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Author Topic: 2.4 GHZ radio sets  (Read 9322 times)

terence

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2.4 GHZ radio sets
« on: December 22, 2007, 12:27:05 pm »
I am thinking of treating myself to a Futaba 2.4 ghz radio set in the new year, and would be interested in any feedback from those of you that have used them.
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Terrys tugs

barryfoote

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2007, 12:46:19 pm »
Terence,

Depends what you want to use it for. I believe it is not a good system for Submarines but is excellent for surface vessels. Model Boat magazine have just done a review of it and it gets top ratings.

Welcome to the Forum and happy Xmas.

Barry
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barriew

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2007, 01:12:57 pm »
Terence,

Not bought one because I am put off by the high cost of additional receivers - I expect to use my sets in more than one model. Apart from that they are very attractive - no crystals, smaller Tx aerial etc.

Barrie
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2007, 01:39:43 pm »
Terence
Limited in terms of Auxiliary Channels 5 and 6, as these are not proper "proportional" channels and therefore can only be used as ON or OFF for a maximum of two separate lighting or sound circuits. Ripmax-Futaba Service Centre have confirmed that these channels can't be converted to 3-way switches or rotary knobs, either. I have several customers who've been disappointed by this aspect when they found out AFTER buying a set, but it's all down to what you want to do with it, I guess.
Suit yourself?
FLJ
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Robert Davies

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2007, 01:45:58 pm »
I bought one of the first Futaba 2.4ghz sets  into the country back in July - I'm slowly but surely selling all the rest of my 'conventional' sets.

Range is very good, well over half a mile, and all motor/servo glitching has gone.

Highly recommended :)

On the subject of receiver prices, take a rough cross-section of prices on that well known auction site, and compare new genuine Futaba 40mhz 6 channel receiver prices with the same spec 2.4ghz receivers, and the difference is not that great.

The great advantage from the system showed itself when I attended several regattas during the Summer.... Frequency control? Not necessary...

Did I mention the antennae are tiny? 1.25 inches, I tape one under the deck and put one one vertically into the superstructure - Excellent for 'scale' models.

I've got receivers setup in 5 models so far, 2 yachts and 3 electric scale models.

-Rob
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Captain Jack

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2007, 07:31:40 am »
I normally just switch the reciever between boats. The Spektrum radio I use is programmable for several different models. The reciever is not much bigger than a postage stamp, and weighs but a few grams. Velcro and double sided tape holds it nicely, anywhere you care to place it. The servos are the only thing that stay in each boat. The programming for throw lenghts, and the ability to mix each channel eliminates the need for expensive throttle/rudder mixing devices. And as mentioned before, you'll never need to worry about frequencies again! 2.4GHZ is definately the wave of the future.
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cos918

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2007, 05:02:06 pm »
hi all i first saw the new 2,4ghz sets at the warwick show and have been hearing bit about them on this forum. Am i right in saying that the only benfit of them is at show or on a club lake you dont have to worry if some has the same frequency as you. Ie on 27 and 40 mhz you had to check that the frequency was free. john
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Captain Jack

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2007, 05:11:16 pm »
That's not the only benefit. Glitches from motor noise are a thing of the past, as well as most other electro magnetic interference.
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wideawake

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2007, 07:54:03 pm »
Lots of benefits I'd think, not least of which is that you're not waving several feet of aerial rod about everywhere you go!  Being more serious, I'd say that the main benefit is the almost total immunity from interference by other transmissions.   This may not be a problem at a well-regulated sailing water (like the club I belong to!) but I imagine must be a considerable comfort if you sail on "free access" water where anyone might wander up and turn on a transmitter on the same channnel without checking.  I've just acquired a Spektrum DX6 kit to put in my next project  SB Lady Daphne. One of the main benefits I can see is the very flexible channel mixing.   It'll be very easy to control two sails from one stick with different sheet throws on each plus a couple of other ideas I have.    I shall probably use the 2 switched channels 5 and 6 for the leeboards.

