Hi
The post on the Futaba Rx has promped me to ask this question and hopefully as the Jet community seems to have its finger on the pulse better than most here goes.

Does anyone know how far off a viable spread spectrum radio system is that would be suitable for model aircraft. I know they have the surface vehicle and the short range problems( hence the system for park flyers) licked but when will we see it for Model aeroplanes our size and speed.

M

Spread Spectrum is coming to be sure, fact is it is here! Get yourself one of the new Horizon hobbies Specktrum radio's and put it to the test. For under two hundred US dollars you can begin to see for yourself how well it works. I have done full distance ground range checks, with the airplane about 3 feet above the ground and holding the transmitter that Ground range was a solid 1300 feet... that's just slightly under 1/4 mile.

The range check was done with the receiver operating a electric powered park flyer. Whatever motor noise that is produced did not seem to effect the Specktrum radios range. I checked the Spectrum radio in it's flying mode, not the method suggested by Specktrum. In doing it that way I could get a true apples to apples comparison, and found that the Specktrum radio's range was about 1/2 of what we expect with a normal mHz band radio, but it does not seem to be bothered by on board EMI.

I heard the biggest hold-back now is that the 2.4gig frequency band is a public domain. That maybe causing hesitation on the part of manufactures over concerns of possible outside interference. I wished a more knowledgeable expert would help us understand if this is or is not a potential problem.
Lee H. DeMary
AMA 36099

Spead spectrum will come. There are some issues with usig 2.4ghz and range, but some form of it will evolve for larger aircraft.

Just don't use the spektrum system in anything bigger than parkflyers...

Michael