| > | The problem is that the Futaba 9C is a HUGELY better radio and | > | doesn't cost that much more (and a synth module will be available | > | for it soon)... | >
| > Where have you heard that a synthesized module would be available for | > it soon? I certainly haven't ... | | Just because YOU haven't "heard" about it, then it must not be true?
?
| A little self important, are we? :-)
Um, no. I think you're reading *way* too much into my question ...
When I saw your statement, I even checked the Yahoo groups 9c list -- no mention of a synthesized module to be released -- but plenty of people asking.
| Futaba already lists a proprietary part number for the 9C Synth module | in their catalog (notabley different from the part number for the 9Z Synth | module). | | It will (Ok, "should") be available early '04.
Is that conjecture based on the part number being listed, or is there more?
(I hope you're right. But since I've not heard this from anywhere else, I'm skeptical.)
| > The Hitec Spectra module is known to work, but I've heard there's | > issues with that, both technical (greatly increased power | > consumption?) and political (no FCC or AMA approval) ... | | Higher power consumption? Sure, ANY synth module will draw more | power than a fixed freq crystal. But not "greatly" where it makes a | huge difference.
I've heard it uses several times more power than it does in the Hitec radio, therefore getting quite warm. Not a little more power, but a lot more power. And only in a Futaba radio, not in the Hitec radio.
| No FCC or AMA approval? Nonsense.
You're obviously misunderstanding me ...
| Unless you're referring to using the Spectra module in the Futaba | transmitter, but that's not what I was talking about.
Actually, that's *exactly* what I was referring to (I guess I didn't make it clear enough.) Right now, today, if you want to use a synthesized module with a 9c, it's the Hitec spectra, and while it's known to work, there are issues, some of which I've mentioned.
| automatically lose FCC and AMA approval anytime you mix brands of TX and tx | module designed and approved for a different brand.
Well, that's been argued to death with both sides claiming victory (and I'm probably starting the war back up here), but either way, I'm not going to go out and buy a Spectra module for my 9c -- I'll wait for the Futaba version.
| > Whatever module comes out, it would be nice if it could have it's | > frequency stored in the radio's model memory, rather than adjusting | > knobs like the Spectra, but I suspect that this won't happen ... | | I understand that the 9C module WILL be software selectable
From where?
I was imagining that it would be almost exactly like the Spectra module, but who knows?
| > The Tracker II also has a built-in scanner, which would be nice. Too | > bad more radios don't have that ... | | Agreed. But if you think about it, almost no other radios out there have | a multichannel scanner and we've survived this long...
Oh, I'm fully aware. But it would still be nice ...