What's the best recommend heli radio?

[triniheli]

What's the best, most recommended heli radio on the market? I'm seeing models such as the 9chp and 9cap, what's the difference?

The objective here is the purchase the best radio possible for helis one time.

thanks.

[kgfly]

Real can-o-worms here, all opinion based since what's "best" is subjective. Here is my take on it.

Futaba fans might say the 14mz is best since it is the flagship Tx. If you want to spend >$2000 on a Tx then why not ? Generally the 9chp-Super is very well regarded (9cap = 9c airplane pcm, 9chp = 9c heli pcm) and generally seens as the *best* for those for whom money is at least part of the equation. The 9c has a known performance issue for CCPM mixing. Thousands fly with it and love it, but on the bench it can be shown to be a dog compared to many other radios.

JR fans would say the 10x is top of the line although I think the majority would say the 9303 (aka 9xII) is all you will ever need. The 9303 has measurably better CCPM perfomance than the 9c and consistantly comes out slightly ahead on usability in most surveys.

Multiplex fans adore the ergonomics and amazing flexibility of their EVO radios and proclaim them top of the pops.

Spektrum DX7 is a winner. It doesn't have all the features of a 9chp or 9303 but it has all that *most* heli pilots are likely to need, excellent usability PLUS a lot of benefits in safety, performance and convenience.

The DX9 is known to be on its way and I think will be the no-brainer choice over 9c or 9303 when it is released, but we don't know when that will be.

If you do choose a non-Spektrum Tx then you could still get the benefits of 2,4GHz spread spectrum technology by buying the Tx only (no Tx module or Rx) and a flight pack from here: http://www.xtremepowersystems.net/ They are due out in Feb/Mar but have been delayed since Oct so that is not certain.

Finally, since ergonomics count for a lot, you should physically get your hands on the lead contenders and see what actually feels comfortable. How do the gymbals feel ? Can you reach the switches easily ? Is there room where there are mutiple switches for your size fingers ?

[VKGT]

I love my JR9303... Changed over from a Futaba 9C for it and will NEVER go back.

Very open ended question though, what type of flying are you doing and what is your experience?

[dogg5306]

Go for Futaba 12MZ
If you can afford it choose Futaba 14MZ you won't regret it full stop :!:

[wjvail]

You might as well ask which is better, Ford or Chevy, Coke or Pepsi, OS or YS. Many will have an opinion but in the end, there are many good radios to choose from. While I fly a 14MZ I would not dare to suggest you wouldn't find great happiness with an Airtornics Stylist, JR 9303, or 9C.

A couple of notes... Once you choose a camp it's a little hard to switch. I've got great gobs of Futaba PCM receivers so no matter how good the next JR radio is, it's unlikely I'll be able to buy it.

Also, buy the best transmitter you can comfortably afford. It sounds like a car sales pitch or a pitch from a Realtor trying to get you to buy more than you need or want. Its just been my experience that when folks buy the transmitter they think they need for today, they end up buying another better transmitter tomorrow.

As an example I see people buy a simple 4 channel radio for their first .40 trainer and the truth is, it will fly that trainer perfectly; but, 2 weeks latter I see them and they will ask if their radio will fly the ARF Super Stick in the hobby shop. The answer is yes but, you don't have another model memory in your 4 channel and you won't be able to set up the flaps. Had they bought a little more radio, say the 6 channel, they might have gotten a radio with 3 model memories. Now they end up with 2 radios. Shortly thereafter comes the, "can I use my 6 channel on a Raptor". The answer may be no because you need the 7 channel to get the heli programming. I've generalized here but you get the idea.

Also... It may help to get what others are flying in your local area. It's difficult for me to give others help when they hand me a JR 7202. It's a fantastic radio but things slow down because I'm not a familiar with the JR menu system. Obviously the converse would be true if everyone at your field flew JR or HiTec or Airtronics or....

Happy Landings,

Bill Vail
www.RCScreenProtectors.com

[triniheli]

wow...such helpful reviews...will post my decision as soon as I'm done with the reviews. :D

[triniheli]

ok...done with the reviews and I'd like to thank all you guys, especially kgfly and wjvail for taking the time to write detailed reviews.

