From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

I've been flying Hitec now for 4+ years and just purchased my second Eclipse 7, but thinking I may have jumped the gun. I believe Hitec and Futaba are both negative shift which means I could use all fly Hitec electronic equipment with the Futaba radio, right???

Has anyone used both radios? I like the 10 model memory of the Futaba and the ability to set up flaps with using switch vs. a knob. What's a good online source for the Futaba 7CA? Just considering the tx.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

I would start by reading the Futaba manual:

http://www.futaba-rc.com/manuals/manual-7c.html


and go from there. ;) I've been flying Futaba for 30+ years and like them just fine. Like all brands, you will always see something the other guy has that you like. You just have to optimize your decision.....

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

I've called Hitec Tech support twice now and received two totally different answers to my same exact question. :eek::eek:

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Have you posted the question here somewhere? [sm=confused.gif]


Sorry, thought you were talking about an additional question.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Yes you can use the Hitec equipment with a futaba transmitter. I have hitec receivers in just about everything. Work great last long time.


Andy

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Yes, I sent Mike Mayberry a PM. He just responded with a third answer. No worries though, I think I got it.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Negative shift Hitec PPM RXs will work with the Futaba TX (Hitec makes positive shift RXs to work with JR/Airtronics TXs as well), but the Hitec PCM RXs will not work with the Futaba TX... Futaba and Hitec have their own versions of PCM...

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

You shoulda did what I did....Instead of the Futaba 7C, get the 9C. Reason being is that the radio uses Campaqs (memory device).
The # of aircraft that you can save setups on is unlimited. I use two of the campaqs so far and have 20 models in memory.
Sold my Eclipse on ebay last year and got out $20 more than it was when purchased new.

Dave...

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Cruz, you need to sell (give) that Eclipse to me.

How are you buddy.
Thanks for the pics.

Bill

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

i love my eclipse and wouldn't change it for anything less than the 14MZ!!! but it really depends on what you fly. i love the spectra module and feel that it is the best thing since sliced bread. i use it with my polks hobby synthesized rx and am NEVER grounded. only problem is that i have a bunch of frequency tags. the eclipse has some shortcomings like it's difficult to use dual elevator servos and there isn't a graphical display of trims and expo but other than that... i love it. and the service has been excellent from them as well.

as for the question, you can use all the PPM equipment you have with the Futaba in PPM mode. No problem... but why?

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

What I'm after is this. I'm currently building a WM P51D and what I would like to do is assign the flaps to a 3 position switch as:

1 position no flaps or neutral
2 position 15% down or so
3 position 40% down or so

From what I understand the Eclipse 7 will not support that. Please don't get me wrong, I just purchased my second E7, due to running out of model memory room on my present one. I like it a lot, but thinking about returning it or selling it to my good pal "Red Wing". Also, a friend of mine has the Futaba 7CA and I like where the retract switch is located on the tx vs. where it is on the Eclipse. What I need to do is begin flying with a neck strap as that'll free up a hand.

What do you all think? Should I keep my second Eclipse 7 or trade it for a Futaba 7CA which I think can support flaps on a 3 position switch and has 10 model memory vs. the 7 of the Eclipse.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

cruz... no problem... i would also go up if i had the requirements. i almost purchased the 9C when i wanted two elevator servos but luckily i solved the problem with a bell crank instead. don't really like the way the 9C looks.

i'm dying for hitec to make a 9 channel radio with assignable switches like their optic 6... don't know how long i have to wait though!!! i spoke with hitec and got the "we're working on it". anyway, i'm sticking with my eclipse even though it only does have 6 model memories, which are all used up. i use a futaba 6exa for lesser planes, hehehe.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Yeah, I'm out of memory on my current Eclipse. I like the radio a whole bunch just wish I could assign the switches a bit more and I think I can get that with the Futaba 7CA. Plus it's 30.00 cheaper than the Eclipse and has 10 model memory vs. the Eclipse's 7.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

ooo cruz... you are wandering close to dark side. is that right, though... 7CA is that cheap?

