Guvnor

Posted by David Mellor on 18/04/2017 15:20:27: No, the BMFA is not doing its bit. It is currently failing to put a simple piece of paper into the hands of ready-to-fly MR drone purchasers at the point-of-sale. In the analogy with smoking, the BMFA is failing to see the wisdom of having "Smoking Kills" printed on cigarette packages. Information provided at the point-of-sale works to change behaviours. Not providing information at the point-of-sale reinforces the idea that it is OK to do what you want with the product. Sorry but it's not the BMFA's job to do this. The costs could be astronomical, and I see no reason why the BMFA membership should pay for it. Can I suggest you try and put some real costs together for this before you go any further. Then divide it by the number of members. I think you might be shocked...

Posted by David Mellor on 18/04/2017 14:35:46: Q. What about retailers? A. All should be contacted. It costs them nothing and most would comply if the material is supplied free So who IS going to pay for it? Why should BMFA members effectively subsideise the termially stupid who choose to fly a drone where they shouldn't? The admin, printing and distrubution costs of this would not be cheap...

1) Do you seriously think the CAA have got the time, the money, the staff, or the will to start 'licensing'retailers? 2) What do you propose doing about the people who a) build their own drone or b) buy from abroad...?? Is it April 1st still...??

And this will have zero effect on Ripmax. Little of what they distribute crosses with HH products. And Futaba is almost as moribund as JR...

Posted by DIGGER on 16/04/2017 05:23:12: I am sorry but I think we should give them a chance , we know the real reason for HH to move out of the UK, after Brexit they are uncertain what's going to happen, Sorry, but this was planned way before Brxit... This is about one thing, cold hard money. Or the lack of it...

Posted by Denis Watkins on 12/04/2017 11:49:11: Geoff is very knowledgeable and passionate about the hobby Govnor And he makes it clear where his preferences lay I prefer his style as there is no " sitting on the fence" or ambiguity from the post Sorry, it's totally ambiguous to me...

Posted by Geoff Sleath on 12/04/2017 11:30:37: Though it makes me glad I never got into helicopters Geoff What a daft comment

Money can be the only real reason HH have backed out of the UK (and France). I doubt the small helis are selling much now, and they've probably saturated the market in ARTFs... In the US, Hobbico aren't in the finest fettle, with TV reports of workers being refued their money from corportat saving schemes. The appear to have run out of money and ideas. HH are out of the UK now. It'll be fun to see what happens next.

I did the same LAST Sunday. Arrived Wednesday morning, free postage!

And now the DX20 has been recalled...

If closing the offices, warehouse, and service centre, and making all the staff redundant isn't a 'withdrawal', what is it...?!

Posted by MattyB on 19/03/2017 11:46:07: Posted by Guvnor on 19/03/2017 00:08:52: There's one other thing. HH will in future only be selling through a selected group of 'premier' dealers. The rest will not be able to sell HH products... Who the chosen elite are nobody knows yet... What is the source of this rumour Guvnor? Sounds like a Hari kari strategy to me if it is true, hence my slight scepticism... The source is one of the shops who hopes to be in the 'premiere league'.

There's one other thing. HH will in future only be selling through a selected group of 'premier' dealers. The rest will not be able to sell HH products... Who the chosen elite are nobody knows yet...

Posted by Peter Miller on 18/03/2017 08:52:04: Posted by tigerman on 18/03/2017 08:39:17: I do not have to post it of to Germany I can post it of to North London to be repaired!!!!!!!!!!!! If you look at the thread and the Horizon website you will see that you post it to Harlow which is in Essex. Peter. It's Germany. HH UK closes down next week...

Posted by kevin b on 17/03/2017 19:48:56: If there is only one person dealing with futaba radio faults and he has time to converse with the customers, does that say anything about the product ? Yes. It says that hardly anyone buys Futaba. ALL radios have faults. Spektrum undoubtedly have more faults, but they will, there must be ten times the number sold as all the other makes put together....

Posted by Erfolg on 17/03/2017 10:48:33: Would I be reasonable in thinking that HH will still retain a sales and distribution team in the UK? It's a reasonable thought, but no, everything is moving to Germany... Forget any soothing words. This is about hard cold money...     Edited By Guvnor on 17/03/2017 11:03:29 Edited By Guvnor on 17/03/2017 11:04:18

They haven't actually 'announced' it... But all staff have had redundancy notices. I think they close end of March...

Horizon's UK office has closed. Radios have to go to Gemany now for service. Edited By Guvnor on 16/03/2017 12:04:54

The reason for dual antennas and satelittes has absolutely nothing to do with 'marketing gimmicks'. RF is a black art at the best of times, but consulting the marketing department won't really have crossed the minds of the average radio designer... Edited By Guvnor on 12/03/2017 16:00:48

If Futaba had sold as many transmitters as Spektrum, (rumour has it that Spek sales are 20x that of Futaba) would there be as many problems with Futaba...??

Posted by Bill_B on 05/03/2017 13:48:57: My view is that a manufacturer who relies on satellite receivers can't be too sure about the reliability of the radio link in the first place! My view is that you have no understanding of RF, diversity and it's advantages. I suggest you ask yourself why the top end radios such as Jeti and the late Weatronic use optional satellites. It's got nothing to do with reliability...

Posted by Cuban8 on 21/02/2017 09:51:44: Merely out of idle curiosity, I Googled RCM&E's circulation figure and what came back from the on-line media package was a figure of around 38000 (2015). I was surprised at that as I thought the number would be significantly lower. I think you'll find that's the figure for the YEAR. Not a month! Edited By Guvnor on 21/02/2017 21:52:26

It;s over. Hrizon UK shuts end of March, all staff going.

"I'm not sure why, in the current climate, the magazine continues to run ads for Parrot drones" Money...??!

"All the product websites are still up and trading" Isnt that illeagl if theyve gone under?