Futaba 14MZ

[Madray]

Can you all tell me is the Futaba 14MZ worth it ,been thinking about geting one ( is it Thumbs Down or up )

[Raptorite]

I have had one since they first came out, it is a fantastic set, unlike the 9Z it is much easier to pick up and use. There are one or two gotcha's though, like any set new out on the market.

I fly one of my models with the 14 channel sythasised receiver it comes with, there have been one or two horror stories of these being more suseptable to interference than the standard 1024 PCM receivers. I have to say I have never experienced any problems with it in that regard. One thing to look out for is the fact that being 2048 PCM, it will make the model feel far more twitchy and lively.

When you first setup a model in the T14, you will find that the channel assignments are completely different, you can change those in the transmitter to whatever you want, so you dont have to go round and replug all the servos in your existing models!

There are some fantastic features, like assuming you are using a futaba governor (I'm not sure about any others) you can set the thing up with either % values or actual rpm's. There are also some very funky curves, there is a curve for just about everything if you really want! talking of which you can go upto 17 points for the throttle and pitch curves, and I think most others too, things like dual rates and expo have curves, and you can use a curve to mix one channel with another if you wish too.

There is even a .WMA player on it, so although it wont play MP3 files, you can get some software for your computer to convert MP3's to WMA's which it will play.

For the functions, smooth use, it will make your flying seem smoother and ease of programability it gets my thumbs up, thats for sure, well worth the money in my book!

Cheers,

Pete.

[Madray]

Futaba 14MZ

sounds to good to be ture, how much did you get one for ,ive seen them for 1499 pounds can you get them cheeper ,if yes how much

[Fixxxer]

Does it use anything by microsoft ?????

[antsis]

The question you should be asking is "do I need it?" If you have the money, then go for it. I've flown with a friend's one and it has some good points and some not so good points. However, if you're a sport flyer and want a decent transmitter, why not look at a FF9?

[Ade_Law]

its a fantastic radio. too many cool features to mention. one of my favorites is the fine tuning stuff that almost all funtions have. This lets you assign a slider or nob to adjust things.

you can adjust the centre point of the adjustment as well as the +/- range of the adjustment as well as making it global or flight mode (condition) specific. I use this to adjust my idle up 1 governor speed as i find that for the gentle hovery stuff you want a slow head speed but the exact speed is dependant on how much wind there is. Also to adjust aileron differential on my moulded gliders.

It is as complex as you make it. the standard programs have no mixes or conditions set, no hidden stuff like a lot of other radios to catch you out (eg, pitch trim and revo mix) model setups are quick especially if you have setup a default model with the idleups and switch assigments basically set.

lastly this is the most natural feeling radio out there. I am sure it is a polymorph i have only met a few people that dont like the way it sits in your hands (i am sure at least one of those was in denial). When you pick it up it changes its shape to suit your hands!!

the only thing that i dont like about it is the touch screen needs to be pushed quite hard for a fairly long time. and rate at which it updates the screen whilst navigating is quite slow. This isnt too much of a problem as your never more than a few touches from where you want to be.

Ade

[Janek]

Take a look at the 12Z, which is a cheaper, lower spec version of the 14MZ.

A couple of guys at my field recently got them, and they think they're the best thing since sliced bread.

Only issue I know of on the 12Z is that the switch in the usual Futaba Idle Up position is only a 2 position switch !, can be assigned to another switch, but it's on the "wrong" side, can't physically swop the switches, as the programming doesn't allow the original switch position to be change from a 2 to 3 positioned switch. This issue has been reported to Rip(off)Max, but I can't see them being able to sort it out any time in this century ! But how often do you actually use Idle Up 2 ?

[Ade_Law]

ok... 12 is 300ukp cheaper than the 14

when your spending that much money, is it worth it?

on the 14 you can move the switches around as well as assigning them.

Ade

[Madray]

14mz

Looks like the 14MZ is a winner ,by the way i am useing a Futaba T9CHP at the moment

[Steve]

My mate at our club has one. He's used the sound recording facility to add comments to his switches - i.e. when he goes into idle up 1, the thing says "idle up 1" out loud in his own voice! How bizarre.

