What to buy?

[Bikeracer]

I was trying to save money on a radio set,but in the end decided to get the DX7.The real deciding factor was the lack of having to use crystals,just switch on and go.
I race model bikes and Spektrum 2.4 is used by about 95% of the lads,not having to worry about interference issues from yourself or other people gives a lot of peace of mind.

How often do you intend to change your radio gear ? You might as well save a bit longer and get something that won't get you wishing you'd bought what you should have done in the first place.As with everything in life,it's a compromise though,just get the best you can afford at the time.

Allan

[Beans]

Thanks for all the suggestions. After reading about the pros and cons of electric v nitro I feel very much in favour of taking the nitro route (the £200 for a spare battery was a good convincer). So this should narrow the field down a bit in terms of appropriate radios.

I was hoping to spend less that £200 for a radio but I'm tempted by the DX7 as it's a 2.4Ghz model and only another £20 or so. I've also been looking at the JR X-2720 as a cheaper (sub £200) alternative. Does anyone have any views on these and could advise which I should buy. What does the DX7 do that the JR X-2720 doesn't?

One thing that is never clear to me from looking at the adverts is whether you are buying a complete kit (tx, rx and full set of servos) or if it's just the tx? Is it fairly standard to get the whole set or normal to get less than the required number of servos, for example?

[Nutz]

What does the DX7 do that the JR X-2720 doesn't?

One thing that is never clear to me from looking at the adverts is whether you are buying a complete kit (tx, rx and full set of servos) or if it's just the tx? Is it fairly standard to get the whole set or normal to get less than the required number of servos, for example?

The DX7 is virtually crash proof in terms of interference. If you want just the TX and don't yet have a sim I believe Skyline are doing them as a bundle package (SIM + DX7)

[Beans]

Anothing quick follow up question. I can understand where 5 of the channels are used but what are the other two for? Someone mentioned that the 7th channel is useful for electrics so if I'm going nitro would a 6 channel radio be good enough?

[easyRobin]

Hi,

Channel six is (normally) used for the gyro.

If you have a governor than you need a seventh channel.

Normally the 8 and over channel radios offer more in respect to programming/options/flexibility in setup.

Btw I just bought a Raptor 50v2 with a governor, and I can say I really love the governer, just dial in any headspeed on the Aux channel dial and off you go! No more messing with throttle curves. (apart from backup).

Cheers,

[Beans]

Governer? What does that do? RC heli is way more complicated than it was 20 years ago when I first dabbled. Are there any good web resources someone could point me towards to answer all of my basic questions?

[doobeycat]

Try www.skylinemodels.co.uk as a starting point. There is a good section called "Getting Started" which will help answer some of your questions.

Another one is www.clevelandheli.co.uk/Getting%20Started.htm which I found useful for the basics.

There are plenty of other sources out there - just google it!

[robgt]

Governer? What does that do?

This tries to maintain a constant RPM to give you a constant headspeed on the heli.

Are there any good web resources someone could point me towards to answer all of my basic questions?

I learned a lot from www.raptortechnique.com

Cheers,
Rob

[Sesame]

Hi Beans

Like yourself Ive just rejoined the hobby after approx 20-25 years break and its a whole new world out there.

My other draw was that my son wants to learn to fly planes, ive ended up with a Futaba FF8 which he is using on the planes and a FF9 which I am using on the choppers.

I v gone both the electric and the ic route, ive now got a Raptor 30 which I am flying, a T-Rex 450SE which im putting the finishing touches too and a Raptor 60 for when I get a little better (again).

I bought all of these for good prices second hand but now ive got back into it a bit and found all the problems with the secondhand stuff, If i was to do it all again, I would buy A) new B) go straight for the better copter that would probably have been a Rappy 50 to start with C) not bugger about with these other radios and go straight for the DX7, no crystal no interference all sounds almost too good

and the going for the sim is a very good idea, I went for the Pheonix sim and think its great.

[SRH990]

Hi,

Channel six is (normally) used for the gyro.

If you have a governor than you need a seventh channel.

Normally the 8 and over channel radios offer more in respect to programming/options/flexibility in setup.

Btw I just bought a Raptor 50v2 with a governor, and I can say I really love the governer, just dial in any headspeed on the Aux channel dial and off you go! No more messing with throttle curves. (apart from backup).

Cheers,

Not quite, channel 6 is usually used for the pitch, channel 5 is commonly used for gyro gain. If you go the governor route then you need an additional channel for this. Of course, if you're going scale with a nice 222 you need a channel for gear too

I bought myself a JR PCM9X a couple of years ago which suited my needs perfectly, although a bit OTT for a beginners pocket if nothing else! I bought a DX7 last week to help sort out some serious interference problems with a Raptor E550 electric heli and its feature set is almost as good as the PCM9X, most of the software is identical the only down side is that it doesn't feel as good in the hand as the PCM9X. If I was starting now the DX7 would be a must, much more resistant to interference and no pegs needed, it's the future, the only caveat is that Futaba already have a system on the way and the other major manufacturers will have to follow, the DX7 is the only game in town at the moment but I'm sure the next few months will bring quite a few more options.