I currently have a Hitec Flash 5 System X radio (72 mhz) with one receiver but I have two planes. I do not want to use one receiver for both planes so I am wondering what would make sense in the long run. Should I hunt down and buy a Hitec receiver or put the money toward a mid-level 2.4 ghz radio? I hear the 2.4 ghz radios do not use crystals and are much more reliable as far as signal is concerned. Comments?

Seeing you only have one 72 Rx there is no better time to switch to 2.4.

I have too many 72 Rx's besides I have no problems with 72.

Originally Posted by bartricky

Seeing you only have one 72 Rx there is no better time to switch to 2.4.

I have too many 72 Rx's besides I have no problems with 72.

+1. 2.4 Is very reliable too! No interference

If I am flying by myself, 72 mhz is fine. If I am flying at a fun fly, I use my 2.4 radio. That way my chance of a shoot down.

There is no pat answer. 72 was used for years and is still just as good. 2.4 is the 'new TX on the block'. It's advantage is the avoidance of frequency control. The problem is stupidly high RX price, problems of 'brown out' in the Spektrum class, the the confusion/controversy over using non-proprietary RX that cost an actually reasonable cost. The Futaba stuff is gawd-awful expensive but probably technically better. Spektrum wins on price point, hence the popularity along with BNF.

There is cheap 2.4 from China. Really cheap is....really cheap. Don't realistically expect to build a reliable system on it IMO. Mid-grade seems to be OK but expect essentially no support and no service.

You can get top notch used 72 systems for very little $$ right now.

Originally Posted by Riodiler1

Should I hunt down and buy a Hitec receiver or put the money toward a mid-level 2.4 ghz radio?

If you aren't having any interference propblems or frequency conflicts with other people, I really don't see the need to go to 2.4 ghz. For one, you don't have to have a Hitec receiver. Any brand of 72 mhz receiver will work with your Hitec transmitter. The receiver just has to have a crystal with the same frequency/channel as your transmitter. That is just one advantage of the 72 mhz systems. With 2.4 mhz systems the receivers are mostly proprietary and you have to buy the same brand receiver as the transmitter brand. Another advantage is that 72 mhz receivers are available for as little as $18.00 or less. That is substantially less than you would spend converting to 2.4 ghz.

In other words, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Larry

In my idea if most of beginners are NOT advised to claim their frequency bands and find out the band clips on field, then it's the time to go to 2.4GHz. But my freind told me that it would be safer to use 72MHz still if most of the members are with 2.4GHz in your club. Hopefully, there'll be more and more PNP airplanes in 2.4GHz available for most beginners.

If there are few flyers over at your field, why not take Lary's words ?

Chen

The other day another RCG member showed me a really cool style of 72mhz receiver. It is called a synthesized receiver. They sell for I think $15 on hobby king. The best part is no crystals! You bind it to your transmitter just like 2.4ghz but it's 72mhz and its cheap. I have not ordered one yet but I will next time I place an order. So that is really cool to me.
Also you don't have to use the same brand rx/tx --- for example I use a Hitec transmitter with a GWS receiver.
So for now, I'm stickin' with 72mhz

While the same brand doesn't have to be used not all receivers work together. Pay attention to modulation (PPM or PCM) as well as shift (negative and positive).

Any "negative shift" or "Futaba compatible" receiver will work with your 5x.

Here's my short summary of 72mhz:

Pros:
-Cheap receivers
-Excellent range (superior to some 2.4ghz gear)
-Not as prone to brownouts
-Widely available secondhand

Cons:
-Inconvenient
-Few computer radios available
-Greater chance of accidental frequency hit
-Not compatible with some newer model designs
-Almost no new equipment available.

I'd say the largest advantage is range - an inexpensive 72mhz setup is still very good if you're flying a long way away. Otherwise, the features and convenience outweigh the additional expense.

if you fly with other people i recommend 2.4g.

If it's only one more plane, the most economical answer is to simply buy another 72MHz receiver. Even if you fly at a club, with so many people going over to 2.4GHz these days, there's less and less chance of anyone else being on your channel now.

BUT, if you think you're going to want a "better" transmitter for some reason -- more channels, more model memory, better computer mixing, 2-way telemetry -- now's the time to go for 2.4GHz, while you still have only one receiver to replace.

All,

Thanks for the great tips and education. I think I will just get a couple of new receivers for my Hitec radio.