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Yes Sir, 149.99 at servocity

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

GET OUT!!!! that's a steal!!! they must be losing money on each of those units! is that TX only? module included?

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Servocity add:


http://www.servocity.com/html/7ca_transmitter.html

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

The 7C doesn't use modules, unfortunately. It will come with a crystal and be tuned to that freq... if you decide you want to change the 7C's freq, you've got to send it into Futaba to have it retuned. the Hitec Optic 6 and the Futaba 9C both use modules... I'd stick with one of those, personally...

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

i agree if it's that troublesome. that means that cruz, you will have to get the exact frequency you need and only one. is that going to work for you?

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Sure, it'll work, been flying for 4+ years now and that issue has never come up.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Cruz, when you fly out in the middle of nowhere....:D:D:D

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

I'm just really undecided. I like my current Eclipse 7, but have just run out of memory as I have more than 7 flyable planes right now. I figured I'd best buy another, but something about the Futaba I like. I really want to control the flaps on my P51 with a switch rather than a knob. Plus, I want to have my cake and eat it to by having the flaps assigned to a 3 position switch.

Positions:

1. 0% or neutral flaps
2. 15% flaps down
3. 40% flaps down

or something like that, I'm sure I'll end up playing with the percentages. I just can't seem to get a straight answer form Hitec. I've asked 3 different service technicians now and received 3 different answers causing me to get really confused. I've read and read the manual, but just can't seem to make sense of it. Someone please send help.

Please note on the WM P51 the flaps are serviced by a single servo, not dual servos.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Hey "Red Wing", good to see you chime in.

Yeah, I fly with only a small group of guys and frequency issues have seldom come up. :D

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

yeah... i just looked at the manual and it looks as though you can't get exactly that function with the Eclipse. i don't know why you would have to have those exact flap degrees but i guess that is just your preference. i am a futaba user as well but find that i like the eclipse just a little bit more. if only the optic came with 8 channels i'd upgrade in a heartbeat.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Nah, the flap degrees I mentioned are just ball park figures. I'm sure I'll have to do a lot of adjustments before I get them the way I want them. I just posted those figures so people would get the idea of what I am considering and after with a setup. You currently fly Futaba and like the Hitec Eclipse and I currently fly the Eclipse and like the Futaba. Maybe we should go into business together. :D

Oh, forgot to ask, what cub is that in your avatar? I have the Great Planes Cub, like it a lot just wish it had better landing gear.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

i fly all my gas planes on the eclipse because i like it better than the futaba. the futaba i use on my electrics and one trainer that i let my friends fly buddy boxed. i like the look and feel of the eclipse much better and don't care too much for all the extra features touted by futaba and jr these days. and of course the spectra module makes life so much easier.

that cub is a World Models Cub 26. one of the smaller ARF cubs out there. i could fit that in my Supra without taking it apart and flew it for almost 2 years before i sold it when i moved. i loved that cub and will buy another once i get my vintage kraft single stick radio working. it had an o.s.30 fourstroke that purred. loved the scale flying with that plane. people with thier overpowered ARFs that tend to break apart in the sky thought i was crazy for flying such a modestly powered plane. i loved it. this is the last picture i have. soon after this picture the guy who bought it from me sank it to the bottom of the hong kong harbour. he claimed that the engine was just not powerful enough to bring the plane back on a windy day. *sigh* never should have sold it to someone that didn't really know how to fly.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Nice looking cub, thanks for sharing. I still haven't figured out what I should do. I emailed Futaba customer support and they stated the 7CA would supoort a single servo flaps setup with a 3 position switch. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. :(

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Cruz-

If you go to the manual I referenced in post #2 of this thread and then go to pages 34-36, you will get an idea of what would be req'd to set up the flap scenario you desire. After that it is your choice. [sm=bananahead.gif]

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Bruce, thanks. I just read the mentioned pages and it still isn't clear to me. I think they give instruction on flaperons coupled with the elevator, not solely flaps. On my Eclipse, with ailerons using a 'y' harness on channel 1 and the single servos flaps on channel 6 they both move together when activated by the switch. What I want is to control the flaps separate from the ailerons with a 3 position switch.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Do you have SEPARATE flaps or are you wanting to use the ailerons as flaperons?

