The end of 14MZ Supremacy near?

[Tom Fiddler]

Krysta
First thanks for resonding.
Why would Futaba bring out a Park flier system?
I'm with Finless on this one.

What are Futaba's plans on telemetry??

If you can't answer, I understand, Just don't be surprised when your market share has dwindled because Futaba is "too big" to keep it's loyal followers informed.


David H. You impressed me this time, I always knew you had some pull, but to get Futaba HQ to respond...Whew!!!
Don't take that wrong David, I have much respect for you.

[Jermo]

No offense to anyone but the 14Mz is essentually a color pocket PC with an RC controller tacked on. Why they charge so much for it boggles my mind ( I guess because there are folks willing to drop the cash). IMHO this is OLD technology and thinking. If radio companies were smart they would look to design a modular system where both software and hardware could be updatable. The technology can be compared to personal computers where you can buy new versions of windows, then get applications, games..etc..you buy each part individually.

This would allow a full featured system to be introduced with no frills at entry level all the way up to state of the art computing/control/flying at the high end.
It's a golden opportunity for the Radio Manf to capture the market and hold it for a while. Bringing 2.4GHz to the market wasn't that big of a leap considering it's been out for 6+ years.

When will we get a radio that's truely for us? Grows as we grow, changes as technology emerges?
Profits are in the upgrades.
Jermo

[ClayK]

No offense to anyone but the 14Mz is essentually a color pocket PC with an RC controller tacked on. Why they charge so much for it boggles my mind ( I guess because there are folks willing to drop the cash). IMHO this is OLD technology and thinking. If radio companies were smart they would look to design a modular system where both software and hardware could be updatable. The technology can be compared to personal computers where you can buy new versions of windows, then get applications, games..etc..you buy each part individually.

This would allow a full featured system to be introduced with no frills at entry level all the way up to state of the art computing/control/flying at the high end.
It's a golden opportunity for the Radio Manf to capture the market and hold it for a while. Bringing 2.4GHz to the market wasn't that big of a leap considering it's been out for 6+ years.

When will we get a radio that's truely for us? Grows as we grow, changes as technology emerges?
Profits are in the upgrades.
Jermo

Actually, the 12 and 14 can both be upgraded with respect to software. The firmware has been upgraded twice since I purchased it. Having the radio mostly computer based allows this type of functionality really. Additionally, there are a lot of program functions on the 12 and 14 that I have not seen on another radio, some are model type specific. To be honest, it's a pretty complicated radio and I'm still getting the hang of it after 9 months or so with it. I can do a helicopter program and some fine tuning, but there are some functions on there that are beyond my knowledge just yet. I know some FAI/F3C guys that think the world of it because of it's customization properties.

There is also an Airtronics radio that allows programming via a card, it is also considered a "modular" radio by the above terminology with respect to functions.

Taking everything into consideration with firmware updates and frequency modules, it would appear that the radio has upgradeability.

I understand what you are saying though, my analogy would be:
You want a Hyundai that you can pimp out as your needs require. I believe there is only so much you can do with a Hyundai though.

Unfortunately, if you want performance, you have to get a Ferrari and then go from there. That would be how the 12 or 14 fits into my analogy.

[Jermo]

<cut>
I understand what you are saying though, my analogy would be:
You want a Hyundai that you can pimp out as your needs require. I believe there is only so much you can do with a Hyundai though.

Unfortunately, if you want performance, you have to get a Ferrari and then go from there. That would be how the 12 or 14 fits into my analogy.

Not quite. I'd want a generic where literally everything can be changed/swapped including Gimbles, switches..etc
Jermo

[RCfan]

It's hard to speculate on what Futaba will or will-not do as they are always so darn quiet about everything. Their PR department is pretty bad when it comes to promoting new RC products, e.g. how many knew the MPDX-1 was coming? Anyway, I've been waiting to see what they're going to do in this regards, although Krysta's post is quite interesting (thx Krysta), I would be very (VERY) surprised if they decide to leave the 14MZ (and 12Z) owners in the dust. A move like that would simply anger too many folks and probably lose them many current and potentially new customers (why back a company that won't stand behind it's flagship product).

