What's the main radio brand you fly?

[Rich too]

Posted by Frank Skilbeck on 16/04/2014 19:17:50:

So Futaba and Multiplex have both lost 25% of their market share, Jeti and Hitec have doubled theirs. Seems like Taranis is hitting Futaba the hardest, market share has gone from 41% to 32% and they've slipped to 2nd place behind Spektrum.

wow, Jeti have moved - instead of 3 users, there's now 6, Futaba must be running scared!

Rich

[Rich too]

Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 16/04/2014 20:18:54:

Oh Frank! I was saving that for later!

BEB

the usual Futaba bashing

Rich

[Ian Jones]

Like many I started with Futaba but when I needed more features for helicopters at an affordable price I was advised to go for Hitec (9 years ago). Helicopters didn't happen but I've stuck with Hitec because I've found that price Vs quality of their transmitters, receivers, servos, etc they are hard to beat.

Ian

[Erfolg]

There does seem to be a niche for those who like pretending they are old time cinema ice cream sellers, with their massive tray of confectionery.

You know one was quite amused when I put my vacuum flask cup on his trany, well I think he was amused, as he said "very funny, how amusing".

Rather than comparing some such as Jeti to Ferraris, I would suggest TVR or even Lotus, a lot of style, a bit of go, but not a patch on the Porsches of all types that other manufacturers produce, rather understated power, good value, stying a little acquired, Easily under estimated by those driving their Escorts with racing stripes.. All reassuringly expensive.

[Frank Skilbeck]

Erflog, I think you are being a bit unkind to Jeti, their cases are machined from magnesium and their sticks use hall sensors rather than pots etc, they also do tray and non-tray versions. There was a few of them around at the recent aerotow I was at (and some Taranis, Multiplex, Futaba and JR). Weatronic are doing some clever things with cams on the throttle stick for the jet boys so they can have throttle and brakes on the throttle stick with a change in spring stiffness when the brake is applied.

Don't knock a tray for control until you've tried it, I'm a stick pincher rather than a thumb flier and have just started using a tray and finding it quite good (No I don't have a Jeti though)

[Tom Satinet]

Posted by Erfolg on 17/04/2014 13:09:55:

There does seem to be a niche for those who like pretending they are old time cinema ice cream sellers, with their massive tray of confectionery.

You know one was quite amused when I put my vacuum flask cup on his trany, well I think he was amused, as he said "very funny, how amusing".

Rather than comparing some such as Jeti to Ferraris, I would suggest TVR or even Lotus, a lot of style, a bit of go, but not a patch on the Porsches of all types that other manufacturers produce, rather understated power, good value, stying a little acquired, Easily under estimated by those driving their Escorts with racing stripes.. All reassuringly expensive.

#do you have a lot of experience of the software on the Jeti tx?

[PaulH]

Used Multiplex until the advent of 2.4, bought a DX6i, then DX8, then DX18. I still have the 3 Spektrum TXs and have never had a problem, all 100% reliable. Sadly the much loved Multiplex 35 was stolen, but long after I stopped using it.

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

Posted by Rich2 on 17/04/2014 10:40:46:

Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 16/04/2014 20:18:54:

Oh Frank! I was saving that for later!

BEB

the usual Futaba bashing

Rich

Now, now Rich - don't force this downhill.

Remember, as I have told you - I was a Futaba user for a very long time, so you can't simply label me as "anti Futaba". Until a few months ago - when I joined the other 25% of their users that seem to have defected in the last three years! - I'd never bought a mainstream Tx that wasn't Futaba. So, I'm not simply bashing Futaba Rich - just telling it like it is. I assure you I take no pleasure in pointing out Futaba's deficiencies - just the opposite in fact, as some one who has supported them well (in word and with cash) it saddens me considerably to watch their continuing decline.

But maybe people like me are what they need, a "critical friend". Perhaps if more people were upfront and told Futaba why they are leaving them it might help Futaba to develop a sound technology development strategy to get us back one day! I don't think you, or they, will find that way back simply by dismissing us as "Futaba bashers" - it ain't that simple mate.

BEB

[ken anderson.]

the title says it all really-what's the main radio brand you fly.......not what radio manufacturer should we give a lug bashing to...really at the end of the day its up to the individual what he spends his hard earned on....and don't you think that any modeller in the hobby for a while will have a few radio's discarded.....not by the fact that they are no good - only through the tech progression that is ever changing.......and creating obsolescence....

 

ken Anderson ne..1 ........radio dept.

