Range Checking
 

I have a Futaba 14SG radio system which features a built in range checking mode. The radios manual also states that it is extremely important to carry out this function prior to any flying. But very few people equipped with the 2.4 GHZ radios ever seem to do this and recently someone commented to me that with these new radios range checking is not that essential. I treat a model as I would a full sized aircraft and carry out a proper preflight check, especially as regards flight controls plus I still always do a range check. So, is a range check with the new high technology radios still as vital a check as it was for the older radio types or simply more of an additional safety sort of thing?

IMO occasional range checking is very important. I don't think it is necessary every time. I wish every 2.4GHz radio had that function because the range of a 2.4GHz radio is considerably less than a 72MHz radio.

Again, I will remind everyone this is not an open discussion forum.

Futaba, and every other radio manufacturer, recommends range checks and even provides a mean to lower the RF power output in order to do them.

But they are a qualitative event in that there is no set distance that means pass/fail. Generally they should be used to establish a sort of baseline range for that model which you can use to compare to if you have issues down the road. They can also hep reveal gross issues. I think since the 2.4 systems seem to be so much more reliable than the older systems from an RF standpoint some feel that range checks are not worth doing. But I agree, people have gotten lazy, but they are no less important today than before.