Depending on what they come out with, I myself will probably not do anything. I've been considering dropping out of RC for a few months now as I haven't been actively flying in over 6 months. :dontknow Just don't have the time and other things seem to always have higher priority. In fact I'm probably going to be posting one or more of my radios for sale soon (anyone interested)? :(

[Bayou Talker]

I would be very (VERY) surprised if they decide to leave the 14MZ (and 12Z) owners in the dust. A move like that would simply anger too many folks and probably lose them many current and potentially new customers (why back a company that won't stand behind it's flagship product).


That is my thinking too. I just hope we are right. As for now, I don't mind a frequency control situation. Most of the places I fly are not very busy and I rarely have a problem with conflicts.

[medflight]

If Futaba does leave us in the dust I'll be switching but it will be when the DX9 arrives.

This may be a stupid question but what is the XPS I've seen people mention?

[kgfly]

This may be a stupid question but what is the XPS I've seen people mention?
http://www.xtremepowersystems.net

[medflight]

Thanks for the link.

[Rudy]

Many of you have been asking why Futaba would come out with a 6 channel park flyer 2.4ghz radio before coming out with a 9 or 12/14 channel ver. It's really very simple they sale alot more 6 channel radios then they sale 9 or 12/14 channel radios.

Ask any local hobbys shop which they sale more of. I would bet the ratio is 100 to 1 if not a lot higher. I have been to many shop that have never sold a 9Z much less a 12/14. They have how ever sold a ton of 6 and 7 channel radio's

I travel all over the country and unless I'm at a helicopter event I never see a 12/14 mz radios. Most of the people I talk with have never even seen one.

So with the news that a 6 channel is on the way, I will bet that a 7 or 8 channel would follow in 6 - 12 months and then a true 9 channel 9C level in 12 - 24 months, with a 12/14 radio in 24 - 36 months.

[Phaedrus]

Better still, years ago before Futaba left SOCAL I went over to have lunch with some folks I know there. I was hanging out in the warehouse area. 65% was stacked floor to ceiling with car radios, the rest was for airplane radios, and those stacks were not as high as the car radio stacks. What was really obvious was the one lone pallet of 9Z radios sitting off in the corner all by itself. Gave me a real graphic idea of the relative proportion of radios sold at the time. Not much has changed I suspect.

[kgfly]

Good points. I think the mix might have changed a bit due to the eHeli phenomenan. The emergence of the Shogun and now the TRex and various clones has, IMO, vastly expanded the sales of R/C heli equipment. There are many folk, like me, who would never have considered a nitro heli, but upon discovering the eHeli revolution have followed up on a long held dream. No doubt heli pilots are still the minority and a large chunk of the expansion in heli pilots will be happy with a 6-ch radio so long as it has the right feature mix, so your reasoning still seems spot on.

[jrohland]

I have had a Nomadio Sensor on my truck since they first released it. I have been through several firmware and one hardware (new receiver) upgrade. Everything they said it would do, it does.

I have no reason to expect--nor does their history suggest--Nomadio will fail to meet the capabilities they claim.

I don't have a Futaba radio (DX6, Spektrumized JR XP6102, DX7) so, I have no stake in this issue. However, I do think guys are fed up with the frequency boards. When they see many more guys showing up with DX7s, turn them on and fly. While this is not a big problem at club fields (since the regulars have worked out the channels), go to a fun fly and see what a pain radio impounding is.

If someone asks me "should I get a 14MZ?" I would say, if you need 14 channels and, you have the funds, go ahead. If you don't need more than seven channels, get a DX7.

As for XPS, I would wait till their tech is proven at lots of fields and on many different systems.

jrohland

[Finless]

I will bet that a 7 or 8 channel would follow in 6 - 12 months and then a true 9 channel 9C level in 12 - 24 months, with a 12/14 radio in 24 - 36 months.


