RE: Which Radio?
 

Good Morning!

I fly the 12X and have had a 9303 for a few years prior to the 12X. Had the FUT 9C prior to the 9303. Flying both 44% gas, and several different turbine aircraft. Currently flying a Comp-ARF Flash and an F-18. I use the 1221 receiver in both jets, while using a Spektrum 9100 in the gas planes. I LOVE my 12X and LOVED my 9303. I have had Futaba in the past, with no complaints, but just like the functions of the JR radios better. I also like a Ford better then a Chevy. True, Futaba has channel hopping, but I don't like just having one receiver in a $5-$10K planes. I like having all of the satillite receivers that JR provides and use every hole available for the extra satillites and install them everywhere in the planes. Cheap insurance at $29 for each satillite. Since 2.4 is more line of site, I just like more receivers or chances for the signal to get there, then having just one receiver that may be blocked out from the big gas engine in front coming down final. I have never had a brown out or lost a plane due to a problem with the JR system. I fly a lot of different radios at my field, due to being one of the main instructors for advance, and still just like JR. That is my 2 cents worth this morning!! Good Luck!!

RE: Which Radio?
 

Thanks for the information! I have been kind of reluctant to switch to 2.4 until the bugs were worked out. I really like the JR radios more than the others so I guess I will give the 9503
a try. I flew a friends 12X on 2.4 and it was solid but it was in a glider at the time.

RE: Which Radio?
 

The BIGGEST thing to learn or know about any of the 2.4 receivers, is NOT to use only 4.8 batteries. ALWAYS use 6V or a regulated 6V with plenty of Mah's! This is where I have seen the problems with the brown outs or loss of planes. I use dual Lipo's deregulated to 6V with Fromco Wolverine switches and Sahara regulators. Has been the best combination for me.

RE: Which Radio?
 

You got to evaluate your personal use to justify the expense of an expensive programmable radio.

Is it practical? How many really exceed the need for a 6 ch radio to fly most planes in their hangar? Is the risk of a programming error worth the learning curve to complicated set up sequences, press these buttons, move this dial, hold this switch, move the stick momentarily here and then there, change all your batteries to 6v, check your $440 radio for cold solder joints, run the radio 10 hours before you can trust it?
I've seen more than a few guys miss a flying day stuck at home learning how to get their plane programmed into their radio than if they stuck with a fully capable radio they abandoned only to end up with a new set of problems to overcome. In the end, the radio is heavier, programming time is debatable, and crashes occur from brown outs / losing their binding or a cold solder joint ruins their $1100 plane.
I like the threads that say "today FM isn't safe anymore." Nothing could be further from the truth.

I stick with Futaba only because it's been what I've been used to for decades and switching to JR or another means more than just a transmitter change. Once you get used to one, it's hard to adapt to another brand.

So far I never read a new radio manual that I liked.

RE: Which Radio?
 

Couldn't agree more. I've been flying with my 10X until present time.
It's in 2.4, and I know how to handle it. Buying another brand would
implicate stuffing a 100 page booklet. So keep searching until you find the
adequate one for you, with orientation of other flyers.


ENT

RE: Which Radio?
 

I fly all my FASST 2.4 (jets, prop and Heli's) on 4.8 volt 4 cell Nmhi. never had a problem in 3 years of use.
No regs just standard setup.


Paul

RE: Which Radio?
 

I now have a JR 8103 and a Futaba 9CHP, I thought about trying the Hitec 2.4 module for the 9C but I have heard that it will be slower than when on 72Mhz.

RE: Which Radio?
 

I switched from my JR9303 to Hitec Aroura 9 and can say I feel more connected with the Hitec. Yes it has a 10 bit processor 1024 resolution compared to an 11 bit, but unless you are a champion 3D heli pilot I challenge you to feel the difference!

Mav

RE: Which Radio?
 

RE: Which Radio?
 

Well I can help you out there. I watched with my own 2 eyes a P120 powered F18 (FaeBau I think) go into full lock out with a JR 2.4 system. It was at around 700 feet and the turbine shut down and it went in like a spear. Total loss. Pilot had zero control. Pilot is very well respected in turbine circles and very capable also. The turbine shut down when the RF link was lost as Jet Cat does for fail safe reasons! JR transmits on 2 channels, the rest frequency hop. This is why I changed to Hitec. I also had a turbine shut down in flight this year with a JR 2.4 power safe rx set up and 4 remotes. I was lucky to get it down heavy with full tanks. ECU showed reason for shut down RX ERROR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same answer as stated above, "each to their own". Every one will have their own experiences and comfort zones with their respective equipment!


