Spectrum DX8/DX9

[Boggy]

Sorry guys im not being rude here I have responded to the replies just for some reason my list is away being Moded for approval ! .. Possibly the ebay link I had in there !

Yep the system may have picked up on your post as possible spam

[Peteski]

Hi, I'm in a similar boat and went for the DX8 on advice from a good shop. £150-160 is the going rate for transmitter only. RRP is much higher but they are usually discounted quite a bit due to the DX9 being favoured at the higher price point. DX8 seems like a bargain for beginners like us and I can't see any reason why I would regret it?

[Mark_T]

DX8 seems like a bargain for beginners like us and I can't see any reason why I would regret it?

You won't regret it, DX8 is still a great radio.

Now anyone buying a new DX7s on the other-hand should have gone for the DX8 or the new DX6 as the DX7S just doesn't have the features it should have at that price point.

[dogbiscuit]

My two pennies worth....
The DX8 should last you for years and will give you extra pennies for packs. Once you get the addiction, more packs is what you crave when learning. You always wish you had an extra pack or two for a few more flights. Well, at least I did anyway. That's definately an advantage of the smaller helis. 450 and low c 500 packs are cheap so you can have loads if you so desire. Plus while you learn if you accidently abuse one its not so bad. It really hurts when you damage a 5000 6s pack ! It may even make you cry (that could be just me though)

I learnt collective pitch on a used cheap blade 400 and loved it ! (after three months on an msr indoors without a sim) I didn't really know it was that unstable compared to a big heli at the time. It was supper cheap to repair and went in about six or seven times in the early stages ( The 450x with beast x is the equivalent now I guess)
Then came the trex 500. Initially, it blows your mind after a 400/450 and it's certainly a step up on the stability front, but not a massive leap! It is however a bigger leap in repair cost!!
Only when you get to 550 and above do you get the big heli feel and the true added benefit of the extra step up in stability. I loved my 500 for a long while and I am sure you would to, but when you go bigger its a different league again and a far bigger jump than you find from 450 to 500. The trex 550 is a good choice. On your budget, perhaps an older v1 or v2 rather crashing an expensive newer one at first, plus it still uses a single pack to help with giving you more, affordable flight time compared to a twin pack set up !!!

Of course, there's no right or wrong way to do it, but with the benefit of a few years of learning experience to look back on, and if I were to do it again, I would go with the 450x or 550 to start with..... The 450 for loads of cheap care free fun and helping you with learning the masses their is to learn in this hobby cheaply, plus each time you upgrade to a bigger heli you will still experience the massive buzz that comes with a size hike.... The 550 (only with club support) for its big jump in stability and big heli feel and the confidence that this brings to your flying when you get past the early stages.
Although not in the beginning, as I found it too boring, I now use the sim loads ( in a quite fruitless and very sustained attempt to master inverted and the wonders of advanced flight !) If you can, use it now !

Have fun whichever way you go....

[dogbiscuit]

Oh, and one more thought... hc3sx and spirit fbl systems are a game changer these days with the added bail out option. I would now budget this in at the beginning if possible as it should take out the majority of pilot error crashes. Saves a fortune and gives you " wings "

[Peteski]

Oh, and one more thought... hc3sx and spirit fbl systems are a game changer these days with the added bail out option. I would now budget this in at the beginning if possible as it should take out the majority of pilot error crashes. Saves a fortune and gives you " wings "

I really like the idea of a bailout option, especially as I will be learning initially without club support. For that same reason I was planning to start outdoors with a simple Blade 200 SRX and then progress from there.

[Mark_T]

I really like the idea of a bailout option, especially as I will be learning initially without club support. For that same reason I was planning to start outdoors with a simple Blade 200 SRX and then progress from there.

Just be aware with small helis that they are never going to sit still if there is any wind at all, so don't think there is something wrong and don't be surprised when it takes a lot of effort to just keep it in one place, let alone make it go where you want at first

[Peteski]

Thanks Mark. Yes, I'll try to pick the calmest of days at first. I've flown my little Nano QX in the garden a couple of times and it was actually pretty good on a really calm day. I tried it yesterday with a slight wind blowing (hardly anything really) and it was all over the place! I thought something was wrong with it at first so I took it back inside and it flew perfectly again. Another basic lesson learnt!

[Marco666]

[tomatwalden]

...! But Im looking at this - http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=161536270675

Anth D

That's a mode-1 transmitter. Do yourself a favour and (a) buy a Mode-2 transmitter and (b) avoid ebay. (and (c) avoid ebay)

Stick to reputable dealers - Midland, Fast-lad, Align-Trex.co.uk, rc-hero.co.uk.

My tuppence - I'd say a 450 is a reasonable heli to learn with - micros (like the mSRX/mCPX) can be useful too. Personally I learnt using a combo of a 450 and a micro (mCPX). For larger helis (500,550,600), I personally believe you need a club/lessons to safely progress with them. If you're looking to learn on your tod, I wouldn't go beyond a 450.

If you do get a 450 (or higher), you should also get 3rd party insurance from the BMFA or RCHA.

PS. Avoid ebay (did I mention that already?)

[Grumpy]

Being cautious on eBay is good advice (not necessarily avoiding) but in this case the vendor is Sussex Model Centre who are one of the biggest dealers in the UK and with a good reputation. i've purchased from them before, they are fine. They are also a fully authorised Spektrum dealer. You might however get a better deal if you call them because buying direct saves them the eBay fees.

The mode of the Tx can be changed but this will involve opening the case and adjusting a few screws. For sure you want to learn mode 2 because 90+% of flyers in the UK use mode 2, so if flying any other mode you will find it hard to get anyone to help you fly the heli (it's hard to switch your brain from one mode to another)

[Leigh Beaumont]

The dx8 can be swapped from mode 1 to mode 2 without removing the back if you can live with the throttle stops being on the cyclic stick calibrating the transmitter deals with the end point side. The mode swap is done by removing the rubber covers on the back and adjusting the screws, I no this as I've swapped a dx8 from mode 2 to mode 1 then swapped back again a few years later when I changed modes in my flying

[Leigh Beaumont]

As for ebay nothing wrong with buying off there as long as your careful

i sell nearly all my ex rc stuff on there as do maybe more people including a few online shops

[Peteski]

I got my DX8 (mode 2) from RC Heliguru for £159 (TX only) just before Christmas. It was on sale at the time.

[tomatwalden]

Yeah, fair enough. If it's a decent retailer selling via ebay then no worries. Equally if you're clued up on what you're doing and can sniff and bargain and understand any risks, no problem.

Many cheap items on ebay though are one-man outfits in god-only-knows-where. At least by going to the big retailers via the normal channels, you limit risk if you're unsure of what you're doing/buying.

PS. As for swapping a mode-1 to mode-2 TX. Sure, it can be done, but not something I'd recommend to a beginner!