Spektrum DX Radios, or more generally 2.4 ghz systems

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Magenta - 09 Feb 2007 01:41 GMT

I've been looking at the Spektrum DX radios, 6 & 7

The promises look good, but then you read on boards about system
glitches and failures during flight.

Is anyone here using one of these sytems? If so, what are your
experiences?

Also, from a heli prespective, what's the difference between the
radios? Do you need a DX7 for helicopters?

Does anyone know of production systems from other manufacturers using
2.4 ghz?

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Marc Heusser - 09 Feb 2007 09:36 GMT

> I've been looking at the Spektrum DX radios, 6 & 7
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Does anyone know of production systems from other manufacturers using
> 2.4 ghz?

2.4 GHz is almost like light - if you cannot see your model, you cannot
control it. A wet tree will block 2.4 GHz quite effectively (long
experience with this in military service ...)

At 35/40/70 MHz this is very different to the positive.

HTH

Marc

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Robert Roland - 09 Feb 2007 19:55 GMT

>Also, from a heli prespective, what's the difference between the
>radios? Do you need a DX7 for helicopters?

I have been watching some of their videos. I understand the DX6 is
only for park flyer type aircraft. You need the DX7 for a heli.

>Does anyone know of production systems from other manufacturers using
>2.4 ghz?

It looks like Futaba offer such a module for some of their radios.

They also offer synthesizer transmitter modules and receivers. This
means you do not have to buy crystals. You can simply select which
channel you want to use.

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RoRo

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Beav - 09 Feb 2007 22:39 GMT

>>Also, from a heli prespective, what's the difference between the
>>radios? Do you need a DX7 for helicopters?
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> means you do not have to buy crystals. You can simply select which
> channel you want to use.

But they're still operating in the 35Mhz band and the latest rendition of
radio controllery is moving away from that. The new one means no crystals
and no sythesised crystals either, so that's either going to be a good thing
(any number of flyers in the air at the same time) or a bad thing (any
number of flyers in the air at the same time).

At least they won't be able to shoot each other down.

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pda4you - 09 Feb 2007 22:15 GMT

You won't have any issues - they are well used fantastic systems...

> 2.4 GHz is almost like light - if you cannot see your model, you cannot
> control it. A wet tree will block 2.4 GHz quite effectively (long
> experience with this in military service ...)

Funniest quote of the year - I have really hard time flying any of m
models when I can't see them!

Mik

--
pda4yo

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Boo - 10 Feb 2007 15:51 GMT

> I've been looking at the Spektrum DX radios, 6 & 7
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Also, from a heli prespective, what's the difference between the
> radios? Do you need a DX7 for helicopters?

Aiui, the DX6 has restricted range and is only suitable for park flyers, the
DX7 has normal range is suitable for all types of models. A chap in our club is
flying an ExtremeFlight Yak (85" wingspan, 50 cc engine) using a DX7 and has had
no problems afaik.

Hth,

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Boo

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The OTHER Kevin in San Diego - 12 Feb 2007 17:22 GMT

>I've been looking at the Spektrum DX radios, 6 & 7
>
>The promises look good, but then you read on boards about system
>glitches and failures during flight.

Funny, but the Spektrum supporters all claim to be glitch free when
they had lots of glitching with PCM systems. I *RARELY* get glitches
with my 72MHz PCM rig, but then again, I pay attention to how I wire
up a model and route the antenna.

>Is anyone here using one of these sytems? If so, what are your
>experiences?

I've heard the "feel" of both Txs leaves something to be desired and
the DX7 has "most" of the features "most" heli guys will need. What
"most" includes is beyond my experience.

>Also, from a heli prespective, what's the difference between the
>radios? Do you need a DX7 for helicopters?

No, the DX6 will work fine, BUT, it doesn't have the range or features
of the DX7. I don't know of too many folks running the DX6, but those
that are, are doing so in 400 sized electrics (HDX400, Trex450 etc..)
Lots of folks running the DX7 in their 50 sized ships, electric or
nitro.

>Does anyone know of production systems from other manufacturers using
>2.4 ghz?

Xtreme Power Systems has been promising a piggy-back module for
exiting transmitters since October. They were showing their stuff at
the AMA Convention last month but still no firm availability date.
It's a small device that plugs into the trainer port and will be
secured to the Tx via velcro, chewing gum, snot etc....

Futaba just released a 6 channel 2.8Ghz system a couple weeks ago and
they've had a 3 channel pistol grip Tx for cars on 2.8Ghz for a while.
It's also rumored that both JR and Futaba are developing 2.8GHz
modules for their existing transmitters. On the Futaba side, it's
sounding like these modules will be available for the high-end radios
only, i.e the 12 and 14 series - which leaves me with a 9C out in the
cold.

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Doug McLaren - 28 Feb 2007 20:20 GMT

| Funny, but the Spektrum supporters all claim to be glitch free when
| they had lots of glitching with PCM systems.

Did Spektrum ever have PCM systems?

| I *RARELY* get glitches with my 72MHz PCM rig, but then again, I pay
| attention to how I wire up a model and route the antenna.

Glitch means different things to different people. Servos wildly
moving about should never happen on a PCM or SS system, and rarely on
the PPM systems with DSPs.

Of course, PCM and SS systems aren't immune to your servos just
sitting there when you're moving the sticks ...

| Xtreme Power Systems has been promising a piggy-back module for
| exiting transmitters since October. They were showing their stuff at
| the AMA Convention last month but still no firm availability date.
| It's a small device that plugs into the trainer port and will be
| secured to the Tx via velcro, chewing gum, snot etc....

Actually, they've been promising for longer than that, but last
October was just their first attempt at an availability date.

And they are also promising actual modules for radios that go into the
module slot, not just trainer port connected modules, though they are
promising those too.

| Futaba just released a 6 channel 2.8Ghz system a couple weeks ago and

Announced, not released. It's not out yet.

| they've had a 3 channel pistol grip Tx for cars on 2.8Ghz for a while.

2.8 GHz? It's 2.4 GHz. 2400 to 2483.5 MHz to be precise.

| It's also rumored that both JR and Futaba are developing 2.8GHz
| modules for their existing transmitters. On the Futaba side, it's
| sounding like these modules will be available for the high-end radios
| only, i.e the 12 and 14 series - which leaves me with a 9C out in the
| cold.

It's way too early to believe any rumors about that.

Spektrum also announced modules for Futaba and JR radios.

http://www.spektrumrc.com/

and I think these will cover the 9C as well.

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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Helicopters / February 2007

Spektrum DX Radios, or more generally 2.4 ghz systems