9303 & 9CHPS. How can a noob compare them??

[mart242]

As the title says, I'm a newbie. Just bought a used raptor 30V2. All I need now is a gyro / tail servo (GY401/9254) and a radio. Picking the gyro is easy but picking the radio is another story...

Based on all the posts I've read in forums, the 9303 is better than the 9C. However, it's not as straightforward when comparing it to the 9CHPS...

If I look at their specs, I've got no clue about what's useful and what's useless... I'm having a hard time comparing them. All I know is that the 9303 has 7 points curves and the 9CHPS has only 5 points curves, but again, some say that 5 points is all you need... The swash plate mixes stuff, I've got no clue...

Can anyone shed light on that for me? Oh, I know I should go to my LHS and "feel" them but they don't have them in stock.. :roll:


Thanks!

[capebob]

I own both and both are very capable radios with little to choose between. The 9C has more flexible switch selection capability, and as you already know the 9303 has seven point curves. The 9303s software interface is much easier to use than the 9Cs but the 9Cs isn't unmanageable. The 9C is usually slightly less expensive. I prefer my 9303, but others would disagree. If there are other helicopter fliers in your area I suggest that you consider the radio that they are flying.

Bob

[blakka_1]

If there are other helicopter fliers in your area I suggest that you consider the radio that they are flying.


That is very important for a person that is new into the hobby. Find out which radio is the more popular of the two at your club or in your area, if you run into any trouble when setting up then help will always be avaliable.

I have a 9c and I love it, very easy to use and overall is excellent. A friend has the 9303 and that is also very easy to use, however even though both radios are impressive I would choose the 9303 as I really like the way it feels in my hands. It's extremely comfortable. :)

[jhodges]

I absolutely agree with Nigel. I just recently went through a radio switch. I changed from Futaba to JR (9303). I had been flying a 9C and a 9ZWCII .... both awesome systems. I switched to JR for the following reasons, the 9303 feels great in my hands ... the 9C was nice, the 9Z ... no so for me. Most (not all) of my local flying buddies are flying JR now. And lastly, JR service is second to none.

You can't go wrong with either. When I started flying, the people helping me flew Futaba and it helped that I did also.

[DavidH]

If you plan to fly a CCPM heli, I would get the Futaba 9C.
I believe the JR 9303 has some issues with the CCPM mixing. I have read about this issue on several forums.


David

[mart242]

Thanks a lot for the info guys!

I'll be starting with a raptor 30v2 but I'd like a radio that will support whatever heli I might buy next.

The local club (~8 - 10 members, which isn't much) has both JR and Futaba (almost 50-50), but no 9CHPS and 1 9303 from what I've heard. A 9Z will be added to that soon. Everyone seems to like what they have... As for support, the main guy helping me so far is the one who's getting a 9Z and I'm not forking that much $$$ for a radio so... Oh, the "king" of rc helis around here flies with a 9303 that he bought last month so it has to be good.... but maybe if he was with Futaba he would have bought a 9CHPS.

I'll do a bit more research about that JR9303 CCPM issue...

[capebob]

I believe the JR 9303 has some issues with the CCPM mixing. I have read about this issue on several forums


I have no problem with my Extremes. There may have been an issue with the old software that was installed in the 9X that I'm not aware of. The 9X was not imported by Horizon. I would like to know exactly what those reported issues are.

Bob

[DavidH]

Here is one post about the problem. I have read several on other forums that stated the same.

http://www.helifreak.com/about4011.html


Other than the problem with CCPM, I have heard of no other problems with the radio.

[capebob]

Thanks David,

That's only a problem with the 140 degree swash mixes so it only affects the Vigor and any other 140 degree swash plates at this point. One would think that since the Vigor is a 140 swash and the Vigor is made by JR that JR would get it right. :roll: Anyway, it doesn't affect my Furys.

Thanks again,

Bob

[Busta Rapta]

This is a Coke vs. Pepsi question. They are both very capable radios. Personal preference all the way. Because the receiver MUST be mated to the transmitter, if you plan on multiple models, you are pretty much married to one or the other so pick your "wife" now.

My preference is Futaba. I don't like that the 9303 lacks a kill switch and passive timers. I don't like that JR has a manual slider on the throttle. Hard core JR people think that's better so JR put it there for them. The points on your throttle curve are mostly irrelivant because:

1. Five is enough
2. Once you realize you are better off with a governor, a 1 point curve becomes enough.

:cool:

[sdixon747]

Well if it's Coke vs Pepsi, I'll choose Coke :wink:

As far as the radio, I have a 9303 and if I had to buy another radio today, I would buy another 9303. BTW, I do like the throttle trim slider.

Steve

[Hotshot Charlie]

A little off target, but.....

AS many of you know, I luckily now have a 9303. Can I transfer my existing models over to it from my 8103? I have read where I can, but the manual only states you can transfer from another 9303 or the JR Data-dooie-dingy-thing.

[sdixon747]

Rob

The 8103 will not transfer directly to the 9303. The 8103 has 5 point curves so it confuses the 7 point curves of the 9303. I don't believe that the JR Data-dooie-dingy-thing will work because of the different curves. You can however do a manual transfer of all your settings like end points, sub trims, expo, etc. I did my Fury in about 20 minutes without ever having to open the book. Unless you plan on using them, disable the slides on the side. I didn't realize they were enabled by default. They got moved and on the next flight, my head speed was all out of whack.

