In the market

[Mack]

Hi all
I have eventually finished building and now have to learn to fly!!!
The radio I have is old so I am thinking about a new one and a sim at the same time. Does anyone have suggestions for a Nexus 30 and where to purchase these items.
Thanks

[Raptorite]

Hi Mack,

There is an increasingly wide variety of radio's on the market with new ones coming along what seems to be more or less every month. In your case as a beginner, I would recommend you get the most upmarket and expensive radio you can afford, as out of all the modelling kit used for heli's the radio is by far and away the longest lasting.

The thing to bear in mind when you choose a radio, is to go for one that will see you through to the more advanced flying as your skills progress. You will almost certainly find that if you go for something like a 6 channel beginners set now, in a year or so time you will be looking to upgrade it as you have progressed on from your Nexus and are thinking about a larger more powerful model which may well require extra functionality in the radio for things like governors etc.

To this end, I sugggest you look at either an 8 or 9 channel system, something along the lines of the Futaba FF9CHP or the JR PCM9X or 3810ADT. All these systems are available in various formats, from separate components where you buy each item individually, to a complete set. Each have their benefits and pit falls, on the whole though the complete set approach is well worth a look.

Once you have your set, you will need some extra's, things like a larger receiver battery pack to cope with the additional load of a gyro and high performance digital tail servo. A heavy duty switch harness is a must for heli's, as the standard unit supplied in the kit is a light weight one only really good for 4 servo fixed wing aircraft.

The other items you will need which have already been mentioned is a gyro and high performance tail servo. These two items in particular need very careful selection. There are budget standard rate piezo gyros around at about the 40 to 50 mark, I recommend you steer well clear of these and get a good quality Heading Hold gyro, something like a Futaba GY401 or a CSM SL560 are two for instance. The servo used on the tail is critical also, as if you have a good quality gyro on your model coupled with an average quality servo on the tail the model will be equally as hard to fly as having a budget gyro. With a good quality specific tail servo, something like a Futaba 9254 or a JR 8700G you will find the model much easier to handle, particularly in wind.

The cost of all these things can add up really quickly, so my advice here is not to sacrifice quality just so you can go flying within an hour or two of your purchase. If needs be, spread the purchase of these things out over the period of a few months, or get the old drastic plastic out, which ever you prefer, it will pay dividends in the long run.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Pete.

[Mack]

Hi Pete
Thanks for the reply. As you say, don't rush out and want to fly in 2 hours. I need to put the brakes on now that I have finished building. I already know that I want something bigger and better when I have learnt with the Nexus, so I will take your advice and use it well. Are there any problems with the Sanwa radio's, their prices seem reasonable.

[mo]

Hi Mack.
Dont let anyone put you off Sanwa Radio's, they are as good as any, and I had used them for plank flying for years without any bother.
The only problem you may have is that if you are really green, it helps a great deal if the radio is commonly used in your area for some initial help and advice in setting it up for you.
The lack of having that advice was the reason that I switched to Futaba, if someone had been around to help with my Sanwa 6000 when I went into heli's, I would have still been happily using it now.
If you know of others using Sanwa to fly helicopters in your locality Mack',buy one, and I am sure you will not be dissapointed.
GOOD FLYING.
Mo.

[G-DAVE]

Hi Mack
Your post suggests you have knowone to ask locally on the subject.
You say your set is old -"How Old" - and is it a helicopter set ?

You will progress quicker through the early difficult stages with a group containing a little combined experience , your profile gives me no indication of where you are from so can't point you in the right direction.

Unlike Mo, I would try and persuade you away from Sanwa, unless you find a lost tribe of Sanwa users in some remote part of the countryside, get Futaba or JR gear if you are in the market .
Dave

[Raptorite]

Hi Mack,

I would say there is sense in both Mo and Dave's replies on this. Yes, Sanwa radios are reliable and work well, I would if you were keen on a Sanwa system, steer you towards the RD8000, being 8 channel it will have the functionality you may well need in the longer term.

