Wasnt sure if Ishould post this here but Ithought it might help out our newest flyers(like me)the most.
Is there a place here on RCU that we can post to trade for what receiver crystals we have and ones we are looking for without going into the market forum?
Irealize people are haeded towards 2.4 but to me 72 still has a lot of appeal.
Being able to pick up a good used 72 radio from my fellow club members who have switched to 2.4 saves me a lot of money and is probably quite often happening in clubs around the world.
Ihave some I would love to trade but my listings in the marketplace have gone nowhere.

Radical RC runs a crystal exchange program. Check it out at:

[link=http://www.radicalrc.com/rrcxtalexchange.html]Radical RC Crystal Exchange[/link]

That is a step in the right direction but still cost $5 per crystal.

Postage or shiping is going to cost you any way[:@]

Boy, this subject tore another website apart a while back. Unknown used crystals vs new ones.

Iwas thinking more along the lines of people with used 72 crystals that have switched to 2.4 trading with people for crystals they could use in their older cheaper radios. Usually newbies trying to get started on a budget.

I figure crystals don't cost enough to take a risk on. It takes one hard crash to possibly crack one, creating an intermittent radio glitch. To save $5, it's just not worth it. I hate to throw stuff away too but when I flew 72mhz I looked at crystals as a consummable much like batteries.

Futaba crystals are now $13 plus shipping from Tower.

Your LHS may have them cheaper...I think mine was around 9 bucks.....
even at 13 bucks a pop thats pretty cheap insurance to ensure that you're getting a new not cracked chrystal.......

Not to mention, replacing the crystal, changing the frequency of the transmitter, shouldn't be done due to radio tuning problems that can occur. I believe it is still prohibited by the FCC. If you change the frequency, the transmitter should be tuned by a competent radio shop to operate on that frequency.

My not so local hobby shop in Iowa City doesnt carry any crystals. And the one in North Liberty that did carry some crystals went belly up on us.
Nobody is suggesting changing the frequency of any transmitters.

When I mentioned saving $5 I was working off the above comment that it cost $5 to trade and the last crystal I bought was $11. I am personally so glad to not have to mess with crystals anymore. My airtronics recievers are $50 each and I'll eventually be able to buy them used for less than that. It's tough to justify 72mhz at those prices.