Futaba's new top radio

[Mr Digital]

Is the new Futaba system really worth the money upgrading from the 9Z W/C 2

Phil.

[Steve R.]

"Mr Digital" <nobodyhere@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:d5obrp$j0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Is the new Futaba system really worth the money upgrading from the 9Z W/C
> 2
>
> Phil.
>

I've recently had the opportunity to hold on to, and play with, a new 14MZ.
I've been flying the 9Z for 10 years now and, IMO, the answer to your
question for most of the pilots out there is, no.

The 14MZ is a "very" impressive radio and has lots of bells and whistles
that are on the "neat to have" list but totally unnecessary to flying any RC
aircraft. It does have a faster frame rate (how fast it updates info to the
receiver) and higher resolution (2048 vs 1024) so if you're using the new
digital servos that can take advantage of that, there should be a
significant improvement in control centering and precision but for most
folks I'm not sure it'll be that big a deal. I could be wrong!

My 9Z is one of the original versions, not even a WC2, and I'm still not
using a lot of it's potential so, for me, there's no big incentive to put
myself in debt to the tune of $2200 US dollars just to have the latest and
greatest. Having said that, I like to think I'll get one eventually but it
will be a while. :-)

FWIW!
Fly Safe,
Steve R

[Funfly3]

"Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:Ch4ge.60893$h6.5083@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> "Mr Digital" <nobodyhere@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:d5obrp$j0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
>> Is the new Futaba system really worth the money upgrading from the 9Z W/C
>> 2
>>
>> Phil.
>>
do you really want to change your complete set of receivers?? as they are
not compatible AFAIK

[Steve R.]

"Funfly3" <dontemailme@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:wF6ge.1373$X86.643@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
>
> "Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:Ch4ge.60893$h6.5083@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>> "Mr Digital" <nobodyhere@nospam.com> wrote in message
>> news:d5obrp$j0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
>>> Is the new Futaba system really worth the money upgrading from the 9Z
>>> W/C 2
>>>
>>> Phil.
>>>
> do you really want to change your complete set of receivers?? as they are
> not compatible AFAIK
>

Sorry, but that is "not" correct.

The 14MZ will work with straight FM (PPM) receivers**, the PCM receivers
that the current Futaba PCM radios** are using (including the 9Z), and of
course, the ultra wiz-bang receiver that comes with the MZ. It's no
different than operating a 9Z in PPM/PCM mode. You simply have to program
the proper parameters.

Fly Safe,
Steve R.

** - I am refering only to Futaba branded equipment. I make no claims about
non-Futaba branded receivers regardless of how many of you have used them
successfully with the current equipment. The 14MZ is a brand new radio and
I simply don't know. It may work fine but I'm not saying that here! :-)

[Funfly3]

"Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:PT9ge.71167$hu5.48434@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> "Funfly3" <dontemailme@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:wF6ge.1373$X86.643@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
>>
>> "Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
>> news:Ch4ge.60893$h6.5083@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>>> "Mr Digital" <nobodyhere@nospam.com> wrote in message
>>> news:d5obrp$j0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
>>>> Is the new Futaba system really worth the money upgrading from the 9Z
>>>> W/C 2
>>>>
>>>> Phil.
>>>>
>> do you really want to change your complete set of receivers?? as they are
>> not compatible AFAIK
>>
>
> Sorry, but that is "not" correct.
>
> The 14MZ will work with straight FM (PPM) receivers**, the PCM receivers
> that the current Futaba PCM radios** are using (including the 9Z), and of
> course, the ultra wiz-bang receiver that comes with the MZ. It's no
> different than operating a 9Z in PPM/PCM mode. You simply have to program
> the proper parameters.
>
> Fly Safe,
> Steve R.
>
> ** - I am refering only to Futaba branded equipment. I make no claims
> about non-Futaba branded receivers regardless of how many of you have used
> them successfully with the current equipment. The 14MZ is a brand new
> radio and I simply don't know. It may work fine but I'm not saying that
> here! :-)
I am confused with the reply you say its ok with PPM and PCM if you program
it correctly?

[Steve R.]

