Re: Advice on a 2.4 GHz radio

In article <ukg7d3dpkvivlpla9om55sakjo4k5hadqn@xxxxxxx>,
Gavin <gavin@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

| See what your local club flies.
|
| It won't make a difference to the way it's transmitted but they will
| have experience of tx programming and they will probably have a brand
| preference that will make using a buddy cord easier. If they all fly
| futaba buy futaba, if they all fly JR buy the spectrum.

That's probably the best answer.

Don't worry too much about the specifics of how the radios actually
work, as they generally do the same thing and both do it well. Both
have good range and are known to work well.

Sure, the DX7 RX has two parts but they're quite small. In a 0.40
sized plane you'll probably have no trouble whatsoever.

The biggest difference is probably in the computer radio part. The
DX7 has a fairly full featured computer radio and gives you seven
channels, where the 6EX has a relatively basic computer radio and only
gives you six channels.

Six channels is generally enough, but you'll want seven if you fly
something like a full house sailplane (with four servos in the wing)
or something like an Ultra Stick set up the same way.

On the other hand, the 6EX FAAST is cheaper, even if you go ahead and
get the package with digital servos to match the digital servos that
the DX7 comes with.

You'll probably want to do a buddy box. While you can get cords to
connect a JR (Spektrum uses JR radios) to Futaba, it adds a layer of
complexity -- and while the instructor at the club may have a buddy
box and a cable, the odds are good that he doesn't have a JR<->Futaba
cable.

One thing I can say with relative certainty -- you're doing the right
thing looking at spread spectrum 2.4 GHz gear. You can still buy 72
MHz gear, and it's cheaper -- but it just doesn't make sense anymore
to buy it new. Buying it used is OK -- lots of people are selling it,
so it's cheap -- but buying new 72 MHz transmitters is just throwing
money away unless they're high end ones that can take 2.4 GHz modules.

--
Doug McLaren, dougmc@xxxxxxxxxxx
Eeny, Meeny, Jelly Beanie, the spirits are about to speak!
.