I'm teaching someone to fly. They have a Futaba Skyport 6 and an older super 6 or * (haven't really taken note). In any case, the display on the buddy box (LCD) give a voltage reading. With the batteries in each transmitter fully charged to start, after about 50 minutes, the voltage reading on the buddy box transmitter is now saying 9.2v. Disconnecting the buddy box cord and turning on the buddy box, the voltage reading is well over 10 volts.

So the question is, is the 600ma pack in the skyport powering both its own circuity as well as the circuity in the buddy box (minus the transmitting part of course.)? It would seem to be as the Skyport gets well over 1.5 hrs of service before needing recharging unless it is using the buddy box, but wanted to verify it.

When using two Futaba transmitters in the trainer setup, only the master transmitter is turned on, so it's providing power for both. You'd want to ignore any readings on the student transmitter. Only the master transmitter would have reliable readings.

im thinking of buying the skyport 6 and want to know if its a decent radio. i can buy one brand new for under $50 with battery and charger

That sounds pretty good. I have one and it has always worked good. I think if I needed a radio I'd jump on it. Of coarse you would still need a rx and servos but if your like me you always have extras around.