Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

Ok, so i bought my first plane - used glow trainer, came with a 72mhz Futuba....no manual.

My questions past that first statement, may seem really dumb, so please bare with me :)

Right now the servos respond to all commands just fine, so my question really pertains to when i expand my fleet. With that one radio, is there an easy way to run multiple planes w/o having to switch the rx from plane to plane? If so, do receivers come with pre-specified channels, or is the TX channel specific? The "cystals" I hear about, do both RX and TX have them? Once you have the correct RX/TX, is there any "synching" up that needs to be done? How do i know which RX will work with my TX?

So I guess what I'm really looking for is complete information on the 72mhz systems...I did read the writeup on the website the mods designed, but I was looking for a little more.

Or, if anyone has the time, I would love a quick writeup explaining the whole setup.

Thanks!!

-Craig

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

You didn't mention they make/model TX you have, but in general, transmitters are channel specific. Some can switch channels but not most.

Both the Tx and Rx have a crystal, but you can not legally change the crystal in the Tx.

So if your Tx is on, let's say, Channel 46, you would buy a receiver and a channel 46 crystal for it.

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

HEre is what it says on the radio:
4-channel Futaba® 4VF

Essentially then if i have a TX/RX on the same channel, they will automatically recognize each other when i turn them on? Then all i have to do is adjust the trims?

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

YUP

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

very cool :)

So...if i want to have more then one plane...all i need is another RX on the same channel as my TX...then just only turn on one plane at a time (when i want to fly them) and adjust trim accordingly.

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

If you look closely at the Rx, you will see a crystal with a "Flag" on it with your freq #

It will look similar to the image below

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

One thing you may want to keep in mind on your tx............that being that whatever channel it is, your rx will also 'read' a signal from someone else's tx with that same channel. In other words, if you are flying on channel 46, and another flyer comes along with a tx that is also channel 46 and flips his on while your flying, there's a really good chance you'll loose your plane!

Make sure that if you're flying at a club, you 'pin' your frequency so that other's will know your on that channel. Hope that helps.

Paul

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

As has been explained you can fly more than one aircraft (but not at the same time[X(]) using the same transmitter as long as all the receivers are crystalled to the same frequency as the transmitter.

There are a few other things to remember though. Each model that you fly will have slightly different trim settings. Modern transmitters get around this by having multiple model memories so that the settings for each can be stored and recovered later. I am not familiar with Futaba but I suspect that your Tx may not have this facility. You do have to remember to set the Tx for the correct plane before flying, if you forget the results can be disasterous, and even experienced flyers have come to grief this way[:@]

You can get around this by trimming out the models mechanically so that they all fly with the same Tx settings (it's good practice to do this for any major trim requirements anyway).

Your best option would be to try and make contact with a modelling in your area and get them to give you a run through. This stuff is not really too complicated, but there is a lot for a beginner to pick up.

Good luck

Terry

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

One more thing. In addition to changing the trim settings when you switch planes, you'll probably have to reverse one or more of the servos. This depends on how each plane is set up. It's easy to do (there's a reversing switch on the transmitter for each channel), but if you forget and take off with your aileron servo reversed, there's a good chance you'll lose the plane. I've done it a time or two; I usually figure out what's wrong just as the plane hits the ground. So, before you start any plane, it's best to check that all the controls qre working in the right direction.

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

And you can download the manual here.

http://www.futaba-rc.com/manuals/index.html

RE: Newbie - TX/RX Basic Question
 

great info everybody - thank you!!