I dont doubt that! But 36 months!!!!! Sorry but they will be too late and will be a follower by that time... Realize that is 3 years from now! Oh man I wont wait that long with my 14mz I will tell you that and I bet you a dollar that Spexctrum has the 9 out in 6 months! Forgetting XPS for now this is just WAY to far behind the 2.4 explosion that is going on... I am seeing people convert EVERY DAY.

So you have a point about the low end radios selling more but if they have the technology ready then it shouldnt freakin take 36 months fo the high end radios!

If they take this long then count me out for sure.... Sorry but things move faster now than they did 10 years ago.

Bob

[RedViper]

Unfortunately, if you want performance, you have to get a Ferrari and then go from there. That would be how the 12 or 14 fits into my analogy.

Then that would make the DX9 the new 600HP Viper. Alot cheaper and way faster!

[Steve Neu]

Hi Guys,

You can swap modules in the US between 72Mhz and 50Mhz easily by simply changing out the modules, but remember that if you want to go from 72Mhz to 35Mhz, 40Mhz, or 29Mhz, your transmitter will need to have the country code changed by the distributor in that country first for the new module to work.

If you know who to ask overseas there is a solution to Futaba USA's very dumb method of trying to prevent radio migration. There is a software patch for the 12Z and 14MZ which gets rid of the regional problems--and there is a "international" module available too.

It is really dumb in my opinion for Futaba to put a ball and chain around radios that are likely to be used for international contests!

Steve

[ClayK]

Then that would make the DX9 the new 600HP Viper. Alot cheaper and way faster!

Cute, but not quite. Having driven a Viper and a Ferrari, I'll choose the Ferrari (I'm speaking literally here, not figuratively even though the analogy is also applicable). Viper might have some muscle behind it, so does the Ferrari (their 0-60 times are close, as well as 0-100) but Uncle Enzo's machine moves nimbly through the corners. I can't say the same for the Viper (pssst, it's heavier and a little more sluggish in tight turns).

I suppose since you want to bring up the imaginary, non-production DX9, you can enlighten me to it's specifications? I mean, other than 9 channels. I would like to know what functions it has? What is it's upgrade possibilities, if any? Can it support any helicopter, plane/glider I ever buy? Does it have all the program mixes and conditions? How fast is the processing inside, with regard to the various mixing? Weight? Size? Does it feel cheap in my hands, or like a quality piece of hobby radio equipment?

These are just some of the questions I have...

[SteveL]

The problem with being on top is everyone is out to knock you down :roll:

[Rodney]

The DX 9 will be out soon Im sure. It is based on the 9303 which has a lot of programming, not the Swash Detail function the 12&14, which mine didnt work right anyway on my 12Z. But it has enough to make the JR folks happy. But hey My DX7 rocks, only wish I had a CUT switch. :arggg:

[kgfly]

Rodney

I guess you have tried the "Throttle recovery" feature and don't like it ? If so you can synthesise a throttle cut using a p-mix with THR to THR and assigning it to a switch. Here is one example of how it can be done: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6550347&postcount=436

[medflight]

What do you all think of the Spektrum modules for the 12z and 14mz?

[Finless]

What do you all think of the Spektrum modules for the 12z and 14mz?


YEA BABY.... get to keep my cake and eat it too :thumbup:

[medflight]

Ecactly what I thought.

[kgfly]

Looks like Spektrum will be very expensive compared to XPS:

Spektrum
SPMMSMZ9 DSM2 Air Module System FUTABA MZ w/AR9000 RX $299.99

XtremeLink
Futaba 14MZ/12Z transmitter module with your choice of receiver below:

w/6 channel park flyer receiver - $139
w/8 channel receiver - $179
w/10 channel receiver - $199

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With more features plus telemetry at cheaper prices it seems there will still be niche for XPS/XL.

[Tom Fiddler]

I still hope for the XPS..but I am having my doubts. :(
The new Spektum modules should light a fire or put one out!! (for XPS)