As you may or may not know I got into this hobby 2 months ago. I got a Nexstar, a Futaba 6EX, and an OS 46AX. I'm now on my second plane, and the third is due in tomorrow. I am progressing really, really fast.

Anyway, I'm at the point where I want to put some mixes in my computer, mainly I want to have up elevator with rudder input. On my mix, however, I can only get it so it gives up elevator with one direction rudder, and down elevator with the other direction rudder, or vice-versa. Do any of you guys know how to set this mix up on the 6EX? I need this mostly for knife edges as the plane pulls toward the landing gear every time.

Also, how many channels/what radios do most of you pattern guys use? I have this horrible feeling that I'm going to outgrow my radio before the summer is over, and it's brand new. I am under the impression that a fancy radio and mixes are pretty important to fly pattern competitively. I'm also realizing that I'm more of a perfectionist than I realized

Unfortunately I think you are correct. Most guys flying pattern are flying computer radios that are a little higher up than the 6EX. It is a great radio, but its capabilities are limited. Most guys flying Futaba are using at least the older 8 channel and there are a lot of 9C's out there. Your higher end guys will fly the 12Z and the 14MZ, but they really aren't needed. A very smart next purchase would probably be of a higher class radio. Futaba's new 10C is a great radio on 2.4 and will last you for years. The 12FG is more expensive, but has some other advantages above even the 10C. The 10C however will do everything you will want to do with pattern aircraft. if you think you may progress onto some 40% IMAC stuff, then looking into the 12 channel radios is worth it. The problem with the 6EX is that the mixes are just linear. You can't control them at different parts of the mix curve. To really do this right after you follow some of the trimming charts you will learn that most of the mixes are now linear and really need a point mix to do them correctly. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but an investment in a higher level computer radio will serve you very well down the road.

Very similar to how you outgrew your Nexstar. Sounds like you are progressing very fast and an investment in a good radio is just that, an investment. It will serve you well for a long time.

Hope this helps,

Arch

It looks like you are progressing real good. Why not just use your thumbs to control the elevator and rudder? Most flyers at my club don't use the rudder at all except to take off and land. I have brought a new life to some of the members by starting pattern type flying procedures when we fly. It makes you more efficient in your flying and you learn real quick that it takes all your attention to do the procedures without mixes. Real planes I don't think have anyway to mix their controls. Keep up the good flying and use your thumbs.
Richard

As Arch said, a new radio is in your future. Whether to go with Futaba or JR is a personal perversion.....uh, preference<G>. Arch is a Futaba guy (that orange and black shirt isn't for Halloween<G&gt I like JR. Arch has given you the skinny on Futaba- My perspective on JR stuff is that the 9303 is a great radio for the money and will take you as far as you want to go. It has 30 model memories, full programming support for heli's aerobatic aircraft and gliders (switch positions are different on the different model radio's but the functionality is there for all types) It has plenty of mixes both linear(4) and graphic (2) and the menu and function navigation is (for me) more intuitive and straight forward than what I've seen the guys with Futaba doing. I don't have the 12X yet, but I'm sure it will be the same only more<G>. Most "serious" competitors in pattern are flying either JR or Futaba BUT I'm sure there are other good radio's out there (I've seen Airtronics advertising a new model and they have traditionally been good values for the features offered). There is lots of experience and advice available in the "pattern community" for Futaba and JR but you'll have to figure out the "off brands" more for yourself.

Whatever you do, don't get a new radio that isn't 2.4 ghz!!!!!!!!! It is the future and 72megahertz is the past.

The bottom line is you only need ONE transmitter..choose it wisely! Any of the upper level computer radio's out there will be fine for your pattern bird....You'll see arguments for JR vs Futaba, 1024 vs 2048 resolution, nitro vs electric, even 72Mhz vs 2.4 Ghz, but the bottom line is any of the radio's today is capable of allowing you to be competitive....practice is what will make you win!

