Hello all, new to jets(DV8R on order). Was wondering why JR seems to be the choice of jets pilots. I fly Futaba and just wondering is JR that much better or do they just put there name out more to jet pilots with sponsorship an so on. What is the benefit of JR? Would like here from people that have experience with both JR and Futaba. Thanks

I was full blown Futaba before I entered jets. I had two 8u's and memory sticks galore.

I loved them.

Then I saw my first jet, that cool looking 10x radio. holy crap, that thing was cooooooolllll looking.

Flaps on a slider? WoW. Brakes on another slider for proportional braking? AMAZING!!

But how to justify when I have 20 airplanes with futaba receivers?

I sold all my futaba stuff. All of it. It meant I couldn't fly for a while, but in the end it was worth it. Now I have two 8103's, and a 10x.

Some reasons that make it worth it:

If I brake my transmitter, I can copy my model into any number of other jet pilots transmitters, put my module in, and I'm back in the game.

If I buy a jet from someone, it's likely that they are 10x. I just copy the model over, and I don't have to program anything.

If I don't know how to do something on my radio, I just ask any of my friends. They all have 10x as well.

I've flown the newer Futaba 9z. I still think it's no comparison. The menu's I don't think are even touch screen yet (that may or may not be important to you, but it's cool!)

In summary, I believe the 10x is the Porshe of RC radios. Others may agree or disagree, but you'll be pulling my 10x from my cold dead fingers. (unless they come out with a 12x, or if I have to switch brands to get the auto channel swapping feature, cause whoever has that first is getting whatever they want from me for it)


What I don't like about the 10x is that I have small hands, and it is much larger than other radios, and heavier. So I keep 8103's on anything I can get away with channel wise.

Good Luck,

Sean

I have the JR 10X and the Futaba Wc2. Of the two, I prefer the JR hands-down.

Somewhere, I have a lengthy 10X vs Wc2 comparison doc that I put together a while ago.

Interestingly enough, we did some polls here on RCU a while ago, and for jet use the 10X won, whereas for non-jet use the Wc2 came out well ahead ! One of the most common reasons quoted at the time, for turbine pilots prefering the 10X, was simply that 10 is better than 9 - i.e that one channel was a deal-breaker for many people. It's amazing how quickly you can use up 10 channels on a jet, whereas the IMAC (etc) guys often couldn't care less about having that many channels - no retracts, no brakes, no speedbrake, etc., etc. - they just wanted the Wc2's mixing abilities (and they didn't really mind if they had to deal with a 1960's style user interface to get it .)

Gordon


PS for Sean - if you think the 10X is heavy, try holding the Wc2 ... it feels like a brick by comparison.

Same here. I had 2 Futaba 9ZWCII radios, and it was expensive to switch over. But I did. The extra 2 proportional channels was the major deciding factor for me (the 9th channel on the 9Z was only a on/off switch). I flew them both and have many hours with each. I spent hours in the shop trying to see what things I would loose/gain by going to the 10X. I spend another big chunk of time getting deep in the programming with mixers, ganged functions on a single channel, complex mixing and setups, etc. I was looking for things that I couldn't do on the 10X that I could on the 9ZWCII. That list was very very small, and they were all unimportant. The only thing that I wish it would allow more of was switch assignment. However, it easily allowed me to reassign all the most common setups, and it didn't limit me in the least. I easily matched the setups I used on the 9Z in the 10X. I wrote a more detailed comparison that can be read on my web site at [link=http://www.giantscalerc.com]GiantScaleRC.com[/link] in the misc section, left sidebar.

I switched to JR simply because of the number of channels. My F-18 and EuroSport both use all 10 channels.