"Funfly3" <dontemailme@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:Brage.885$RJ6.427@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...
>
> "Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:PT9ge.71167$hu5.48434@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>> "Funfly3" <dontemailme@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>> news:wF6ge.1373$X86.643@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
>>>
>>> "Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
>>> news:Ch4ge.60893$h6.5083@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>>>> "Mr Digital" <nobodyhere@nospam.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:d5obrp$j0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
>>>>> Is the new Futaba system really worth the money upgrading from the 9Z
>>>>> W/C 2
>>>>>
>>>>> Phil.
>>>>>
>>> do you really want to change your complete set of receivers?? as they
>>> are not compatible AFAIK
>>>
>>
>> Sorry, but that is "not" correct.
>>
>> The 14MZ will work with straight FM (PPM) receivers**, the PCM receivers
>> that the current Futaba PCM radios** are using (including the 9Z), and of
>> course, the ultra wiz-bang receiver that comes with the MZ. It's no
>> different than operating a 9Z in PPM/PCM mode. You simply have to
>> program the proper parameters.
>>
>> Fly Safe,
>> Steve R.
>>
>> ** - I am refering only to Futaba branded equipment. I make no claims
>> about non-Futaba branded receivers regardless of how many of you have
>> used them successfully with the current equipment. The 14MZ is a brand
>> new radio and I simply don't know. It may work fine but I'm not saying
>> that here! :-)
>
> I am confused with the reply you say its ok with PPM and PCM if you
> program it correctly?
>

That's correct. All of Futaba's current PCM radios, as far as I know (at
least I've never seen one that wouldn't), will transmit in either PPM "or"
PCM mode. There's a place in the programming menu that allows the user to
set this parameter. You simply set what you need (PPM or PCM) and then
cycle the radio off and back on and the change is made. I've flown 4, 7, 8,
and 9 channel receivers with my original version 9Z in both PPM (FM) and PCM
modes, no problem. Naturally, the transmitter has to be set for the
receiver involved. If I had one helicopter set with a PCM receiver and a
second bird set with a PPM receiver, I'd have two different flight programs
in the transmitter, one for each model. When I switch from one model to the
other, I'll go into the radios programming and select the appropriate model
program and contained in that program is the transmission mode needed, PPM
or PCM. Once the correct program is selected, you simply cycle the
transmitter off and back on and you're all set.

The 14MZ radio utilizes a next generation receiver that's still
fundamentally a PCM type of receiver but it incorporates other features that
the previous generation PCM systems do not. Check out www.14mz.com for more
info. As you'll see on the web site referenced, under "More 14MZ
Features........", the 14MZ is backwards compatible, capable of flying the
new 2048 PCM-G3 receiver as well as the older 1024 PCM receivers and FM/PPM
receivers.

Hope this helps!
Fly Safe,
Steve R.

[Robert A. Plourde Jr.]

Does it also offer a way to specify the shift? ie negative shift or
positive shift? At the price they are asking, it should!

That's one of the reasons I am staying with JR radios. Until Futaba offers
a way for me to use my existing JR receivers with their transmitter, I'll
stick with my JR transmitter. The only difference between the two
receivers, as far as I am concerned, is the shift of the signal. Now, I'm
not inviting arguments to tell me why Futaba is better than JR and vise
versa. Both manufacturers produce very good equipement. Doesn't Hitec
offer a way to specify the shift? Why can't JR and Futaba?

"Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:5Vrge.79695$hu5.33284@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>
> "Funfly3" <dontemailme@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:Brage.885$RJ6.427@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...
> >
> > "Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
> > news:PT9ge.71167$hu5.48434@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> >> "Funfly3" <dontemailme@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> >> news:wF6ge.1373$X86.643@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
> >>>
> >>> "Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
> >>> news:Ch4ge.60893$h6.5083@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> >>>> "Mr Digital" <nobodyhere@nospam.com> wrote in message
> >>>> news:d5obrp$j0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
> >>>>> Is the new Futaba system really worth the money upgrading from the
9Z
> >>>>> W/C 2
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Phil.
> >>>>>
> >>> do you really want to change your complete set of receivers?? as they
> >>> are not compatible AFAIK
> >>>
> >>
> >> Sorry, but that is "not" correct.
> >>
> >> The 14MZ will work with straight FM (PPM) receivers**, the PCM
receivers
> >> that the current Futaba PCM radios** are using (including the 9Z), and
of
> >> course, the ultra wiz-bang receiver that comes with the MZ. It's no
> >> different than operating a 9Z in PPM/PCM mode. You simply have to
> >> program the proper parameters.
> >>
> >> Fly Safe,
> >> Steve R.
> >>
> >> ** - I am refering only to Futaba branded equipment. I make no claims
> >> about non-Futaba branded receivers regardless of how many of you have
> >> used them successfully with the current equipment. The 14MZ is a brand
> >> new radio and I simply don't know. It may work fine but I'm not saying
> >> that here! :-)
> >
> > I am confused with the reply you say its ok with PPM and PCM if you
> > program it correctly?
> >
>
> That's correct. All of Futaba's current PCM radios, as far as I know (at
> least I've never seen one that wouldn't), will transmit in either PPM "or"
> PCM mode. There's a place in the programming menu that allows the user to
> set this parameter. You simply set what you need (PPM or PCM) and then
> cycle the radio off and back on and the change is made. I've flown 4, 7,
8,
> and 9 channel receivers with my original version 9Z in both PPM (FM) and
PCM
> modes, no problem. Naturally, the transmitter has to be set for the
> receiver involved. If I had one helicopter set with a PCM receiver and a
> second bird set with a PPM receiver, I'd have two different flight
programs
> in the transmitter, one for each model. When I switch from one model to
the
> other, I'll go into the radios programming and select the appropriate
model
> program and contained in that program is the transmission mode needed, PPM
> or PCM. Once the correct program is selected, you simply cycle the
> transmitter off and back on and you're all set.
>
> The 14MZ radio utilizes a next generation receiver that's still
> fundamentally a PCM type of receiver but it incorporates other features
that
> the previous generation PCM systems do not. Check out www.14mz.com for
more
> info. As you'll see on the web site referenced, under "More 14MZ
> Features........", the 14MZ is backwards compatible, capable of flying the
> new 2048 PCM-G3 receiver as well as the older 1024 PCM receivers and
FM/PPM
> receivers.
>
> Hope this helps!
> Fly Safe,
> Steve R.
>
>

[Steve R.]

"Robert A. Plourde Jr." <noone@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%otge.35011$fx3.10348@okepread02...
> Does it also offer a way to specify the shift? ie negative shift or
> positive shift? At the price they are asking, it should!
>
> That's one of the reasons I am staying with JR radios. Until Futaba
> offers
> a way for me to use my existing JR receivers with their transmitter, I'll
> stick with my JR transmitter. The only difference between the two
> receivers, as far as I am concerned, is the shift of the signal. Now, I'm
> not inviting arguments to tell me why Futaba is better than JR and vise
> versa. Both manufacturers produce very good equipement. Doesn't Hitec
> offer a way to specify the shift? Why can't JR and Futaba?
>

To the best of my knowledge, Futaba isn't any more worried about operating
JR receivers with their transmitters than JR is worried about operating
Futaba receivers. I've never heard of any manufacturer that offers the
ability you're asking about. I could be wrong.

I'm not familiar enough with the actual working of the individual
manufacturers to be able to offer an intelligent explanation but my
understanding is that (and again, I could be wrong!), between JR and Futaba
at least, the encoding processes of their respective PCM systems are
completely different from each other so I'm not sure that if you could
change the parameter you mention, it still wouldn't get the job done. At
least JR and Futaba servos will work with the others radio systems. The
only provision to that is the need to spend about 10 to 15 seconds per servo
with an exacto knife to trim the Futaba "J" connector so it will fit the JR
receiver. JR servos will plug right into a Futaba receiver with no
modification and either way, polarity of the servo is maintained by simply
making sure that the darkest wires line up with the darkest wires.
Intentional or not, it was nice of them to do that! :-)

I understand you're position as a long time JR pilot. I'm on the other side
of the fence. In 23 years of flying RC, I've only owned one non Futaba
radio system. Changing everything I've got over to JR would be
prohibatively expense and since I'm completely satisfied with my Futaba
equipment, there's absolutely no reason to do that.

In my time, I've met a few long time JR pilots that have taken the plunge
and swapped over to Futaba. Some loved it and wouldn't go back. Just as
many couldn't wait to return to JR. I'm sure, if you care to look around
long enough, you'll find the reverse is also true somewhere along the way.
As you said, both manufacturers make first class equipment and either one
will serve the user just fine!