Steve

[WillJames]

7 point (or more) curves come in pretty handy with gas machines. I have flown a couple of 9CHP's for 2 years and I like the more points on my 9Z and the better cyclic to throttle mixing on my 9Z. I have flown Steve's 9303, Matt Green's 9303 and John's and I really like the feel of the 9303 better than the 9CHP. 9303 fits my hands better and I think the sticks feel more like my 9Z than the 9CHP, they are really sweet feeling. To me they are both easy to program compared to some other radios. ;)

The bottom line is that once you get a good understanding of how to setup a heli in a 9CHP you can setup one in a 9303 or vice versa. They both have new modern and good software.

As for using a governor instead of curves, (Which I did in the beginning) I would recommend learning the curves first BEFORE using a governor. The reason for this is that flying on the curves gives you a lot better understanding of how throttle curve relates to pitch curve and how it affects the heli in flight. No matter how much power you have in your heli, if you don't get this relationship you will not be satisfied with how your heli flys, and it will limit your ability to improve. Governors can be used as shortcuts, but in the long run, you will still have to learn how to setup the curves at one time or another. Also if you don't have your throttle mechanical setup right your governor will not work properly anyway. Learn the curves, then reward yourself with a governor if you still need one.

[Hotshot Charlie]

Good info Steve, thanks a bunch. That will save me a lot of time trying to make the xfer option work. Yes, it shouldn't take that long to xfer the stuff manually.

Hey Will, I just bought my first governor at Chattanooga FF. I have used manual curves since I started flying heli's. I think everyone should begin the manual / self done curves also, it gives you an idea of what heli's are all about !

[mart242]

Well, I found a LHS that had a 9303 in stock. It actually "feels" better compared to the 9C but these CCPM issues worry me a bit since I don't know with which heli I'll end up in a few years but I'd like a gasser.

As for the lack of a kill switch and passive timers on the 9303, how does that affect me? I guess I need a kill switch if I end up with a gasser? :dontknow

[jhodges]

No more CCPM issues .... This is JR's reply.

There was an issue with 140 CCPM with early systems and the issue was corrected.

JR has made the programming changes necessary to correct this problem. The service center has the equipment necessary to correct this issue if you send your system in. To find if your system is affected, go to a clear model, activate 140 CCPM , then go to the servo monitor. If you give elevator (fore or aft cyclic) and channels 2 and 6 which are the 2 rear servos do not travel the same amount which would produce a left or right roll (left or right cyclic) your system is affected. If they travel the same amount, your system is unaffected.

If you do not want to send your system in at this time, you can perform the following mix to work around it:

1. Go to PROG. MIX 4
2. Activate ELEV-AILE mix
3. Set both Pos 0 values to -45% (this value may need to be adjusted to allow even throws). Make sure to keep both the upper and lower values set equally.


_____________________________

Thanks!
Danny Snyder
Team JR
Horizon Hobby

[sdixon747]

I wouldn't worry too much about the CCPM issues. I fly a Fury and a Vigor, both CCPM and no issues. There were some issues with the 140 CCPM, but there are very few models that use the 140 CCPM that it shouldn't be a problem. That issue was brought up when the radio first came out and I haven't heard for sure, but I would imagine the problem has been resolved by now in the newer radios.

As for the kill switch, I use the trim slider. Normal idle with the slider in the mid position, fast idle with the trim forward and bring the trim slider back to kill the engine.

Steve

[WillJames]

You can use the trim slider to kill the gasser no problem at all. Almost everyone I know with gassers are using the 9303 now and they have no problem. One of them is the Gas Guru, Mr. John Garst.

[WayneBrown]

I have a 9303 Airplane version I'm using for my Heli's. I am not real happy with it due to the lack of assignable switches. I am not smart enough to set up the GV-1 to work on it either.
I'm in the market for a 9Z...

[Hotshot Charlie]

WOW,

I just finished transfering my existing models into the 9303, manually, but it was easy as pie. I can't believe how easy this radio is to use !!! Unbelieveable. My radio is the heli version and it doesn't come with the manual for airplanes, so when I put my Ultimate Foamy into it, it took some thinking to get the flap situation working, flaparon was not problem, but getting all the assignable switches off that can control the flaps was a challenge, without the book, but I did it and all is well. JR offers the glider and plank manuals, you just have to order them, which I think I will do since I mess around with foamy's some.

My take on the 9303 is that it's the best radio I have ever owned, easy to program and I can't wait to give my Gohbee a spin. I also set up my new Airwolf Mechanics on it tonight. All I need is a gyro/servo combo and I will have the Mechanics ready for testing !!! :D

If you are a JR fan or if people in your area fly JR, the 9303 will be hard to beat !

[WayneBrown]

the website has manuals in PDF format. I had to print out the Heli version. I did notice that it is specific to the aircraft type, not the radio's capabilities.

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hey Wayne,

The radio works equally well with all birds. The biggest difference when you go to program a plank vs heli, is the terminology in the flaps/flaparons/etc. and how to assign the switches for the different things. I figured it out without the manual, but it would have been nice to have a reference guide.

Yep, the manuals are available on line, I sort of like the manufactured printed versions. hehehehee

Hope you are doing well and sorry you didn't make Chattanooga, it was a blast.