Hey everyone just picked up a DX7 for 173 dollars shipped...

I can't wait to get the transmitter! it looks and sounds like an awesome TX from what I've read. Got a few questions about 2.4... what receivers do I need to pick up for my large scale planes (.60 P51, and other .60 size planes) and which do I need for my park flyers? also do I need a certain capacity Receiver battery? any tips on installing the radio and set up?

Thanks everyone can't wait to fly 2.4 and pick up some BNF planes!

its a solid TX... no complaints from my side... just to program you will have to scroll through step by step the manual unless you have someone with the same TX and could show you... I haven't touched my manual since I got mine in FEB this year... my friend did that for me and showed me... just from checking how he does things you can learn how to within a day... no issues... as a safety measure I always use full range receivers as I have lost park flyers using the short range receivers... AR6200, 7000, 7600 I use with the SE version...
receiver batteries will depend on the servos... but 6V 2200mah nimh is plenty... I do 10hours of flight time and there is still left... but then I charge them for good measure...

Thanks for the response Switch,

Yea the guy I'm buying it from said it is a very easy TX to set up and use especially for such modern technology.

I'm gonna go ahead and purchase some receivers for my planes... hate how expensive they are haha but I guess they're as much as a new FM receiver too... and I LOVE the whole not worrying about finding "low band and high band" receivers and getting crystals. seems like just a much more clean set up.

And about the system batteries.. I already have a 6 volt on my P51 because it uses retracts so I wanted the extra security. How about for my Avistar (VERY fun plane to fly) which uses a simple 4 servo set up.. would I need a 6 volt on a plane like this for a 2.4 receiver?? again this is my first 2.4 experience so I don't know much about the technology

For .60 size planes, I'd get the AR500, AR6200, or AR7000, depending on how many channels you need (5, 6, and 7 respectively).

I put a 3S LiPo battery in my DX7, so now it stays charged and ready to go, and recharges are very infrequent.

How do you handle the extra power from the Lipo. I know fully charged it gets well over 12v. Don't want to burn something out of my DX-7

So the AR 500 is a respectable reliable FULL RANGE receiver?

If it is then thats awesome! I was thinking that the AR 6200 was the lowest full range receiver, which was kind of a let down since it's like 75 dollars but that's awesome that there's an AR 500... as all of my planes are 5 channels or less... is it light enough for a park flyer also? I'll probably go ahead and pick up a bunch of these 500's if they will work with all my planes

Thanks everyone!

Just ordered two of them... Reading great things about them

Not sure where you read that at, but I've seen alot of them fail,and when sent in no reson why, just replaced with same ar500, before you order or buy any more do some research, because there are several of them on recall. Here's something you might be interested in http://www.rcmodelreviews.com/ar500problem2.shtml

ohnoucdat: I've been reading through a 20 page forum on this receiver and have heard nothing but good... yeah of course there's going to be a few bad in the bunch which there is with EVERYTHING in this hobby. I'll take my chances what I'm seeing it's a very good receiver

THis isn't a few bad ones, horizon finally admitted the 6250 was bad, and is trying to replace them, the ar500 probably be next. I'm not sure if it was a lot run or if all of them have problems. I don't know if it's a range isssue or if they are losing bind. Fly em ,and tell us how they work, from what I've seen of them I'd be scared to use them in a park flyer even

I am reading some bad things about them now... but spektrum is saying the problem is now fixed as it was in an "early batch" idk... trying to cancel my order if not then i guess i'll test it out in one of my parkflyers

Just becareful, read the link I sent, there seems to be a way to test them to see if they have problems. Bad that horizon doesn't let ppl, know. Scary even

Yeah i could imagine doing some 3D and having the plane anywhere near the pits and it just going out on me.... would be ugly and potential lawsuits not to mention injuries or even death... I'll read over your link and see... I may be able to cancel the order and go with another spektrum receiver.. what do yall recommend if i can get it cancelled? thanks guys

Well guys I just told the guy to not worry about cancelling my order... I'm going to test it in my 3D Foamy that's already beat up and I'm planning on buying a new foamy to put all the components into anyways.. soo I'll get a video of the maiden with the new receiver in it! maybe we'll all be happy about it and maybe we'll see a foam explosion!? who knows!

I have two of them and have used them with absolutely no problems. Do what you wish, but many claims of problems turn out to be caused by other issues, such as depleted battery packs, or receivers that have been in crashes. Be careful, but don't let all that information overload you and prevent you from enjoying your plane.

If you are really concerned, use a different receiver. I have and use most of Spektrum receivers and, after several years of use, i've not had any of the problems that some reported having had.

CGr.

Thanks CGRetired I've dealt with you before and you always give me great advice! I told the company to not worry about cancelling the order and I'm gonna test it out on my foamy... I think if I'm careful and do proper set up I won't have any problems

The biggest thing to remember is to use 6.0v rx batteries. I had a brown out using a 4.8v batt. and crashed while trying to train someone. Not good.

Alright.. yeah I already have a 6 volt in the P51, Hopefully no problems! I'm going to do THOROUGH tests before taking the P51 up, I'll have a bunch of the big time guys at my field help me out too

That's great advice. I use 6 volt packs pretty much exclusively. Not that I don't trust 4.8 volt packs, but I really like the performance with the 6 volt packs.

I started out using my DX7 and the AR7000 receiver that it came with using 4.8 volt packs. And that was when the DX7 were first available for purchase. I never saw the problems that some folks said they had. Not that the problem of brown-outs did not occur, but I never saw them. That may be because I use voltwatch and kept an eye on my receiver pack to make sure that I had sufficient battery to continue flying.

