JR's 2.4 ghz radios

[t-rexn8]

Yo everyone I have been flying JR radios for a few years with great success. My 9303 is very nice with all kinds of programming features, 140 ccpm and all.
I must say for the money I dont think JR can be beat. My buddies 9C "super" isnt all that, plus latency with the mid-range to low-end futaba transmitters is worse. According to tests Ive seen.

[Danal Estes]

Direct link to the Horizon page for the X9303:

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=JRP2910

Search around for the heli version.

[fury]

The touchscreen method always appeared more expensive an option to repair/replace...but I could be wrong.

True, but I have never had any issues with my screen.

But isn't this the case with everything though, the better and more expensive things are, generally the more they are to repair? That blue screen won't be cheap either, I wouldn't of thought :dontknow

Another plus with these new radios is the short transmitter aerials, great for those of us that fly helis :D

[skripo]

It amazes me that people want to buy a radio just because of the physical looks of it. Does it not interest you what features might or might not be in the programming?

David

Must be a Futaba loyalist defending the horrid 12FG.

Just kidding! As much as we hate to admit it, the aesthetics of a an item are a huge emotional factor in our purchase decisions. I just don't get Futaba's latest offerings, it's as if they went out of their way to make their spread spectrum systems fugly so as not to detract from their gadget festooned Christmas tree of a product the 14MZ. It's as if they are contemptuous of spread spectrum.

The reality of the fact is that JR Radio programming is renowned for being solid, simple, and functional. My 10X served me well for many years. I am off to Toledo today and can't wait to feel the 12X.

[JesusFreak]

I've been Futaba from the start, until the Spektrums came out. I have a 9Z WCII. It can do anything, but it is very difficult to program. I now have a DX6 and 7. This was a smart move from Spektrum/JR. I love how easy the DX7 is to program. Don't care much about the switch assignments, because if I can't program the darn thing, the switches don't matter. I'm a programmer by trade (20 years experience), and if I have a hard time with it, the average joe is going to be smoking from his ears.

I will definately be going JR with either the 9 or 12 system. I will wait a bit for the smoke to clear, as I'm in no hurry with my DX7 and my 9Z works fine for the time being, plus I have the dial a crash feature. The new Futaba 2.4s are UGLY. The 14Mz is nice looking, but the Euroean version is much nicer. The prices are just outrageous though. The component costs on all this stuff is dropping like the computer industry. They can do better.

Now that I've got a slew of DX6 and 7 recievers, I'll stay in the JR game and enjoy the looks and the programming and the backwords compatability. Especially since they now support Heli and Aircraft. I would have gone JR when I got the 9Z except for that problem.

Cheers!
Lee

[DavidH]

Skipro

Yes I am a Futaba loyalist. Have flown Futaba since I got in the hobby in the 80's.
It amazed me also of the people that got the 14MZ because it had a color touch screen and stored MP3 files and pictures.
I have a 12Z, I could have had a 14MZ for just a few dollars more. I sit down and compared both radios. How the radio looked never came into the equation. I didn't see anything in the 12Z as for programming that the 14MZ had over it. The 12Z is lighter and slightly smaller. I liked how it fit in my hands.

My point is that a radio can have most blinged out appearance. But that does not make it a great radio if the programming features are not there. People spending $800-$1000 for a radio that looks good and they have no idea what the features are is just amusing to me.
JR does produce nice radios. The 12X will probably be a nice radio. At least it is good to see them finally realize that there top of the line radio should be able to fly more than one model type.

David

[buster1]

I was also a Futaba loyalist as well and have been flying R/C Helis. since the 80's as well.
The truth is as you alluded to - we all have bought radios because the of the tech./bling factor. I had a fut. 9ZWCII and also thought it was the most rediculous thing to program - almost a waste to have that heavy radio in my hand. Then the 2.4 stuff came out - I just got a DX7 and 4 AR7000 receivers for all my stuff. The truth is - it pretty much serves all my 3D needs and the same would go for the top 3D pilots as well. Who really needs all those feartures in the expensive radios. If you do - you just like to have them and experiement with it - but it won't make you fly better. But I guess we need to buy one of those first and then revert back to a DX7 to figure it out.
My 2 cents - the tech. over bling is starting to win!! On the flip side - I may pick up one of those 9/12 channel JR's 2.4 and get right back into the bling.

[JesusFreak]

I would definately like 9 or 12 channels for my bigger planks. 9 is fine, but if there's not too big of a price difference, I'd go to 12 just to have the extra flexibility. For Helis, 7 is fine.

