Making the hard decision(s)

[Yakfishingfool]

OK, I'm a newb and got the HZ Champ and all is going well. I have a Gentle lady 2m sail that my dad and I built back in '84. I want to convert to electric and know it will only be three channel but want to buy for the future. I have no other radios/accessories/anything. I'm pretty convinced to the 2.4ghz and looking between the hitec optima6 and the DX6i. With nothing else in the stable which is the way to go or is it just a matter of choosing one. I love some of the bind and flies but are they propriatary to radio brands? Can I bond a parkzone t-28 to a hitech? Thanks folks for any responses or direction pointing. Scott

[Sir Crash-A-Lot]

I would go with the Hitec radio. I don't have a lot of faith in the Spektrum series of radios. I am not sure if the Parkzone plane will bind to the Hitec but you can get the Any-Link and use them that way.

Mike

[JetPlaneFlyer]

You will get a lot of personal preference expressed on a question like this but what is a fact is that if you want to fly the likes of the Champ (without add on modules) then you need Spektrum (or JR) gear. Personally I've had nothing but good luck with Spektrum, but Hitec looks like very nice kit too.
What is worth checking out is the price of additional receivers. If you build up a fleet of models then you will need to buy more receivers.

[rcers]

No Hitec will NOT work with the BNF models. I have been a Spekky user for MANY years - not one single issue to date. I had a couple of issues with Hitec 2.4GHz but they are great systems.

Spektrum gets the nod as the UM BNF stuff is so great and prevalent.

The DX6i is OK but the used DX7 is far more capable. If you can swing the DX7s that is a great system with telemetry if you want to play with that in the future. I have full confidence in them and just dropped $800 on a DX18.

Mike

[JetPlaneFlyer]

PS.. Also worth noting that because Spektrum is so popular and sold by so many dealers you can get some good deals if you shop around. You might find a DX7 or even a DX8 close to your price point if you search.

[rcers]

PPS - and you can buy Orange Receiver for Spektrum for as little at $6 (less on sale) from the evil empire Hobby King.

Actually I see they are just releasing Hitec knock off's too.

Mike

[pilotpete2]

Originally Posted by Sir Crash-A-Lot

I would go with the Hitec radio. I don't have a lot of faith in the Spektrum series of radios. I am not sure if the Parkzone plane will bind to the Hitec but you can get the Any-Link and use them that way.

Mike

No, the Tactic AnyLink module will not bind to Parkzone BNF models which are DSM2. The AnyLink module is for using most popular transmitters to fly the Hobbico TX ready series of planes
Pete

[Sir Crash-A-Lot]

Originally Posted by pilotpete2

No, the Tactic AnyLink module will not bind to Parkzone BNF models which are DSM2. The AnyLink module is for using most popular transmitters to fly the Hobbico TX ready series of planes
Pete

Could be but I heard it can be done. I have not tried it myself.

Mike

[rcers]

You can't use AnyLink to control a Spektrum receiver - they are not compatible. You can use a Spektrum Transmitter with an AnyLink module to control Tactic and the Hobbico planes however.

Mike

[Yakfishingfool]

OK, I knew I would personal get preferences but trying to wrap my head around the proprietary nature of these ARF's. BnF's are spektrum, but the hobbico and others are ok with hitec. Do folks decide on a line of planes they like and go that way or do you buy the planes without servos and receivers and put one in compatible with your tx? That seems to make the most sense. thanks for all the replies Scott, YFF

[rcers]

With the prevalence of the very cool BNF models from Horizon - I prefer Spektrum. All of the gear is proprietary. So Hitec won't run the Horizon stuff, or the Hobbico stuff.

I have Hitec Aurora 9 and a Spektrum DX18 and Futaba systems. So I am not a brand "fan". But for starting it is a good idea to start with one brand. The one to beat is Spektrum and will have plenty of help at the field and here for programing and setup.

Mike

[Yakfishingfool]

thanks Mike, leaning towards the spektrum...although the hitech receiver antenna's are very slick and appear easier to insert into models. S

[pmullen503]

I wouldn't go the Anylink route. The Anylink is only rated for 1000 feet. It's better to pick a full range system and stick with it.

If you have a club nearby, check what people are using. If a brand has problems in that environment word gets around pretty quickly.

