I'm in that excited state of digging around and researching, to find the perfect heli to start out with. One of the main factors is radio; I know many good RTF's include the transmitter, but I would like to use my own Hitec 4ch TX. For example, on Helihobby there are many kits such as the picolo that come with everything except a TX. They most all include either a JR or Futaba reciever by GWS, or something along these lines. I never saw Hitec recievers in any heli kits.

My main question is: Can I just plug my Hitec crystal into one of these micro recievers and have it work perfectly with my Hitec transmitter, or does the TX have to match the RX brand? If I can use my radio, which reciever is best

I guess I never really understood all the "rules" and requirements with radio systems, with mix matching and all. I figured a manufacturer would make only their recievers compatable with their transmitters.

Thanks for responding

Hitec and Futaba are compatible. If the Futaba compatible receiver has a crystal for the same frequency as your Hitec transmitter, you are good to go.
(yes, this discussion ignores PPM/PCM concerns)

The rule is this:
Hitec and Futaba use positive shift signals.
JR and Airtonics use negative shift signals.

Dont' mix Positive and negative componnents.

thanks.
What about duel conversion? My hitec focus 4 came with duel conversion reciever, that doesn't matter probably? So I can use any futaba compatable reciever as long as same band and channel?

Duel conversion describes how a receiver deals with the signal. The transmitter does not know or care about single/duel conversion. The receiver does care that it has the proper crystal. Single and duel conversion crystals are not interchangeable. Put a single conversion crystal in a single conversion receiver. Duel crystal in a duel receiver.
Oh, I said above that I was ignoring PCM/PPM but I will mention it anyway for completeness. Don't use a PPM receiver with a transmitter that is on PCM and vice versa.

Want a more technical description? Look [link=http://www.mp.ttu.ee/risto/rc/electronics/radio/signal.htm]here[/link]

hi i am also bemused bye all the different configs you can have i am in process of getting an eco8 hellicopter and was wondwering if i could buy a jr transmitter and possible a gws or a jr receiver and i have seen a futaba gyro and some servos on ebay would these be compatible also i see you mention negative and posative shift is this the way the plugs are wired that goes into receiver if yes is there any way without pplugging anything in you can tell what shift they are
thanks

Servo plugs are the same. The frequency shift just describes one part of the radio signal. The receiver must match the transmitter type. After that, gyros and servos should be universally compatible.
Some have a tab on the plug to force proper polarity. If the receiver has a slot for that tab, you know that you are plugging it in the proper direction. Servos with that tab can be plugged into receivers without the slots if you cut the tab off.