Hi All,
I am in the market for a new transmitter, and have narrowed the field
down to the Futaba 9C and the Hitec Eclipse 7. Any opinions on which
one you feel gives more "bang for the buck"? Programing ease? And if
you have a preference, why do you feel that way?
Thanks for your input.
Regards,
Treker
I'm a big fan of Hitec. They give you a lot of radio for your $$$. To me,
Futabas have always been hard to program compared to Hitecs. Hitec all the
way.
Dr.1 Driver
"There's a Hun in the sun!"
|I am in the market for a new transmitter, and have narrowed the field
|down to the Futaba 9C and the Hitec Eclipse 7. Any opinions on which
|one you feel gives more "bang for the buck"? Programing ease? And if
|you have a preference, why do you feel that way?
I have the Hite Eclipse 7 for the helicopters. Pay about $240.
The Futaba would have been far more expensive.
Also look at the JR 6102.
All of these have FM (PPM) plus PCM. The Eclipse and the 9C
allow synthesized (no crystals) operation.
| All of these have FM (PPM) plus PCM. The Eclipse and the 9C
| allow synthesized (no crystals) operation.
The 9C does not have a synthesizer available for it yet. The Hitec
Spectra module will supposedly work, but the AMA and FCC frowns upon
that, and the mere mention makes people in this group foam at the
mouth.
I've heard that one will be available soon, but not yet ...
--
Doug McLaren, snipped-for-privacy@frenzy.com
I didn't claw may way to the top of the food chain to eat vegetables!
Hitec Eclipse.
Download all Radio manuals under " Radio Systems, Accessories, Alterations
and FAQ" at http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong /
As noted, email me direct if you would like a full comparison, on Excel
spreadsheet, of the Eclipse 7 vs FF6 vs 9CAP vs RD600 vs JR652 vs JR3810
(8103). This has been viewed by many people and no errors have been advised.
regards
Alan T.
Alan's Hobby, Model & RC Links
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong /
.............................................................
The 9C.
More channels first off. Most functions can be assigned to any switch. I
like Futaba. I have a 9C and have used my father's Eclipse 7. One thing
about the Eclipse is that they put the engine cut switch in a bad spot. Need
to cut the engine in a hurry and you are outta luck.
I was pondering your exact decision at one time and went for the 9C for
those features and the fact that Futaba has a 50mhz module for it.
Oh yeah, and I like Futaba.
I have a flyin' buddy that just bought himself a 9C after fixin' to
send his Eclipse in for the fourth time. Had to have the LCD panel
replaced twice plus other problems. I can't say that he didn't get his
money's worth, but sometines there is nothing more expensive that
being cheap. Most of the time you get what you pay for. I have a 9C
and they are one fine rig. Very easy to program.
Have you given any thought to the Aristocraft unit from Polks Hobby? I am
considering going with one of those and getting rid of my Eclipse/spectra -
maybe you can buy mine from e-bay in a few weeks!
FredD
Hi Fred,
One of the guys in my club (TCRC in Minneapolis, MN) purchased one of
the Polk units last year. From what I understand, he likes it pretty
well. However, I personally thought it was heavy, and it just didn't
seem to feel real good in my hands. It also seemed really wide for my
personal tastes. I guess that is just personal preference, and
something one might get used to over time, but because of that and
other considerations, I am strongly leaning toward the Futaba 9C for
my new transmitter.
I wish that Hitec made a little higher end unit than the Eclipse 7,
with a little more ergonomic design to the case to compete with the
Futaba. Not that the current design is terrible, it it just that it
feels a little clunky when compared to the 9C, or even for that matter
to Hitec's own Laser 4 and 6. I really would like to give Hitec the
business, as I love their servos and receivers.
One thing I would love to see is a unit with the case design of the 9C
or JR 8103, but with the brains of the Polk. Now that would be a
killer!
Thanks to everyone that responded. I think I will be off the see the
LHS tomorrow to pick up my new Futaba 9C.
Regards,
Jay
On 09 Feb 2004 01:18:14 GMT, snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (RedFred1) wrote:
By all means, check out the Multiplex Royal Evo before you commit.
