Eclipse 7- more memory?

[Tres Wright]

I bought an Eclipse 7 some time ago and loved it so much that when I maxed it out with 7 models, I bought a second one. Now that one is maxed out and my plane collection keeps growing. It sure would be nice if they could hold more than 7 models worth of memory! I would much rather buy a memory chip than yet another TX. It's not so much the money, it's the hassle of figuring out which radio the plane is on and keeping 3 separate TX's charged (I have several other TX's too, so it's a pain to keep them all going).

My question is, does Hitec have any plans on upgrading the Eclipse 7 to hold more memory, or perhaps have a new model on the tables with more memory? Are there any plans to offer memory upgrades for existing radios? I notice there's a cap on the front of the Eclipse 7 with what appears to be some kind of hardware port inside, I'm curious if that's for a future memory upgrade or perhaps something else?

Thanks!

[pda4you]

Yes Mike!!!!

Tres is right - don't make me switch (I am all Hitec right now) to that "other" brand for the memory card!!!!!!!!

Mike

[robs]

I'm curious as well. Currently I'm using contemplating upgrading from a Flash5x, the major reason I even thinking of the "other" brand is the 7 model limit. I know the forthcoming Royal EVO's have the more model memory and the ability to off load models to a PC, any chance of the Eclipse doing the same thing?

[MikeMayberry]

The Eclipse is what it is. We'll have to wait for it's replacement until we have more memory and feature. Until then, the Royal EVO will be the only choice if you want to keep it in the family!

Mike.

[Tres Wright]

Thanks Mike! What about the other question, what is that port on the front of the Eclipse? Behind the little cover that says "The R/Cers Partner"?

I need to do some research, I'm not familiar with the "Royal EVO".

[MikeMayberry]

That holds the flash memory board for the programming; it does not allow you to add more models.

For more info on the Multiplex Royal Evo radios go here: http://www.multiplexusa.com

Mike.

[Tres Wright]

Thanks Mike, that explains why I couldn't find it on the Hitec site :)

I did some research and I'm afraid that while that is a great-looking product, it is way out of my price range. I love the Eclipse, it does everything I want it to do and does lots of features I don't need, but it's there if I ever do need it. The price is right, but it does not have enough model memory. For me, even two of them don't have enough memory :) I think Hitec is missing a golden opportunity, an Eclipse radio with expandable memory would be fantastic. No response required, just food for thought.

[MikeMayberry]

Things like that have to be engineered into the product at its conception. Future high level radios will have that capability.

Thank for the feedback though... it is greatly appreciated!

Mike.

[davecee]

Mike, are the Royal EVO radios positive shift, negative shift or shift selectable? I have several Airtronics receivers that are bulletproof and I'd like to continue their use when I upgrade from my Infinity 660. I've been thinking about the Stylus, but I really like what I've read about the open programming on the 9 and 12 channel EVOs. Thanks, Dave Chewning

[MikeMayberry]

The Multiplex radios are positive shift so would be compatible with your Airtronics receivers.

Mike.

[Sloper Mario]

I've been using Hitec products since I started flying and have always been very vocal in these forums about their excellent products, service and support. I even have a cousin who is very involved in Hitec's advertising. I am truly a Hitec fan.

Unfortunately this only serves to frustrate me further as my Eclipse's 7 model memory no longer meets my needs. I realize that I could purchase another Eclipse but I really don't want two radios. Even if I did I would only run out of memory again a some future point. Inevitably the only choice I'm left with is to sell the Eclipse and get a radio that supports interchangeable memory modules.

With the availability of cheap interchangeable memory technology these days, there is no excuse to design a radio without some kind of expansion.

Mario

[MikeMayberry]

The Eclipse was designed over 5 years ago so it was not cost effective to incorporate that technology at the time.

[Sluf7]

Hi ya Mike hey hows the lil one must be getting on a bit now?.;)

No worries re Eclipse just had the Upgrade done here re the mixing etc. Great radio it is and if ya have more than seven on the trot at one time well all I can say is Pooh.:p

I mean come on ya should be having a good model to crash ratio here.:eek:

Cheers Sluf7:D

[Rod]

Mike, I thought that the Multiplex Cockpit transmitter could be set up to operate with negative shift receivers such as Hitec or futaba. Is this correct?

[MikeMayberry]

Sluf7- He's growing up quick! Note the matching Hitec shirts.

