confused about Radio upgrade, X9303 or DX7

[CoronaL]

Yes I did search and came away somewhat confused.
Let me clarify what I will be using this for.

I've been bitten bigtime with the heli bug(sound framiliar?)
I work ALOT, so this limits my time to play, but when I can, I can generally afford nice stuff. I don't mind paying extra for the x9303 if it's really alot better radio. However, I would prefer to save the $ if it could be better spent elsewhere in the hobby. I currently have one Blade 400 with a DX6i, and it's a nice radio and all, but I guess I want something I can expand with a bit more, has a heavier feel, and well looks cooler. I'll be buying 1-2 nitro choppers this spring/summer, and this weekend I am picking up a 2nd Blade400 probably as a spare tinker toy chopper so I'm not so paranoid to crash after my latest episode :roll:

I hear alot of good about both radios, and some negatives as well. I definately like the looks of the x9303 better, but offset a bit by the lack of gyro programming on a 6 channel reciever(which my Blade 400's will have). Not really sure what that end point programming on the gear channel will do for the gyro gain etc.. Still pretty noob at this.

One thought also, is to just get a DX7 now, and then in about a year maybe upgrade to the new 12X coming out. IT would be way overkill, as the x9303 would too probably. I guess I'm a bit wrapped up in technology though, and always want the best, well within reason. Probably talking in circles a bit, so I apologize as I'm trying to get this off from work, and I'm a bit harried. But, I guess take away point is, I want it to look, feel, and perform well for the money. I don't mind spending the extra if it's justified. I guess that's really the thing is "justify" is so vague and unique to each person. Opinions welcome :smokin:

[DebianDog]

There is nothing wrong with a DX7... or a DX6 for that matter but when you start messing around and want more channels. If you get a nitro and want to run a governor and/or a carbsmart then if you go scale you may want retracts and lights. Who knows!

As always... get the best radio YOU CAN AFFORD. :thumbup:

[CoronaL]

lol, sounds very framiliar to the Corvette forums. Buy the newest Vette you can afford.

[DebianDog]

Well not sure about that... I would have a hard time deciding between a 1963 split Window (in perfect condition) over a new 2009 620 HP ZR1 (One of only 2000)
http://www.swisscorvette.ch/picts/Corvette1963.jpg
http://jalopnik.com/cars/assets/resources/2007/12/2009%20Corvette%20ZR1%20Official.jpg

[frebou]

Bigger screen display of the 9303 is, IMO, a very nice feature that would lead me to buy the 9303.

I fly electric and 90 sized nitro and the extra channel where definitively a must for me too. all my 8 channel of my old 8103 where used and I'm sure I'll put the 9th to good use this summer

[BarracudaHockey]

The 9303 is a feature rich radio with a large screen and fairly easy programming. If you go with a dx7 and add a governor to a nitro thats it, your out of channels. That may be all some people ever need but if you think you might want to expand its cheaper in the long run just to get a good radio up front.

[CoronaL]

sweet ;)
you guys have talked me into the x9303
I just needed a little nudge ahah

now Debian! Re: the new vs old vette. I guess I was speaking in context of generations ie C4, C5, C6 vettes. When the Vettes reach classic status like that C2 63 split window WOW. Who wouldn't want one. I know alot of new Z06 owners that have them, and really don't like driving them though(the 60's vettes that is). They like owning the history and nostalgia of them, but actually driving them is well often disappointing. I'd love to have one, but honestly my Z06 is alot cheaper than a nice C2 restored etc... ;) Plus a hell of alot faster haha!

[DebianDog]

I have an 11 second Nitrous powered LS1 Trans-Am cuz I could not afford the Vette ;) Best 11.4 @124

I drove my friends new Vette, but it was the regular one (not a Z,) and I was not super impressed but then again I have put a lot of money into my Trans-Am as far as suspension, drivetrain, and valvetrain plus it has N2O :P. I am gonna get me a Z one day.:)

Wow we are off topic! You will be happy with the X9303 for many years I think.

[ghtracey]

OK, now I'm confused. Lack of gyro programming on a 6ch receiver? Did I miss something somewhere? I read the manual and I never saw where there would be an issue like that at all.

[CoronaL]

from what I understand, the menu in the radio uses channel #7 on a reciever and can't be remapped. So I hear you need to use the "gear" channel and use endpoint adjustments but I'm cluess as to how to set that up. I'll be putting a Blade 400 on this radio if/when I get it, and am a bit concerned how I'll be adjusting the gyro

[Pinecone]

The only difference in gyro programming, is with the X9303 you have to use the Gear set to Gear to control gain. With a 7 ch Rx, you can use the gyro sense menu.

