RCU Forums - Radio Help?

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Hey everybody. I'm in the process of trying to figure out which radio to buy for my trainer. I understand that I need to match my radio to my instructor, but the club that I will be flying at has instructors that use both Futaba and JR. Assuming that I can choose which instructor I get to teach me, which radio should I buy, between the Futaba 6 EXAS, JR 631, and the JR 6102. They all seem to be in my price range. I want a radio that will be easy to program and one that will grow with me as my experience in this hobby grows. Mt trainer is a SIG LT-40, as for a second plane (I know a little premature) I sure do like the Venture 60. From there I would like to go into warbirds and maybe dabble a bit in acrobatics. Which radio will best fit my needs? Also, one other question, does my radio and my instructor's have to be on the same frequency? I don't quite understand the trainer cord system.

But the most amount of radio you can.

JR or Futaba either is good.

Its a Ford Chevy debate.

I find most Ford drivers do JR and most chevy drivers do Futaba.

Drive a few hours to the Houston area and you can see my Futaba sticker on my Chevy truck.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: YNOT

I find most Ford drivers do JR and most chevy drivers do Futaba.

Interesting comment, since there are two things I'll NEVER have: a Found On Road Dead, or a JR radio. I just flat don't like either of them. The one exception is the 60s-70s muscle cars Ford made. The Shelby Mustang and Torino Cobra Jet.

Dr.1

Real men drive Bow Ties and fly Futs!

If you can pick the instructor, then find out what radio he has and then get one to match. The radio game is a Ford vers Chevy vers Dodge war. I do not like Futaba, this is my opinion. Futaba is not a bad radio I just don't like them. I fly Airtronics, I just have to be different, I also drive Dodge :) . For radios, pick them, hold them, see if one feels beeter in your hands then the other. Go by the club and see what features the other guys are using. I would say to get atleast a 6 channel with some good mixing. Some will tell you to get a 9 or 10 channel radio right from the start, and from my point of view that is like getting a pattern plane as a trainer. There is just to much programing you can do with the 9 or 10 channel radios. In the begining, remember "K.I.S.S" Keep It Simple Student.

Just my two coppers worth.

Dru.

I have the Futaba Skysport, very good radio and good value for money.
(just my opinion).

NO your transmitter (radio) does not have to be on the same channel. If you get a Futaba the student radio isn't even turned on. I don't know about the latest JR's but in the past they had to both be on, seemed stupid to me but then I don't like ford's either.
Also you don't need the antenna up on the student radio. As said before, find out what your instructor uses and go with that system or find a different instructor with the radio YOU like. ENJOY !!! RED

listen if u wont a good trainer and expert controler ,get a futarba 6exa there briliant there digital and there is a newer version of it out now

Quote:

ORIGINAL: colibri-flyer

I have the Futaba Skysport, very good radio and good value for money.
(just my opinion).

Don't know if you've got the 4 or 6 channel version, but you're right, there's nothing wrong with a basic radio, and for beginners, as has been mentioned, the K.I.S.S. principle has value. I've commented on the 4 versus 6,7, or 9 channel radio for beginners topic many times. Rather than rewriting it, here's my most recent post: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=3209898

Quote:

ORIGINAL: BVFlyer

Hey everybody. I'm in the process of trying to figure out which radio to buy for my trainer. I understand that I need to match my radio to my instructor, but the club that I will be flying at has instructors that use both Futaba and JR. Assuming that I can choose which instructor I get to teach me, which radio should I buy, between the Futaba 6 EXAS, JR 631, and the JR 6102. They all seem to be in my price range. I want a radio that will be easy to program and one that will grow with me as my experience in this hobby grows. Mt trainer is a SIG LT-40, as for a second plane (I know a little premature) I sure do like the Venture 60. From there I would like to go into warbirds and maybe dabble a bit in acrobatics. Which radio will best fit my needs? Also, one other question, does my radio and my instructor's have to be on the same frequency? I don't quite understand the trainer cord system.

Another radio you might want to consider is the Hitec Optic 6. It is in the $200 range. You can check out the features at http://www.hitecrcd.com and there is a chart that compares its features to a few others. You might even be able to download the manual, I didn't look.

In the end, going to a hobby shop or two and holding a bunch of different units is probably the best way to make a final decision.

I also agree that to a large extent they are all very similar and each has it's own advantages. I also agree that you should go to the field and just grab hold of a few and see which feels good in your hands and if you like where the various switches/controls are. Ask each owner what they like and don't like in their set, ignore comments about other brands due to possible bias. I prefer Futaba but that doesn't make them best for you.

Most important, have fun with this great hobby. :)