Futaba 8U, 9C, or 9Z?

[RSCherry]

It's time for a new radio- which radio is best for full house thermal ships? Any strong opinions on this?

I'm leaning towards the 9C- seems like a good compromise between cost and features.

Bob

[Keitha]

If you are seriously into competition flying, then go with the 9Z. Otherwise the 9C does just about everything the same excepts does not have as many mixes and does not have the same capability to have different "conditions" programed. Big $ difference also. The 9C is a heck of a bargain. Servo City sells the Tx alone for about $269

Good Luck
Keith

[Hostage-46]

I agree with KPA the 9C is an excellent value, I have one and can do everything I need with my new Compulsion. Camber, relfex and crow with all the basic mixes.

One thing to remember if you go with the 9C ...
GET THE HELICOPTER VERSION!

The radios are all the same from a software perspective, on the Heli the crow, refex and cambers switches are on the left.

Also there is no rachet on the Heli throttle which initally concerned me, but I found it to be of no consequence.

There are many who will bash this radio, but look at the value.

Dan

[RSCherry]

This is for competition flying.

What are the "conditions"? I downloaded the manual, but it wasn't clear how to use them from my quick read.

Bob

[RSCherry]

Dan:

As a leftie and wanting to get into DLG, it seems to me that I need the 3 position switches on the right- correct? I might have to get the airplane version.

Can the 9C handle seperate aileron servos & flaps (ie typical 4 servo wing) utilizing a 6 channel receiver? I saw references to using ch 1 & 7 as ailerons, but also the ability to reassign 7 to accomidate 6 ch RX's.

Bob

[Hostage-46]

Yes 4 servo wing no problem.

As for being a lefty I suppose you're correct.

If you don't have enough channels ,you can also go with a less sophisticated scheme where you have 2 flap servos on one channel.

I can look up specifics in the manual if needed

I have on this radio a Zagi 400, Spirt Elite and a Fred Sage Compulsion.

[ICTHRMLS]

If you are not too hung up on Futaba I would recommend the Airtronics Stylus for competition thermal ships. It will "talk" to Rx made by Fuba with the glider card. Might be a bit pricey but well worth it IMHO

[RSCherry]

IC- why the Stylus? What features does it have that make it superior to the 9C/9Z? I'd like to get the best radio for the job.

[Hostage-46]

Let me just say I cannot say this radio is better then standard bearer, the Stylus.

In fact, I suspect that is my next radio. I will say again, for the cost and as a first time higher end radio, I'm very satisfied.

I would like to know however what else I could do with the stylus.

[ICTHRMLS]

I'm not familiar enough with the Fuba to know what it won't do but Airtronics programming is much easier to do. Granted that comment is based on fiddling with earlier Fuba TX's which I found difficult to navigate the commands/icons, etc.

I guess you get used to what you have at hand. Truth be known I advocate the Vision but they aren't available. DA has a point if you intend to use the radio for things other than gliders.

Start with this post but check the entire thread for other opinions

Fuba vs. Airtronics (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1278099#post1278099)

[leverick]

I'm a lefty as well and have the 9C heli version. FOR DLG its great because the preset spring switch is in the upper right of the radio.
Leverick

[96S14]

I like the Multiplex Profi radios for all out flexibility and ease of programming. They will NEVER limit you.

I know someone who has a Multiplex 3030 and a Stylus, and while they both will do everyhting, I see him flying the Multiplex almost exculsively due to its user-friendliness and far superior battery life.

I have a Futaba 8U and a Profi 4000, so I'm comparing apples to oranges, but the only reason the Futaba is still around is that it's smaller and easier to hold in some cases (like for little pylon planes on launch, HLG's etc.) Other than that, I too always reach for the MPX.

Hope that throws another choice (and hence more confusion) at you!!!;)

Happy flying...

Ryan.

[davidleitch]

Yes for all but the most demanding flyer the MPX Royal Evo must be a strong contendor.

Love my MPX 3010.

[Hostage-46]

This radio conversation always seems to evolve down the same path.

Profi 4000 and Royal EVO are indeed amazing radios. But what about the cost?

My 9C was about $250. From a value perspective when you mention the Multiplex 4000 series or EVO in the same context of the 9C it's simply not a valid comparison based on price point alone.

The 9C is an excellent radio for a person moving to the next level and looking to add functionality at a low cost.

With this low cost of entry, I was able to purchase competative airplane as well. Now with a solid radio, an excellent ship, I need to get to the field and fly my thumbs off.
My $.02

Dan

[96S14]

Fair enough on the cost point. I have been in this hobby for long enough to know that by now, I will always end up with the best available. It's how I get there that has changed.

In the past, I bought what I thought was all the charger/motors/radio I would ever need. Today, I have replaced all those items at least once. I now recognise that as expensive as it is, you're better off buying the best available once, rather than losing money on every upgrade of a component. I don't mean to sound snotty, and believe me, I am not rich, having just graduated from university, but it's a lesson I've learned. Yes I paid a fair bit for the Profi 4000, but I can honestly say that radio will never limit me. And the day I need more mixes and more than 12 channels is the day you all can tell me that I must resign from the hobby.

Th Futaba radios do have a good value quotient...there's no doubt about that. But try to look further ahead. If you forsee yourself getting into things further, go for the best you can afford. If you ever get out of the hobby, there is always residual value in the stuff you have.

It's just my 2 cents...