how many channels?

[rumbeard]

I am fairly new to rc helis. I currently own a Blade CP and am about to move up to a T-REX SE. I am going to eventually be adding retract landing gear and lights to the heli (once I get comfy with the T-REX) so I want to go ahead and buy a radio that could control these. I am pretty new to all this and am a bit confused. to run the heli with retracts and lights do I need an 8 channel remote?

[jrohland]

A heli requires:
3 channels for swash (cyclic) control
1 channel for tail control
1 channel for throttle

Many folks use 1 channel for gyro gain/heading-hold control

So, 5 minimum. Many use 6.

Some polluters (Nitro, gas, tubine) use an active governeror/throttle control. Those often use a channel to allow RPM changes from the radio. The TRex 450 will probably not need that.

jrohland

[capebob]

You will need five to control your helicopter usually channels 1-4 and 6. Channel 5 is usually used to control a gyro but it is standard to put retractable gear on 5 and move gyro control to 7. Then you will need a channel to operate your lights. All that adds up to eight channels. You can get by with one less if you get a gyro that doesn't use a second channel for control such as the Futaba 240 or many of the lower end gyros made for e-helis.

Bob

[rumbeard]

thanks for the quick replies. good to know I am starting to understand radios. on my Blade radio everything is done internally so I am trying to learn all I can about the computer radios. I think it is safe to say I have alot to learn about them. last night I watched the video on programming the Futaba 9z in the Trex video thread and it made my head spin.

[BarracudaHockey]

The 9C is a solid choice and the programming is quite a bit easier than a 9z.

[rumbeard]

I have been doing a bit of reading and the 9C does look like what I will be going with. It looks alot less confusing then the Z series. I only mentioned the Z because it is what was used in the video.

[Skiddz]

You can check out the other 450 vids where Bob uses a 7C radio. "Translating" to the 9C's menus is a piece of cake.