Hi there,

I have a JR 10X and that is all I use, currently my 3 jets are programed in my transmitter and other 3 jets from "Friends" that are using my transmitter to fly!! I am thinking of renting it!!, seriously it is a great radio, easy to program and has many features that I jet pilot "needs"

Best Regards,
Richard

What is the "dual converging" receivers for the 10X ( believe this is the correct terminology, but not sure). I'm seriously thinking of getting the 10X for an f15, and I heard this was the way to go. Said something about the rx was receiving 2 signals incase one failed. Anyone able to shed some light on this for me and any pros vs cons with this rec.? I think it's cheap insurance to put a little more in the initial investment rather than take the chance of loosing a several thousand dollar plane. Thanks everyone!

It's dual conversion, and it is not getting two signals.

The way that receivers work mean that they convert your Tx signal to a mere 455khz signal. The problem is that the Rx hears two Tx, one that is 455khz above it and one that is 455khz below it. One of those is your Tx and the other comes from something else. That's bad news. It's called single conversion. Most of the time it is not a problem, it only causes a problem if there is another signal on that other frequency. Some other frequencies which are multiples or divisions of your frequency can also cause these images in the Rx. Dual conversion is a way of getting over that problem, it converts your signal first to 10.7Mhz then down to 455 khz. That stops the images caused by the other signals. It's an addded bit of protection so it is worth having. Most brands make plenty of dual conversion Rx, JR mostly ignores it in favour of its ABC&W which is not as good as dual conversion.

Note that dual conversion blocks image caused by signals from specific other frequencies than yours. It does not protect you from signals on your frequency or from bleed over from poorly tuned Tx on adjacent frequecies etc.

H

I thought Harry was just about to wax lyrical on the virtues of the EVO12 I'll do it for you H I have been useing the EVO12 for six months now, ownig both 10X and WC11 I'm selling the 10X and keeping the WC11 for my heli.

The EVO fulfils all my needs in jets, 12 channels easy programing and I like the fail safe in the receiver (IPD) the radio link with the aircraft so far has seemed very solid.

M

These days I try to stick strictly to the topic rather than evangelise about the one true faith to the infidels!! But you are quite right, since jets guzzle channels a 12 channel system should be considered. There are 3 to choose from: two from Multiplex and one from Graupner. They are fully equal 12 channels, unlike the 8+1 of the Futaba 9s or the 8x10 bit and 2x9 bit of the JR 10.

H

If a dual conversion receiver becomes a concern, JR makes a 10 channel one....the R945S. Here is a lengthly explanation regarding that particular issue http://www.torreypinesgulls.org/Radios.htm

More World Champions fly Futaba than any other brand !!!!

Tell that to my "World Champion Futaba" that flew the original Isobar straight into the Earth's crust.

You want extreme range, 12 fully proportional channels with IPD fail safes, and a very reliable radio (in my personal experience)? MPX.

Now where's my 16 channel spread spectrum rig, huh Bob?

OK since I am a diehard futaba user I think I will chime in here. I have also looked at the 10X to replace my 9z but found that there were a couple of features that truly beats the JR hands down.

1st is the syntesized transmitter/receiver combo that can be used with this radio. Go to a jet rally and get 4 or 5 people on your channel and see how upset you get. When I go fly if someone else is on my channel I just go find out what channels are free, switch to one, and re-range check and keep going. No waiting forever for someone to decide they want to bring the pin back.

2nd is the switch assignablility, and alot of JR users say that is not an important feature, well that is what a friend of mine said until he broke his gear switch while on an extended trip for business and there was no one around to copy his models into. He was down for 2 weeks while his radio got repaired. Yes, he could have flown with his gear down but how annoying is that.

This is a battle that crops up here on RCU from time to time and the same points get brought up every single time. The best way to decide what YOU want is to list the features that you need, the money you want to spend, and where you plan to go in the future and how soon. Then determine what you need.

Patrick.

Futaba and JR are both fine radios, each radio will have things that it does better then
the other brand. The only true advantage offered by JR is the 10th channel.

That being said, the DV8R is a sport jet, you dont need 10 channels to set it
up properly. Being new to jets you will have a lot of other expenses coming your
way that you really shouldn't cheap out on. If you are flying Futaba and are
happy I'd stay there.