Rod- Ernie Prichard was able to add a switch to make the shift selectable but in stock form they are only positive shift.

Mike.

[LawrenceHare]

Hi Mike,

One question about extending memory if I may. The little flash memory card that holds the programming, is that also used to store the model memories? Or is it just the PROM for the programming and you have the memory for the models inside the box? If the memory card holds both the programming AND the model memory then my thought was perhaps one could swap the card and thereby get another seven empty slots.

And along the same lines, if the model memory is inside the box, is it soldered to the mother board or is something like a ZIF mount used? In which case, perhaps one might swap the chip for another?

And once more under the bridge, would the model memory chip be on a daughter board, and so interchangable?

Hope I am not being annoying here although I fear I may be. I also am looking at running out of model memory and wondering what to do about it. I love the Eclipse, it is a superb product and my first radio for years, it does everything I need and then some, but I need to address the problem of what happens on my eighth plane, rapidly coming up, and the others still flying!

Thanks - Lawrence

[Mikey-flies]

Another big Hitech Eclipse fan here who is also running out of memory. Solder patch job, chip replacement, whatever I hope there is SOME way to sqeeze more models into this radio (even if it means swapping a chip or something to access them).

[boomerace]

Do what I did... sell the Eclipse and get a Futaba 9C! With the UltraPac 256K chip I paid $60 for I have ... Get this 104 model memories!!!!:cool: And it's SO much more radio!!
boomer

[MikeMayberry]

Sorry guys.

[boomerace]

Originally posted by MikeMayberry
Sorry guys.
Mike,
I loved the Eclipse just couldn't live with the limitations and the Multiplex was more than I could justify spending for casual flying and still give me at least unlimited memories so I did what I had to do! From a company standpoint I would assume there are no plans for making the Hitec line with expandable memories since the Multiplex line already has more model memories! Right or wrong????? Clear up something about the multiplex line for me... Can you expand the memories if you run out???
boomer

[MikeMayberry]

I would not say there are no plans to make that an opion in future Hitec radios, but I can't say anything about it yet either. Just because Hitec own Multiplex and they have higher end radios with more memory does not mean Hitec will stop expanding. The two companies are seperate and will continue to develop products just as they have done in the past. You may see some technology sharing but the two companies will not merge, nor reley on the other to fill gaps forever.

As far as I know the MPX radios will not have expandable memory. The Royal Evo 7 has 15 model memory, the 9 has 20, and the 12 has 36.

Mike.

[boomerace]

Originally posted by MikeMayberry
I would not say there are no plans to make that an opion in future Hitec radios, but I can't say anything about it yet either. Just because Hitec own Multiplex and they have higher end radios with more memory does not mean Hitec will stop expanding. The two companies are seperate and will continue to develop products just as they have done in the past. You may see some technology sharing but the two companies will not merge, nor reley on the other to fill gaps forever.

As far as I know the MPX radios will not have expandable memory. The Royal Evo 7 has 15 model memory, the 9 has 20, and the 12 has 36.

Mike.
Thanks Mike,
I had occasion to try one of the new HFS-04MG Micro RX and after my experiance with the older Feather didn't know what to expect!
This thing doesn't know it's single conversion and the range is unbelievable! I will be buying more!:cool:
boomer

[Sluf7]

G'day Mike man has time gone by that quick and matching t-shirts don't get much better than that.;)

If need more than 7 memories you're not crashing enough.:p

Sluf7:D

[LawrenceHare]

Sluf7 has a point, and it is what I thought when I bought my Eclipse 7 over two years ago, namely I doubted I would ever have more than 7 flying planes. Well - the reality is I love building and, so far, I have managed to repair every crash and they just keep on flying! There must be a saturation point beyond which I cannot pass, maybe, but I have not reached it yet!

I am at six models and I will free up the simulator memory in my Eclipse, that gives me two more. I can also free up one plane I will not be completing for a year maybe (a Pete 'N' Poke I thought to fly before I realized how far electrics have come - I plan to electrify the Pete which is built but not yet covered), sooo.

Mike - understanding that you cannot commit to company plans, would you have any feelings about someone waiting, say, six months, perhaps eight, before purchasing a radio with more options - like model memories, the Futaba 9C is the target right now. I can wait that time and who knows what might hit the market in the meantime, right?