Fly Safe,
Steve R.

[Steve R.]

"Funfly3" <dontemailme@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:wF6ge.1373$X86.643@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
>
> "Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:Ch4ge.60893$h6.5083@tornado.texas.rr.com...
>> "Mr Digital" <nobodyhere@nospam.com> wrote in message
>> news:d5obrp$j0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
>>> Is the new Futaba system really worth the money upgrading from the 9Z
>>> W/C 2
>>>
>>> Phil.
>>>
> do you really want to change your complete set of receivers?? as they are
> not compatible AFAIK
>

Is the newsgroup reposting this or are you? It's already been stated and
responded to. (???)

The 14MZ will work with the older PCM as well as PPM (FM) Futaba receivers.

Fly Safe,
Steve R.

[Doug McLaren]

In article <mWtge.64214$h6.21044@tornado.texas.rr.com>,
Steve R. <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote:

| To the best of my knowledge, Futaba isn't any more worried about operating
| JR receivers with their transmitters than JR is worried about operating
| Futaba receivers.

That seems to be correct. They're the already market leaders, so they
don't really have to try harder.

| I've never heard of any manufacturer that offers the ability you're
| asking about.

My Hitec Eclipse offers this ability. Some Airtronics radios do too,
or so I've heard.

Coupled with the Spectra module, I can use my Eclipse to control any
non-PCM FM 72 mHz receiver out there -- which is why I got it.

| I could be wrong.

Well, since you said `you'd never heard of ...', then unless your
memory is faulty, you were not wrong. But now you have heard of some
other manufacturers that offer that ...

--
Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzy.com
How much net work could a network work, if a network could net work?

[2manyplanes]

One of the reall neat aspects of this radio is the ability to change freq pretty much anytime you want to. I was at the Joe Nall last week and while I was standing at the control desk waiting for a pin a guy walked up with a new 14MZ and asked for channel 30. When he was told it was out he said give me what ever one you have. When you turn on the radio you have to enter the freq and it automatically sets the reciever freq. You don't have to touch the plane. I don't understand the technology but I can tell you I was still standing there waiting for channel 30 when he brought the pin back after he flew.

Worth 2100??? not based on that alone, but you have to believe that it will come down in the future.

[2manyplanes]

One of the real neat aspects of this radio is the ability to change freq pretty much anytime you want to. I was at the Joe Nall last week and while I was standing at the control desk waiting for a pin a guy walked up with a new 14MZ and asked for channel 30. When he was told it was out he said give me what ever one you have. When you turn on the radio you have to enter the freq and it automatically sets the reciever freq. You don't have to touch the plane. I don't understand the technology but I can tell you I was still standing there waiting for channel 30 when he brought the pin back after he flew.

Worth 2100??? not based on that alone, but you have to believe that it will come down in the future.

[Funfly3]

"2manyplanes" <2manyplanes.1pb30c@rcgroups.com> wrote in message
news:2manyplanes.1pb30c@rcgroups.com...
>
> One of the real neat aspects of this radio is the ability to change freq
> pretty much anytime you want to. I was at the Joe Nall last week and
> while I was standing at the control desk waiting for a pin a guy walked
> up with a new 14MZ and asked for channel 30. When he was told it was
> out he said give me what ever one you have. When you turn on the radio
> you have to enter the freq and it automatically sets the reciever freq.
> You don't have to touch the plane. I don't understand the technology
> but I can tell you I was still standing there waiting for channel 30
> when he brought the pin back after he flew.
>
> Worth 2100??? not based on that alone, but you have to believe that it
> will come down in the future.
>
>
> --
> 2manyplanes
I think it will get even better than that with radios without channels that
can hop between frequencies to get the best signal so you could turn up and
fly

[Steve R.]