Do you fly mode 1 or 2? I'm expecting mode 2.

Ask Futaba if their T7CAP TX in mode 2 has a 3 position switch and if so which one is it?

If it does not, can/will they modify one for this? I read in manual that "Switch G" (top left) in the mode 1 version is 3 position and also in Helo version.
Let me know their answer. Also go back to post #2 and read manual addendum for additional info. Remember these are examples, you would need to substitute YOUR needs into examples

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Seperate flaps.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

read my edit of previous

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Okay, I fly mode 2. I'll ask futaba and let you know, thanks. I read the addendum and from what I understand the knob with control them along with an assigned switch, but it's not clear if it's a 3 position switch.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Without a tx in front of me it is hard to tell.
pages 23 & 24 seem to be implying you can move the function from the knob to sw G or E. Page 36 seem to give another EXAMPLE of setting percentages. Again, you would need to substitute FLAPS into the issue. Would be nice if someone that had one of these would chime in about now!!

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

hello I have just recently got the 7c radio and hadn't had the chance to go ont and fly with it yet. I set up a quad flap airplane on it even though it is slightly limited. I can play around with my radio a bit and see if I can come up with a way to do what you describe. it might be a little more difficuly if your using two seperate channels for the flaps , but I'm not sure till I mess with it if this can be done or not. and if It can and your using two seperate channels that might burn up all three of your P mixes. tell me how you have your flaps setup using one or two channels and I will see if I can come up with something for you.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

oh and I forgot to menchen that I was reading some of these post and like the eclipse 7 this radio is not capable of dual elevater servos unles you use a mixer or a y harness becase the trim lever would not move both servos. Just something to be aware of or it could crash your plane.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

I'm not using two separate channels for flaps. Ailerons are linked together with a 'Y' harness and connected into channel one. The flaps share a servo and are connected into channel 6.

The plane is a P51. I want ailerons to work as normal ailerons and flaps to work as normal flaps. Nothing linked as flaperons. Using a 3 position switch, position 1 would work as neutral or 0 flaps, position 2 only a small amount or percentage of down flaps and the 3rd position just a bit more down deflection of the flaps.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

ok I understand how you have it set up . I am going to the store right now but when I get back I will get my radio out and see if I can set this up on the three position switch for you and let you know what i get. and by the way the $149.99 price is for the tx alone. the full system sells for $249.99

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

Okay, thanks, that would be great. I would surely appreciate it a ton. Yeah, all I need is the tx.

RE: From Hitec Eclipse 7 to a Futaba 7CA
 

ok here is the story. I seen in a post that someone had mentioned page 34 -36 in the manual I looked and this tell you about the triple rates and expo to go along with it setup on the three way switch. your Ailerons will not need Flaperons nor will they be affected because they are both operation on channel 1. Now you can go in the Parameters setting and make channel 5 operate by the three way switch , but this will not operate properly because the middle position gives you nuteral flaps, the up positon gives you spoilers and the down gives you flaps. you can adjust the up and down rate but you can't reversoe it. So what you need to do is set up two p mixes. you have to go to the Perameters settings and null out channel five so no control or switch operates the channel. then what you have to do is setup the plane with the flaps neutral with the three position Up or down depending on your pereferance. what I did was made a programable mix and set it to turn on with the switch in the middle position and set the rate for the flaps to be half ( adjust rates to how much flap deployment you want ). Then I used a second programable mix to turn on in the up position on the three way switch and set the rates to full ( again set the deployment as needed) So your answer Yes It is easy to do with the single servo setup. now if you had the flaps on two channels you would run out of P mixes before you could have both flaps work in both the deployed switch postions as you only have three mixes and would need four. The radio is nice because you can asign any switch to do whatever you want. but I find one thing that I don't care fur. You cannont reasign the airbrake function which is default to the 3 position switch in the up position. I don't need airbrakes most of the time I guess I can sacrifice the airbrake for triple rates. I hope this helps.