npigg

Just got my feda dragonfly this week and the transmitter that came with it kinda sucks. Can't use it for any of the sim software out there and just doesn't float my boat. So I have a couple questions I'd like to throw out there and see if someone can steer me in the right direction.

First... Is there one controller out there that's not too expensive, can use with any/all of the sim software out there and maybe even as a joystick for other games and has decent build quality?

Second, if I buy a new transmitter am I going to have to replace the receiver and everything that's in the chopper or will I just need to get a certain chip for it's freq?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

As far as replacing the receive in your heli, it would help if we knew something about what is in there now. 72 mhz? 27 mhz? Something else?

Almost any radio with a trainer port can be used with a simulator if you have the right cable.

As for radios. There are a huge number. Are you focused on Helis, planes or gliders?

npigg

It's a 72mhz FM_PPM if that means anything... Right now I'm just going to be playing with the Heli, but will most likely get into a cheap 4 channel plane at some point in the near future. As long as I get a 72 mhz radio I can just pluck this crystal out and plug it into the new radio and won't have to replace the whole receiver and stuff that's in the chopper right? Just stoped at the local hobby shop and they had a few radios in there between 100 and 175 bux. As long as they have a trainer option that's all I need, and to get the correct cable right?

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

Since I don't knwo the brand of radio equipment I can't say what radio will work with it.

If it is Hitec/Futaba compatible (neg shift) then you need a neg shift radio or one that can be set for negative shift.

If it is Airtronics/JR compatible (positive shift) then you need a pos shift radio or one that can be set for positive shift.

As long as the shift matches, you can usually change the crystal to match the channel on the radio. Besure to use the same brand crystal as the mfg of the receiver.

You can't legally change the channel crystal in the radio in the US. You can change the crystal in the receiver.

As to radios. I can recommend several, but I always recommend computer radios.

STANDARD vs. COMPUTER RADIOS

I think you will find the economics of computer radios have changed in the
last 2-3 years. This is partially due to the advance in electronics and
partly because people are buying that second, third plane much sooner. We
have flyers in our club who have been flying less than 6 months who have 3
planes already. The cost has dropped so much, and the availability of ARFs
and high quality kits have made it cheaper and simpler to get the next plane.
There is little to hold them back.

I am seeing new pilots go directly to the computer radio, or start with a
standard radio, then buy the computer radio on the second plane and put the
standard radio in the box forever. For me, this happened after 6 months when
I started flying my third plane. The standard radio that came with my RTF
sailplane has been given to a friend for his son, to help him get started. I
had no use for it.

I should point out that our club flies parkflyers and sailplanes where these
low costs apply. A quality ARF parkflyer or simple to build kit, with the
motor, can cost as little as $40. A flight pack for that plane can be as low
as $70. You can put it in the air over a weekend.

An ARF 2 meter sailplane can be $90. The electronics to put that in the air
can be around $70 and can be completed in a couple of evenings.

In the glow and gas powered world these low costs and rapid adoption of second
and third planes might be different. I can't say.

BACK TO RADIOS

Just as computers have wiped out the typewriter, so the computer radio is
obsolescing the standard radio. Computer radios used to be expensive, but
not any longer. I submit that they are now the economical choice.

For someone new to flying and looking at buying your first radio, this
article on entry level standard radios might be of value.

Entry Level Radios
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=44

When I wrote that article back in May I did a bunch of research. I then
started on the research for the follow up article on computer radios that can
be found here:

Computer Radios
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=65

I have come to the conclusion that the only reason to buy
a standard radio is lack of confidence that you plan to go forward, or
the standard radio came as part of an RTF package.

Here is a quick look at some key points.

