RC Boat Radio Question - Lame-O Newbie

[James McGowan]

Believe me, I couldn't find it in the FAQ...

I'm almost done building my Thunder Tiger Victoria, but have hit a snag
concerning the radio. I purchased a Hitec ultra-torque servo for the
mainsail (thanks to all the great advice from this N.G.), but the servo's
connector doesn't fit the receiver of my (admittedly old) Futaba four
channel FM receiver. There's an extra tab on the servo's connector that
prevents a fit.

Here's my confession: This is an aircraft radio, purchased at a yard sale
from a guy who only flies RC airplanes. So now the question is, you guessed
it... What kind of NEW radio would you recommend that I purchase for an RC
boat? I only intend to use it in the Victoria and don't need more than two
channels.

I want to stay legal so my son and I can enter the boat in sailing
competition someday.

If it matters, I live in southern California, good ol' USA.

Thanks,

-----
James McGowan
james.mcgowan@verizon.net

[Bill Price]

For now, slice off the tab on the servo connector. Your Hitec servo should
operate fine with the Futaba receiver.

The biggest problem with using an aircraft system for your boat is the
possibility of destroying an expensive airplane or helicopter operating
nearby, or worse injuring someone with an out-of-control plane (it happens).
You need a 75MHz system to be safe and happy.

Try eBay, or check out sites like www.fmadirect.com .

Happy sailing.

"James McGowan" <james.mcgowan@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:3eba994a$0$1402$724ebb72@reader2.ash.ops.us.u u.net...
> Believe me, I couldn't find it in the FAQ...
>
> I'm almost done building my Thunder Tiger Victoria, but have hit a snag
> concerning the radio. I purchased a Hitec ultra-torque servo for the
> mainsail (thanks to all the great advice from this N.G.), but the servo's
> connector doesn't fit the receiver of my (admittedly old) Futaba four
> channel FM receiver. There's an extra tab on the servo's connector that
> prevents a fit.
>
> Here's my confession: This is an aircraft radio, purchased at a yard sale
> from a guy who only flies RC airplanes. So now the question is, you
guessed
> it... What kind of NEW radio would you recommend that I purchase for an RC
> boat? I only intend to use it in the Victoria and don't need more than two
> channels.
>
> I want to stay legal so my son and I can enter the boat in sailing
> competition someday.
>
> If it matters, I live in southern California, good ol' USA.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -----
> James McGowan
> james.mcgowan@verizon.net

[A.T.]

A Hitec servo generally has an S0-1 connector which should fit any modern
receiver except in USA where the Hitec servos are sold with plugs to
specifically match the receiver of a different brand.
To adjust any servo to match any receiver, the best guide is listed at =
http://www.fatlion.com/sailplanes/servos.html

see also "Buddy Boxes. Servo Leads.Simulators.Interface" at
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/

regards
Alan T.

Alan's Hobby Web Links
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/
.................................................. .............

"James McGowan" <james.mcgowan@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:3eba994a$0$1402$724ebb72@reader2.ash.ops.us.u u.net...
> Believe me, I couldn't find it in the FAQ...
>
> I'm almost done building my Thunder Tiger Victoria, but have hit a snag
> concerning the radio. I purchased a Hitec ultra-torque servo for the
> mainsail (thanks to all the great advice from this N.G.), but the servo's
> connector doesn't fit the receiver of my (admittedly old) Futaba four
> channel FM receiver. There's an extra tab on the servo's connector that
> prevents a fit.
>
> Here's my confession: This is an aircraft radio, purchased at a yard sale
> from a guy who only flies RC airplanes. So now the question is, you
guessed
> it... What kind of NEW radio would you recommend that I purchase for an RC
> boat? I only intend to use it in the Victoria and don't need more than two
> channels.
>
> I want to stay legal so my son and I can enter the boat in sailing
> competition someday.
>
> If it matters, I live in southern California, good ol' USA.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -----
> James McGowan
> james.mcgowan@verizon.net

[Rob]

I agree - slice the tab off and you should be in. That radio ain't
old - if it's got Futaba J connectors it ain't old. I'vee got OLD
radios. :)

The HiTec Ranger radios are very nice. If it's cheap enough, get the
3-channel radio in case you move up in classes to one which allows
another channel (jib trim or suchlike).

Or CHEAP? Never let it be known you heard it from me, but if you've
got a friend with some surface-channel crystals for the same type of
radio, try them and see if they work, at least for use at home. By
'type' I mean AM or single-conversion FM or dual-conversion FM.....
I've found that Airtronics dual-conversion crystals don't work in my
Futaba 6-channel Conquest, but pretty much everything else has worked.

Have fun!!!

As far as the Vic goes, I like the Aussie/New Zeland guys' tips the
most. They're cheap. Other than rigging string, the only thing I've
changed on mine is the sails - I used Mariner Sails' kit. It doesn't
match a professionaly-made set of sails, but it's still better than
the stock sails.

[James McGowan]

Thanks to all for your suggestions, including several by email. I've ordered
a two-channel Hitec Ranger from Tower Hobbies (75 mHz surface-use). Though
I was tempted to use the aircraft radio, I concluded that playing it safe
and legal will be good kharma.

James McGowan
james.mcgowan@verizon.net