What to buy?

[Beans]

Around 20 or so years ago I got into rc heli but at the time could not really afford the repairs so three crashes later it all got packed away. My Kalt Baron 30 is probably still in my parent attic but since the spares would be hard to get now I think it should stay there.

At the moment I'm not sure what to get. Both nitro and electric look appealing for different reasons (20 years ago electric wasn't really an option but now it looks like a very viable alternative). So what I was thinking was get myself a fairly inexpensive tx but something that will last a while - so 6 channels. Along with that get a sim so that I can spend some time training while I think about which model of heli to go for. Does that seem like a reasonable approach and can someone suggest a good beginners tx that will work with the Phoenix sim?

[robgt]

I would recommend the Futaba Field Force 7 (T7CP) transmitter because it has 7 channels, and should you decide to go Nitro, you might want to use a governor on your heli, in which case you would find that 7th channel useful (for setting the headspeed from your transmitter - remote gain)

Outside of that, you can't beat that Tx for the price - it's £99 from inwood models currently.

I use it myself (and have done for 2.5 years ish now, having quickly upgraded from the Field Force 6) so it can take you a very long way without any problems.

It works fine with the Phoenix sim (I use Phoenix too) - you would need to buy the dongle adaptor to fit the Square Futaba plug type for an extra £8 ish.

I think this is a great approach. Start on the sim, get a feel for it all again while making up your mind on what kit to buy. There's plenty of advice to be had on this forum too!

Cheers,
Rob

[Ade_Law]

Another option is the dx7. Its more money but uses the latest tech which is especially useful on electrics.

[ChrisB]

DX7 is highly recommended for leccys

Zero glitches,,well worth it

[Beans]

Is that also by Futaba? I couldn't find that one in the list.

[easyRobin]

Hi, I also started just yet.

I bought a Raptor 30 V2 which is great fun.
IMHO the flight times of the bigger electric Heli's need sorting out....

Before that I used the Phoenix Sim for practise, excellent sim!

I bought a JR X2610 Tx on ebay for 60 pounds.
It works great with my (any) Raptor, it has 5 point curves etc etc.

Good luck and enjoy!

[Ade_Law]

i would send it into macgregors for a check up. make sure its all tip top. their rates are reasonable and turn around quick.

worth it for peace of mind alone.

Ade

[moyesboy]

beans, its a spectrum dx7. spectrum are a new american rc company, but there is a very strong rumour that JR will soon buy them out.
Its quite likely that 2.4Ghz systems will take over in the next few years. however 35 meg isn't going to go away any time soon. Still many thousand sets already built in the shops and futaba, JR etc are still making them.
Good chance to pick up a high end futaba or JR set second hand in the next few months as keen fliers sell up and get the DX7.

[Ade_Law]

there are still old plankers using challenger 6s which werent new when I started flying back in the early 90s!

Ade

[kevinh]

there are still old plankers using challenger 6s which werent new when I started flying back in the early 90s!

Ade

my first radio was a challenger, used it for flying planks

[ChrisB]

my first radio was a challenger, used it for flying planks

That makes you one of those old plankers then

[kevinh]

thanks im not that old!!! might look it but im not,






2 paper rounds no bike



you should have seen the length of the driveways i had to walk up

[lbl25a]

Only problem with the DX7 kit from my point of view is that the standard receiver, servos etc are said to be too big for micro electric helis. I don't want to buy these twice. For this reason I was considering the DX6 but is the DX7 now available as a Micro Kit?

[Nutz]

I bought a DX7 for my Trex 450.

I put the full size RX in my Raptor http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j7...C/IMAG3133.jpg and then bought the AR6100 for the Trex,
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j7...C/IMAG3132.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j7...C/IMAG3134.jpg even the big reciver is quite small.



The DX6 runs on DSM
The DX7 runs on DSM2
DSM2 RX will not work on the DX6, but the DX7 will run DSM & DSM2

[fatmantom]

so if the dx6 is the same (ish) price as the ff7 which would be the better purchase?

i was planning to buy the ff7 as the dx7 was just a bit to much for me but dx6 seems very possible?

a 7th cannel or glitch free flying?