Economics - Let's compare - Tower Hobbies catalogue

Hitec Laser 4, receiver and 4 HS-322 standard servos - $120
Hitec Flash 5SX computer radio, receiver, HS-325 servos - $156

Difference is $36

You get 5 model memories so you can instantly switch to any of 5 models
without having to reset anything. If we ignore servos and receiver, the
Flash covers your next four planes for about $9 each. With the standard radio
you need to reset for each plane, carefully keep all planes tuned identically,
or buy a radio for each plane so you can tune it to the plane and keep the
settings. That would cost about $60 per plane for each standard radio, or an
additional $240. And with the flash you only have to charge one radio and
bring one radio regardless of which plane, or how many different planes you
wish to fly.

$36 for one radio that handles 5 planes or an added 240 to have each plane's
settings retained with a standard radio.

Big savings with the computer radio!

In the Tower hobbies catalogue:
Futaba Skysport 4 with 4 S304 servos and receiver for $129
Futaba SkySport 6 with 4 S304 servos and receiver for $149
Futaba 6EXA 6 Ch computer radio-same servos and receiver $179

For $30-$50 you get 6 model memories and a whole pile more value with the
computer radio.

You get channel 5 for retracts AND channel 6 for flaps, but there is much
more the computer radios will provide.

Flaps anyone?

Split Ailerons/flapperons: - You can install two aileron servos, one on
channel 1 and one on channel 6. You can set up aileron differential, if you
wish, to improve effectiveness while reducing drag. You fly the plane
normally. Then flip a switch and turn the ailerons into flapperons. Now you
can use your ailerons as flaps during landings. Flaps on a 4 channel plane
that doesn't have flaps. You can just as easily set them up as spoilers, which
would be more common on sailplanes.

Cool!

Coordinated turns - Mix rudder into your ailerons so you have a coordinated
turn. On a standard radio you have to do this manually. With the computer
radio, you focus on the plane while the radio handles the coordination yet you
can override and add or reduce rudder at any time.

If you wish you can turn this on and off at the touch of a switch. Do it
manually or do it automatically. Your choice.

Exponential, dual rates, model memories, channel mixing, digital trims and
lots more. Some of these features can be very helpful in getting new pilots
in the air.

Are computer radio hard to use?

No! In fact if you want, you can just use it as a standard 3 or 4 channel
radio until you want to use the other features.

Take a look at this thread, starting at post 49. This guy talks about using
flaps
as ailerons on a R/E sailplane. Pretty cool idea.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...6&page=4&pp=15

So, for an extra $30-50 over a standard 4 channel or 6 channel radio, you get
a radio that handles multiple models and lets you do things that the standard
radios can't do. Go up a another $25-50 to the Hitec Optic 6 or Futaba 7C and
it is amazing what you can do.

Will you need it on the first plane? Maybe not, but you probably will want
some of those features for future models, so why buy the standard radio in the
first place? The price difference over a standard radio is now so small that
for all but the very few, the computer radio is now the economic entry level
radio of choice.

If you get into even semi serious aerobatics or sailplanes, a computer radio
is a huge benefit and for some things, almost a requirement to bring the plane
to its full potential. Even a 4 channel parkflyer or a simple R/E sailplane
with spoilers or flaps benefits from a computer radio.

There is only one reason to buy a standard radio these days. "I don't know if
I will like RC flying so I want to spend as little as possible". Or the
standard radio came in
an RTF package like an Multiplex Easy Star RTF, a Great Planes Spirit Select
RTF or a
NextStar Glow RTF.

I have used Hitec and Futaba as examples here because I know those lines best,
but JR, Airtronics and others have entry level computer radios that are a much
better value than any standard radio. In many cases these entry level
computer radios will serve the needs of the pilot for many years to come.

Get a computer radio, save a bundle of money, get a bundle
of features and really have fun with your RC flying.

npigg

Thanks for the info... I have already decided I need to upgrade my chopper and will need at least a 6 channel radio. Already lookin at a couple planes too so will go with some computerised radio.

npigg

I think I'm going to go with the Hitec Optic 6 radio... Does anyone know what cable I need though to hook this one up to the pc for some sim action? I looked around on Towers site but didn't see anything that looked like what I needed.