[dtang]

Bravo. Too bad I just picked up my dx7. Oh well.

Hopefully by the time that I decide to go back to a 9 channel the price will have come down. Oh, and come on! $729.99 and it comes with ds821's?!?!

[Racer38]

Well I too have been Futaba since the late 80's and Heli's since the late 90's. DavidH helped me alot with my 9Z, he speaks Fluent Futabaneeze .. Clint also was a big help. I upgraded to the 14MZ and sold everthing before my deployment. Now I just went to the darkside and got the 9303 and am very happy with it, if does all types of aircraft and was a breeze to program once I started thinking common sense again after being a Futaba guy for so long.

Anyway I'll probably just get a 2.4 Module when I get back to the states as flying 2.4 over here isnt an option, unless I want to get blown out of the sky from the jammers.

[Pinecone]

My problem with touch screens is I have fat fingers, so a touch screen has to be pretty big to allow me to use it. :)

[Sgt_BF_Gunner]

http://www.rchelimag.com/pages/newsarchive.php?date=042007#16154

[DavidH]

Wow, the information has been on the internet for a few days. Guess they finally read the internet and posted it on their website. LOL
Just help proves that forums and electronic communication have just about made paper media obsolete.

David

[skripo]

Every time I speak to a 14MZ loyalist they keep telling me how big the screen is, how it plays MP3s, stores pictures, etc. The thing is I never see them play MP3s, they program the radio once and only tweak it once in a while, and as for the pics, well let's just say, not. And why devote all that real estate to the screen when switch real estate and light weight are day to day necessities?

I sold my 10X to get the DX-7 and have already alerted my supplier to get me a 12X. I don't miss the touch screen AT ALL. I played with the 9303 at Toledo and it is way faster to navigate then the touch screen. I also think the 12X is a beautifully crafted piece of equipment. I saw that the back panel was made exactly like the 10X and suspect it will be the same material as the 10X, and at the $1100.00 to $1400.00 expected retail (according to a Horizon rep), it will be steal

If they give us 2048 resolution (which is unimportant for everyone but the top 10 pilots) and the flexible buddy system of the 14MZ, there will be nothing to talk about anymore. If anyone points out the color touch screen as an advantage I will do the only rational thing left to do, laugh.

I am not bashing Futaba, I just don't get them.

[DavidH]

I could have had the 14MZ. I chose the 12Z for some of the reasos you mentioned. I have never been a fan of the touch screen. The 2048 resolution definitely makes a difference. I have one model on 2048 and the other on 1024. There is a difference is the feel between the models. I am not a top 10 pilot.

That is another guestion about the new JR 12X you brought up. Is it going to have a trainer capability or is it going to be like the 10X and not have it?
David

[DebianDog]

:lolol That funny I do not like the 14Z because it is too heavy (that and I will not run Windows on a Radio)

The next radio for me is a 12 baby! :smokin:

[skripo]

I could have had the 14MZ. I chose the 12Z for some of the reasos you mentioned. I have never been a fan of the touch screen. The 2048 resolution definitely makes a difference. I have one model on 2048 and the other on 1024. There is a difference is the feel between the models. I am not a top 10 pilot.

That is another guestion about the new JR 12X you brought up. Is it going to have a trainer capability or is it going to be like the 10X and not have it?
David

I suspect you where using a 2048 G3 receiver and non G3 receiver for the 1024 comparison. What you saw was probably a speed difference. I can't see how doubling the resolution has any real world advantage.

The 12X will almost certainly have a trainer mode because it is an outgrowth of the 9303, which itself has a selective trainer mode. The trainer mode is not as nice as Futaba's in that you cant have switch-less override. Switch-less override is one hell of a nice feature.

[DavidH]

I suspect you where using a 2048 G3 receiver and non G3 receiver for the 1024 comparison. What you saw was probably a speed difference. I can't see how doubling the resolution has any real world advantage.


So having the model respond faster is not a real world advantage?

The 12X will almost certainly have a trainer mode because it is an outgrowth of the 9303,

How do you know this? I have not seen much info on the 12X other than it will have both Airplane and Heli capability in the software.

David

[fireup]

... I have not seen much info on the 12X other than it will have both Airplane and Heli capability in the software.

David

I thought most Heli radio have Airplane capability already? Does it have function switches re-assignable also like the Futaba's 14MZ?

[DavidH]

Kevin,
The JR 10X does not have software for helis and planes. You buy an airplane or a heli version. On the 10X the switches were not assignable that I know of.

David

[flyingrhino]

Anyone heard when the 9 will be availible?