They are scarce right now but more are due in next month. You can
read about them at http://www.multiplexusa.com . I've got one on
order and I'm selling my Hitec Eclipse with synthesizer and my Polk
Tracker II. I really haven't used the Polk much. If anybody is
interested drop me an email at ahorne1 at comcast dot net (Note
obvious span deter). For more info on the Royal Evo check out
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid 9050
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid 4635
On Mon, 09 Feb 2004 04:56:36 GMT, Jay Bickford
|By all means, check out the Multiplex Royal Evo before you commit.
|They are scarce right now but more are due in next month. You can
|read about them at http://www.multiplexusa.com . I've got one on
|order and I'm selling my Hitec Eclipse with synthesizer and my Polk
|Tracker II. I really haven't used the Polk much. If anybody is
|interested drop me an email at ahorne1 at comcast dot net (Note
|obvious span deter). For more info on the Royal Evo check out
|http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid 9050
|http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid 4635
That was what I was going to suggest. I held one up in Chicago.
It was one of the most comfortable radios that I have ever held.
I have a 9C and like it a lot. Got it at Servocity.com for about $260.
This is the price for just the transmitter. I fly with a guy that has the
Hitec. One thing I hear him complain about is that the trims are not
displayed on the main screen. To adjust or view the trims you need to hit a
button. This would be a deal buster for me. Can someone confirm this?
Om;y relates to the mark one original version - Eclipse is one of the very
few TX on which the software is upgradable.
Two upgrades since: your friend can send his TX in for the upgrade at a
nominal cost which will also expand other features.
1. Model name appears in large letters as the TX powers up - lasts for 2
seconds and then screen reverts to the main voltage/time display .
2. New QPCM function designed for the latest Hitec QPCM RX. This PCM system
is much faster than the old system and will not operate the old HPD-07RH PCM
RX. The new QPCM RX is labelled HPD-07RH.
3. Failsafe does not have to be actuated to use the QPCM signal.
4. Trim value flashes on screen when a digital trim is used. One press of
the edit key will hold the trim display on screen in lieu of the voltage etc
display.
5. Model set-up function menu, was very easy, but now made even easier to
select different models.
6. Software version number. Model set up menu now also has a "VER" display
which shows which software version is loaded into the TX - allows for easy
upgrades by user as each upgrade is marketed. LHS advises that the current
VER.10 software will be available for those with old TX to easily upgrade
their old TX about Feb.03. However, TX on 72 MHz may have to be returned to
the service centre in USA (depending upon how the odd rules on TX
"modifications" in that country will be interpreted). No more having to buy
new transmitters with a simple A, B or C etc model number change just to
obtain what was only a software upgrade.
OOPS, forgot to mention that the Royal Evo can be upgraded from your
own PC via a serial cable. Not only the actual operating firmware but
you can save all your model settings on your pc and download new
settings from saved files. This means there is no limit to how many
models you can have. No more sending your transmitter back to the
factory for upgrade.
Art
|
|OOPS, forgot to mention that the Royal Evo can be upgraded from your
|own PC via a serial cable. Not only the actual operating firmware but
|you can save all your model settings on your pc and download new
|settings from saved files. This means there is no limit to how many
|models you can have. No more sending your transmitter back to the
|factory for upgrade.
|
Can you upgrade it to PCM? Or 50 Mhz?
I think it is synthesized.
The Futaba 9C has far more features than the Hitec Eclipse. I have
both. I use the Eclipse for models which don't require much fancy
programming when I want the synthesized frequency feature.
You might consider the new Futaba 7C instead. Cost and features are
similar to the Eclipse. See the info on the Tower Hobbies site.
Jim - AMA 501383 (remove NOSPAM to reply)
Jay Bickford wrote:
Does the 9C have pos-neg shift capability that the Eclipse does. I
have a mix of Hitec, Futaba, and JR. JR seems to offer more computer
operation at a much lower price than Futaba, altho the Hitec Flash
tx's are pretty close.
David
On Mon, 09 Feb 2004 15:09:24 GMT, James D Jones
OH, OH, OH, I forgot that one can get a frequency synthesizer module !
I have rx on 42, 43, and 46, so I can control ANY of my rx's, no
matter the freq or shift.
AND IT IS ILLEGAL TO USE THAT MODULE IN FUTABA, EVEN THO IT FITS.
David
On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 16:06:52 +1300, Sean McFarlane
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