Personally, I think the computer system is disappointingly slow when you consider how fast computers, mobile phones and PDAs are these days. Also, the screen is supposed to be ultra clearly visible in all lights, but it isn't. Can't remember if it's hard to see on a sunny day with or without sunglasses on, but there's a marked difference.

Is it worth the money? Big question. No amount of money will ever disguise pilot error.

If you want a totally flexible and ultimate transmitter for next to no money, then get a 2nd hand Multiplex ProFi 4000. I got mine for £72 and it has to be the most programmable transmitter out there. Unconventional looks, no fancy colour screen, and you have to change the way you think about tranmitter programming, but it's German, and very well built.

They're cheap on the 2nd hand market because most club flyers have never heard of them, and they don't look flash.

Wouldn't have anything else now.

Geeky????????

[Ade_Law]

i have been down the MPX route, i used to own a 3030. biggest problem is a complete lack of PCM.

the software on the 3030 is squarely aimed at the glider market and has some serious short comings for helis, simple things like the throttle trim not working.

Ade

[Steve]

I only use PPM, but I believe that Multiplex do a PPM system that works in a very similar way to PCM???????

Sorry, don't agree with the glider thing.

When you start a new model, it does nothing, nothing at all. That's because you have to tell each servo exactly what you want it to do when you move which ever stick or any switch. There are no pre-sets, so the options are limitless. You are not bound by pre-determined functions or conditions, you just tell the transmitter that I want this servo to move in this manner when I move this stick, or when I change the position of this switch etc etc.

It's a blank canvas, and also the switches are all interchangeable with channels. So, by taking the back off (which you are promoted to do) you can easily alter the whole functionality of the transmitter. I have the 4 basic stick channels plus 2 additional sliders in the middle and 1 switch as a channel (for the gyro on my helis). All the other switches are just for whatever I want them to be for a particular model (plank or heli), and I tend to use most of them.

[Steve]

Sorry Ade - I have got the 4040 (or is it 4000 - can't remember) and have never had a go at the 3030.

And it only cost me £72, complete with case, rev counter, discharger, channel monitor etc etc - i.e. my transmitter will not transmit if someone else is on my frequency.

(stops me from shooting anyone else down, but doesn't stop anyone else from shooting me down.........)

[Stuart]

Why not use the "Thread Tools", at the top of the page to add a poll !!

[Ade_Law]

there was a time when i was saying exactly what you are saying manager.

I am very familiar with the programming of the 3030 and the general idea of the 4000 is quite similar but with a lot more flexibility. I suspect the extra flexibility would allow the throttle trim to be programmed but I have never played with a 4000 on a heli so not sure. I know for a fact the royal evos suffer the same problem.

am i the only one that thinks this is at best ridiculous? Getting it wrong once is one thing but to get it wrong twice is just plain stupid.

remember that the 4000 is almost twice the price of the 9c "new" price.

Multiplex IPD is filtered PPM, It looks at each servo pulse and if its not within the normal 1-2ms pulse width it throws the entire set out the window and feeds the servos the last known good signal. If, after a certain period of time this doesn't improve it goes into the preset failsafe position.

sounds like PCM doesn't it?

unfortunately, there is a problem. not all glitches put the servo pulse beyond the 1-2ms range so you still get the occasional glitch getting through to the model. Helis are "noisey" machines lots of metal flying around. This isnt theory, i had it happen a number of times to me and almost put a model in the ground once or twice too. There was nothing wrong with the model all bearings checked out ok and once switched to PCM never had an issue.

PCM does lockout eventually but it takes a lot more to get it to give up and when it does you have better control of the failsafe position. With IPD when you set the failsafe you set the position of all the servos. with PCM you can set some servos to hold, others to a preset position.

on helis i set the failsafe for all controls to hold, other than the throttle that goes to idle.This means the model carries on in the path i was asking it to go before it locked out which means its much less likely to throw itself at the ground/people.

As for channel check. Brilliant idea, i think its idiotic that people have to pay extra for it, it should be standard fitment and that other manufacturers haven't done the same. Especially with everybody releasing synth modules. I was surprised that the 14mz didnt come with such a feature. If all the manufacturers did. It would mean the end of shoot downs.

Ade