Edited By ken anderson. on 17/04/2014 17:03:19

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

Agreed Ken!

BEB

[ken anderson.]

Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 17/04/2014 17:33:08:

Agreed Ken!

BEB

.........................................................................

hurrah...I've got a supporter....

ken Anderson ne...1 ........team ne dept.

[Andrew Colwell]

I find this poll interesting. In my club (Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada), the new radios being purchased seem to be mostly Spektrum. When I came back to the hobby after 20 years, I bought a Spektrum, and was the first in the club with 2.4. Now, there are only a couple guys not flying 2.4. Everyone in the club who also flies indoor fly with Spektrum. At the NEAT Fair in upstate New York last year, there were close to 60 planes in the mass launch, and it was the first time I experienced radio loss (DSM2, I should have expected it!). I'm happy with the product.

[Erfolg]

I can see that l have upset the Jeti fans. Personally I am not sold on a particlar manufacturer. Some may argue that a metal frame is superior, to a injection moulding. I have no issues with either, both do the job.

A few years back Jeti did impress, a lot of features that others did not have, today those features of monitoring current, airspeed etc,are available at a fraction of the price from Spectrum for one,plus the voices and vibrating case, talking and so on.

From what I have seen they are the province of competition flyers, who must have the latest, twisting the transmitter, for this and that.

For me all a bit application of technology for the sake of it,at any price. I think you can guess I am not an early adopter.

I have nothing against the approach, other than wait a year, then the good ideas are available from all, at a fraction of the price, the gimmicks are just left.

I see on a regular basis, Jeti,Hott etc,which are as quickly replaced with the latest must have,sets and models. That is part of some competitive scene's.

[Danny Fenton]

Everybody has a right to their opinion, this jeti owner isnt upset at all
Cheers
Danny

[Tim Hooper]

Sadly, i'm one of those Neanderthals that think that any transmitter is just a box with a couple of sticks sticking out the front of it - as long as they do the job then they're all as good as each other. A bit like refridgerators, hatchback cars, etc.

FWIW I fly on Spectrum, whilst Netty favours Hitec. Both 100% reliable.

tim

[Erfolg]

Recently I have been using a Hitec set, that the club trainer used. In my opinion it was fine, nothing special, nor was it rubbish, it just did what you would expect.

As I have stated i use a Futaba, in many respects, it is just the "state of the art" certainly not "cutting edge". it is competent.

I can see from the bar graphs, that there are changes, as stated, with Spektrum seemingly doing well, at both my clubs, they are doing much better than the graphs indicate. Given that we are considering the change over a three year period, it is obviously history that we are considering. Yet I feel confident that Spektrum are winners in the 2.4 revolution, that is historically.

I am less certain of the current position. The features that were only available realistically with Jeti, are now matched by Spektrum. I was amused at the antics of the latest Jeti set, tilting it to achieve wondrous things, so I was told. I am not sure how I feel about a Hott user, reading how to set up his model in the car park. Yet it is the same guy who has or had a Taranis. For me all these fail with user interfaces, that are not as yet intuitive. Could this be the step change that will propel Frsky to the big league?

One thing seems to be true of all the brands, in this era, they all have solid operating links to the model. That is not the real debate now, although i do read, would you trust a 50p Rx, rather than a £200 Rx. Yet often the real issue often is should you trust a short range Rx on anything other than a indoor model or an outdoor toy, however much it costs?

I am attracted to many of the Telemetry features which are becoming available, real time Lipo measurement, probably airspeed, as a warning of imminent stall, variometer for some models. Even the talking Tx as per Spektrum (which I could possibly afford) etc.

According to BEB I should now be considering what my next purchase should be. I think i will leave it awhile, as the revolution is still going on, maybe at the back end, though still significant changes are taking place, and it could be some time until the shake down is complete.

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

[A complete aside - but I can't let it go! These things acquire a false patina of truth through constant unchallenged repetition. Knowing your airspeed will not prevent you from stalling Erf]

BEB

[Chris Bott - Moderator]

Posted by Erfolg on 17/04/2014 22:44:44:

I am attracted to many of the Telemetry features which are becoming available, real time Lipo measurement, probably airspeed, as a warning of imminent stall, variometer for some models. Even the talking Tx as per Spektrum (which I could possibly afford) etc.

Take care if you do ever buy for the telemetry features Erfolg, Spektrum will NOT give you a measurement of mAh used from a motor battery. Not at the moment anyway.

