Spektrum Questions From A Newbie

[zoobs]

I’m a really new newbie and I don’t know if this is the right forum to post this and it may be a really stupid question?? What is the actual difference between the DX7 and the DX6?? I’ve got a Twister Medevac which I can hover and manoeuvre (not great but OK). A month ago I bought a Hirobo Shuttle 30 with Futaba electrics which I’ve never flown. I bought it for outdoor use during the summer. It did not have a Tx so I bought a Futaba FF7 (Old Style) from fleabay to use with it. To give me some practice over the winter I bought a Phoenix Sim which a friend setup with the FF7. My grandkids bought me a Mini-Pred for Xmas obviously without the Tx. I was coming along nicely when the Futaba was accidentally knocked off the desk and has since stopped working with Phoenix (I think its goosed but I’ll have a friend check it to make sure) so I wondered about a Spektrum radio to replace the FF7. My problem is I know the DX6 especially the new “i” version will suit the Mini-Pred, but will it suit the Shuttle (I know the servos won’t). There must be more differences than 1 channel given the price difference. So should I go for the DX6 or 7. I have no interest in 3D, if anything, my ultimate goal would be, after learning basic flying, a scale Bell 47
Thnx in advance Zoobs

[Made2Fade]

It has 6 channels instead of 7 which the dx7 has.
It only has 10 model memories whereas the dx7 has 20.
IMO it doesnt feel nowhere near as nice/comfortable in ya hands as the dx7.
Its to my understanding (somebody correct me if im wrong) that the dx6i has a throttle cut feature but the dx7 doesnt. I think the dx6i doesnt have as many features in the menus as the dx7. Not exactly sure what they are but there is definately somethings left out (maybe assignable switches or something).
Id go for the 7 as its a little more futureproof and will always be nice to have a spare channel in case one day you decide to add something scale if thats what your into.
Lee

[Boggy]

pretty much sums it up lee .
the 6 only has one idle up setting. and no throttle recovery on trim. but the rest is as you say.
if your going scale zoob get as many channels as you can!!

[zoobs]

Thanks for replying guys but I have another question. Should I go for the DX7 or the Futaba 6EX FASST 2.4Ghz (there’s no way my wife will let me have the 12FG). I suppose I’m answering my question since the 6EX has only 6 channels, but what do you guys think.

[marktigere1]

I currently have a FF7 but replacing it with the Spektrum DX6i.

Not the funds for the FF7 Fasst system as the DX6i is under 100 quid which I think is a bargain.

I intend to fly my Trex 450's and the Shuttle with the DX6i.

Mind you, I have no govenor so don't need the 7th channel.

Scale will require at least 7 though.

Cheers

Mark

[Made2Fade]

Still rather have the dx7 as spektrums system is faster than Futabas 2.4
There have been tests done in this forum that proves this. Think it was ash that done them.
Lee

[zoobs]

Thanks again guys its certainly food for thought. My flying skill is certainly way less than even attempting anything fancy? I wonder if DX6i may be the way to go after all I just want to learn to fly.
I'll have a glass of wine tonight and ponder on it. I'll give my wife one(or 5 or 6 also) and if she gives me the green light I'll be on to the computer like sh*t through a goose placing my order.
God I lead a complicated life.
Cheers Zoobs

[zoobs]

God you guys are going to hate me, is the only difference between the Spektrum DX7 7ChHeli w/AR7001 and the DX7 DSM 7Ch MicroLite Helithe Rx and Servos
Cheers Zoobs

[Boggy]

the ar7001 is full range.
the micro lite heli is a parkfly rx.
so range basicly!!

[jboweruk]

While on this subject, would the DX6i be a good choice for the BCX2 and Twister skylift? I'm looking at changing the Skylift to a 2.4Ghz but what would need to be changed inside her? And would I just need to bind the BCX2 to the tx or would that need a whole new RX unit?

[moyesboy]

The normal DX7 kit comes with AR7000 Rx and DS821 servos.
The servos have a poor reputation as at least initially some output shafts snapped off rather easily. So most people won't trust them in their helis. They are standard size servos, as big as the ones in your shuttle.
The AR7000 receiver is a two part Rx. The main rx has two little antennas and another tiny extension rx has another two little antennas. This makes the system work more reliably at long range becuase the metal and carbon parts in the model willnever cover all 4 antennas which can be all facing different directions.

The DX7 with moicrolight revciever set comes with 4 micro servos and a small single part 6 channel receiver. So the system only drives 6 channels though the tx will work 7 if you get a 7 channel receiver later.
The servos are the same size as the ones in your mini pred but are higher quality being digital (which makes them faster and more accurate). But those servos haven't been out long and we haven't heard much about them.

Becuase the 6 channel recevier in a single part with just the two little antennas it may not get the same range, but if the model is small that doesn't matter. In ideal condiotuions it probably has the same range as the AR7000 but if the model has metal parts shadowing the receiver then it is more likely to suffer as the tx signal gets weaker.

The heli and the aero systems are basically the same. There may be two switches swapped round or something but the main difference is the throttle stick is smooth friction on the heli rather than notchy for the aero.

Remember to specify if you want throttle left (mode 2) or throttle right (mode1) as these radios cannot be swapped mode.

[scallybert]

I'm looking at changing the Skylift to a 2.4Ghz but what would need to be changed inside her?

I did a quick Google search to see how many channels the Skylift is. Seems it's 6, which surprised me a bit. (Why do you need 6 ?)

Anyway, http://www.modelflying.co.uk/news/ar...sp?UAN=383&v=1 "Whilst disassembled I decided to replace the receiver with a Spektrum AR 6100 2.4GHz unit, so that I could take advantage of my computerised transmitter, the DX7."

[moyesboy]

In all probablility the skylift is 4 channels, fixed pitch throttle, yaw, 2x cyclic.
Spectrum don't make an rx or tx with less than 6 channels so that is what the fitted.
A 6 channel heli has throttle, 2x cyclic, 1x collective, yaw and gyro gain.

The 2x cyclic and 1x collective and be 3x eccpm instead.

A nitro heli will often have a 7th channel used to set head speed on a governor.

so a fancy scale heli might need extra channels beyond 7 for retracts, gun turrets and remote control pipe and slippers.

But you could leave out the flight functions becuase scale model helis never actually take to the air much

[scallybert]

In all probablility the skylift is 4 channels, fixed pitch throttle, yaw, 2x cyclic.

FWIW That's what I'd have guessed.

Spectrum don't make an rx or tx with less than 6 channels so that is what the fitted.

That makes sense too, but it seems the Skylift comes with a 6 channel Rx - http://www.elitemodelsonline.co.uk/item2395 6600343-TWISTER SKYLIFT 6CH RX UNIT.

I guess they may not be using all of these, but I also wonder if tandems control differently.

The 2x cyclic and 1x collective and be 3x eccpm instead.

That's where some clever mixing is done in the Tx rather than having (even more) complicated mechanical linkages doing it in the model ?

HBCP2 seems to have this. Three servos directly drive the swashplate. To change collective pitch, all three need to move in unison so as not to change the swashplate orientation.

[jboweruk]

I think the Skylift RX has the extra channels for fitting options, for eg lights etc. She still controls normally, in fact the servos are in the centre with long control arms going out to the two swash plates, one at each end. But she is prone to suddenly throwing a little hissy fit and spooling the blades, only momentarily but it can be a bit scary if you're trying to do something, like stand her up after she's fallen over. Which is why I think it's some kind of interference, and I am sure somewhere I saw somebody had fitted a Spektrum 2.4 kit to her, but I'd like to know how much work is involved, as I say, would it be just an RX or RX and servos?