G

Well, thanks guys. I hadn't heard of JR/Spektrum when I ordered my stuff (from Tower) so I went with Futaba, although now I like Spektrum better. I thought a 6ch computer radio would be 'advanced' for a beginner RC flier, but who knew I'd 'take off' as fast as I am?[&o]

I guess I know what I want for my B-day and X-mas this year! I'm sure I have enough to work on this (first) summer without it, but geez I'd sure like one now

So should I not even consider a 7ch, or the 8ch Airtronics? I'm in college again and over $400 for a radio isn't really in my foreseeable future[&o]

Thanks.

The Futaba 7C is a very capable radio, with most of the abilities of the 10C at half the price. Plus, it's available in 2.4 GHz. I've been using one for the past 2 years and it has been able to do everything I needed.

You may be able to pick up a used futaba 9C now that the 10C is out. That's plenty of radio for Pattern if you're on a budget. I don't have a 6EX but I think you may be able to fix your mix problem. I'll look into it for you.

If the plane is pulling toward the landing gear both ways (left AND right rudder knife-edge) you may want to try moving the C.G. further forward. That should minimize the pitch coupling a bit.

John Pavlick
Team Black Magic

Awesome, thanks.

Yes it looks like you can change the direction of your slave channel easily. First, get into the PMIX screen. Push the SELECT key until you get to the % sign to flash. Now if I remember this correctly from the old 8U (the 6Ex looks similar) you can set the direction and amount by moving the rudder stick one way then the other. In other words, to set your left rudder - elevator mix, move the rudder stick to the left and adjust the travel and direction. To set the direction, you should see a "+" or "-" sign next to the percentage number. That indicates direction. If you start at +100 and keep decreasing the value it will go; +100 +99 ... 0 -1 -2... -100. Now move the rudder stick to the right and set your right rudder - elevator mix. I think this will fix you up. Unfortunately it looks like the 6Ex only has one programmable mix. A good Pattern airplane needs very little mixing if you know how to trim it out correctly. Sometimes though, you will end up with a few mixes. The more expensive radios are more flexible in this regard but for now you should be able to make do with the 6Ex. Hey- this didn't cost anything. Let me know if it works. It's always easy to throw money at a problem but sometimes your only option is to be resourceful.

John Pavlick
Team Black Magic

You can definitely pick up a radio used at a very good cost. Be selective and ask questions like when it was last serviced and such. As George said, JR stuff is excellent also. The FASST system by Futaba is their 2.4 stuff, while Spektrum is the JR version. They both work very well. As far as Richard's post about learning to use your thumbs. You will save yourself a LOT of work down the road by learning how to properly trim an airplane. You can get away with flying through stuff in the lower classes, but as you progress, you can't compete without a well trimmed plane. If a guy you are competing with is doing half the work you are, then you are already at a disadvantage because his plane is trimmed properly.

As far as the Airtronics stuff. A very good friend of mine flies Airtronics and has had excellent luck with his stuff. The new 8 Channel 2.4 system apparently works very well. I think if you stay with those 3 brands you will be very happy. Just keep in mind, that you will probably end up on a track of being very brand loyal. Once you buy a lot of stuff from one brand, receivers and such, its hard to switch down the road. So look at what you want now, and what you might want in the future. If you buy a Spektrum system now and decide later you want a Futaba 12FG or something, you can't use the receivers and such with the 2.4 stuff. Do some homework and I think you'll end up very happy either way.

Arch

The Futaba 9C is a very good radio and has all the mixing functions you could need, the only thing the 9C can not do that the 9zap, 10,12 and 14 can is move butterfly mixing off the throttle stick, other than that the 9C is a bargin at the moment with quite a heavy discount if you look around because it will be discontinued very shortly, one other plus point is its freqency module so that changing to a 2.4Ghz Futaba or Spektrum module can be done when you feel the need to change.

I have both the DX7 Spektrum and a Zap with a Spektrum module, if the Futaba module had been available when I bought them I would have gone Futaba a I feel the facility to hop channels is better than having two channels only, this is IMO and is not knocking Spektrum in any way.