"2manyplanes" <2manyplanes.1pb30c@rcgroups.com> wrote in message
news:2manyplanes.1pb30c@rcgroups.com...
>
> One of the real neat aspects of this radio is the ability to change freq
> pretty much anytime you want to. I was at the Joe Nall last week and
> while I was standing at the control desk waiting for a pin a guy walked
> up with a new 14MZ and asked for channel 30. When he was told it was
> out he said give me what ever one you have. When you turn on the radio
> you have to enter the freq and it automatically sets the reciever freq.
> You don't have to touch the plane. I don't understand the technology
> but I can tell you I was still standing there waiting for channel 30
> when he brought the pin back after he flew.
>
> Worth 2100??? not based on that alone, but you have to believe that it
> will come down in the future.
>

The only thing unique about this is that you don't have to touch the
receiver to execute the frequency change which is really nice. My
understanding is that the system uses a low power (transmitter needs to be
within 2-3 feet of the receiver?) non-RC related sub frequency to transmit
the channel change to the receiver.

I've been flying a synthesized 9Z system for 10 years now and have gotten
great service from it. It's wonderful to be able to swap frequencies at
fun-fly's when my "normal" frequency isn't available. I generally just look
at the board and find something that open. There's almost always a group of
3 to 5 frequencies that aren't being used. I'll pick one in the middle of
that and don't usually have to worry about it again for the remainder of the
week end. :-) It only takes me, maybe, 5 minutes to remove the canopy,
reset the receiver frequency, and reinstall the canopy so it's not a big
hardship by any stretch so I agree that $2100 is not worth it for the
"change frequency on the fly" feature by itself.

I've gotten to hold and play with a 14MZ and I "am" impressed with it. I
wouldn't mind getting hold of one eventually but for the time being, I can't
even come close to justifying the money. Maybe in a year or two, the price
will come down a some. <crossing fingers!>

Fly Safe,
Steve R.

[Tom Minger]

Another really nice thing about the 14MZ has to do the the micro FM
receivers used in small electrics. My 9Z syn transmitters would not talk to
these small, single conversion rvcrs. Usually, but not always, putting a
fixed frequency RF module in the 9Z solved the problem. However, the 14MZ
talks to all of them (at least all the ones I own) without exception.


"Steve R." <srhodes13@houston.rr.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:7gnje.104149$AE6.28517@tornado.texas.rr.com.. .
> "2manyplanes" <2manyplanes.1pb30c@rcgroups.com> wrote in message
> news:2manyplanes.1pb30c@rcgroups.com...
>>
>> One of the real neat aspects of this radio is the ability to change freq
>> pretty much anytime you want to. I was at the Joe Nall last week and
>> while I was standing at the control desk waiting for a pin a guy walked
>> up with a new 14MZ and asked for channel 30. When he was told it was
>> out he said give me what ever one you have. When you turn on the radio
>> you have to enter the freq and it automatically sets the reciever freq.
>> You don't have to touch the plane. I don't understand the technology
>> but I can tell you I was still standing there waiting for channel 30
>> when he brought the pin back after he flew.
>>
>> Worth 2100??? not based on that alone, but you have to believe that it
>> will come down in the future.
>>
>
> The only thing unique about this is that you don't have to touch the
> receiver to execute the frequency change which is really nice. My
> understanding is that the system uses a low power (transmitter needs to be
> within 2-3 feet of the receiver?) non-RC related sub frequency to transmit
> the channel change to the receiver.
>
> I've been flying a synthesized 9Z system for 10 years now and have gotten
> great service from it. It's wonderful to be able to swap frequencies at
> fun-fly's when my "normal" frequency isn't available. I generally just
> look at the board and find something that open. There's almost always a
> group of 3 to 5 frequencies that aren't being used. I'll pick one in the
> middle of that and don't usually have to worry about it again for the
> remainder of the week end. :-) It only takes me, maybe, 5 minutes to
> remove the canopy, reset the receiver frequency, and reinstall the canopy
> so it's not a big hardship by any stretch so I agree that $2100 is not
> worth it for the "change frequency on the fly" feature by itself.
>
> I've gotten to hold and play with a 14MZ and I "am" impressed with it. I
> wouldn't mind getting hold of one eventually but for the time being, I
> can't even come close to justifying the money. Maybe in a year or two,
> the price will come down a some. <crossing fingers!>
>
> Fly Safe,
> Steve R.
>

[olddog]

You're going to Las Vegas & you want to look round toy aeroplane shops ? ?
"Mr Digital" <nobodyhere@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:d5obrp$j0$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Is the new Futaba system really worth the money upgrading from the 9Z W/C
> 2
>
> Phil.
>