Futaba 9C vs Hitec Eclipse 7

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.

Hitec Eclipse.
Download all Radio manuals under " Radio Systems, Accessories, Alterations and FAQ" at 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

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.

| 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 ...

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

The 9C does take pre-set freq modules tho. I have one for the 72mhz freq I use and one for the 50mhz freq I use.

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?

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

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.

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:

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 . 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 ?s=&threadid=154635

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

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

No.
David AMA40795 / KC5UH wrote: > Does the 9C have pos-neg shift capability that the Eclipse does.

|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 . 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 || 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.

| |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.

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