Dave has a point when he says it is always handy to have club members around who fly the same type of radio, as it does make getting help with tips and tricks of the setup easier.

The thing to do is to visit your local club if you are not already a member and talk to the other members about their chosen radio systems and why they chose them. That will give you a better understanding of the various makes and models available and more importantly which one suits you best.

As with anything RC Modelling related though, it is not always the cheapest item that is the best or most appropriate for the task at hand, so try not to fall into the cheapest is best syndrome.

Cheers,

Pete.

[mo]

Hi Chaps.
Pete had the cheapest and best bit round the wrong way, and I can only suggest that the high price of the Futaba radio has given them the popularity that they are blessed with at this time.
I also had a very brief flirtation with JR, and if I would like to make a recommendation, I found this radio in my own estimation to be the best made brand on the market.
I unfortunately decided to go the Futaba route on the popularity basis in my neck of the woods, and to get that much needed help with setting the radio up.
On reflection I can honestly say that I should have stuck with what I started with, for although Futaba lay about our field like mushrooms on a Sunday, this was not one bit of good to me for they all belonged to plank fliers.
Before Dave gets in a little snipe, I am quite aware that this is sods law, and can be put down to bad luck, or my wrong decision making, but I had only made things better for myself by changing to Futaba for the fact that spares are more easily obtained than for JR or Sanwa in my local model shop.
If as Dave has suggested, you appear to be very short on any learned help with flying model helicopters Mack, I think your best solution is to purchase the best set from any manufacturer that you fancy and can afford, you can then seek the help as you are doing at this time from the helpful guys on this site.
I am quite sure there are people out there who do not possess the tunnel vision of thinking, that only one brand of equipment is any good, and that is the one they use, and in most cases will be the only brand that they have ever owned.
On the suggestion of purchasing the best radio to safeguard your increasing flying standards, this would be entirely dependant on your own learning ability, some lucky or gifted guys take to it like a duck to water, others can spend years just getting into a safe hover, if in your case you unfortunately become one of the latter, your expensive radio would become a museum relic before it was used to its full potential.
I hope we have managed to entirely confuse you Mack, but at the end of the day, as long a you purchase a radio suitable for getting a model helicopter in the air, that is your end object, and that is when your fun starts.
GOOD LEARNING.
Mo.

[Mack]

Hi All
Thanks for all the advice.

Hi Dave
The radio I have is a futaba FP-T5NH and is for heli's. I have played around with it and the battery Concept that I have( no more than a foot off the ground, hopping). I stay in the Richmond area and have not found a club yet, but do know that Kiwipilot stays near me and he was telling me about his radio a Sanwa 6000sport. I think the main reason for getting a new radio now is for the PC link so I can practice on a sim. This sport is a lot harder than first thought!

[Mack]

Thanks Mo
Good to see you are still with us.

[kiwipilot]

Hi Mack

Got your voicemail too (just picked it up so thought I'd pop online before I call you tomorrow...)

I have a Sanwa RD6000 Sport.

These seem to be popular in London and are regularly sold as part of a package (heli, radio, parts etc)

Many clubs will have a member that has one of these radios and some trainers have this model to be able to buddy you with.

General rule of thumb is to buy the best radio your money can afford.

I'll stick with my radio until I outgrow it / destroy it We'll see which comes first...

[Mack]

Hi Glenn
I was feeling depressed on Friday so I tried retail therapy that the women talk about. It works and I came home with a FutabaFF9/T9CHP. I can't even put it on the heli mode yet so I have some reading to do.

[kiwipilot]

My best mate (in NZ) has that model - and loves it

Hope you get your head around it......

[antsis]

FF9

Good radio, easy to use. You can't go wrong with it.

[Mack]

Thanks Ant
Do you have a FF9? I will need to put you in my data base for problem solving if you do. Thanks

[antsis]

Mack

Yes. Put me in you database by all means.