After all the lockout and failsafe problems at AZ jets I think it is time to go with a ham freq. Can you aquire these online? For those of you who have them, how would one go about getting it. I don't want to risk damage to my fleet. If changing to a ham freq although not perfect can help, than so be it.

Thanks

Doug

I dont know of any place online that you can take the Ham test. All you need is a Technician license (no code required). I don't fly on the Ham band anymore because where I live there is a lot of activity in the 6 meter band ( 50 Mhz) and don't want to be shot down. I have never had this happen though. Go to http://www.remote.arrl.org/ to check for a local examiner.

Here is a link to Ham test in California http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml?State=CA

Later!

Gene
KF4VMR

I lost two nice jets(a year apart from each other) at the Broken Arrow jet flyin 3 to 4 years ago on the ham band (53mhz) and switched over to 72mhz after that. After the second jet went in they gave me a trainer plane ( with a new receiver installed) to verify the interference and it also went in at the same location as where the the jet went in. I never had any problems anywhere else using the ham band but did not want to take any more chances with my jets. I still fly my helicopters on the ham band but not at Broken Arrow. Bob Price

You also might check with your preffered brand of radio to see if they support and recomend the use of their products in turbine model operation on the HAM frequencies. Everything is special order..............................

I fly JR 10X..

I have been flying all my planes including my jets on the ham band for several years, and have never had a problem.
I do take my Icom scanner with me so that I can monitor the frequencies, both the 50 and 53Mhz ham, and 72Mhz band.
I use JR 10x with dual conversion receivers.
To study for the test you can get a study guide at Radio shack and within a week, you should be able to pass the test.
Ron
KC8GGA

Doug:

I have been operating on the 6 meter band and 72 Mhz since the mid-70's with turbines, DF's, props, and choppers....originally Kraft Radio, and now JR 10X....never had a failsafe lockout on 6 meters, or 72 mhz for that matter....did lose a Hotspot and a Bandit since 1999, but both of those were battery/switch/regulator failures.....

In the last 2 years I have had 2 glitchy receivers and 1 glitchy TX that required service......the RX glitches occured at Superman and Ozark Mountain, and the TX glitch at my home field......immediate response from all around was that I was "hit".....wrong......just bad components......

My buddy almost lost his ES earlier this year.....one aileron would go full up intermittently...first time it happened at a FlyIn...everyone jumping on interference as the cause...I thought it was more likely a servo, but turned out to be a bad RX.....

So don't sell all your 72 Mhz stuff yet.....




Tom

I have been on 6 meters (Ham Band) using RC for over 50 years and to the best of my knowledge I have never lost an airplane because I was on the Ham Band frequencies. I have flown on both the 50 mhz end of the band and also on 53 mhz. I am now using the 53 mhz area since most of the high powered amateurs stay in the 50 - 51 mhz end. There are some beacons and repeaters in the 53 mhz end of the band but they have never been a problem.

Check with others in your area using 6 meters before you move. There are some places that 6 meters is just not a good idea. Like Dayton Ohio where they have TV Channel 2 (54mhx - 60 mhz sprerad) I lost a plane there many years ago on 6 meters but the TV stationn was the cause. That is the ONLY place I had a problem Other than that I have been free of interference.

I use JR 10X with dual conversion receivers.

Jack Mathias W9FMW

I'll throw my two cents in here. You can go to your local college and take a short course that will help you get your ham license. It's not very expensive and relatively easy. They will clue you in to what books you need but I do think I got mine from Radio Shack also.

I have been flying on ham bands both 53mhz and 50mhz. When I flew on 53mhz I knew that there were repeaters on the 53mhz band so I would check and make sure before I went into an area that there was nothing on my channel being used. At this time the only ham frequency available from Futaba is on the 50mhz band so that's what I fly now and there are no repeaters to worry about.

I was one of the pilots flying at AZ Jet Rally and watched the carnage. My opinion is that 72mhz is not the problem but you do run a higher risk of somebody else having your frequency. Also with all the synthesizers on the 72mhz band transmitters the possibility of having every usable 72mhz channel at your fingertips increases the chance to make a mistake not that any of the pilots at the rally did however I am pointing out a possibility that can exist.

The really nice thing with ham is when I flew there and at Fresno I was the only one with the channel I had, so no waiting or worrying. Also no park flyers or RTF trainers come with a radio on 50MHZ so the inexperienced new flyers can't unknowingly shoot you down. I decided to go to ham many years ago and it worked out great since I missed all the changes that the 72mhz band went through in the late 80's and early 90's. That is not the case now and on the down side if everyone goes to ham there aren't that many channels available.

I overheard one of the pilots that lost a plane at AZ and he mentioned that he had a problem and lost a plane at St. George on 50mhz. I don't think he was on ham at AZ though. I am only mentioning this in hoping that he chimes in and elaborates on what experience he has had.
George