I've always been a futaba guy since from my r/c car days. I started back then with the grasshopper, fox, supershot rc car era and futaba was it. So that sort of stuck with me through the years but i'm not going to go with anything if there's something better. In this case, it's more of a matter of choice than one being better than the other.

kgfly mentioned a 'known performance issue' with the 9c when it comes to CCPM mixing. Although I can guess what that means, I don't really know but it was worth mentioning.

I feel as of the futaba 'z' radios are a bit too much for me right now. What am I basing this on? Nothing really, I'm thinking as a beginner, the best radio on the market may be a bit more complicated.

So that narrows it down to the futaba 9c, JR 10x and 9303. For some reason, I don't read too much on the spectrums.

The winner is....JR XP9303 :noteworthy
Incidentally, I've been checking out radios on some popular sites and came up with this. I think I'm getting a good deal here, maybe you guys can tell me what you think. Getting a 9303 with the 47 module (what's that?), case, wall charger, manual, 2500 MAH pack. the radio was purchased summer 2006 but never used. Seller is asking $375 and is paying $15 in shipping. I'm getting a lower end JR and FM receiver soon, so I can use this with the JR receiver, right?

what do you all think?

[kgfly]

For some reason, I don't read too much on the spectrums
Not sure why (unless you searched with 'spectrum' instead of 'Spektrum') as there are many posts about them all over the place. The Spektrum radios (DX6 and DX7) are based on JR platforms (Max66 for DX6 and 7202 for DX7) so the quality/feel etc is the same as you get with those JR models.

The 9303 has a hole in back where you plug in the RF section packaged as a module. There are two kinds of Tx-modules, fixed frequency and synthesised (which allows you to choose any channel in the band, for you in the US, that's the 72MHz R/C band). I presume the '47 module' is a 72MHz Tx-module on channel 47.

The 2500mAh Tx battery is a good thing. The stock 600mAh battery is a bit of joke for such a power-hungry Tx. The stock wall charger is only 65mA so it will take a couple of days to charge that high capacity battery. You can use another charger but you cannot charge about 1A via the Tx charge socket.

I cannot comment on the US prices.

Of course I think you should get a DX7 (comes with a 1500mAh battery and uses less about half the power of a 9303) but that's just my preference :wink:
The '47' module is I presume the 72Mhz Tx-module

[triniheli]

you've added some very good points again and have again made me indecisive :lol:

That good...DX7, uses about half the power of a 9303 and it comes with a 1500mAH pack. Let me check the prices. will get back to you.

[triniheli]

so what exactly do I need?

I don't need the servos cause I've got them already. I just need the tx and rx with matching crystals? or is the DX7 synthesized?

not sure if i'm making sense here.

[DavidH]

triniheli,
What are the modulation bands that are allowed in Trinidad?

David

[triniheli]

David it's the same as the US

[DavidH]

OK thought it was. Just wanted to make sure. I know some of the countries are not allowing 2.4 ghz yet.

David

[kgfly]

so what exactly do I need?

I don't need the servos cause I've got them already. I just need the tx and rx with matching crystals? or is the DX7 synthesized?

not sure if i'm making sense here.

You get the servos almost for free. That is, there are shops that are pulling the servos out and selling Tx/Rx packages but the discount is usually about $30. You should easily get more than that if you sell the servos.

One of the points about 2.4GHz is that there are no crystals to buy/change/damage/lose/have fall out. In this sense it is similar to the synthesised FM radio gear. One way it differs from an FM synth setup is that you never have to worry about finding a free channel and then changing your synth module and synth Rx. You just turn on the Tx and it finds the clear channels it needs, then the Rx automatically finds the encrypted data from the Tx to which it is bound and sees any transmissions from all other sources as simply noise.

[triniheli]

are you kidding me? so that's what the DX7 does. That is the ultimate convenience and I would definitely put that feature high on the priority list.

But aside from the automatic frequency finder of the DX7, would you say that the 9303 is better in terms of features usable for helis? what would you go with?

[dogg5306]

Once Futaba will release its 2.4Ghz module... it will be THE obvious choice to make.

