Well after reading as many reviews as I could find on the Spektrum DX7 and the Futaba 7C 2.4 FASST. I chose the Spektrum, I sure hope that I don't regret it. It seems like more people go with Futaba, but they've been around forever, which is probably the reason. From what I gather, these two radios are like comparing apples to oranges and Ford to Dodge. I held both of them in my hands at the same time for around 10 mins. or so and just couldn't make up my mind. It finally came down to me simply choosing one. I didn't know what to do. I've read that the Spektrums have failed on some people resulting in a total loss of the plane, but it's more or less a computer. Can't that happen to any radio? This does scare me a little. I doubt either company would replace a plane and engine. Both Futaba and Spektrum have their pros and cons. I can still retun it if need be, I just don't know which way to go.

They are both good radios so no, you didn't make a mistake. Spectrums had a problem early on with rebooting if the voltage went too low on the reciever. That's a user error which should never happen anyway, but Spectrum updated their recievers to reboot much faster so an inadequate battery won't cause a crash. And yes, every component in these airplanes can fail and no, no manufacturer will replace your plane if they do. Do a range check and a loaded voltmeter battery check before flying, and you should have no problems.

Thank you sir.

Idasam: No you won't regret it. I've had mine 2 years now and not a glitch. I personally prefer the Ar7000 and ar 6200 Rx's since they have dual Rx's therefore personally believe that further benefits them. Also very much like modelmatch. Presently have 22 planes with them in them and amvery pleased and know you will be also. Best of luck and great flying.

You won't regret it!
Most of the guys at my field use Spectrum. They are cheaper and just as reliable as Futaba.
I have Futaba, and there is no doubt that next time I buy myself a new transmitter, it will be a Spectrum.

All good advice, just choose what you like and think is most comfortable to you. Some like programming the Futaba better and some like the way Spektrum works better. It really seems to be personal preference. Personally, I had both and liked both. I sold my Futaba and kept my Spektrum DX7 just because I don't need two radios laying around and the DX7 will do all I need and for some reason just felt better in my hands. That does not mean it is a better radio, just that I liked it better.

At our field I think most 2.4s are Spektrum and maybe one or two Airtronics and Futaba. A lot of our guys are still on the old frequency pin radios. They are slowly migrating because they see the guys with the 2.4s only bringing one radio and flying four or five planes all day.

When I bought my Spektrum I was very leary because of all the horror stories, but I had watched closely at my field and there were way more consistant crashes with the various radios on Frequencies than the 2.4s. After about a year now, I find the 2.4 to be totally awesome! I have one plane with an AR500 and not one glitch in the past year, however, I do prefer the AR7000 receiver which is in the rest of my planes.

Every problem I had that I thought was the Spektrum 2.4 I found out to be my fault because of not making sure my connectors were tight and other odds and ends. It never was the radio's fault, but I had not of checked carefully. I could have blamed it on the radio which would have been poor judgment on my part.

Enjoy yourself.

Both are fine radios....both have had, notice, I said had, their problems...Futaba was a heat issue...and Spectrum/JR had a couple of recalls.....
Me I am a Futaba guy......mostly because that was the first radio system I owned......If you dont know, Spectrum's charge jack is wired backwards of eveyone else's. Do not use a Futaba charger to try and charge your new system.....plus when you get more advanced Spectrum's expo settings is positive for a softer center while Futaba is negative.......
Spectrum has model match.while Futaba simply has modle memory.....
When I move to 2.4 I plan on going with the Futaba 10.........but like I siad both systems are fine

don't beat yourself up, you made a good choice, radios are a circle thing, meaning one will add a feature that the others don't have so that radio becomes the "favorite", then one of the others adds a feature and it becomes the "favorite" or one has problems so everybody goes with another brand until it has problems, you'll be fine

I use my DX-7 a lot. Fly indoors 3x week. Fly my seaplanes, gliders and sport planes. Never had a problem. You will like yours.

