Thanks for the input. I did a quick scan through some Futaba manuals, but
didn't realize I could move the flaps by disabling the gear switch. As a
side question, I don't suppose any of the Futaba rigs support pos. and neg.
shift? All my current gear is JR :(
I wonder why the radio mfgs put gear on 5 anyway. I know many more people
using flaps/ flaperon than retracts, not to mention the electric heli flyers
who could use a 5CH receiver if they were switched...
PCPhill
> Heck, you can program a lowly Brand-F 8UA V1.0 to do that. Ch5 is usually the
> main gear channel, but you can disable the gear function and use it for your
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> /daytripper
| Thanks for the input. I did a quick scan through some Futaba manuals, but
| didn't realize I could move the flaps by disabling the gear switch.
Basically you do it by disabling the gear switch, then mixing the knob
(usually channel 6) into channel 5. The Futaba 9C and 8U can do it,
and I think the 6XAS can as well. No idea about the new Futaba 6EXA
channel computer radio, but I suspect it can as well.
Using that little round knob for flaps really sucks -- there's not
really tactile feedback telling what it's set to. The sliders on the
left and right of the 9C are *perfect* for flaps.
| As a side question, I don't suppose any of the Futaba rigs support
| pos. and neg. shift?
No, they dont.
| All my current gear is JR :(
Neither does any of the JR equipment that I'm aware of. The Hitec
Eclipse 7 *does* support selectable shifts, and while I've no
expereience with it myself, everything I've seen about it has been
very positive. And it even supports the Spectra module (without
worrying about the FCC and AMA bitching at you for using it in a
Futaba transmitter) allowing you to use it with any channel.
I'm not aware of any other radio made by the `big 4' (Futaba, JR,
Hitec, Airtronics) that has selectable shift. All of these
manufacturers make extremely good stuff, so you won't go wrong with
any of them (as long as you pick something that has the right shift to
work with what you've already got, of course.)
If you want selectable shift, I don't think you'll go wrong with the
Hitec Eclipse 7. It's probably cheaper than comparable radios by
Futaba and JR as well ...
| I wonder why the radio mfgs put gear on 5 anyway. I know many more
| people using flaps/ flaperon than retracts, not to mention the
| electric heli flyers who could use a 5CH receiver if they were
| switched...
Does Futaba even sell a 5 channel receiver? They'd probably prefer
that you buy one of their 7 channel receivers for your helicopter. Of
course, it costs 2x as much as your FMA M5 and isn't nearly as good.
(That FMA M5 receiver really is an excellent receiver. I have three I
think and love them ...)

Signature
Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzy.com
"I will always cherish the original misconceptions I had about you."
-anonymous
Mathew Kirsch - 31 Jul 2003 13:22 GMT
> I'm not aware of any other radio made by the `big 4' (Futaba, JR,
> Hitec, Airtronics) that has selectable shift.
Airtronics makes a couple that are shift-selectable. Both Airtronics
and Hitec are generally considered "second class" radio systems, so
they have incentive to be as compatible with the "big boys," JR and
Futaba, as they possibly can.
<snip>
> I wonder why the radio mfgs put gear on 5 anyway. I know many more people
> using flaps/ flaperon than retracts, not to mention the electric heli flyers
> who could use a 5CH receiver if they were switched...
PCPhill-
Peter Berg, a savvy designer/supplier of RC Rx's, noticed that too.
That's why the Berg 5 CH Rx has channels 1-4 and 6.
Abel
PCPhill - 31 Jul 2003 22:51 GMT
Bingo!
The Berg receiver actually sounds like the easest solution to my needs. It's
the same weight as the FMA to boot.
I've been able to use mixes to simulate the flaps on CH 5, but it's a major
hassle to get everything working as it should, vs a simple set up on Ch 6.
I'm going to start a new thread to ask for input on the Berg, I haven't met
anyone who has used one.
Thanks to all for the input,
PCPhill
> <snip>
> > I wonder why the radio mfgs put gear on 5 anyway. I know many more people
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Abel