Mike

Welcome to the hobby, sounds like your catching on quickly, thats always nice.
I myself was faced with what radio to buy , I was getting a Helli and needed a radio to control it, after flying my fathers Hitec prism 7 for many years it was time for a change. I looked at the Spectum and getting the 2.4 module for it but it would have been almost double a DX7 radio.
I compared forever, and well finally decided I did not need over a 7 channel radio. So I went with the DX7. I really like it, after flying Futaba/Hitec was not sure how I would like it, but programming was easy for me and now people at the Field ask me to program theirs LOL.

It will do 6 P mixes and already has common mixes in it like aileron to rudder and
elevator to flap mix ( for really tight loops on 3D planes)
It has a 3 way switch that you can program to be off in middle, front or back then other two locations be whatever you have programed for.

the only thing I don't like is you can't select any switch to do anything, as some radios you can make any switch be a flap switch or so on this one you can't but You really don't need it to be.

I like this one also cause you have septate Dual rates switch for your rudder,ail,and elevator.
or you can program it to all be on one switch, then i guess the other switches could be other things but i have mine set up with all separate thats how I like it.

I have been flying mine for about a year now and just love it, No worries about being on someone Else's channel, no worry of getting shot down cause of someone driving up or turning on while your flying.

I still fly with my Hitec and worry when flying with it. Don't know why, everyone at my club is real good about fecency control but I still worry.


I just have not gotten the money to converted everything over.
they have the small rx for small electric planes, then you can choose a 6 or 7 channel for the bigger planes. I want the 7 channels for everything else and they are around $100 each, sometimes on sell. but there cheaper then some of the others.

I really enjoy mine and I fly things from small parkflyer model electrics, to wild crazy 3D electrics, to 3d glow, to now pattern type electric, and I have not found anything so far it will not do.

I recomend it to anyone on a buget like myself who can get the best bang for thier buck.
its about $350 or a little less most places. when the new 12channel comes out i am sure prices will drop a little, but I do not have $1500 to spend on a radio.
i got a case for this DX7 to go inside of when I am not flying and I fly with a neck strap just so i do not drop it. to much money to break it.

Unfortunately the 6EX does not give you the ability to move the stick to the left and choose the value, then to the right and choose the value; it is one set value for one servo being completely slaved to another. EPA's and such you are able to do this, but not with the (2) P-mixes.

I feel like this is a big disadvantage, for things like doing knife edges or moves with a lot of rudder, but more importantly for correcting my line with rudder input. It would be advantageous to be able to rudder right or left without nosing down (i.e. having the computer do it for you so you can concentrate on other things).

Sounds like I need to do my research, and choose a good radio wisely, instead of rushing into something that will fix this one problem, as something else may pop up.

I'm strongly considering competing in the competition next weekend, even though I'm so new and probably won't be competitive. But hey, you never know!

Thanks guys.

Prowler,

I flew pattern for 2 years with a DX7 and it is fine for almost everything. As you get more adept, you will find you will need more mixes - especially non-linear ones and probably a throttle curve. Those are the main reasons I went to the 9303.

G

I found the clues for a lot of things on my older 6XA by looking through the manual and FAQs for my 9CAPS. Check it out: http://www.futaba-rc.com/faq/faq-9c.html

Well maybe your really serious and need more but I seen a lot of Dx7 radios at the hotlanta contest. I do not think i will ever upgrade. I know I won't for a few years at least, I am never going to be dead serious about SPA I fly for fun, if I win I win. if not oh well its fun.

Go for the contest we had two guys who were newbies that flew they did okay being there first contest and being newer flyers

The pattern world is going spectrum-2.4 GHZ. Our club is anyway. I run a Spectrum DX7 and are looking into a DSX9. They are the Bees Nees (i think) our club has 15 (?) DSXs' of a club made out of 50+. The world is going spectrum although it is already banned in some countrys' from being to popular! Any half modern computer radio will be fine. If you ask me you defnitely need mixing, you can't just hold in the Elevator!

Sorry, but I am not fimilar with the Futaba setup, I am a JR/Spectrum man!

Cheers,