Best radio for f450

F

Findtheriver

Member
I know that the futaba t8j is popular with dji quads but I can't find one in uk for love or money! I already have a dx6i which will suffice for now but when I get into fpv etc I will want more channels.
is It crucial that I have 8 or more or would 7 channels be ok, of so I am looking at this
http://robotbirds.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=85_196_341&products_id=3345

or do I stay in spektrum family and upgrade my dx6i for an 8?
i have lots of elfite bnf models so will need some form of spektrum radio in addition to another make should I choose to go that route
 

PeteDee

PeteDee

Mr take no prisoners!
Spektrum make some great radios but I prefer not to use them for quads/FPV, I think the modern Futaba radios are a much better choice.

If you can pick up a T8FG it will set you up for a lot of flying for a long time, I just bought one for my #2 son. 6x three way switches is awesome, fully programmable is to die for.

If you can bump up the cash then the 14SG is even better.

My thoughts are to buy a radio that has as many channels and three way switches as you can afford, buy once, buy well.

Pete
 

COMike93yj

COMike93yj

Still Building!
Find,

Let us know what you will use your channels for! You mention FPV but you can fly with just what you have! Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Just my 2.5 cents...

Mike :)

I have a DX8 and while it is TOTALLY OVERKILL for my NanoQX and the F450 I am building, I haven't seen a valid reason for "upgrading" to another transmitter.
 

F

Findtheriver

Member
I hear what you're saying in that I don't really need more than 6 channels at the moment but if I end up running gimbal set up surely I will need 8 channels?
saw the futaba in the flesh at Lhs today, very nice but will stick with dx6i for now
 

J

Jareth_Atian

Member
If you're not going to use a GPS, you can get away with 6 channels; if you're going to use the GPS, you'll probably use at least 7. If you may end up using a non-dji gimbal, I think that 8 should be a minimum.

1) Aileron
2) Elevator
3) Throttle
4) Rudder
5) Control mode switch (GPS mode, attitude mode, manual mode)
6) Gain tuning dial (and possibly gimbal pitch, depending on setup)
7) Intelligent Orientation Control mode switch (off, orientation-lock, home-lock)

If you're using an aftermarket gimbal, you'll probably end up using channel 8 for gimbal pitch instead of channel 6. I'm currently running 8 channel TX/RX, but I'm seriously considering upgrading eventually. I'd need more channels if I want to add controls for retractable landing gear or switching between FPV and recorded-video feeds.
 

PeteDee

PeteDee

Mr take no prisoners!
I love my Spektrum DX18 but not for MR's or FPV, if you are even slightly serious about providing for your longer term needs in a radio then get a radio that will simply plug into the FPV gear you will surely buy at some time in the future.

As soon as you add telemetry and want to control it and control a video switch and control lights six channels will not quite be enough.

Cheers

Pete
 


OneStopRC

OneStopRC

Dirty Little Hucker
For me and I know some will probably laugh, I fly with GPS, not enabled but ready if I need it. I have already seen issues with my camera and VTX and if you are flying out or LOS, well you would be dumb not to have GPS. I want to get my expensive piece of equipment back and to do that without sight, well I need GPS.

As PeteDee said, it will be worth it to stretch out to something better first time, get something you need to do the job. For me and others that do a lot of flying, 8 channels is minimum. Sure you can do it with 6, but you will not be able to do everything you need it to do.

Pay now or Pay later..... simple as that.
 


PeteDee

PeteDee

Mr take no prisoners!
Hey Mike,

Couple of reasons.

1. Antenna, Futaba has diversity built in and with their longer antenna it is far easier to better position antenna to get maximum range.

2. Antenna Spektrum has short antenna's close to the Rx antenna that are difficult to position to get maximum range.

3. Satellite Rx need to be mounted separately.

4. Easier to use use with off the shelf ancillary equipment, most goggle sets come with cables to power the goggles directly from your Futaba transmitter. EZUHF comes with a cable that simple plugs into the trainer port of the Futaba radios.

5. S-Bus, single cable to connect directly from Rxer to FCU, particularly great for Naza, you can also get CPPM Rx that can be used with Futaba.

6. The Futaba FASST system will reconnect faster if you have lost the signal.

7. Quite cheaply you can get a used T8FG and do a firmware upgrade to make it into the same spec as the T8FG Super with 14 channels, I bought one for AUD $200 to give to my #2 son, this almost the same spec as the 14SG, try that with a Spektrum.


Cheers

Pete
 

Carapau

Carapau

Tek care, lambs ont road, MRF Moderator
1. Antenna, Futaba has diversity built in and with their longer antenna it is far easier to better position antenna to get maximum range.

2. Antenna Spektrum has short antenna's close to the Rx antenna that are difficult to position to get maximum range.

3. Satellite Rx need to be mounted separately.
Click to expand...

But what you can do with the Speky satellites for instance is mount them right out on the end of opposite booms giving a far clearer signal (as far from the carbon frame as possible) and covering a full 360degrees around the MR.

Don't get me wrong, Im not saying you are wrong at all, just pointing out one of the ways you can deal with satellites.

Just beware about the T8FG (I think it was the T8FG), it has ergonomics suited to smaller hands. As such some people really really like these whilst others are the opposite.
 

COMike93yj

COMike93yj

Still Building!
Thanks a TON Pete!

Just a follow up:

2. Are you talking about the AR receivers that Spektrum ships? How far are you talking about with "maximum range"?

3. Sat RX needs to be mounted separately.....confused?

4. Gotcha on this one as I would like to do FPV in the future but folks do fly FPV with Spektrum stuff (seen them do it here at the field).

5. Still learning on CCPM etc.....can you show me a link so I can read up on it?

6. Why does the FASST reconnect faster? not sure how this works

Thanks soooo much...not trying to be combative (please do not take it that way at all!) I am just trying to learn the in's and out's....

I actually do like my DX8.....for ME it is easy to program and right now it does what I need it to do...albeit just with my Nano QX and a TREX clone 450 (although I have only flown it for a couple of months).

Cheers,

Mike :)
 

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