JR PCM9II 2.4 - Any Good?

[Gate88]

I was about to buy a replacement for my FF9 PCM, but just as I sold the Futaba the DX7 I was after got sold so I find myself radioless.

I have wanted to switch to 2.4 for a while now so I'm toying with what to buy, I have been offered a blinding deal on a PCM9II with a 2.4 conversion for about the price of a DX7, should I go for the JR or get the Spektrum? Are 9II's any good? Are there any problems binding them as they are not designated 2.4?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Andy from Sandy]

Who is the manufacturer of the 2.4 module?

The radio itself is the same as DSX9 so is good tx.

[Gate88]

Who is the manufacturer of the 2.4 module?

The radio itself is the same as DSX9 so is good tx.

It's a Spektrum, (with the wire running up the back to the ariel) but if the DX9 is 2.4 it will know how to bind to Rx's, how do you bind the PCM conversions if the inbuilt software doesnt know it's a 2.4g?

[Andy from Sandy]

The binding is the same in both cases as the DSX9 also has a spektrum RF module buried inside.

I think the only thing you might be losing out on is the plug-in module may only support 7 channels. (Help someone here please.)

[KnifeEdge]

Hi mate, have a Jr PCM 9xii with spektrum 2.4 module. Never had any problems. Excellent tx. Never had problems with binding etc.

Only thing that did not work that well was the plastic post that replaces the ariel. The thread on mine broke. To solve the problem I used the bottom section of the ariel and screwed this onto the tx, then pushed the plastic mount into that. Now solid as a rock.

[KnifeEdge]

I am using the ar9000, so no problem with number of channels

[Andy from Sandy]

I have found this additional information that might be of interest between the 2 systems:

You will lose the setable fail safe (assuming you are using PCM) and only get fail safe on throttle. All other radio features work.

Versus getting a native 2.4 radio, like the X9303 or DSM9x, you lose Model Match and Servo Sync.

Model match binds each Rx to a specific model memory, so you can't try to fly a heli with a plank memory selected.

Servo Sync reorders how the channel is sent so all three cyclic servos get tehir new data at the same time. Reduces interactions.

Both native and module work fine.

[Smoothound]

I have a 9X2 with module it works fine. Far better radio than a DX7 for me because it also does gliders properly

[Gate88]

oh and by the way, what plug do I need for the sim? I currently have a Futaba square one so I figure I'm going to need a new one?

[Andy from Sandy]

What simulator? The JR tx requires a 3.5mm jack plug. If it is Phoenix then just un-plug the futaba extension and the jack plug goes straight into the TX

[Gate88]

What simulator? The JR tx requires a 3.5mm jack plug. If it is Phoenix then just un-plug the futaba extension and the jack plug goes straight into the TX

Unfotunatly not, it's Reflex, like everything else I have, I brought it on the spur of the moment without taking advice from the members here!!!!

[Andy from Sandy]

JR/Spektrum Reflex XTR Simulator Cable on eBay (end time 05-Aug-09 12:49:32 BST)

[SRH990]

The PCM9X II is a veru good radio, much better than the DX7 imho with one caveat, the converted system using the Spektrum module has a high latency, that is the time taken between moving the stick and the servo moving. This isn't a problem for most people, generally only heavy stick bangers.

Of course, as mentioned, you do loose model match and servo sync as well which may or may not be important to you. I've now moved to the Futaba 10CG, mainly because it's the lowest latency radio on the market and I've certainly noticed the difference, although you still don't get a model match!

[EtheAv8r]

For me Model Match is very important nay vital - only the other evening I would have flown (or rather crashed) my G5 as the Tx was on the AcroMaster memory (this is what happens when you are 1: old-ish and 2: distracted between models). Model Match saved me making an expensive mistake!

[Steve]

Model match binds each Rx to a specific model memory, so you can't try to fly a heli with a plank memory selected.

I think you'll find that the model match doesn't work with a Spektrum module in a 9xii Tx. Model match is a software gizmo, and although the 9xii is extremely close to the DSX9 in its software, it doesn't include model match as this is a 2.4 specific additive. But it wasn't a problem to me when I had a 9xii with a Specky module.

Couple of things - Spektrum module in a 9xii will rebind after a signal failure much faster (under a second if it's one of the more recent modules) than a DSX9 (typically about 3 seconds = plenty long enough to crash!), unless they have improved the binding time on a DSX9 since I got mine.

If you have a Spektrum module in a 9xii, make sure you don't turn it on without the aerial fly-lead connected. If you do, you'll fry the module instantly, as I found out!