Not enough DX7s vs. DX8 threads

[airnoob]

It's been 5 minutes since the last DX7s vs. DX8 thread. But seriously...

I'm coming back after not flying for 16 months. I'm using a Dx6i for my 250 and 500 and plan to get a 600 EFL. I plan on having a Skookum 720 on all of them.

The Dx6i seems fine, except I'd like to have telemetry to know my flying voltage. The real price of a "bare" DX8 and the MSRP of the DX7s are the same $300. I know I need the TM module too.

Pros and cons, please.

Thanks for playing

[Slyster]

It's not out yet. 11/24/2011 ETA. But from discussions in the past.. the DX8 has so many more features.. its a no brainer.

[aerocal]

Thats a really tough question.The 7s will be released very soon so we will have to see exactly what the price settles out to for them.The rest really is going to be personal preference.The 8 does have a few more features than the 7s.You can go to the HH website and D/L the manuals for both and compare them.
Basically the compared to the 8 the 7s is lacking the backlight,has only 2 Flight Modes,no trim step selection,has mostly all 2 position switches compared to 3 on the 8 and servo speed setting on flap channel only instead of all.Maybe something else Im forgetting right now but other than that it has the same feel and same programming scheme.
I tend to think the price on the 7s will settle out at 200 plus a little change.Id guess maybe 100bucks less than the 8.Just a guess.
Either one would be a good choice IMO.Some have had some starting pains with the 8 but I think they are generally worked out by now.
Ive been very happy with my 8 for over a year now.

[Slyster]

DX8 is only $289 from bigskyhobby.com

[Inverse]

Just started flying my DX8 after getting it back from the recall on Friday.
Man I like this radio.
A lot.

[aerocal]

Originally Posted by Slyster

DX8 is only $289 from bigskyhobby.com

Wow.Possibly the 7s will settle out at 200 minus some change.Guess we will see.

[airnoob]

Thanks everyone for the info.

Would the DX7S have enough channels for my gyro's self-leveling on/off function, telemetry (I only want flight-pack voltage for now), and possibly retracts in the distant future. Thanks.

[magbarn]

Originally Posted by airnoob

Thanks everyone for the info.

Would the DX7S have enough channels for my gyro's self-leveling on/off function, telemetry (I only want flight-pack voltage for now), and possibly retracts in the distant future. Thanks.

IMHO, unless the DX7s is routinely selling for $175, the DX8 wins every time. The radio is one of those things you hardly will upgrade or change when you get a new kit. Saving $100 is not enough to lose a flight mode. I routinely have a Normal/Sport/3-D flight modes in all my helis. Cheap of spektrum not to include a 3rd flight mode as even the old Dx7 supports it. The backlight is another big deal for me.

[ragge1]

looks like they have they have taking a nice radio ( old DX7 ) and make a poor version of it ( DX7s )

[aerocal]

Originally Posted by ragge1

looks like they have they have taking a nice radio ( old DX7 ) and make a poor version of it ( DX7s )

Actually my old DX7 feels like a toy now.About the only complaint I think us Helifreaks may have is the lack of 2 Flight Modes.Its a whole different radio than the original DX7.IMO way better in the programming dept.I guess we all have different tastes..
The way I understand it is the DX7s is the same as the DX8 with a few less features.I love my DX8.

[phoenixheli]

I'm thinking that since the switch functions are fully asignable, it maybe possible to swap the 3 position with the 2 pos fmode, just sacrifice 3positions for gyro gain for 2.

Don't know, just a thought.

[aerocal]

Originally Posted by phoenixheli

I'm thinking that since the switch functions are fully asignable, it maybe possible to swap the 3 position with the 2 pos fmode, just sacrifice 3positions for gyro gain for 2.

Don't know, just a thought.

You could physically swap switches and assign FMode to the gyro switch but the base programming only supports 2 Flightmodes so when FM is assigned to a 3-way switch only 2 of the 3 positions are used.As best as I understand it from the manual.
Nice thought though.
Actually Ive found that most of the time I only use Normal and Idl1.The only time I really use Idl2 is when I want flat out speed and max rpm.This is still possible with the 7s doing some sneaky mixing on another switch.
If its that terribly important you could just get a DX8.For most pilots most of the time 2 Flightmodes are perfectly adequate.

[krobinson103]

I'm running 3 flight modes. Normal, idle 1 (v shape starting at 60%), idle 2 100% flat.
The only time I use idle 2 is when the wind is blowing hard enough to throw the heli around. Otherwise I find its smoother to fly in idle1. So I would agree that for most people idle 1 and normal are enough.

[Inverse]

You obviously aren't using a 7s though.

[krobinson103]

No, my Walkera wk-2801pro is all the tx I'll ever need. No need for color screens or telemetry. I could see telemetry being useful if you were running a FPV heli a long way out but for my kind of flying a timer is more than enough. Though, if the price difference was sufficient from what I have read I would go for the dx7s over the 8 as I would never use the extra features anyway.

[magbarn]

Originally Posted by krobinson103

No, my Walkera wk-2801pro is all the tx I'll ever need. No need for color screens or telemetry. I could see telemetry being useful if you were running a FPV heli a long way out but for my kind of flying a timer is more than enough. Though, if the price difference was sufficient from what I have read I would go for the dx7s over the 8 as I would never use the extra features anyway.

The point of this thread was dx7s vs dx8, and for the likely $50 differential for the first few months (dx8 can be had for <$300 shipped currently) there would be really no reason for the dx7s as you either go with a different brand or a dx8.

[airnoob]

Indeed, the reason I started this thread is to see if I can save a few bucks with the Dx7S. The bare DX8 is $289. The undiscounted MSRP for the 7S with an AR8000 is $299. Considering the Receiver, the price difference is not trivial.

However, I just saw this at Spektrum's site.

"Due Early January, 2012" You may select from: sure, right, as if

[nick779]

I wouldn't even bother with the dx8 and its problems

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[Slyster]

Originally Posted by nick779

I wouldn't even bother with the dx8 and its problems

Remember though the problems are now gone. Those were on the early models.

[airnoob]

If form holds, chances are the DX7s will have problems as well whenever it's released. A wise man in this thread said it's a no-brainer.