Tony Kenny Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Admittedly, I've not tried other brands, but I use Tactic gear. This wasn't by choice, it just happened to be included with the RTF model I bough first. I upgraded to the TTX650 so that I had a pair that were compatible to buddy up with the club instructor. Never had any problems with it, the menus are straight forward enough and manuals are clear and concise. The only "issue" I could say is that the gear is difficult to source and has to be shipped in from abroad so can take a while to arrive if you need spares or additional RX. Would be great to have a UK specialist stockist, although I did see one at Weston Park, "lad" something-or-other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Posted by Dave Hopkin on 19/06/2017 08:18:09: Posted by Martin McIntosh on 18/06/2017 23:54:42: Well, you may have no trouble Dave but I do not as yet use Companion since I need to learn how to make changes at the field without lugging a laptop with me. Great system but most of the terms used are totally alien to some of us old gits. Recently had to re-load the audio because it failed on the count down timer for no reason at all. Most of my models require rather complex programs. And those complex models are far easier to program then in most other systems - even without companion, once you forget how other systems program it becomes easy, very easy..... I think Dave hits the nail firmly on the head here. In my experience most people who find OpenTx difficult do so because they seem to have trouble "letting go" of their pre-conceptions. OpenTx is not like a menu driven system - it is fundamentally and conceptually different. If you approach it just as another Tx you will struggle - because it simply won't respond to you in the way you are expecting. But, if you are prepared to just take a step back, accept this is something different that you will have to learn from the ground up, then you will make very rapid progress. Nearly everyone I know who had taken that approach has not only been successful in mastering OpenTx, what is much more they will tell you that once you "get it" it's actually very much easier than any menu driven system in many cases - and the more complex the set up you are trying to achieve, the bigger the advantage (in terms of ease of doing it) OpenTx has. And no, none of them have degrees in computer programming! If you think about it for a moment we can understand why OpenTx is easier with complex set-ups than a more conventional menu driven system. With the latter you have to work entirely within what the system designer gives you in terms of menu options. A lot of ingenuity is often required to get the system to do something that the designer may not have envisaged it ever doing. This is often difficult and requires counter intuitive thinking sometimes. In contrast OpenTx makes no such assumptions about what you want to do - what it effectively gives you are building blocks you'd need for any system - you can assemble these (together with decision making logic structures) to create the system you want - not the system the Tx designer thought you wanted! So there is a lot less "working around" artificial limitations and the fact that "it just wasn't designed to do that". BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin McIntosh Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Thats fine Dave, and I am aware of what it can do, but if someone has just bought one then where do they start? Lots of info on the finer points of setting the thing up but there seems to be very little for a newbie. So many options for the Rx/Tx s/w which will vary from when an item was bought. My set is now on pre EU (global) but not sure if I bought another Rx if it would work. Probably not without backward programming it which can be quite a headache for some of us. This stuff is basically good, but somebody needs to do an article in the mag. again to get people off on the right foot. By the way, the left hand button panel on mine recently fell off inside due to poor construction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hopkin Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Posted by Martin McIntosh on 19/06/2017 20:36:56: Thats fine Dave, and I am aware of what it can do, but if someone has just bought one then where do they start? Lots of info on the finer points of setting the thing up but there seems to be very little for a newbie. So many options for the Rx/Tx s/w which will vary from when an item was bought. My set is now on pre EU (global) but not sure if I bought another Rx if it would work. Probably not without backward programming it which can be quite a headache for some of us. I would suggest right here........................ **LINK** Far more tuition available than many other makes of system................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leighfield Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 I had a great day's flying yesterday (in spite of the heat)! Flew my HK Grasshopper, Phoenix 2000 and contra-prop Super Marauder, all fitted with Spektrum gear and as usual, without any problems at all. All I care about with radio kit is that it works and that I don't need to be an i/t anorak to understand it. Sometimes it's better to be a bit dim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 I am not an anorak - I'm just someone prepared to read the manual - yeap novel I kmow! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devcon1 Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 Didn't the mag do a series of articles on OpenTX ? There are some very easy to watch, informative vids on the Painless360 YouTube channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 I've always found Spektrum to be a reasonable radio system. When you get stuck, BEB normally knows the answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Posted by Donald Fry on 19/06/2017 23:44:25: I've always found Spektrum to be a reasonable radio system. When you get stuck, BEB normally knows the answers. LOL! But not for Spekky Donald! BEB PS For what it' worth though, I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of Specktrum gear - it's always given me the impression of being reliable kit. But TBH I think you can say that of pretty well all the major brands now and most of the less well known as well. Integreted electronic packages and modern automated manufacture and test/inspection leads to high reliability generally speaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Posted by Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator on 20/06/2017 04:19:11: I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of Specktrum gear - it's always given me the impression of being reliable kit. Given my use of a wide range of gear for extended periods, well beyond a "normal" user, you can ignore the "bought by beginners so they make more mistakes" and all other similar considerations/excuses. So, which manufacturer has supplied me with the most faulty gear? Well, overall, actually, FrSky! I have had a number of FASST compatible Rx arrive with very restricted range. I have in the past two years had two faulty Rx in mainstream FrSky types, X6R and X8R, again these have had restricted range. One X6R failed to a range of three metres!! That was the only one that failed in use, the rest were picked up by testing range under FULL range conditions. Those that have