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Radio question, 2.4ghz air w/many channels
Topic Started: Dec 15 2012, 02:14 PM (882 Views)
flipwils11
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Hey guys, still new here, but after seeing some really cool possibilities I'm hopefully close to getting a Blizzard of my own and I'd like to use 2.4ghz for the radio when I pick it up. And, even though I'm ahead of myself and this is probably overkill, if I'm getting 2.4ghz I'd like to have a radio with several channels for doing some cool stuff later. :D On my wish list would be a camera, and various lights that I could trigger off a multi-channel radio.

Soo... with that said, I have a line on a decent deal on one of these 7 channel Futaba transmitters that would give me MORE than enough capabilities later to do cool stuff. I've read through the manual and it appears that I should be able to do mixing with the right stick as the Blizzard SR does with the two motor setup. Can anyone more familiar with these air setups and complex radio settings confirm that this, while admittedly overkill, would work for a Blizzard SR's most basic functions of the plow and mixing 2 motor motion?

http://manuals.hobbico.com/fut/7c-2_4ghz-manual.pdf

Thanks!
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ZippoMan
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It should work perfectly fine. All you really need are 3 channels but the more the merrier...lol :)
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Small Factory
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Formally Timmy2Tracks
FlipWils: Great find on that transmitter. This is something that you can grow into, and you will not be sorry that you got it. I run a Futaba 4PL which is a 4 channel transmitter. So, I already have 3 channels taken for the Blizzard SR. Soon, the rear tiller will be the 4th. I was hoping to modify the rear tiller so I could turn it off and on with the transmitter, but I have no more open channels. Then, this doesn't even count LED on/off capabilities. You can see how you quickly can use up those channels. I wish I had 7 channels...

The only downside is that it is their "Faast" system which is their high end 2.4 ghz system. The reason why I say a downside is that each receiver is $100 or so. The other system that my 4PL uses, the receivers are $35 - $40. Although, with futaba, you have a huge range of receiver options, which I love.

I say go for it, my man!
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flipwils11
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Thanks for the input guys. Still weighing what I want to do here but this helped a lot.
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Glacier Girl

As stated, take some time looking at a system. You need to think of the future needs and costs involved.
Often a used tx can be a bargain.

I play with airplanes and tanks, right now a Spektrum DX6i tx can be picked up fairly cheap as folks are upgrading to newer models. Decent 6 channel radio with 10 model memory, I bought mine for $75.00. A plus is the "Orange" rx's from HobbyKing. 8 bucks a pop and they work with Spektrum radios.

Another big hit now is the radios from places like HobbyPartz and Hobby King.
HobbyPartz has a similar to the DX6i, with a receiver included for around $50.00.
And the 9 channel system from HK has a huge following after it was found it could be hacked to do even more.

Also changing to a 2.4 module on a FM radio is an option. Frsky has a good system, easy to install into a tx, and cheap.

I've got a Frsky going into my EVO tx. It will have both FM and 2.4 with the flick of a switch to use either.
Best of both worlds.
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flipwils11
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Ok I bought it, probably for more $$ than I needed to spend than the options Glacier G pointed out but I really like Futaba.

I will have to figure out what I want to do for lights and I still need an actual Blizzard too of course.
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flipwils11
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Bumpage....

Jeez the instruction manual for this thing is long enough to cover procedures for launching the space shuttle. I have no experience with helis or planes so a lot of this is Greek, but it seems like by default the right stick mixes channel 1 and 2 (elevator and aileron for a heli). The left stick has the nice internal stops so it will hold the up/down position so this seems ideal for a plough if I add one at some point.

The other channels can be programmed or assigned to a "switch", one of the nice toggles near the top of the unit. I don't quite understand what signal they would send for example on the 2 position switches. Is it as simple as on/off? I saw in the LED lighting thread that there's a nice light controller for $30 or so that reaper I think shared the link to. If I programmed that thing to do multiple functions, I guess I need a switch on the radio with more than 2 positions. Like switch "G" on the upper right of the radio has 3 positions, so maybe lights off position 1, lights on (headlights and tail lights maybe) position 2, and add a 2nd bank of brighter LED's for position 3? I am just thinking out loud here since this is very new for me!

Btw I got this radio used but never hooked up to anything (seller had 2nd thoughts about getting into airplanes) plus it came with 2 brand new R617FS receivers and a 3rd brand new "micro" receiver. All for less than the new price of the radio and one receiver at Tower Hobbies.
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ZippoMan
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Which radio did you buy? Is that 4PL?
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flipwils11
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ZippoMan
Feb 3 2013, 05:07 PM
Which radio did you buy? Is that 4PL?
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXTTM1
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irishman
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That's a nice remote. I like Futaba also.
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Small Factory
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That is a beautiful unit. I really like Futaba's stuff.

The manual that came with my 4PL is quite thick, but I am sure nothing compared to the "War and Peace" sized one that must have came with this...

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ZippoMan
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Yeah even my Futaba 3PM-X has a nice sized manual. I want to upgrade now!! I am jealous and want more channels...:D
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Glacier Girl

Nice radio, I had one before I got my EVO. Not that bad to program, it's like anything new, practice with it.
Using an aircraft style tx over a car type does give you a lot more options as you have more channels to play with.

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Shed Boy
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I was a Futaba fan since the late 70's. They used to be the best radio out there. Now...I'm a HUGE fan of the Turnigy 9XR. For $60 and totally programmable it's a real bargain. It's also open source so people are writing some great firmware upgrades. Another nice feature is drop in frequency modules. I run 2.4 and 433 mhz with the same radio. Just pop out the module and pop in another one. Like Glacier Girl, I also use the OrangeRX TX and RX....but I use their module in my Turnigy. With 9 channels to use...who would need more?

Turnigy 9XR link

If you guys aren't shopping at Hobby King, your missing some seriously good deals. yeah..yeah...I know, their in China..or close to it. But guess what? I've had amazing customer service with these guys. Shipping time generally only takes 2 weeks from their Hong Kong store and only a few days from the store in Washington. They also have the best selection of stuff I've ever seen.
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ZippoMan
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I just bought a Futaba 4PLS from China!! It was $219.99 + shipping so it worked out cheaper than buying anywhere else even with taxes!
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