Radio equipment??

[dpelletier]

and now the summary is;

Futaba 10 - five 14SG, four 8FG, 1 unspecified.
Spektrum 7 - three DX8, two DX7, one DX6, one DX18.
JR 3 - one each, 11x, 12x, XG11
Jeti 2 - unspecified

Leading model still Futaba 14sg

[copenhagen]

I would buy a Futaba 14SG if I could be convinced that the amount I would have to pay for it and to convert my Helicopters would be worth it.  I haven't really seen many comparisons of what it is like to control the same helicopter with the Futaba vs the Spektrum vs -etc-.  I am personally not too worried about the telemetry etc- I just want to fly.

[curmudgeon]

I don't know about the Futaba and Jeti telemetry.  However, I had five larger helicopters with TM1000 units and a 450 size with a TM1100 unit.  I had the GPS sensor, BEC and main pack voltage, rpm, temperature, and altitude sensors.  Used them for about 2 years.  I did not find the telemetry that useful.  Some of the mesurement results were not very accurate, and the alarms were too distracting with less than true results.

Maybe the Futaba and/or Jeti telemetry may be more accurate and useful. 

[flyalan]

Both Futaba and Jeti do supply accurate Telemetry from my experience with both.

With Futaba I used both the flight pack and main pack voltage telemetry.  I set alarms on the 18MZ to warn at a certain main pack voltage and used that instead of the timer. It worked pretty well and I never damaged a battery.  I have no experience with any of the other Futaba telemetry features.

On the Jeti I use the MAH readings from either a stand alone sensor or directly from a Jeti ESC.  The reading essentially is a fuel gauge of your lipos...  I found it very accurate.  If it said I drew out 3200mah, what I put back was very close to that.  Again I used the MAH used telemetry instead of the timer.  It allowed me to stretch out a flight longer than using the timer alone.  I typically set the alarm to go off at about 3/4 of the pack used.  You must specify a MAH used point on the alarm. 

The receiver pack voltages are also read.  If you use a JETI  ESC/BEC you will also get the milliamp draw data from the ESC.  Very cool to see this and be able to compare the draw of various servos.
Using the JETI ESC you will also get head speeds, ESC temp, and a few others items.  All sent to your radio and can be alarmed, logged and/or displayed.

On Nitro I am also using the Jeti temp sensor.  A nice piece of insurance that you are not running too lean!
I am in the process of putting together an E7 Speed rig on 14S using a Kosmic.  There is a device called JLog that will read the Kosmic data and port it to the Jeti ESC.  In addition I have a Jeti GPS unit I will be installing to record ground sped. JLog will also work with Castle Edge ESC's and feed data to the Jeti receivers.

The really nice thing about the Jeti is that all of this data is logged right on the radio.  There is no need to additional hardware to view the logs.  They can be displayed right on the radio screen post flight.  In addition to live of course.

I don't mean for this to sound like a Jeti commercial but I am sold on the radio.  I was reluctant to try it but was coerced by Danny as Esprit.  I will say in regards to telemetry it has futaba and everyone else beat hands down. 

The quality of the hardware is superb.  The gimbals are even smoother than the 18MZ, which was hard to believe.  The programming has been in my opinion the easiest to learn.  I have programmed Futaba, Spektrum, JR and Hitec....


Cheers

Alan

[dpelletier]

Nice post Alan. Thanks for the information on the Jeti. There is no doubt that the Jeti is an awesome platform and I could totally see going from a Futaba 18MZ to the Jeti...

But for me going to a Jeti is quite a hefty financial bite to take.

Strictly financially speaking... 
Futaba 14  doable but ouch!   
Jeti... OUCH!!!

[curmudgeon]

The Jeti seems very nicely crafted with CNC aluminum.  How does the non tray version feel on the hands for those of us who thumb?   Do the edges feel sharp like a naked iPhone 4 or above?

[flyalan]

No. Feels good to me and I am a thumber also. I usually use a neck strap due to the weight but haven't done so on several occasions and found the weight acceptable.
Cheers
Alan

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[Airbass]

Sorry for jumping back. I have been off line for a while.

Can you not change the switches around on that Futaba 8FG?  I just replaced a switch on my DX8 because I dropped it.  The switch I used said it was also for Futabas.

Can you discern more resolution with your Futaba 8FG than you could with your DX6i?

The DX6i has hundreds of hours of sim, 400 flights with mcpx and 300 flights with Trex450. The 8FG is  brand new and used only on the E5. Of course I feel more resolution. I can't say how much is the radio and how much is the machine. The gimbals of Futaba are smoother.

Obviously the switches can be unscrewed out of the case and plugged into the opposite side no problem. I wouldn't recommend that, when I made the switch I had to think futaba got it right and I needed to relearn. Only because I didn't want to start "modding" my new transmitter. I use the right side momentary switch as the throttle cut and the one above that as IDUP3.  I also use my tx religiously on the RF7 and set it up as I do all other models.

You guys are all right. In this case I would rather swap the swithes on the DX6i and relearn with TH on the left side.
Throttle cut is only for nitro, isn't it? So, I use the momentary switch to start/stop the timer.

[curmudgeon]

I use Throttle Cut to disengage the "autorotation bailout" when I land in Throttle Hold.   I assign TC to the bind toggle-type switch. 

[mrc3]

Jeti (DS16) here.

Other plus'es for Jeti,  Readily available switch options which allow you to put whatever type of switch you want, in any position.

Had DX8 prior with no issues, but the jeti is much more capable and better construction quality. 

The Telemetry capabilities (logging directly to the transmitter and built in log viewer) and alarms based on telemetry was a huge selling point for me.
I no longer fly to a timer, rather a MAH hour used backed up by a pack voltage alarm.  Useful for cold weather flying were pack capacity is reduced.

[dpelletier]

14SGH.. My second favorite radio..   
Had one before the Jeti.  Nicely done.  Felt great. Has telemetry. Nice gimbals.

With Futaba I used both the flight pack and main pack voltage telemetry.  I set alarms on the 18MZ to warn at a certain main pack voltage and used that instead of the timer. It worked pretty well and I never damaged a battery.  I have no experience with any of the other Futaba telemetry features.

Alan you said that the Futaba 14SG was your second favorite radio... so you liked it better than the 18MZ?

[flyalan]

Love the programming and touch screen on the 18mz but the case is quite large and taller than the jeti or 14sg. It just wasn't comfortable to hold.
Cheers
Alan

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[dpelletier]

Love the programming and touch screen on the 18mz but the case is quite large and taller than the jeti or 14sg. It just wasn't comfortable to hold.
Cheers
Alan

Thanks Alan

[Rodney Kirstine]

BTW,  on being able to monitor mAh used, I have bought a module that's made by a guy in Sweden (if I remember correctly).  I haven't had a chance to add it to one of my electrics yet because I've been too busy playing with the nitros. 

Anyway, this should give the same type of capability to the 14SG, that the Jeti currently (no pun intended) has.

Electric Fuel-Gauge Presentation and Instructions

[dpelletier]

BTW,  on being able to monitor mAh used, I have bought a module that's made by a guy in Sweden (if I remember correctly).

That is pretty neat stuff... it just connects to sbus2 and thats it?
How much was he selling it for?