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Posted by Erfolg on 17/04/2014 20:53:58:

I can see that l have upset the Jeti fans. Personally I am not sold on a particlar manufacturer. Some may argue that a metal frame is superior, to a injection moulding. I have no issues with either, both do the job.

A few years back Jeti did impress, a lot of features that others did not have, today those features of monitoring current, airspeed etc,are available at a fraction of the price from Spectrum for one,plus the voices and vibrating case, talking and so on.

From what I have seen they are the province of competition flyers, who must have the latest, twisting the transmitter, for this and that.

For me all a bit application of technology for the sake of it,at any price. I think you can guess I am not an early adopter.

I have nothing against the approach, other than wait a year, then the good ideas are available from all, at a fraction of the price, the gimmicks are just left.

I see on a regular basis, Jeti,Hott etc,which are as quickly replaced with the latest must have,sets and models. That is part of some competitive scene's.

Like Danny, you haven't upset me. I'm quite aware that I could have bought a system for a fraction of the price with similar features but having enjoyed several years of Jeti flying with a module equipped Futaba transmitter, when the time came to upgrade the thought of replacing all my receivers swung me to biting the bullet and investing in a (hand held) Jeti. The point here is that Futaba have lost yet another long term customer due to failure to lead the market, much higher receiver prices at the time I switched to 2.4 and confusing non-compatible systems.

The comparison with Ferrari and Porsche cars is a bit off the mark though. I'd rather compare Jeti to Mercedes - far more popular on the continent (particularly Germany) and the USA - expensive, yes but very well built, feature rich and arguably better value than the high end offerings of makers like Fiat/Ferrari and VW/Porsche/Bentley. I'd like to think the typical long life and reliability of Mercedes will also apply to my choice - and the commitment to full backward compatibility already demonstrated is very encouraging.

By all means express your opinions on the systems you're using Erf, but this thread is not about which system is better but looking at peoples actual choice of system and by extension, their reasoning on deciding which to opt for.

Edited By Martin Harris on 17/04/2014 23:24:42

[Erfolg]

I am certainly have no wish to denigrate any particular RC manufacture, not even Futaba.

I also have reservations with respect to references to car manufacturers. For a host of reasons, some centre on label appear, some revolve about quality perceptions, others technical competence and so on. As we all know very few Lamborghini owners care capable of driving them at their full potential, nor would we like to see this done on the public high way, plus a saloon car is nearer my needs.

With respect to the stall, until we have a means of measuring angle of attack, out of necessity, as I understand most of the full size aircraft do, need to make reference to the minimum airspeed for a a body essentially in equilibrium.

I cannot but notice that all the high cost transmitters I see are operated by competition fliers, on the basis of features. Yet I feel confident that my 8fg is good enough, other than telemetry for setting the model up, that is if I were still interested in competition. Even then it is just a short cut, although mixing is now a must have (for glider types).

[Geoff S]

It looks like my main radio will be a Taranis this coming year. It certainly was over the winter indoor season with Orange DSM2 and FlySky modules fitted. I still use my Mux3030 on both 35Mhz (with IPD receivers) and 2.4 gHz (with a Frsky DiY module) but I think it will become a standby transmitter.

Geoff

[Geoff Reynolds]

I came back to the hobby by purchasing a Futaba T6EXAP 35 MHz along with my first glider some 7 years ago now. This moved with me from Sussex to Lincolnshire and was used for electric powered gliders and other models as the mood took me. Never let me down (to my knowledge) and is still used in some gliders today.

Brother gifted me a Spektrum DX6i and which I converted all my powered (non gliders) onto. So now have 6 Spektrum models and two gliders on Futaba.

Was lucky enough to win an Hitec unit at this years EIM and donated this to my son in law as he is showing an interest in taking up the hobby.

I am happy with both my radios and to date have never forgotten to lengthen the Futaba aerial when I switch over!

Geoff

[Victor Saliba]

FUTABA ONLY since 1981. Latest acquisition the 14SG and only Futaba receivers, no rubbish compatible ones.

[Chris Jones 7]

Shouldn't the "Taranis" box read FrSky? The question was what brand, I know they only have 1 TX but what about those who have chosen the modules because although they like the TX they're using it with they either don't trust the radio or are using it with 35 MHz? Maybe some of them would say they use Frsky over Futaba, Mcgregor etc but at the moment can't.

Sorry if it seams a bit pedantic...

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

Hi Chris - the point did occur to us - but after we'd put the poll up!

We plan to run this again in say a year or two to keep a record of the unfolding story - then we will change to FrSky, especially as by then they will definitely have more than one Tx!

BEB