I have had a Futaba 9CH ( not the super ) that I use to fly small electrics,
slope gliders, RES sailplanes and full house sailplanes. I purchased it new
2 1/2 years ago. Overall I like it but it has had some intermittent issues
and I am wondering if these are isolated to mine or if this is a general
issue.

I am not trying to trash Futaba or the 9C.

First problem was a few months after I got it. Suddenly I could not range
check beyond 50 feet. Sent it in. According to the work report they
soldered something and replaced the original battery. The range issue
seemed fixed. The battery was a none issue since I use a much larger
capacity battery normally.

About 6 months later I noticed that, on occasion, the trims did not work
while I was flying. I couldn't find a pattern. Just sometimes when I turn
it on, the trim switches beep but not trim changes are shown on the screen
and nothing happens on the plane. I sent it in.

They replaced the trim switches and the antenna ( not related ), charged me
$50 and sent it back. The problem was not resolved. I just learned to
check to see if the trims are working before I turn the plane on. If I turn
it off and on it works fine but you don't want to do that while the plane is
in the air.

Now I am having a problem with flaps. Flaps seem to not hold trim. Today I
had to retrim the flaps 3 times. On one flight the flaps were even when I
launched and they were down about 20% when I landed. I had to use the flap
trim to retrim them. And no, there were no mixes on that would cause this.
I went over everything.

The flap trim issue today was while using a Futaba 8 channel PCM receiver
that range checked just fine.

However when I went to switch planes, I started getting glitches at about 75
feet. The range check issues were with Hitec super slim. I swapped out
that receiver for a known good Supreme 8. Same issues. The plane, an
Airtronics Legend, is wood and glass. No carbon in the fuse.

Lately I have had some range check issue right at the edge of the
recommended 100 foot range. The indicator of the problem is that the flaps
glitch, together. Both flaps glitch evenly.

I have swapped servos and receivers. Same results. So I am pretty sure it
is the radio.

I keep it in a case, have never dropped it and treat it good.

I am about to pack it up for its 3rd visit to the service dept in 2 1/2
years and decide to see if anyone else has seen similar problems. Any
individual radio can have issues, but if this is happening with other 9Cs
maybe I can identify a trend and get my radio fixed properly.

Let me know if you have seen any similar problems on your 9C.

i to have had mine for 3 years only hade problems with throtle trim and and sometimes elev trim i thinck its a contact problem from the fine red dust i have tacken them out and cleaned them up fixed the elev up but throtle is a bit better other than that no problems see ya mate

I had mine for 2 years no problems at all.

Good Luck

I think you got a bad one. I would insist they give you a new one.

Being a tech myself i can understand how difflcult it can be to diagnose intermitten
problems, however after a couple of attempts to fix to the problems it would be better
for all involved for futaba to replace the radio at half cost.

The cost to futaba would be minimal and it would be the best thing for customer ralations.

I bought mine when they first came out, must have been at least 3 years ago.

It has been perfect for me and I use it every weekend year round.

I have flown my Futaba 9C for almost 3 years without any issues at all....and I am flying three or four days every week. I have to say I am extremely happy with it. If I had yours...I would no longer request service, but rather a trade in on a brand new one.
An additional thought....I have a Spektrum DX7 radio on order...I feel that 2.4 ghz is the way to go....no more impound...no more radio intereference, etc. If Futaba fails to come out with a 2.4 ghz module for my 9C, I will sell off all of my Futaba gear, and replace everything with Spektrum, and never look back.
Good luck.

I need to report a pilot error on the trims.

I was not aware that when you have speed, start or crow set that the trims go into those mixes rather than to your normal trims. So, on those occasions where it seemed that the trims weren't working, I had one of these modes set. I have confirmed this.

Problem solved!

I have been using a 9C for quite awhile with zero problems except that the heli mixing for CCPM is extremely slow, actually unusable. We have been demoing our 9C radio with our 2.4GHz XtremeLink modules since summer.

Jim,

I have reviewed the thread on your Xtreme link product was not aware it was available yet. If it is, where can one review the specs and order the module?

I have had a 9C since they they were introduced.
I have had two, the 9C and the 9C's both and work great.
My only concern is the programming software.
It has a lot to be desired but the radio is great.

I seem to have developed some glitching issues with my electric planes on my 9C. I also bought one a few years ago and it has been problem-free all this time. I have a DPM Ultimate that has performed flawlessly until I converted it to electric, and now it glitches horribly. All of my electric planes, except for one, has developed glitching issues. I've troubleshot the heck out of this one, and the last thing to do is to put an e-plane on my 6XA and see if the problems remain. If not, it has to be the 9C and I'll have to send it off for repair. If the problems remain, then I give up!

If this just happened when you converted over to electric power, chances are it is not the transmitter, but something about how you have installed or set-up the planes. But your plane to try a different transmitter is a good one.

I use my 9C with electrics and with gliders. Works well.

Well, I was thinking it was something due to the setup, and that would also explain why the P-38 with two ESCs, two BECs, and two outrunner motors doesn't have a problem. I've swapped batteries, receivers, receiver brands, crystals, ESCs, etc. No luck so far. The last thing to do is to change the transmitter. If the problem remains, then I think I give up!