Mav

RE: Which Radio?
 

Mav,

How do you explain the RX ERROR though? I fly a 12X, and my understanding is that on loss of 2G4 signal, the Rx will either hold the servos in the last commanded position, or drive them to the preset failsafe position, depending on how you set the default. Either way, the servos (and ECU) will still be receiving a valid signal from the RX. Not what the TX may be commanding, but a valid signal nonetheless. By my reckoning, the only way that would fail is if:
1) There is a power loss or brownout, such that the RX is not able to generate output signals.
2) There is a processor glitch in the RX
3) There is a processor glitch in the ECU
4) There is a cabling issue between the 2
Whichever way you cut it, its not a DSM implementation issue, or a 2G4 signal issue.

The only reason I ask, is that I like the idea of FHSS and have been scouring the boards to find a sound reason to make the change to DSMJ / Weatronic etc. Still on the fence.

Keith

RE: Which Radio?
 

Well heres a differant angle, get one of these using the new DSMJ which is freq hopping. Because its an older JR module based system you can use FASST, 72mh,HAM whatever until this all gets sorted out.

http://www.rc-uwants.com/heli/electr...mj-mode-2.html

I myself have a 9303 and like the FASST system over JR as I learned for myslef which is the better of the two IMHO.
http://shop.rc-electronic.com/e-vend...61&c=864&p=864

IMO legacy module based systems will become obsolute in near future, this makes my above logic a worthwhile investment,

RE: Which Radio?
 

I just swapped over everything to 2.4 last week. I got myself a Futaba 12FG. My old radio was a JR 9XII. I'm happy so far. Have only flown it in 2 gassers, 10 flights on a 30% Yak and 2 flights on my 0.46 Hack. Both setups went fine.
I'm Just finishing the installation of the new fasst rx on my Reaction and should fly it in the next 2 weeks. I'm happy with my choice and now have a few more channels up my sleeve than what I did before. I even managed to get rid of 2 y leads and a match box from my reaction and just use the radio programming and the 14 ch rx. [8D]

RE: Which Radio?
 

Jeremy D

In case you did not know the 12FG has the abbility for 26 proportional channels all programmable from the Tx for end point and mixing, the only problem is you run out of trim buttons, LOL.

Mike

RE: Which Radio?
 

Well, I guess there is nothing to say except anyone and any brand can have a problem. My friends 30% yak went in when his Futaba locked him out. I guess it is a matter of luck. I guess the manufactureres have a certain percentage of accepted failures. Hope i did not jinx myself.

RE: Which Radio?
 

Keith,

A turbine ECU will acknowledge that the RF link has been lost or mometarily interrupted! I know this is true as part of our certification test is to simply turn the TX off while the turbine is running. I have done this and the moment I switch off the TX the turbine immediately shuts down. I guess the ECU is smart enough to know the rx has gone into fail safe!

Mav

RE: Which Radio?
 

My point is that the ECU only gets to see the signal pulse form the RX, which will always be there, even if the RF link is lost. The ECU will have no direct knowledge of the RF link condition.

I guess the answer to my question must be that if the signal from the RX goes instantly from high throttle to a shutdown (failsafe) setting, then the ECU must be interpreting that as a RX Error.

Keith

RE: Which Radio?
 

Keith,

Yep you got it! RF link interruption then fail safe then uncommanded shut down. My question is why JR 2.4 did this in the first place. If it was not a turbine I am sure it would have gone un noticed!

Mav

RE: Which Radio?
 

Keith,

When you setup a Jetcat ECU, you program the failsafe to a position lower then off. When the ecu gets a signal from the receiver that is beyond its programmed ATV settings it registers a failsafe.
This is a nice feature of their ECU.

RE: Which Radio?
 

Thanks quist, makes sense now.

RE: Which Radio?
 

Aroura 9 at Joe Nall most crowded 2.4 event in the world had Zero issues unlike some other brands as reported by the Hitec rep Mike Mayberry!

Mine has 30 hours on the tx now in 7 models and rock solid! I am happy enough now to install it in my Flash!

Mav

RE: Which Radio?
 

Becasue you asked:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9693011/tm.htm

RE: Which Radio?
 

Socomon,

See above. Was not a brown out! Dry solder joint and only reported incident. 34 hours on my tX timer now and rock solid!

I would love to hear about a true lock out/brown out signal loss??

Mav