gyro question for noob

[skipper]

Hi all
new to gyros as have been flying acro all my life.
I am going to purchase a gy401 for my rex which hasnt flown yet, however i am making short hops with a walkera 60....i cannot get the supplied gyro to work properly in hh mode but thats a different question?!
If i purchase a gy401, will it work succesfully without the remote gain pluged into the rx? i want to put it on the walkera first and the rx has no extra channel for this function. Also could somebody explain the differences between heading hold and normal mode (rate mode or tail lock mode i think it is referred to??) What are the actual advantages in having hh on when you are flying as opposed to normal. Can a learner like me get away with normal mode when practising the hover?
Thanks guys

[z11355]

the 401 requires that extra channel since that channel tells the unit what mode and gain
to have.

consider the GY240 which doesn't have remote gain.

[BarracudaHockey]

http://www.futaba-rc.com/faq/faq-gyros.html

What z said, the gain wire requires a signal to boot the gyro properly. The 401 has to be booted in HH mode, then if you care to bother, switched to rate (normal) mode. Most of us just use rate mode to setup the tail linkage. Some of the scale guys prefer rate mode as the tail will weather vane and looks more realistic.

[skipper]

Thanks guys I understand.
would the futaba gy 401 be ok with a dx6 radio - anybody got this combo? or should i save up a little more and get a futaba radio if so what model will make me happy flying helis, the one that finless demonstrates the 401 with in his vid looks awfully expensive. i am learning helis, i have a trex and a walkera 60 and have been into planks with a jr x347. i guess i want something comparable to the 347....what would be a good setup for moi?...if i am to fly with the 401? The dx6 is very well priced, but is it compatible with the gyro and will i be dissapointed after the jr?
cheers

[BarracudaHockey]

The 401 will work with any radio.

The dx6 has some advantages with its freqency flexability but is limited in its programming features.

The radio bob is using is the Futaba 7c probably a FF7 over there. The advice I always give is buy the best radio that you can afford it will be around longer than most of the models that you fly with it.

[skipper]

Thanks barra, good advice!
saving, saving, saving!!!