Futaba radios

[Yoda DK]

Hi Guys

dx7 owner here, and i'm looking for a new radio,and i've been looking at Jr and Futaba radios. reason i've been looking at Jr is to keep my sats.i think it's a easy and clean setup. but seems that Jr can't run dsm2 sats only. so i'm looking at Futaba now.

i'm a guy who likes easy programming. and i've heard people say that the Futaba is not that easy to program. must admit that all the features in the Futaba scares me alitle i've been looking at the T8FGsuper is that easy and simple to program??

and my last ? i've heard that Futaba will come with new radios with telemetry this year. any truth in this? should i wait for the new radios??

[kcordell]

Programming: Maybe not as easy and simple as JR ( I flew for JR for 7 years before I 'felt the difference' and switched to Futaba), but once you get some understanding of how the programming works, Futaba is FAR more flexible with what you can do than JR.
Telemetry: Yes, it's out there now in the 18MZ with FASSTest technology. Will it be available as a software upgrade for a few other Futaba radios? Only the Futaba engineers know.

Opinion: As a former 14MZ owner (sold to fund my 18MZ which isn't here yet) and an 8FG owner (now an 8FG super with FREE software upgrade), I would recommend an 8FG Super. All the radio you will ever need/want, unless you want to spend the big bucks on a 14MZ or 18MZ.

Oh, and you don't need any extra satellites to mount to provide sigan. One Futaba FASST RX with DAD (Dual Antenna Diversity) is all you need.

[Yoda DK]

kcordell: thanks alot for info i'm sure now. i want the 8FGsuper. it sounds right both programming and price. i'll figure out how to program it. one of my friends have one to. so he can help me if my tiny brain.gets a melt down

[Yoda DK]

bare with me.. i have more?? what bats do you use wenn buying bigger bat for the 8fg. and what neck strap balancer?

i use a Hyperion life lipo 3s2100mah in my spektrum,and it works great lot of flying time on it. neck strap balancer from G-force makes my spektrum balance perfect!

[ChrisH]

I have used a 2S lipo in my 8FG for about 2 years now. Thunder Power 2S 2600 Pro-Lite.

I don't use a neckstrap balancer, but then again I don't use a neckstrap

[Yoda DK]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

I have used a 2S lipo in my 8FG for about 2 years now. Thunder Power 2S 2600 Pro-Lite.

I don't use a neckstrap balancer, but then again I don't use a neckstrap

okay thanks Chris. can i run 3s life in it. or does it have to be a 2s lipo??

no neckstrap? i would crash with in the first min lol. you must fly with thumps then

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by Yoda DK

okay thanks Chris. can i run 3s life in it. or does it have to be a 2s lipo??

no neckstrap? i would crash with in the first min lol. you must fly with thumps then

3S LiFe is about 10V fully charged, that's too much.

I pinch, the radio is so light that I stopped wearing a neckstrap about 2 years ago...

[olemil]

Just thought I would throw my $.12 in there.... you don't need a neck strap balancer for the 8FG, it is spot on!! I was floored when I first started looking through the manual coming from a DX8 and it didn't take long to realize how easy the 8FG is to program. The features alone are impressive, you can customize just about anything you want with this radio, keeper for life!!

[Yoda DK]

thanks alot for your help guys i just ordered it,and it will be here in about 2 days.can't wait to play with it i'm just trying to figure out what the biggest 2slipo i can fit in it? i've been looking at Hyperion vx 35c 2200mah and 2600mah 2s lipo

http://media.hyperion.hk/dn/g3lipo/G3-Specs-EN.pdf

[kcordell]

Many have put 2S lipos in their 8FG's. IF you follow instructions on how to use the NiMh battery in the 8FG, you will not have any issues with battery life, unless you are leaving your TX on for 8 hrs or so. I consistently get better than 4 hrs on mine, and just go ahead and put it back on charge if I am heading out to fly again the next day.

[conefree]

+1 on the 8fg. I just upgraded from a 9chp. Been flying Futaba for almost 10 years now. Futaba is a little more difficult to figure out in the beginning, but that is mainly because you have so many different options and functions available to you. Plus you don't have to deal with all that annoying satellite receiver crap if you upgrade to 8FG.

[kcordell]

Don't have to deal with satellites on ANY Futaba 2.4 systems (or Hitec or Airtronics either!!).

[Yoda DK]

actully i think satellites is the best thing about spektrum. 2 or 1 sat in your heli. depends on size. just plug in to the v-bar,and your good to go. it doesn't get much easy'er than that

i would like a 2s lipo in my 8fg. easy and fast wenn you have to charge it. and i want something that can last the hole day. if i have one of my good days.i'll be flying about 25-35 packs. so the so the bat should last all day

[kcordell]

Just like the airplane guy said at Joe Nall a couple years ago "good thing I had 4 satellites in my 40% Carden, only 2 were working when I landed".

[gravydrive]

Originally Posted by Yoda DK

actully i think satellites is the best thing about spektrum. 2 or 1 sat in your heli. depends on size. just plug in to the v-bar,and your good to go. it doesn't get much easy'er than that

I think the SBus receiver is wayyyyy easier. One simple servo cable from the VBar to the SBus receiver and you have a bulletproof, full range connection. No more messing with the long and fragile satellite cables. You will love the 8FG!

[mss001]

I went from a Spektrum DX8 to an 8FG super. You will not regret it, the radio is superb value for money.
The only downside to it (well. it's not really an actual downside, more like a fact to note) is that it has a bit of a learning curve. You actually have to read the manual

[Yoda DK]

Hi Guys
i got my radio yester day. but didn't have the time play with it. but today i'll visit a good friend of mine. who has one to. and we will set up my protos in radio. can't wait to play with.
it does balance perfekt wenn wearing a neckstrap! and saw the bat is 2800 mah bat so that should last a litle wenn flying

mss you got me there. i hate looking in the manual

[Trailryder42]

Originally Posted by Yoda DK

and saw the bat is 2800 mah bat so that should last a litle wenn flying

2800? Mine came with only a 1700mAh NiMH battery.

[Yoda DK]

Originally Posted by Trailryder42

2800? Mine came with only a 1700mAh NiMH battery.

i think i was lucky. they normal come with a 1700mah bat. a friend of mine has one to with a 1700mah. mine is a lithium-lion 2s 7,4v 2800mah bat

[kcordell]

The European 8FG's come with the LiPo instead of the NiMH.