Happy Christmas     :)
Guy
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toesupwa

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2007, 09:18:45 pm »
Check out the Spektrum DX6i that comes with the latest Blade 400 Helicopter (Dirty word, sorry)..  :embarrassed:

Its a 2.4 radio that is due out on its own here in the USA @ $170.... so about half that in the UK...  O0
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2007, 11:28:55 pm »
Quote from: toesupwa on December 29, 2007, 09:18:45 pm
Its a 2.4 radio that is due out on its own here in the USA @ $170.... so about half that in the UK...  O0

........then there's the carriage from USA plus any Import Duty plus the UK distributor's margin plus the retailer's margin plus the VAT............ nah. Just swap the $ for a £ and you'll be nearer the mark. I'd just LURV to be wrong, mind you! Shame about those flaming 2-way switches, though......
FLJ
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bigford

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2007, 11:44:12 pm »
so with this 2.4 do you still need the motor capacitors??
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Circlip

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2007, 07:56:08 am »
Probably open to further correction but here goes. the reason for "suppression" capacitors on the motor is to cut the electrical noise generated by the motor. If you take a battery and place it near a radio tuned to a quiet background, then do a striking short across the terminals you will hear a click in the speaker. You have in effect made a spark transmitter, which was used in the very early days for radio communications, so when a BRUSHED motor is used, you can have a constant spark generator, you can also hear a "mucky" motor on a radio and we used to go to great lengths to get a clean reception on our car (full size) radios cos of the spark plugs and dynamo. Because your new 2.4G operates outside the frequency of the interfearace by the motor it doesn't mean it's OK to generate Fallout for your mates,don't know how much an unsuppressed "screamer" generates or how close you need to be to cause a glitch on someone Else's gear, but it's worth playing safe?
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Circlip

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2007, 09:09:15 am »
Fergot to mention although it is intimated in my diatribe, this applies to BRUSHED type motors,no experience of brushless or inrunners or outrunners yet, but the fact that you have to generate 3phase to control them may or not affect the receivers. Probably too small to matter, but for brushed motors how much does three 100V ceramics from Maplin cost?
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Jonty

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2007, 01:57:41 pm »
  Talking of car ignition suppression, when we built racing engines we chucked out all the suppressors and used outboard motor plug connectors. B*ggered up TV reception within a hundred yards.
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #15 on: December 30, 2007, 05:53:46 pm »
Quote from: Circlip on December 30, 2007, 09:09:15 am
How much does three 100V ceramics from Maplin cost?
Cheap as chips, dear boy - but the P&P to Long Island, New York would be breathtakingly uneconomical........ ;)

FLJ

(Determined to make Admiral before 2008  8))
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Stavros

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #16 on: December 30, 2007, 06:44:17 pm »
Maplins dont do them at 100v only 50v posting out there it would go air mail so including postage they would poss cost £1,50!!!!!


Stavros
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Circlip

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #17 on: December 30, 2007, 06:52:58 pm »
  :embarrassed:  Sorry Bigford for Maplin substitute RadioShack. OK you Pendantic s3d's I didn't read the profile address {-) {-)

     BUT, what have I wroten as the first sentence on reply 12? ? ? ::) :P
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #18 on: December 30, 2007, 08:30:53 pm »
Can't fault your reasoning - IMHO it makes no sense to leave these off in any circumstances. BTW Are you by any chance Johnny Wroten? Where do I claim my ten shillings?
FLJ
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bigford

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #19 on: December 30, 2007, 08:33:15 pm »
all my cars never had the caps added to them, i only started hearing about them
in the boat forums.  i'm in the market for a multichannel radio soon for the
happy hunter. i really like the robbie f14navy but the the 2,4 stuff seem the way to go
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toesupwa

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #20 on: December 30, 2007, 11:44:09 pm »
Quote from: FullLeatherJacket on December 29, 2007, 11:28:55 pm
Quote from: toesupwa on December 29, 2007, 09:18:45 pm
Its a 2.4 radio that is due out on its own here in the USA @ $170.... so about half that in the UK...  O0

........then there's the carriage from USA plus any Import Duty plus the UK distributor's margin plus the retailer's margin plus the VAT............ nah. Just swap the $ for a £ and you'll be nearer the mark. I'd just LURV to be wrong

Horizon's projected price in the uk for Transmitter / receiver... £110
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Circlip

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #21 on: December 31, 2007, 05:59:04 am »
Blast from the past FLJ     Lobby Ludd? ? ?
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #22 on: December 31, 2007, 08:58:55 am »
Quote from: Circlip on December 31, 2007, 05:59:04 am
Blast from the past FLJ     Lobby Ludd? ? ?
Too much past, mate! Ref price of RC gear; sounds good IF it's right. Don't mind being wrong if everyone wins a prize.
FLJ
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tigertiger

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #23 on: December 31, 2007, 11:22:53 am »
There used to be another issue.

Something to do with power output of non EU sets.

Something like US sets knock out more (don't know the actual unit as I am not a radio buff) Watts, and are non EU compliant. As EU permitted Tx output is much lower.
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barriew

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Re: 2.4 GHZ radio sets
« Reply #24 on: December 31, 2007, 11:38:10 am »
Pretty sure that has been fixed now. The UK regs now allow 100mW if I remember correctly.

Barrie
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