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

There is a free flight simulator called FMS. Not as fancy as the expensive
ones but it works and can really help you get your aileron timing down. It
will also help you learn to fly the plane toward you.

The links below takes you to a site that provides a cable that can connect to
the trainer port on your radio so you can fly the sim using your own radio or
buddy box. If you don't have one perhaps someone at the club will loan you an
old radio with a trainer port so you can practice.


FMS Flight simulator Home Page
Free download
http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html

Parkflyers for FMS
http://gunnerson.homestead.com/files/fms_models.htm

Glider RC - Another sim. Have not tried it.
http://glider3d.free.fr/index_en.html

Serial Cable/radio adapter +FMS and Preflight Sim CD - any plug - $35
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...item=5969881882

Flight simulator adaptor for Hitec/Futaba radios with round trainer port- $5
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_in...products_id=654

Flight simulator adapter For JR radios - $9
http://www.gwsexpert.com/product_in...products_id=647

npigg

Man I have to be missing something... I see the adapter for the Hitec/futaba radio, but how does that sucker connect to the PC? One end looks like a SVGA plug and the other is a mini headphone lookin jack... What connection/port on the pc is this thing going into? Just seems that they are makin this thing way harder than it needs to be. I would think they should just have a cable with a usb plug on one end and the plug to the radio on the other... What comes between the pc and this adapter cord? Or do I need to get the serial cable thing on the ebay site and this adapter cord...?

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

That one plugs into the microphone port. They have ones that plug into the serial ports ( that is what I use) and ones that go into USB ports. The USB type are the most expensive.

npigg

Follow up question for these transmitters listed here... Do any of them have the throttle without the notches? Would like to get one without the notches for the throttle stick. Any other recommendations for a Tx without those darn clicks?

Fly-n-3D

I have the JR 6102 and you can use it with airplanes and helis. It is 6 channel, 10 model memory, and 8 character model name. It has a lot of great features too!

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

Virtually all RC transmiters use a serated quadrant on the throttle gimble and a small spring plate runs in the serations (notchs). Its a simple procedure to open the Tx case back and this quadrant will be obvious on the throttle gimble, the spring plate is just removed by one little screw.

John

twigster

My Feedback: (8)

Actually, most major radio companies make two different versions of thier stuff..
some have the notches, and are for airplanes, and
some don't have the notches, and are for helis...

you can use either radio for either aircraft, and it seems they charge more for the "heil" vesions.
i've been looking at Futaba 9C they have CAP for planes on ppm, CAF for planes on FM,
CHP for helis on PPM,,

The 7cap i have now is a super powerful radio,, i think i'm trying to talk myself out of spending the money!

twigster

My Feedback: (8)

my buddy did that to his 9cap , cause he only flies helis,, and the notches were less noticeable, but
still had some resistance when compared to this other guys 9CHP,, that is actually "made" for helis...

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

This is quite true but I,ll bet three burned out glow plugs aginst a stale glazed donut that in the majority of cases that the gimble is the same with the serrated quadrant and the only differance is the spring plate is left off. At least it was this way with every one I,ve opened up. The major differances in rotorcraft versions are usually in switch configuration and programing.

Rodney

Regardless of the brand you wind up with, be cautious about running it on the computer unless you remove the crystle or frequencey module. Operating any transmitter with the antenna collapsed and the RF power on will definately shorten the lifespan of the final if not causing catostrophic failure.

npigg

Thanks for the info guys. Going to check the shop this afternoon and see what they have, might just end up getting whatever he has that I like and just end up taking that plate off. So I might be back later for some help on that just so I don't screw somethin up.

I just went and got the G3 with the interlink controller to get my sim on... Hobby shop guy said I wouldn't want to use my radio on a sim anyway, just extra wear and tear on the transmitter and the pots on the stick er something. Well guess it's off to the hobby shop for some toys!