I am about to re-enter this great sport after a 26-year absence. When I flew back in the 70's and 80's, I flew mainly pattern and scale, but upon my return, I will be only flying sailplanes. I have a NSP Kestrel 2 M kit that I bought a couple of years ago (never built it until now). My goal is to train on that sailplane, and quickly move into a more sophisticated sailplane. This new sailplane would possible have a V-tail design and spoilers. I do not see myself getting into any plane larger then maybe a standard class.

Now to my question: When I flew in the past, I used only Futaba radios. Since I have been away so long, I need help in finding the right radio that will fit the needs of what I described above. This radio does not necessarily need to be of the Futaba brand, just the best radio to suit these needs.

Thanks,

I too am just getting back into the hobby after a 15 year hiatus... I decided to stick with a brand that I know was good and still appears to be good. After reading a bunch of reviews I decided to go with a Futaba 6EX 2.4ghz. It appears that this is the way that the hobby is moving, so why not future proof?

The only downside that I've seen is the possibility of some composite materials not working too well with the 2.4ghz receivers according to a thread just a little below.

You can go the 2.4 route very easy but the worst computer language that I have seen is with Futuba, IMHO. That being said I use JR as my gas and elect, but am told that Airtronics is the best for the all out sailplane flyer

Good luck in your return to the hobby

I have been using Futaba radios since Kraft went under. The Futaba 9C Super is capable of handling any Sailplane programing and is not that difficult to program.
Currently I fly with a 12Z and it is as good as anything available.

Just another opinion

John T

Thank you all for your replies! I can clearly see that Futaba has not lost its edge since I left the sport. I will be purchasing a Futaba radio for my re-entry into this hobby. It will be at least a 6 channel radio.

Thanks,

What edge would that be?

Top of the line sets from JR and Futaba are both equally excellent. If there is an edge, JR's got more users in top competition.

A couple of guys went nose-to-nose at one of my clubs the other day. Not really odd for that place, but it was over the best radio for a beginner who'd just asked about what's the best medium priced radio. The two guys did a count down. The JR guy was listing way after the Futaba guy had shut up. Truth is, both the radios being compared could do almost all the same functions. Same deal with the cheaper ones and the more expensive ones. Two competing items almost always offer the same functions..... or soon will.

What I was referring to was the features that you get for the price! Clearly JR is and EXCELLENT radio, but it is more expensive then the Futaba brand. I certainly would like to own a JR radio, I have ALWAYS heard and read that they are “top notch”. The only thing that held me back from purchasing one (in the past) was the price.

Maybe in today’s market, the price difference between Futaba and JR is not as much a factor as it was years ago.

Example:

JR model 6102 (6 channel) = list price = $389.99 (web price = approx. $269.99)

Futaba model 6EXAS (6 Channel) = list price = $249.99 (web price = approx. $179.99)

Since I am in the market for a 6-channel radio, and on a "budget", I have to seriously consider the price and reputation of the brand. I have always owned a Futaba radio in the past and had no problems with them; it makes sense to me to purchase another.

I certainly meant NO disrespect to the JR brand; it is an EXCELLENT radio, if you can afford to shell out the extra money.

No disrespect assumed.

It appeared to me that you were comparing a lowpriced Futaba to a midpriced JR and in fact you are.

I have a 4EXA, and had a 6EXA. They are/were good value for the money.
I have a 6102 and a 8103. They are also good value for the money.
The EXA line is an almost barebones, entry level line. The JRs mentioned are far more than barebones.

The 6EXA is not actually equal to the 6102 in the functions provided.

For just one or two examples:
the model memories:
The JR provides the naming function. You type in the name of the model and that's how you identify it from then on.
The Futaba hasn't the ability to accept characters so you identify your model as "1" or "2" and it's up to you to either mark your plane or simply remember which is #1 etc.
Not a huge deal, but it does illustrate one major difference between the two radios.

The difference in the two are further illustrated by how they identify the radio's channels. The Futaba numbers them. The JR names them.
If you want to change the servo direction of the rudder, you look for the function and then look for "rudder" with the JR. You look for a number with the Futaba. I understand that Futaba identifies the channels on their more expensive sets by name.