Thank you gentlemen for all of your input. Nice, helpful group of people here.

I use my DX7 for Heli's and airplanes, and it's been a great radio.

I have been using the DX7, Futaba Fasst, and Airtronics RDS8000 and they all work great. Radios have come a long way since I started in 1972, you don't know what horror is until you fly the old AM sets. You made a good decision, just be sure you use the AR7000 or AR6200 receivers. Also remember to rebind your radio after you adjust it to the plane. One guy forgot to do this on a new plane and when he came into the pit area turned off the transmitter the throttle was set in reverse so the failsafe was set on high throttle. The motor went to high and totally out of control.

Spektrum also had a mechanical problem with joysticks in 2008/2009. It's a good system and they seem to have worked the bugs out, and other brands use their technology and components.

Futaba's been in this game a long time and they know what will work in the field and give rugged service. Other, newer brands have possibly fresh and better ideas, but they have to work the bugs out.

I went Futaba rather than Spektrum when changing to 2.4 from 36 meg JR radios. That's just my choice.

The DX7 is just about my club's default radio. We fly a lot of park flyers & most of the time the standard P/F radios cannot use the buddy cord so we recommennd a more 'quality' radio, usually the DX7. No problems at all. - John.

I have an AR500; whats wrong with that?

Jetmech said it all. There are no bad choices when choosing a radio for RC if you select one from the major manufacturers, those being Futaba, Airtronics, Spektrum/JR, Hitec (did I forget one?). All do the same thing and do it very well. It then comes down to a personal choice.

I've flown with Futaba, Airtronics, Spektrum, and Polk. My preference is Airtronics and Spektrum, but again, that's a personal choice. My first was Airtronics because that's what my instructor used. Later, I saw the Spektrum and really wanted to try one out, so I bought the DX7. That was when they first came out. I've NEVER.. NEVER had a problem with that radio system. One main reason is because I am very diligent about the charge level of my battery packs and never let them go below a certain charge during my flying day.

I have since switched to 5 cell 6 volts (nominal) and thus have never had the voltage drop to below that re-boot threshold. I now own two Airtronics radios, have ordered a third (their RDS8000 2.4 GHz system) to play with, not that I need it, but because I want to fly with one. I also own, as I said, a DX7 and recently picked up a DX6i. I also own a four channel Futaba basic radio system for a trainer that I play with on occasion... always fun to get back to basics to find out all the neat stuff you forget about when moving up to more capable aircraft.. but that's beyond the scope of the subject here.

Bottom line, as most have already said earlier, no you did not make a mistake. The Spektrum is a fine radio system and will give you lots of fine flying time and performance.

CGr.

AR500 is just fine. It's a full range radio, but is 5 channel, which is it's only limitation. But with that, you can channel all four basic functions (Aileron, Throttle, Elevator, and Rudder) as well as one more auxiliary slot.

As a side note, I'd use a Voltwatch in that slot or Y cable one to one of the other slots. Consider Voltwatch in your plane.. it could save your plane some day.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHDJ2&P=ML

CGr.

You wont regret it. JR (Spektrum) has been around nearly as long as Futaba I believe, but I'm not positive so someone correct me if I'm wrong saying that. Either way, both have been around for eons...

Remember and ADHERE to these 3 things and you'll likely have 0 problems with your DX7:

1. ALWAYS use a 5 cell or A123 (or battery voltage greater than 5V when dead) on the RX. Numerous brown-outs are because spektrum RX's really do need the extra voltage. I personally lost a plane due to 4 cell (fully charged too, but with the amp draw on the servos, caused voltage to go too low and RX powered down). You can read around if you want more info on this.

2. ALWAYS point your antenna stright up when flying on these radios. Spektrum as well as others have tested the range to be greatest in this orientation, not to mention you're rarely (or shouldn't be) flying direclty over-head at the weakest signal.

3. ALWAYS rebind your RX's after you've done the trim flight. This will set the servo failsafes incase anything goes bad down the road!

Good luck!