passed (except that one) have been 100% and once proven during commissioning I have confidence in the link provided, and I still prefer FrSky overall for what it offers when checked carefully and operated properly. I have more than 50 FrSky Rx. Once tested and proven to weed out the supply problems, the one in use fault is IMO acceptable. Apart from the GUI issue, Futaba FASST has been 100%. Spektrum has been 100%, heck even the £35 FlySky FS-i6 has been 100%. HOWEVER, this has been for hard on repeatable clearly identifiable faults. When it comes to odd glitches and "funny moments" though, Spektrum reins supreme. Or, strictly, does it? Recently the biggest issue I have had has been with the Blade 130S Helicopter (as have a significant number of others). But then, Blade's install puts the single short aerial Rx/Gyro on one side of the frame easily masked from LOS to Tx and RIGHT up against an ESC that has a ferrite core fitted, almost unheard of with "micro/mini" helicopters. SO, do you blame Spektrum, or Blade? I fly with five people with Blade Nano CPS micro Helis every week. Unlike the former model, the Nano CP, these CPS are VERY UNRELIABLE models, with a high tendency to freak and go W.O.T. with loss of cyclic control, when Throttle Hold fails to stop them. Have had this myself when flying, and more than once. Have had it when alone and outdoor away from other RF or building factors. Also the design of the RX/Gyro allows the tail motor to run under throttle hold conditions!! Spektrum radio product faults? Well, Yes. But mainstream core system faults? NO. This is my experience, you can draw your own conclusions from it, or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Does anyone know how the expo compares between Spektrum and Frsky ? Would 30% expo be the same on both sets ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 I don't think Chris, the OP, has reliability concerns. Like me, he is a long term satisfied Spektrum user. I too am a bit unsettled by Horizon's somewhat chaotic exodus to Germany. However, the product is still available from many UK sources, as well as direct from HH, and although service has been variable, they will hopefully get their act together. Hence I have concluded that there is no reason, at present, to panic and "jump ship". Who is to know whether one of the other manufacturers will drop a bombshell as JR did? Although the FrSky stuff is interesting, I've not been attracted up to now - although I'm a retired engineer and could cope with the different operating system, I prefer just to set up and go flying. However, that cute and very inexpensive QX7 holds a strange attraction. I'm dabbling with simple FPV and it would provide a cheap route to voice annunciated telemetry (which my 1st gen DX8 can't provide). It will also take an Orange Tx module which provides DSM2 and DSMX protocols should I need a backup for my DX8. Unlike Chris, I tend to fly modestly sized club type models, mostly scale and some with flaps and retracts, but not needing more than 7 channels. So that's my plan - keep calm and carry on with Spektrum, but probably get an entry level FrSky for dabbling and insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 One of the items that attracted me to Spektrum is ' Model Match' ...... what other systems have a similar function that prevents flying on the wrong model memory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Yes, that's a brilliant safety feature. I think the FrSky systems have a "receiver match" system which is similar. I don't know if model match would work if a Spektrum compatible module is used. I'm sure the FrSky power users will advise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Posted by kc on 20/06/2017 10:14:06: One of the items that attracted me to Spektrum is ' Model Match' ...... what other systems have a similar function that prevents flying on the wrong model memory? erm... FrSky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devcon1 Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Trevor, A friend of mine has just got a QX7, I've had a play with it and I was pretty impressed with it. It's his first radio set ever and he's got to grips with Companion and OpenTx very very quickly. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Posted by Bob Cotsford on 20/06/2017 10:48:51: Posted by kc on 20/06/2017 10:14:06: One of the items that attracted me to Spektrum is ' Model Match' ...... what other systems have a similar function that prevents flying on the wrong model memory? erm... FrSky Jeti warns if an unexpected receiver is found (i.e. it may not be the correct model that's been turned on) and after a short delay (presumably to allow the pilot to think) gives the option to use it or not - which is useful if you have done a receiver swap between models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Bob, I thought that FrSky had receiver matching, but will it perform a matching check if you are using a DSM2/X module and a corresponding rx? I suspect it can't, as I believe the code to do it must be integral to the native transmitter. I seem to remember in the early days of 2.4, if you used a Spektrum module in a JR tx with a Spektrum rx, model match wouldn't work. This wouldn't be a major issue for me as I would only use an FrSky tx with a Spektrum compatible module as a fallback option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Posted by trebor on 20/06/2017 08:32:20: Does anyone know how the expo compares between Spektrum and Frsky ? Would 30% expo be the same on both sets ? FrSky has effectively a wider range when it comes to Rate and therefore to Expo, so the numbers do not usually tally to other makes. Going from Futaba FASST to a Horus, a flying wing rocket ship I had been flying on 70% rate and 30% expo had to be turned down to 30% rate and 40% expo to feel the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Thanks, I've been experimenting with one model to see if I like Frsky and I've had trouble getting it feeling the same as Spektrum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Posted by Trevor Crook on 20/06/2017 12:34:55: Bob, I thought that FrSky had receiver matching, but will it perform a matching check if you are using a DSM2/X module and a corresponding rx? I suspect it can't, as I believe the code to do it must be integral to the native transmitter. FrSky uses a Rx "number" which you can set or that increments for each new model created, that process gives you uniqueness (or not, as sometimes you may well not want it!) of your choice. Can't say for Spektrum module "model matching" as I do not have one, only FASST and a multi for many "toy" models, but it would be in the module bind cct would it not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Posted by trebor on 20/06/2017 16:28:53: Thanks, I've been experimenting with one model to see if I like Frsky and I've had trouble getting it feeling the same as Spektrum. The Horus in pre-release development guise was even more of a shock than the Taranis! Once over the shock though, the resolution and quality of control available is much better!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trebor Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 The only thing I don't understand is when you delete a model on Frsky it doesn't delete the Rx. It took a while to get used to that. Or it could be me doing it wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.