TRANSMITTER RECOMMENDATIONS

[felix]

The bottom level 4channel tranny I use now is finally showing it’s limitations so I finally decided to step up to a computerized radio and wondering what to get and where to find it….pretty hooked on go fast wings/sailplanes. also pretty keen on designing/building some larger size,fast sailplanes. Prefer the 36mhz radios and need something that will provide enough functions for what I need. don't need all the bells,whistles,shiny bits just something that will do the job with minimum of fuss. I hate anything even remotely computerized so ease of programming would be great. Looking to spend around the $300 mark.

[chamm37]

well u r going to have to pich in another 150 and get a multiplax cockpit sx ;D they r really simple to use and 7 of the slopiey guys have it....aka Andrew, Ken and many more

i have the JR PCM 9X which i am finding to my liking very well ;Di actually look really professional now :Dlolz


I mean it is up to you wat u want to spend and wat u want but have a talk to ken and Andrew about the multiplex cockpit sx


Regards,
Chris ;D

[matt]

Hi Felix, it also depends on how many channels you want and also wat planes you plan on building down the track. I had the JR 2610 6 channel before I updated to the Jr Synth 2720 transmitter and it did everything i needed it too, and pretty easy to program aswell. and you can pick up the 2610 tranny for around $290, or if you want to step up to the 7 channel synth 2720 will cost a bit more, I have found it great so far. You need to have a chat top Sean about the 2610 as he had one before he upgraded to his 9 channel JR.

Cheers Matt

[callun]

The only comment I really have is to buy the best you can afford. Spending a few extra dollars now can/will save you hundreds of dollars down the track when it comes time to upgrade.

[skyboyken]

Hi Felix,

if you want to fly larger and/or faster gliders then please please please get yourself a transmitter that does CROW BRAKING, ie which has mixers for a four servo wing. As an example the JR 2610 and 2720 are very popular transmitters in Australia, and with good reason if you fly power or helis. However they don't have dedicated glider mixers and they will ultimately limit you in your glider flying.

A Tx that does crow braking will also do a bunch of other things - camber change for 4 servos with elevator compensation and snap flap for 4 servos (flaps and ailerons) being just two examples of what I mean by 'mixers for a 4 servo wing'.

Ask anyone who flies a high performance glider whether they think that crow brakes and camber change are worth having . You won't believe how much control you can have over a landing approach until you have 'crow' working for you, and that means you can land your nice glider safely where the guy who doesn't have crow is really between a rock and a hard place.

I know I bang on about this constantly but I keep seeing guys who buy radios without knowing this, and end up frustrated.

The lowest cost new transmitters I know of that do have 4 servo wing mixers are the Multiplex C0ckpit SX (which I have and recommend very highly for a lot of reasons), The Hitec Eclipse 7 and I also am fairly sure the Hitec Optic 6 current version (not original version) has 4 servo wing mixers.

I heard recently that you can get a C0ckpit SX with a 7 channel Rx (both synth) for around $400 - $450. The Rx sells for around $165 separately (it's very good quality) so that makes the Tx worth around $290.

Another option may be a secondhand Futaba 9 channel Tx. They are a very capable radio, if a little challenging to program for gliders or so I am told. I suspect that if you get someone who knows what they're doing to show you how it's done you'd be fine.

Go Great!

Ken.

[thevon]

Felix I agree completely with Ken. I have the Coc*kpit, and also have an Optic 6 which I would not recommend. The quality is dodgy, but importantly the 6 channels does not allow full 4 servo wing mixing. You can have flaps, but they will be coupled on one channel, rather than being able to work independently. The Coc*kpit has a servo for each flap so you can use the flaps as full span ailerons, adjust their centrepoints and throws independently, etc. The RX that comes with the radio is possibly the best in the world too. The ease of use of the programming menu is great, whereas the Optic 6 is far more difficult. The synth capability is absolutely great too - switch frequencies with the turn of a dial.

Just don't go holding a GSM mobile phone near a Multiplex TX! I got a reply from Model Engines about it during the week and they're very definite that it's a big risk.

[bananaman]

As above, if you want to go fast, you also need to slow down and you need to be able to mix that trailing edge to do both. Get the best xmitter you can afford. I can fly anything with my radio including 2 channel models (and I do). But a 2 channel radio can't fly all my models.

Some radios are hard to work out how to mix. BUT, if you get someone to show you how to do it, once it is done, that model memory can be used as a template for others. There is some programming talent on this board and there are quite a few sites on the net with tips.

[felix]

Thanks all for the input, gives me a better idea of what’s required. Time to do a little more research and maybe increase my budget a little (or look for something 2nd hand). Got a whole lot of timber and auto parts to export over the following weeks so should be able to budget for something that’ll do the job.
Cheers all.

[skyboyken]

Hi Andrew,

you may note I specified the new version of the Optic 6 in my post. I'm nearly certain it does have 4 wing servo mixers. I know the original model doesn't, so that is what I suspect you have.

It wouldn't be my first choice either but better that than a Tx that can't do the mixing at all.