Many, if not all, of the problems associated with these receivers were with pilots that pushed "the envelope" of their reciever pack.. wanted to get one more flight in.. I was, and still am, very conservative with my battery packs and if they show an indication that they are getting low, I stop flying, and either replace the battery pack or re-charge it.

So, it comes down to this: For these new digital receivers, no matter what battery pack you use, check your battery frequently. If you use Voltwatch 2, it's easy. If not, then leave a "pig-tail" from your battery hanging out so you can attached an Expanded Voltmeter and check the battery before and after each flight.

This is a simple thing and only takes a minute or so. Voltwatch (yeah.. watch for the incoming barrage from the few that don't like or understand Voltwatch) helps and gives you a quick visual indication of the condition of your battery pack.

Best to you... and enjoy flying RC!!!

CGr.

CGRetired.. yeah I have 2 voltwatch 2's one stays in the P51 and one is a "Mobile" voltwatch... I usually only fly about 3 flights on each plane for each flying day... so I NEVER even come close to depleting a receiver battery pack.

Can't wait to get some BNF planes I really want the ultra micro 4 site! Can just imagine flying 3d in my driveway at night!

Yeah, there's a lot of "Boy who cried wolf" stuff going on in here, it's the easiest place to do it with nobody really questioning it, lots of guys repeating any old thing they've heard. That link given up above, that guy gets mad at the companies for not giving him the goods to test, but they don't because he's kind of a loose cannon, they probably don't want him to test their stuff on a day when his girlfriend leaves him or something like that. So, be very careful what you believe when he says it.

Futaba has its own issues, so just remember that in high school the chevy guys hated the fords and vice versa. All in all, these are GREAT radios no matter what brand these days. If you hve any questions just call the Distributors and they'll tell you whether there are any service bulletins on the Futabas. And the same for the JRs and the Spektrums.

When you've been at the field and you get to know some of the guys who blame anything but themselves for crashes (every time), those guys will tell their story to anybody who will listen, and if they don't think enough people listened to them at the field, guess where they'll try to peddle their story next? Right here! So, remember to use your common sense. For instance, one guy INSISTED that my plane would balance with the servos sitting in the trays with a heavy motor, and he wouldn't quit saying it. I didn't really believe it, but I said okay and installed them in the trays, then had to add a bunch of lead to the tail because of that IDIOT. And because of the other idiot who listened to him when he was sure the guy was wrong. Take a lot of what is said here with a grain of salt, when something sounds wrong to you, that's probably because you're smarter than the guy and to be honest, he might not even HAVE a plane at all. Use your head, trust your instincts. Anybody can write anything at all in here.

Pffft, look, they let ME write in here, don't they? Point proven!

Well that's just about two cents worth, so my time is up here. I hope it helps some!

~ Jim ~

no need to worry... I was also skeptical at first, but a whole bunch of threads ive read people use it so I started also... got me this Lipo... its been 3months since I have last charged it... and I fly every weekend 5hours... so thats 60hours with no charging... the battery level is now only at 11.1V... I am charging it round 10.8 cause I want... I know mah has the whole say in the matter, but it doesn't seem to be draining the battery fast at all from the regulator side of the TX... your regulator gets hot anyway, now it just needs to dissipate more heat... have had no issues and oaks using them in threads neither... some of them have been using them for years... here is my lipo I use... oh and it fits in perfectly...
[link=http://www.wifly.co.za/Default.aspx?tabid=37&CategoryID=27&Category2ID=28 &List=1&Level=2&ProductID=1923]TX Lipo for DX7[/link]

I've had a DX7 for 2 years, very happy with it. I recommend getting a carrying case, I broke my antenna and tried to replace it but broke the circuit board the antenna plugs into. Half of that was me being a bit ham fisted but half of it was poor design. I believe the antenna should be a user replaceable item without much risk.

I'd recommend using the sanyo eneloop receiver batteries. Before I used the eneloops I would get 3 or 4 flights from the battery before it need recharge, with the eneloop I can get 10+ flights. Also consider getting a battery checker that applies a load to the battery, not just a voltage checker.

The DX7 manual leaves a bit to be desired, but you can find plenty of help on the web when trying to deal with more complicated set ups like flaperon mixing, etc.

Me and 3 other bought a DX7 at approximately the same time.  I was new to it all (the 2.4 gig). Had my LHS help me with the set up.  Crashed.  The plane lost bind right after take off.  Set everything up in different plane different servos, reciever, and batteries.  Let one of my buddies check the bind and set up (he works at the LHS been flying forever he flies futaba FASST) took off, started into pattern, plane uncontrollably rolled over and nosedived.  Again lost bind.  This all happened to a total of 4 planes.  Sent all epuipment to horizon with pictures of everytihng set up in the plane before it crashed, they said set up was perfect and nothing was wrong. These were multiple different set ups that were range tested as per the manual.  I've been flying for awhile so lets just say it wasn't my flying skills.  Out of the 3 of  us who bought one, 2 of them got returned........for pretty much the same reason I returned mine....bad binding.  Been flying FASST for 8 months, zero, ziltch, nothing, nada, when it comes to problems not even a glitch.  Rock solid. Maybe the two systems were bad systems, I don't know.  But after the loss of $2000 in planes and equipment, I will never fly with anything that has to do with spektrum/ DSM, DSM2 technology. 

we are a small bunch of guys flying together... about 6, all use DSM2 (some JR, some DX7) ... we fly multiple planes in air simultaneously... and like you described... no glitches, zero, ziltch, nothing, nada... never have I had binding issues either...

chevypower1930 , if you do what you said and test em out, I think you'll be fine. Good that you have a few jr set up guys that can help you also. GL