If you want to use BNF planes of a different brand than your radio all you need is a compatible receiver. So consider the cost of receivers and the availability of inexpensive compatible receivers. You can always sell the receiver that comes in a BNF if it's not compatible with your radio.

FWIW, I've used Spektrum for years and never had a glitch. Probably 75% of the 2.4g radios at local club events are Spektrum so it works in our local RF environment.

[dahawk]

I'm a Futaba guy but Spektrum seems to be the TX for the masses, no question. I don't know anyone that has not had at least a few issues with them but with such are large user community and LHS support, you're in good hands there. Most of the Heli guys at our field have gone with JR. Frankly, they're all good in their own ways. Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry ? Pick your flavor.I would not get too sucked in to telemetry. Who cares about heading, altitiude, climb rate, sink rate, speed, etc. You'll never be able to monitor in flight anyway, as in: "Keep your eyes on the road !"

After the Champ, I'd take a serious look at the PZ T-28 as your second plane. Forget about the Tactic BNF easy link stuff. Just get an RX . Remember, you're not binding the TX to a plane. You're binding the TX to a RX. After binding, the RX then becomes portable.

-Hawk

[Yakfishingfool]

all good points guys. I have a neighbor who showed me his Hitech and Dx6i...he has 5 others I didn't even get into. Lots of old futaba stuff which is why he liked hitech - something about proprietary connectors being shared. I really am leaning to the dx61 and yes, the t-28 is firmly in my sights.

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by Yakfishingfool

OK, I knew I would personal get preferences but trying to wrap my head around the proprietary nature of these ARF's. BnF's are spektrum, but the hobbico and others are ok with hitec. Do folks decide on a line of planes they like and go that way or do you buy the planes without servos and receivers and put one in compatible with your tx? That seems to make the most sense. thanks for all the replies Scott, YFF

Personal opinion ... don't like being forced into one brand or another - I like freedom of choice.

I buy models usually kit or ARF and then fit out to MY specification. That often means slightly more powerful motor, maybe 1 size up in servo, Radio of my choice, ESC rated higher, larger or more capable LiPo etc. That way get a model that flies I think better instead of barely !
I'm a cheapskate budget flyer anyway ... and reckon I get more bang for my money that way.

Nigel

ps : I fly with FlySky 9x 8ch radio with FrSky module / Rx ... all under $100 and fully programmable / mixing etc. But I admit it is not easiest radio to get to terms with programming - but once sorted - it's very good.

[wedoitall]

Originally Posted by Yakfishingfool

all good points guys. I have a neighbor who showed me his Hitech and Dx6i...he has 5 others I didn't even get into. Lots of old futaba stuff which is why he liked hitech - something about proprietary connectors being shared. I really am leaning to the dx61 and yes, the t-28 is firmly in my sights.

i have a dx6i and a t28 trojan on the way. should be flying by weeks end. Yak, sounds like me and you are about in the same boat. i havent been flying that long, have a hz cub, just bought a champ for the family. ill let you know how the dx6 and trojan do for me, hopefully that ill help alil.

[JetPlaneFlyer]

Originally Posted by dahawk

....Spektrum seems to be the TX for the masses, no question. I don't know anyone that has not had at least a few issues with them

Well there are two people in this thread alone who have clearly stated they have had no issues (as in none, zero, zilch) with Spektrum, so you really haven't looked very hard

[AEAJR]

Originally Posted by Yakfishingfool

all good points guys. I have a neighbor who showed me his Hitech and Dx6i...he has 5 others I didn't even get into. Lots of old futaba stuff which is why he liked hitech - something about proprietary connectors being shared. I really am leaning to the dx61 and yes, the t-28 is firmly in my sights.

Did you buy a radio or are you still shopping?. If still shopping, this might help.

How to select your first radio.
http://www.Wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68741

[DCDetector]

I paid $200 for my DX7S, with AR8000 receiver, on FeeBay and love it!

Just binded/bound? it to my HZ Champ last night

[Yakfishingfool]

Thanks guys, thought I posted this am...I ended up with a DX6i and have since expanded my hanger to the Super cub, the champ, UM corsair and a Tower hobbies P51-D. As well as my gentle lady conversion on an old one I had and a near half way made Great planes trainer PT-40. All bound to the one radio. Love it!

[AEAJR]

Great move Yak. Best of luck with it.