Graham King

Reading this thread, I'm glad I stuck to 35MHz!  With almost no one else on 35MHz in our club, my son and I both use FF9 transmitters with PCM receivers and fly a 3 electric models , 14 glow powered planes from 36 size 2 stroke to 180FS and a Raptor 50 and a Trex 600 (glow) with NO problems whatsoever.   The only time we have had "glitch" problems was with a Trex 450  and also the even smaller 250 where the electrics are all jammed into a small space.   Solution?  Cheap Corona module and 2.4 receiver for these two, leaving everything else on the good old, dependable 35MHz.     35MHz is still prefectly useable, perhaps even more so now that everyone else has stopped using it.  Fly till almost out of sight, so no range problems.      I just worry that manufacturers will stop making and selling receivers at some time due to the demand dropping ( or rising for 2.4GHz) .    In fact, looking at pictures in RCM&E, many planes are still being flown -    including review models  and show pilots- on 35MHz (trailing aerials clearly visible)   I notice buyers of either Futaba or Spektrum equipment and very quick to defend their choice of purchase - and it seems from this thread that the problem being discussed is confined to just Spektrum.   To date, I have not heard of a single problem with Futaba 2.4.   JR, I believe, use Spektrum technology  (?)  - do they suffer the same problems?  If so , again, I have not heard anyone say so.     In which case it is not the technology at fault, but just one manufacturer with a quality control problem , perhaps?   One last point:  A number of people in our club have suffered from the short aerials breaking where they enter the receiver case ( Spektrum receivers)  Is this the reason for sudden loss of control?  Dry solder joint or wire breaking internally ? These littles short wires should be properly supported and not left "flapping" in the breeze.      

Stick with the West Prosynth.  10% is enough.  

I think Midland Heli's do them.  Cant find them on their website, but I'm sure they do ( or did ) them.  

I've always flown slightly larger electric planes ( Twinstar, Acromaster etc) and found that by placing the various electrical components as far apart from each other as possible glitching is reduced to an almost non existant level.  The Twin Star has glitched a few times ( usually aileron) , but it seems to happen in 2 particular areas of our field, so is probably caused by external sources.  ( This is why I chose the Twinstar to test the budget 2.4 system I bought)   My Easystar is updated to brushless inrunner ( for more power to carry the camera) and is still glitch free.  My Edge 540 runs with AXi motor, CC ESC and Futaba PCM receiver and has never glitched.  I only use PCM Dual conversion receivers, so perhaps they solve the problem?   My son's 250 heli is currently running PCM and , so far has been glitch free despite everything being jammed into a tiny space, but his 450 has had a few glitch problems - its using a PPM receiver.   The 450 has now been changed to 2.4 and is waiting for decent weather to test fly.  If anyone is flying smaller electric models, then I agree 2.4 is probably the answer, and if anyone is buying a new transmitter, then it makes sense to buy 2.4, but changing from 35MHz to 2.4 , for me, is changing just for the sake of it.  I have far too many models to change them all to 2.4 - the cost of replacing all the receivers would be astronomical!

I must take up on the point raised by Clive regarding 35Mhz and electric planes.  I have flown many electric planes on 35MHz and have never had one crash as a result of glitching   / interference.   I only own 3 electric models ( an old Twinstar II and Easystar both used for photography and the excellent little Seagull Edge 540 that was bought solely because I had an AXi 2820/10 motor gathering dust!)  these days as I much prefer larger 4 stroke glow models, and have no intention of "upgrading" to 2.4, as I simply dont see any reason to. Glitches never happen to me, and with everyone in the club rushing to buy the 2.4 technology, the chances of being "shot down" by someone else is virtually nil.   I will admit to buying a very cheap 2.4 module and 8 ch receiver recently for my son's electric 250 and 450 heli's, as in such a confined space, the electrics do glitch a little sometimes.  We test flew using the Twinstar to check range and suitability and found it superb.  HK special ( Corona 2.4 DSSS V2) - great value for money - full range, easy set up and, importantly, easy and quick to change back to 35 MHh for his 50 sized heli's and planes. 35MHz may be out of fashion, but it still performs superbly for many of us and will continue to do so for a long time to come.

I have Phoenix running on Windows 7 Professional.  No problems at all. Just install, let it download and install all the updates and fly

My solution?  I just stay at home!  Flying can wait until the weather improves