Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
Home
Discussion Groups
General
ModelsRailroadsRockets
Radio Controlled
Air ModelsHelicoptersLand ModelsWater Models
ModelGeeks.com
Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map

Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / July 2003



Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

In a flap about new radio...

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
PCPhill - 30 Jul 2003 21:32 GMT
Hi group,

   I'm soon to be in the market for a new radio,  and I'm looking for a
feature I can't seem to find anywhere.

   Are there any Txs out there that either have assignable channels for
flaps, or the flaps on Ch 5?  I'd like to fly some of my small electric
birds with the FMA M5 receiver (very light dual conversion) and be able to
run flaperons.

It would seem to be an easy feature to add to computer radios,  but none of
the Tx manuals I've read online seem to offer it.

Thanks,
           PCPhill
daytripper - 30 Jul 2003 22:23 GMT
>Hi group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>Thanks,
>            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
flaps.

You could then use a PMIX mapped to whatever switch or knob you want for basic
flap control and have the output show up on channel 5. Then use an elevator ->
flap mix to fine tune the flap behavior and you're good to go...

/daytripper
Bill Fulmer - 30 Jul 2003 23:08 GMT
I know of no computer radio that assigns flaps to Ch.5 as a matter of
course.  If any channel was considered a standard for flaps, it would be Ch.
6...  Ch 5 is generally assigned to retracts...

The Futaba 9C allows you to assign just about any programmable function to
just about any switch..  The possibilities boggle the mind, and are
practically endless..

Using the one of the two "Slider" pots to operate flaps is great..  With
just a bit of finaglin' you can have the flaps respond in direct proportion
to the amount of movement on the slider, from no flaps all the way to full
flaps, giving a "feel" that was unattainable before.

Futaba got it right with this transmitter......

Cheers,

Bill

> >Hi group,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> /daytripper
PCPhill - 31 Jul 2003 00:17 GMT
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
Doug McLaren - 31 Jul 2003 06:28 GMT
| 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.
Abel Pranger - 31 Jul 2003 16:16 GMT
<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
Craig - 30 Jul 2003 23:13 GMT
The futaba 9C has sliders on the sides you could assign to flapperons.

Craig

> Hi group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Thanks,
>             PCPhill
Bill Fulmer - 30 Jul 2003 23:17 GMT
Phil...

I must admit I missed the part about you wishing to use Ch. 5 as your flap
function..  I guess whether or not that will work depends on whether or not
Ch. 5 is a proportional Channel on your FMA Rx...

On the old Hitec 535 it was NOT; but the 535 Rx actually has a six channel
chip, and the sixth channed can be "tapped" and put to use...

Cheers,

Bill

> Hi group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Thanks,
>             PCPhill
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2009 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.