Cirrus Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Need to try them out in the flesh but looking to upgrade my trusty DX6i. Will likely go for the A9 based on price and telemetry but a quick quesiton about the Futaba's I've read reports that the alarm is really quiet. Is it it really that bad? I can't find any video on YouTube highlighting the issue. If the 14SG had speech I'd probably stump up the extra £200 for it. (I know it might be coming in the future but no guarantees). Also what are your thoughts on transmitters that vibrate? Do transmitter ciruit boards + vibration modules make a good combination? (DX8 suggests not). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erfolg Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Are talking about the 8fg alarm? If so unless you have a hearing problem i would be surprised that you would not hear it. As the time limit is approached there is a series of warning beeps, which then becomes constant (at the set time) for a few seconds. If I can hear it, i am sure that a younger non metal fan would have no trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codename-John Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 the 14SG alarm is quite loud too, the only reason not to be able to hear is if someone is revving an engine up in the pits behind you etc, as Erfolg says there is a beep every second for the last 10, then a long beep at 0, then the vibration too. Its not a really rigorous vibration more like a gentle finger massage and Mobile phones have been vibrating away for years with no issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Yeah, I have an 8FG and the alarm is plenty loud enough for me - and bear in mind I've played in bands for the last 30 years and no longer have the most accute of hearing - so if I can hear it it must be loud enough! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Dav 2 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Cirrus, the Futaba 14 SG has a loud enough alarm and coupled with the vibration mode it would be very difficult to miss warnings. The TX might be a bit dearer than some of Futaba's competitors but you get what you pay for and I'm very content with mine. The manual could not really be classed as good by any means but I've downloaded Amazon Kindle onto my laptop and bought Malcom Holt's detailed Kindle book for £4.62 from Amazon and that fills in the blanks. It's a good buy. Have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucksboy Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Cirrus, have a look at receiver prices. I've just paid £42 for a Hitec 7 channel receiver that includes telemetry. It's the main reson I sold all my Futaba radio and went to Hitec, both are excellant sets, I'm very pleased with the A9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cirrus Posted June 9, 2013 Author Share Posted June 9, 2013 yeah agreed. Optima 7's are £35 and Optima 6's are £32. I held both the A9 and 14SG yesterday. Considering 14SG is £400+ was amazed how much it looked and felt like a toy (very much like my Dx6i). A9 felt very solid, although opposite end of the scale and felt overly heavy. Grip was much better though which will make DLG usage easier. For the price and features I cannot pass up on the A9. Ordering monday morning and will pick up at next weekends show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Dav 2 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 How different is personal impression. I considered and handled the Hitec and the Spectrum and to say that the Futaba looked and felt like a toy is a very strange comment indeed. Odd.... I'm not Futaba biased but it was simply the best of the three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris basson Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Or how about the Frsky Taranis which is about to be released if youcan get your hands on one (try T9 hobbies) it looks like the programming is a bit of a learning curve but you face that with any new Tx! CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cirrus Posted June 9, 2013 Author Share Posted June 9, 2013 FT was tempting, but too new for my liking. I need a proven transmitter + software. I'm not the early adopter type Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucksboy Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I'll have a good natured moan to my local model shop when i next go in. I dont mind too much, I was horse trading with him anyway, I'd returned a faulty battery charger and I accepted his price without question. I'm lucky enough to have a shop within 3 miles, he'll get anything I ask for and matches the big dealers prices, this receiver got through the net. i do try to use him rather than lose him so I'm happy enough. The great thing about the A9 is that you rarely reach for the instruction book, all the choices are on the screen. I think setting the fail safe and binding the receiver is the only time I've needed the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codename-John Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 but just watch you dont turn it off when adjusting the vertical trims Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 hello cirrus....... i have the A9....wonderfull bit of user friendly RC kit.......it was originally a 35mhz set....and as a result of losing it's long ariel......has an imbalance to it...solved by buying one of the hitec accessories...apart from that...great...... i was a futaba user for over 20 years but changed due to the expensive / cheap look and feel of the new 2.4 TX's and the price of the RX's.......the small optima RX's are good value also and can be had for around about £25.00...full range as well .... each to there own at the end of the day....... but the Hitec stuff is up near the top...... ken anderson....ne....1 hitec dept... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucksboy Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I bought one of the adaptors from HK to allow the A9 to balance better, this covers the on/off switch which helps prevent any inadvertant switching off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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