And the only thing the gyro sense gives you, is the ability to have different gains for different flight modes. So it you need that, use an AR7000. I haven't had a need.

[ghtracey]

The only difference in gyro programming, is with the X9303 you have to use the Gear set to Gear to control gain. With a 7 ch Rx, you can use the gyro sense menu.

And the only thing the gyro sense gives you, is the ability to have different gains for different flight modes. So it you need that, use an AR7000. I haven't had a need.

Hmm I went through the manualquickly and never saw where you could move gyro sense to Gear instead of Aux2. That's strange that they would leave that out considering that on a 6 channel heli, almost every user would be using GEAR for gyro remote gain. I wonder if enough people harrassed them, if they would change the programming.

Anyhow... the OTHER way to do this so that you don't have to use the gear switch and EPA values would be to activate the Governor menu, which uses the gear channel and runs off of the flight mode switch, you set a % for each flight mode.

As far as using the gear channel and EPAs go, it isn't that difficult, one side is your rate mode gain, the other is heading hold gain. You go into the EPA setup, set the values and you are done. The nice thing about doing it this way is that if you set up rate mode properly, you can enable it at the flick of a switch without changing flight modes, and it makes forward flight pretty easy, as the tail will now follow the direction of flight and you won't be doglegging across the sky.

EDIT: I'll add one more way to control gain through the flight mode switch on the gear channel if you really want that option with a 6 channel receiver. Go to page H-41 on the manual and read the bit on mixing the gear channel to the flight mode switch to control landing gear automatically. Substitute gyro for gear, and there you go. So you see, there are many ways to do things with this radio. The fact that gyro sense won't run on channel 5 is baffling (I guess more heli's have retracts than gyros...) but not a limiting factor anyhow.

[Pinecone]

I meant you use the Gear channel and use endpoints to set gain. Works for lots of people.

The problem with the mix of FM to gear is you can switch between rate and HH with the Flight Mode, but you can't have different gain settings for each Flight Mode.

Otherwise use AR7000s.

[CoronaL]

ordered mine today :)
thx for your help guys. I'm sure I'll have plenty of ?'s later on. Watched the little intro video, thx finless :) Helps some, but still so new to this my heads swimming a bit

[terrabit]

I recently upgraded from the DX7 to the 2.4g 9303. The difference in feel of the dongles is night and day. The 9303 has double the resolution of the DX7, which makes it feel much smoother in my perception. Anyone disagree?

[Pinecone]

The X9303 only has 2048 resolution if you use the AR9000/R921 Rx. All the others are 1024 resolution.

[BarracudaHockey]

The X9303 only has 2048 resolution if you use the AR9000/R921 Rx. All the others are 1024 resolution.

Question: Can 95 % of us tell the difference?

I have a reciever but the damn radio is out of stock at Horizon so I don't have one yet.

[CoronaL]

I ordered mine through donalds hobbies and he had one of best prices and no shipping charges.
http://www.donalds-hobby.com/prod/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=42709
he had 3 in stock when I checked with him first, then 2 later in day when I went to order. Appears he's out now though.. When you add radio to cart, it was $100 less than list ;). They can't advertise cheaper though so they have to do it a bit corny to give the discount.

[ghtracey]

Question: Can 95 % of us tell the difference?

I have a reciever but the damn radio is out of stock at Horizon so I don't have one yet.

Andy, go to toddsmodels.com and order on. He lists at $629 like everyone else, but once you add it to the cart its $529. I just about ordered one yesterday when I saw that, but its not quite in my budget yet.

[Pinecone]

Todds is still backordered.

RC Hover had them in stock as of last week.

And you may actually feel the difference. Not having tried it back to back, I don't know. But ClayK and Finless believe they can.

[ghtracey]

Todds is still backordered.

RC Hover had them in stock as of last week.

And you may actually feel the difference. Not having tried it back to back, I don't know. But ClayK and Finless believe they can.

His website showed them in stock. I must have missed that. Todd has some damned good prices. If ordering from the states wasn't such a pain sometimes, I'd probably buy a bunch of stuff from him.

[Pinecone]

With servos is in stock, without servos is not.

[DebianDog]

I had no problem selling them servos BTW. Plankers seem to like them.

[Pinecone]

Yeap, pay $100 for servos you can sell for $60 - $75. :)

[DebianDog]

Think of it as a $25 penalty for actually GETTING the radio ;)