Think again... use the functionalies of the 12MZ or 14MZ with such a module... that's a 'near to come' second to none choice :noteworthy

[kgfly]

There is no doubt that the current range of 9ch radios (eg JR9303 or F9chp/9z) have more features than the DX7. It's a subjective judgement whether you would need/use them or not. The DX7 is more than just "usable" for helis, it is excellent for them. Given the number of people I have seen on the forums selling off their 9ch radios having tried out their DX7, I would say that for most heli pilots the DX7 has all the features you need with a great user interface, long run time, amongst the best performance, some of the smallest/lightest Rx and all the safety/reliability/convenience benefits of 2.4GHz spread spectrum. All this at an excellent price for a mid-range radio and certainly a lot less than a 9303.

The DX9 will probably raise the bar on features to be comparable to the 9303. If you can wait that will certainly be an ideal choice for someone looking for the extra features. At some point XPS/XL will become available and that would let you use a 9303 Tx but with 2.4GHz benefits.

Hmm, guess I am repeating myself. Another way to look at it, you can get the DX7 Tx+Rx+charger+servos+Rx_pack for about 60% the price of a 9303 Tx-only. The money you save could take you a big step forwards towards your T600. If you buy the DX7 and don't like it, well I am sure there is a healthy market for them so you probably wouldn't loose too much.

[heliroller]

I have a 12z sitting in its case right now. I use my DX7 since I picked it up. It does as advertised. It's fast and has pretty decent gimbles. Programming is adequate. I would go with the new Spektrum technology no question. Sell the servos and receiver batt to re- coup some cost. You don't have to worry about freq's. Almost worth it there alone. When the DX9 comes out, sell the DX7 to a planker or park flyer or some else who doesn't need the extra channels. I'm waiting on the spektrum plug ins for the 12z. I would have loved to have had these problem choices when I started flying years ago. :D

[kgfly]

I'm waiting on the spektrum plug ins for the 12z
I don't think Spektrum will ever produce a Tx module for your 12z, heck I don't think Futaba will either. But XPS will: http://xtremepowersystems.net

[delamar]

I dont think 2.4ghz will last. Everyone will go and buy a dx7 or dx9, then guess what, they will release the new 5.8ghz radios, and the 2.4's will be old tech. They have already gone from 2.4 to 5.8 on cordless phones, why not RC transmitters too? I think they are waiting to sell enough 2.4ghz units, then they will introduce the 5.8 and take everyones money again.

This is not a rant on spectrum being a bad product, im just saying, 2.4 was replaced with 5.8 very quickly in the cordless phone market.

[kgfly]

I doubt R/C will go to 5.8GHz, all the problems of attenuation, shadowing and range become worse. Plus the sunk cost of R&D to get the 2.4GHz generation out will ensure they are around for years.

[Dave]

There are limits to how many spread spectrum radios you can have active at one time. Once the band width limit is reach and you try to turn on your radio it will not operate. Today this is not a big thing as you do not see that many DX7 at the field yet. Once more go to the DX7 this may become more of a concern especially at a busy field.

No doubt spread spectrum is the way of the future and I am sure all manufactures will follow suit as soon as they can. But do be aware that as great as it sounds it still has limits. IMHO, it has not been proven in a crowded field with lots of other spread spectrum radios.

Also be aware there is a major difference between an 9C and a 9Z and they are really not in the same category. Both are great Heli radios but the 9Z is much more complex radio with a lot more features. This is certainly true of the 12Z and 14Z as well.

[kgfly]

There are limits to how many spread spectrum radios you can have active at one time.
Quite true but it is in the tens and tens, maybe hundreds. It is almost certainly more than the number of aircraft you would ever want to have in the air at one time at one location. The R/C car guys have up to 60 at a time (mixed Spektrum, Nomadio and Futaba) without a problem. Of course that is inherently a shorter range application so can tolerate a higher noise floor than someone looking to fly a competition glider up to 8000ft.

Where it does become interesting is that as spread spectrum R/C technology becomes more widespread, at large events the number of people with their radios turned on in the carpark/pits/tuning area but not on the flight line will increase. I think this is where the potential for too many radios on at once might come from.

The next 12 months will be very interesting indeed.

[Dave]

The next 12 months will be very interesting indeed.

Yes, it will. I really do feel this is the wave of the future and probably in five years or less the frequency board will be viturally gone except for a few of us old timers!