing any money in 72 and I believe it.  With 72 mHz radios being sold for $10 at flea markets, the market is pretty dead.

bob

Ive had issues with 2.4 and never had any problems with 72mzh, i will stay with 72mzh while everyone else can jump to 2.4 means cheaper transmitters and recievers for me!

I understand the financial situation of some. I started making the switch as soon as Futaba introduced the fully dedicated 2.4 FASST 7c, which means it does not use a module add on. I now have 2 transmitters and 13 planes on the 2 transmitters. I actually threw all of my 72 equipment in the trash.

I too understand the financial part and in no way mean for everybody using 72 to dump their radios and go out and buy 2.4. i have both, one 2.4 (futaba) and two 72's, one jr and one futaba, already can't find a futaba rx but still plan on using them as long as possible. wondering if 20 years from now if we'll be discussing this same topic, only 2.4 vs laser signal or something

An interesting thing, I just bought a Futaba 10C with the 6014fs and a second free 2.4 receiver to go with the package. I've been using a 9Csuper and I have for or five RFmodules as well as a synthizied all channle modlue for 72mhz. All of my receiver investment over the last few years is not wasted, I can use it all with one TX, 72 and 2.4

Inoticed the Futaba ad in The last Tower catalog, and guess what. The new 10C's are no longer modular. You can get one on 2.4, or you can get one with a sytheized RF on 72. In addition to the the TX, they now have a 10Channel PCM synthized RX on 72. Sounds like Futaba is hedging their bets on the demise of 72mhz.

I think that one thing that will prolong the 72 mhz life, is that there seems to be a lack of compatability between 2.4 sets. I'm kind of new to the 2.4 crowd, so I may be wrong here, but I don't see the Hitec Receivers that will work with Futaba, JR, Spectrum, or orther manufactures like the ones they make for 72. Maybe later when this compatability is there, there will no longer be the reluctance to move to 2.4

Don

2.4 now but what's next? Who knows how long will it be until they come out with somthin else and we'll have to buy new stuff again.

when I switched to 2.4 I looked at answering these questions:

- at MY field, what are the chances of interference on 72 ?

- how many times I have been shot down OR have shot down someone by turning on the tx without having the pin...

i thought i'd loose at LEAST one plane in those circumstances and i went to 2.4

Hey,

Ijust made the switch a few months ago with a JR12X MV. It does both 72 and 2.4 so I can slowly make the transition at my pace as money allows. The only reason I got the 12X is because my Dad is in his late 70's rather see his money being used for something now,because when he's gone he won't be able too. Iwas originally going just to get the conversion for my JR 9303,but dad surprised me with the 12XMV and got himself a new JR9303 2.4 ..

If you notice the Spectrum conversions for JR have been cut dramatically I asked Horizon on their Facebook page why JR owners have to spend more then Futaba to make the conversion to 2.4? A couple days later they lowered the JR conversion prices. Apparently the Futabas were cheaper , since Futaba started makeing 2.4 systems Spectrum was getting stuck the Futaba conversions and just wanted to get rid of them..

So far Ihaven't had ANY problems with my 2.4 system,I'm mostly making sure I keep the RX voltage way up over the 3.2 volts..


Frank