But to further illustrate the differences between those two, look at the number of functions available. It's easier just to mention something very simple to do that.
My Futaba instruction manuals cover "Programming the 6EX Radio" with just 3-4 pages, maybe 5 depending on how you count what's on the pages.
My JR manual covers programming functions for airplanes on pages 18-44. And then covers programming helicopter functions on 45-82.

It's not actually sensible to compare the 6102 with the 6EX. One is simply a bare bones entry level radio. The other is a full featured mid-priced radio.

There is a JR Sport that is selling for $145 at HorizonHobby that is comparable to the 6EX.
There is also a Spektrum (JR) DX6 selling for $199. The Spektrum is a heck of a deal. It's the "no interference possible", latest technology available thing.
The JR6102 there sells for $199.

Thanks for the info!! Maybe I'll rethink my decision about the cost of these systems and what they offer. That JR sport looks like it will do everything that I am looking for as well as the Futaba. I guess now, I can afford a JR radio!!!

Thanks again for highlighting the simularities and differences in these radios. As I mentioined in my previous posts and replies, I have been out of the hobby for quite some time. Things have certainly changed in the last 20 years!!!!

I'd go with one of the new 2.4g systems. It might cost a little more up front but it's the direction everything is and will be moving in the near future. Why buy antiquated technology that is susceptible to radio hits when you have the chance not to. I still have and use 72mhz systems however every new controller I've bought is 2.4. Every new plane I build gets a 2.4g RX. As most people I've lost planes before due to radio hits, be it phantom interference or some knucklehead turning on their TX in the pits. Losing just one cheap plane negates the cost of switching to the new 2.4 systems. Now I don’t have to worry about it.

just my 2c

Glad to help.

Can I give some advice you didn't ask for? I've got a good flying buddy who did just like you about a year ago. Turns out the two of us have the field to ourselves 2 or 3 days a week. When he came out he had a Futaba 4YF. After a couple of weeks he realized he needed more radio. He was looking to spend about $200. I tried to talk him into either a JR6102 for right at $200 or the HiTec Optic 6 for under $180. Both radios are almost full featured. But what's most important about them is they seem to have what a 2nd year flyer is really going to need to step up from the very basic first radio. The Optic6 is basically what Futaba should be offering instead of the 6EX. It actually beats the heck out of the 6EX and works with Futaba receivers. Back then, it was about the best value for the money. Turns out, he decided to get the 6EX because it was Futaba. He spent more and got almost nothing compared to the Optic6.

I wound up buying an Optic6 to fly my airplanes that had Futaba RXs. The sucker does all the functions that I use in my JR8103. And guess what............................

Darned if the sucker isn't now being sold with the synthesizer module for less than $200. That's with a RX but no servos. That synthesizer module is a great thing. Absolute frequency flexibility.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHCR7&P=SM

Even if you don't get the synth one, look very hard at the Optic6 that comes in a full set. And it works with Futaba RXs. And Futaba is good stuff. But so is HiTec. and JR.

So my advice is look at that Optic6 or try to find the JR7102 that was being sold with a synthesizer module in it. They were being sold for around $200.

BTW, why am I pushing the synth module radios instead of the new 2.4gHZ stuff?

The synth radios will work with "ordinary" RXs. I've got a couple of HiTec RXs that cost me something like $25 or $30 and are excellent. And I bought a couple of new/unused RXs at a swap meet for $20 each WITH crystals from a guy who had gotten too sick to fly anymore. And with my synth radio, when I fly those "different" frequency RXs, all I have to do is switch the TX to match them. AND GET THE PIN of course.

If you're like a lot of us, you're going to want to have a RX in each active airplane. With the new 2.4gHZ stuff, those receivers are going to be fairly expensive for awhile. And they're not going to work with anything else. Nor will the TXs.

If you are going to be flying just sailplanes please read the threads on the 2.4ghz equipment and sailplanes. There is a question as to how these systems react to composite materials.

I like the Futaba 9C. There are other brands offering similar price/performance. But get one with the functionality of at least a 9C. You will be glad you did. bob