Hi band or low band Rx?

[expo]

Hey fellas, I see alot of Futaba 127 Rx for sale and they specify what band they are on. Is there an indicaton on it that specifies hi or lo band other than a sticker stating the channel #

Thanks in advance

[Cub lover]

Hey. If you go to a web site like Tower Hobbies, they will have an explanation. It has to do with where the chanel number is in the list. At a certain chanel it changes from high band to low band. I think the number is 50 or something. Basically, any chanel that is 50 or higher is in the high band area. Lower than 50 is low band.

[expo]

:mad: OK, here's some information I read on the FAQ section of Futaba :mad: website.

Copied from the FAQ section of the website:
Please explain Hi and Low band to me? I am not sure what the difference is between them.

Most of our 72Mhz receivers are now tuned to the center of either a low band frequency (channel 11 to channel 35) or high band (channel 36 to channel 60).

By tuning to each band, you can easily and safely change your receiver crystal to anywhere within this high or low band range, without having to send it in to be retuned.

If you have a receiver that is not marked as to which channel it is, or if it is not marked with a sticker that says if it is High or Low, you can check inside the crystal slot to see if there is a red mark. If there is a red mark, this indicates that the receiver is High band.

I would interpret that to read that the center channels on each band would be tuned more accurately than the ones farther from the center
i.e.: channel 23 on the lo band and channel 48 on the hi band would be the most accurately tuned. Channels 60 + 35 on the hi band and 36 and 11 on the lo band would be the least accurate.

Assuming my interpretation is accurate, using crystals 36 or 37 with a lo band rx and crystals 34 or 35 with a hi band rx would still be somewhat accurate but at the far end of what Futaba may considering putting in print.

I'm thinking that as long as you get a good range check you can use any crystal in any rx.

Another question arises is that, do manufacturers of non specific hi and lo band receivers tune them to mid channels like 35 or 36 so they work with all crystals?

Is this a marketing ploy on the part of Futaba to get hobby shops to carry twice the inventory of receivers?

Member views on the subject please :confused:

[aeajr]

If you have a Futaba radio and don't want to be bothered with Hi-lo band on receivers, Hitec receivers will work just fine with your radio. I would guess 90% of the Hitec receivers sold in the US are Hitec/futaba compatible as that is the normal Hitec configuration. If you are buying new, unless you ask for an Airtronics/JR compatible receiver, they will be Hitec/futaba compatilbe.

Low cost and very light Ch 1-4+6
Micro 05S - HFS-05MS - $29
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGZT0&P=7

Full 6 channels, dual conversion, small and light
Electron 6 - $55
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXM8&P=7

8 channel full size dual conversion - for larger planes
Supreme 8 - $45
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXN543&P=7

Between those 3 you can handle almost any plane.

all three have 1 mile rated range.