Which Radio?????????

[acfitz]

I just found this forum and was relieved to see it. I need some un-biased feed back as to which radio is best. I am trying to fiqure out which radio to buy. I know I want a computer radio with at least 5 channels. It is from here that I get lost. I want to spend sub $200. I fly electric planes and am not sure if I will ever make the switch to gas.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Dave Robelen]

Hi,
I am awfully fond of the HiTech line of equipment. I have been a user for some years now, and have never had reason to send anything back. I am sure there are a number of dealers with good discount programs, Tower Hobbies is one, and I have had good dealings with www.hobbyhorse.com Now it is time for someone else to check in with their preference.
Cheers, Dave

[acfitz]

Hi,
I am awfully fond of the HiTech line of equipment. I have been a user for some years now, and have never had reason to send anything back. I am sure there are a number of dealers with good discount programs, Tower Hobbies is one, and I have had good dealings with www.hobbyhorse.com Now it is time for someone else to check in with their preference.
Cheers, Dave


Thanks for your input. I decided to go with the Hitec Optic 6. I liked the idea of being able to "dial up" any frequency I wanted, and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. Now I just have to figure out how to proram the darn thing :)

[aeajr]

Good choice. Good luck with it!

[acfitz]

Good choice. Good luck with it!

I like the features of the rasio, now if only I could get it to work. I have followed all of the instructions, dialed up my frequency, set the shift..etc..etc.. But still nothing. Do you have any ideas that might help me out?

[aeajr]

OK, start from the very beginning:

receiver type, brand, channel
Crystal type, brand channel
Optic 6 - channel and shift you have selected
What is or is not happening?

[acfitz]

OK, start from the very beginning:

receiver type, brand, channel
Crystal type, brand channel
Optic 6 - channel and shift you have selected
What is or is not happening?

The receiver is a Hitec. I am not sure of the make of the crystal, it is on channel 23. I have selected chanell 23 and negative shift on the radio.

The only thing that is happening is that the servos go wild with no control.

Thanks for the help. I ma a little frustrated at this point in time. I know this is all quality equipment and I am sure that the fix is simple.

[Dave Robelen]

Hi,
There is one possibility. That ch 23 crystal may be for a dual conversion receiver and yours is a single conversion (or vice versa) If this is the case, the frequencies would not match up. If the Optic has the option of PCM vs PPM, select PPM, this could cause all sorts of funny stuff as well.
Cheers, Dave

[aeajr]

The receiver is a Hitec. I am not sure of the make of the crystal, it is on channel 23. I have selected chanell 23 and negative shift on the radio.

The only thing that is happening is that the servos go wild with no control.

Thanks for the help. I ma a little frustrated at this point in time. I know this is all quality equipment and I am sure that the fix is simple.

The crystal must be a Hitec for you to be confident it will work. Never mix crystal brands unless the MFG recommends it, and Hitec does not!

In the case of Hitec, and many other brands, some of their receivers are single conversion (SC) and some are dual conversion (DC). You have to have a Hitec SC crystal for a hitec SC receiver. Likewise for DC. You can not mix them.

Hitec also makes AM receivers which take their SC crystals.

So, you MUST know the brand and type of crystal and you MUST know the model of the receiver in order to know which crystal it takes. :eek:

[acfitz]

You are right on the money. I took all of the equipment back to the store yesterday and guess what? They sold me the wrong crystal. I needed a dc and this was an sc crystal.
I am now back in contol, of at least the plane, I can't speak for the rest of life.

Thanks for all of your input.

[aeajr]

Been there myself. Glad we could help.

[whidbey1]

Hi
My suggestion is to buy the Computer radio, the same channel that you have at least one receiver of, so you can use that receiver too. I fly JR but lots of people like hitec and Futabe too.

Good Luck


Bill