KIM FOSTER

I feel the choice of radios is much like the old Ford / Chevy thing. It's more about preference than anything. Both JR and Futaba are certainly very good radios, and along with Airtronics, the Multiplex name is starting to show up more and more.

I have been flying Futaba for more years than I want to count, and have had little if any trouble with their products. I feel the 9Z has several features that out weigh the 9th channel situation. I often use chan 9 for retracts, and assign the control to the normal retrct switch which then gives me 8 fully programable channels for flight controls or other options. I only use 8 ch on my Bandit. Except for certain scale opertations, I can't think of a need for more channels than that. The 9Z has the fully synthisized and tuned module so you don't have to change modules to change freqs and airplanes. The Campac module also offers added aircraft memory and non-volitile memory back up. The ability to assign any function to any switch, slider or knob is also very handy. Range is also very good. If installed properly I consistntly see ground checks that are equal to or greater than of JR. The 9Z does take a bit longer to learn the programing, however any of the advanced radios require time and effort to learn regardless of the brand. That is simply a function of our hobby.

With all that being said, I do believe that the JR product is very good, and if Futaba disappeared, I could use the JR brand with great confidence.

Patrick,

Sorry to hear your friend broke a switch on his 10X. But to correct something. You can assign channels to different switches and levers by using a programmable mix. It uses the "origin" mode of mixing. Please check the manual for complete instructions on doing this.

Thanks!

Tony,
Here is where the problem is. I don't see the point in having to use mixes to move a command from a slider, knob, or switch to another. Why not just give you the programming to assign the switch you want to perform the function. I know some guys are flying really complicated models and are using almost all if not all of their mixes for flight controls or additional feature and then have to use a free mix to just reassign the flap or retract switch is silly. Just my opinion.

Patrick.

Patrick,

Not really wanting to argue with you over this. I'm just saying there was no need for your friend to lose any flying time.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Have fun!

I use the Multiplex, and would strongly recommend jetpilots to take this brand a closer look, if you are looking for a new radio.

The 4000 version has 12 channels, and anything is possible whith anything, in a easily understood meny.
I know Multiplex is not of the biggest brands in the US, but they are coming faster than some other brands would like..

I use the older version 3030, but this is still moore than enough for moore than most advanced jets today.
Multiplex was the first to launch the digital servo, wich seems to be a must today on vital parts to control your jet.
It also was the first to launch a free programmable transmitter, wich is the basic choice for a jet jockey nowadays.

But many pilots purchase the JR, without first scanned the options of the rest.
I have never had a glitch on my radio in flight, and it has a tremendous range.
300 feet with the antenna short, is no problem (35 Mhz)
I almost lost my big F-15 because of flying to far away, but the radio, was still online. One option on the 4000, is a channel scanner, wich will not allow you to transmit, if your channel is taken.
Of course a free choice, but most of all, the advantage is the menu....
As they say, just my opinion..

Regards.

Gudmund

Ok, guys.....so what is the predominant rx ya'll are using..........dual or single conversion? Think it's worth the money and really more reliable than the single (or regular rx as I call it). Thanks to all for the info on the rx's, I did goto that website and read about the radios and how they work.......it did help alot and explained several items I had questions about, but now I want to know what everyone is using. Thanks!!

Dual conversion MPX 12 channel IPD receiver.

It's an added bit of insurance against a potential threat to flight safety. The extra cost of d/c compared to s/c is peanuts especially when seen against the cost of a jet model and the potential harm it can do.

Like Woketman I use Multiplex 12 channel dual conversion IPD.

H

I have used in the past JR, HITEC, WORLD, AIRTRONICS, AND FUTABA.
I Started with FUTABA and end up with FUTABA after 14 years in the hobby, the 9Z is one of the best radios, I had the 8 ch. before and I really like it but with the 9Z was love at first sight so I went ahead and bought it, I almost buy the JR but that's when FUTABA released the 9Z with the new features.

CARS II