Thanks - Lawrence

[MikeMayberry]

The next radio will replace the Flash series but will have many more features.

[Sluf7]

Hi Mike
Will the Eclipse be broadened at all in the future other than uogrades like I have had done or would you be going to the next step like introducing a comparable model to the more up market JR & Futaba & multiplex range ?.

People gotta understand that the Eclipse filled a hole in the Market as you geta pretty capable Radio for the price which I'm sure Hitec used as the basis for building it and it meant a lot of people could geta pretty top of the line radio far below what the other makes were offering. The example of that here is when I bought my Eclipse there was no comparison as the Futaba 8uap was $1600 nz compared to the $779 nz I payed for the Eclipse with virtually the same capability's. I think Hitec did a great job at providing a top of the line system at a great price and on that basis wa built with those price constraints applied to it I think they did a superb job design wise.

Just my ten cents worth.

Cheers Sluf7:D

[MikeMayberry]

Sluf7- Thanks for the good words! :D The Eclipse will probably not see any further updates but be rest asured that Hitec will not stop developing new and more advanced radios in the future.

Mike.

[LuckyArmpit]

I have an eclipse and I have well over 18 models. But here is what I do with my eclipse to keep things in order.
I wrote down all the settings for each model in a database.
When I wanna fly my Bat, I just put it in the correct model # and
then switch all the settings to the current set for that particular model (dual rate, expo, trim, etc.). Yeah its kind of a pain but beats the hell out of re-trimming. I also have a Flash 5 too that I do the same thing with. I also have all the models and settings on paper in case I take 2 or more aircraft to the field. I try and keep all the models that use elevons on the same model #'s on the TX. I could sell the flash and eclipse and get the futaba but then nobody beats hitec's service which I have used at least 3 times already with no BS!

Dave...

[boomerace]

Dave,
That worked well for me too until I forgot to change it! My problem was I thought I was setup for the same model I had flown last and forgot I had messed with the radio checking out another model! Made for a very brief flight! With the Futaba the model number and Name is there as a complete individual setup for each and the name is the first thing I see when the radio is turned on! With the 104 model memories I have now I will never have to go through that again!:D Crashing even one model will almost pay for the TX upgrade!:D
boomer

[LawrenceHare]

Must say I agree with Sluf7, when I was looking for a radio two years back the Eclipse shone out like a beacon, I could see nothing that came remotely close in value and ability. It was this radio I think that enspired Futaba and some of the others to come up with something in the same price range and of equal feature content, and I am sure that Hitec will leapfrog them all again soon - hope so. I reckon I have another year with my Eclipse before I start having serious problems so I am going to wait. Service and on-line help is important and Hitec's is wonderful, it is great to have such a resource.

Keep it up Hitec - good work.

Lawrence - waiting...

[Patrick Plawner]

Love my Eclipses (2 Eclipse also) but the model memory limitation was a "no go" anymore.

Just got the Polks Hobby Tracker II with 99 models memory (see threads in Radio Area) and I am in the middle of tests with a side by side comparison with the Eclispe 7.


Since I did not get few answers from Polks Hobby yet, I would not like to give any final statements. As soon as I will get these answers, I'll update the Review on my web site, with the Excel Table comparison and let you guys know.

It could be an option, but I am not sure yet and I won't recommend the Tracker II, until I won't be done with all the tests, reviews and exchanged of Emails with Polks Hobby to make sure that what I find is correct.

It won't do many things the Eclispe does though, and this is part of the comparison I am building. It does others, so people will be able to read what's most important to them.


But... 99 memories.

[boomerace]

Patrick I have that now in my 9C and by changing to a bigger UltraPac I can go to 192 memory slots and have found NO limitations in the Futaba and it does so much more than my Eclipse was capable of! The only thing it doesn't have is the scanner but from my understand of the bug you seem to have found it may be a blessing I don't have it!:D I have the single channel module since I never used the Spectra in the Eclipse as I use 3 radios anyway!
boomer

[Patrick Plawner]

Yop,


forget about the Tracker II for now, this is as far as I tested, a beta product, not able to do the basics of mixing.

If not resolved, these bugs make the radio a joke. I miss my Eclipse...
Ok, even if the Tracker was a mistake, I still need to replace my Eclipse with a radio with more memory and at least the capabilities of the Eclipse. Just the Tracker II is not in any serious league at this point.