Topic: 2.4 - what to get (Read 10844 times)

xlaorta · « **on:** February 25, 2012, 03:09:00 pm »

I am getting really hacked off with checking which crytal is in where so Im thinking of going over 2.4

The fleet covers 2 yachts and 2 motor boats. Any suggstions ?

Netleyned · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2012, 03:19:00 pm »

Radiolink from Giant Cod in Cornwall is the cheapest and does ok for me
I run a Marblehead and a Victoria and a tug and a springer with no problems.
Just over £40 will pay for the lot.
He's UK based ,cheap ,good gear and fast delivery
Try the Giantcod website

Ned

ACTion · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2012, 03:37:45 pm »

As long as you are aware that the cheap Chinese 2.4GHz sets have a limited range (typically about 100m) then go for one of those. You don't really need all the fancy computerised functions of the more sophisticated sets - indeed, you'd likely end up like most of us in not using them because life is just too short to RTFM! I'm continually impressed with the Planet T5 set, especially with the price of new receivers. These sets are available from many model retailers these days. In fact, Model Boats magazine is currently offering a free Planet T5 transmitter if you sign up to a year's magazine subscription, so you could get a new set for the price of a receiver (about £13).
Dave M

Netleyned · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2012, 03:38:42 pm »

Just looked at the site
http://www.giantcod.co.uk/radiolink-c-40_160_309.html

Tx/rx 25.99
Rx 9.14
So £60 with postage

Gone up a bit since 2010 when I bought Mine

Ned

Netleyned · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2012, 03:45:44 pm »

No probs upto 150 metres (when we run out of pond) and with old eyes there hard to see at that range anyway

Ned

Subculture · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2012, 05:13:59 pm »

I use Corona 2.4ghz. They only produce transmitter modules and receivers though, so you have to have a TX with a removable tuning module, or convert an existing set with the DIY conversion, which is what i did with my Robbe FC16 and did the same with an old Futaba Challenger for my Dad.

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2012, 05:31:59 pm »

Quote from: netleyned on February 25, 2012, 03:38:42 pm

Just looked at the site
http://www.giantcod.co.uk/radiolink-c-40_160_309.html

Tx/rx 25.99
Rx 9.14
So £60 with postage

Gone up a bit since 2010 when I bought Mine

Bit out of date there. Giant Cod's cheapest Tx/Rx combo is now the Fly-Sky 4-channel, at £21.31. Extra receivers are £7.91. Post for that packet would be £3.71.

So, if you want to buy a Tx/Rx combo and 3 extra receivers, that should be £48.75 total cost including post.

I'm not sure if you really need spare receivers, though. You can always but them later if you are happy with the radio. So, if you just buy a Tx/Rx combo, that would be a total cost, including postage, of ...

£25.08p!!!

At that price it's worth buying just for experimentation. The batteries inside it are pretty much the same cost... Of course, you could throw caution to the winds and buy their 6 channel at £26. Or their flash computer 9-channel model at £55.....

Netleyned · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2012, 05:40:30 pm »

Sorry Mr GC Guru
I was telling it as I know it.
You ,me and the rest have had the Radiolink gear and
can truthfully steer someone in the right direction.
Not having used the Fly Sky not my place to recommend it

YourAye

Ned

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2012, 06:07:59 pm »

Quote from: netleyned on February 25, 2012, 05:40:30 pm

Not having used the Fly Sky not my place to recommend it

You're right - I haven't used it either, so I can't recommend from experience. I think it's quite new - it hasn't got any reviews yet. But I suspect that all of this Chinese stuff comes from the same source, so I would guess that It's much the same as the RadioLink.

At those prices, however, !!!

richald · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2012, 06:27:10 pm »

Hmmm . . . .

Fly-sky :
none in stock,
6 Channel :- two reviews, one of which had his transmitter fail after 2 weeks
4 Channel no reviews at all

Radiolink :
10+in stock
4 channel 119 reviews (mostly 5 stars)
6 channel 17 reviews (again mostly 5 stars)

I'd splash out the extra 91 pence and go for something a little
more proven,

plus, quite a few people know the radiolink kit
inside out (literally!) so a new user shouldn't struggle if they hit problems....

BTW - I write this as a happy radiolink user.

Richard

Netleyned · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2012, 06:30:08 pm »

Saynomore

Ned

Welsh Wizard · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2012, 06:34:41 pm »

Futaba all the way for me Nothing else I'm afraid

Dave

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2012, 07:57:47 pm »

Quote from: richald on February 25, 2012, 06:27:10 pm

Hmmm . . . .

Fly-sky :
none in stock,
6 Channel :- two reviews, one of which had his transmitter fail after 2 weeks
4 Channel no reviews at all

Radiolink :
10+in stock
4 channel 119 reviews (mostly 5 stars)
6 channel 17 reviews (again mostly 5 stars)

I also write as a happy RadioLink user with no problems (2 Tx, 6 Rx), though I note that the 4-channel Radiolink also has one 2-star and three 1-star reviews - typically from people whose radios failed. Buying cheap Chinese means that quality control is always going to be an issue, as ACTion remarks...

It's unsurprising to have few reviews for a new system, and the fact that none are in stock points to a very competitive price. So I still suspect that the FlySkys are very similar to the Radiolinks, and very good value if you want to experiment. Assuming you don't mind waiting.

Myself, I'm not going to buy any of the cheap FlySkys - because I'm fine with the Radiolinks. I would have bought one if I wanted to experiment with 2.4Ghz cheaply. But I am tempted by the £55 9-channel FlySky FSTh9X/B . For what it offers, I think it's a better bargain than the cheap ones...

Grub · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2012, 12:58:36 am »

After minimal research on here I bought Jack a Planet T5, absolutely no problems with it and easy to bind to other RX's. Now I've had to get myself something to sail I've got a Spektrum ( so I can try plane flying, one day, perhaps

) and subscribed to Model Boat Magazine for a FREE Planet T5 just in case

HS93 (RIP) · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2012, 01:33:13 am »

I have Futaba and Futaba/Jeti both work well , jeti uses a futaba tx so best of both worlds plus lots of features. did use JR nice feel to the tx and nice sticks. have converted one with a corona 2.4 yet to try it.

Peter

ayrshire andy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2012, 01:19:10 pm »

Bought a cracking Radiolink T4EU 4ch (expandable to 5/6?) last year complete with 6ch Rx for under £26 at GiantCod, the binding process takes literally seconds, the Tx (and Rx) looks great and operates smoothly with a quality feel, can't say anything yet about range as apparently I will have to build a model boat around the Rx before I can go sailing...anyone else found this?

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #16 on:** February 26, 2012, 01:55:49 pm »

Quote from: ayrshire andy on February 26, 2012, 01:19:10 pm

Bought a cracking Radiolink T4EU 4ch (expandable to 5/6?)

Expand it to 5 here: http://www.giantcod.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3848 But I don't think anyone has published how to make it 6 yet

Quote from: ayrshire andy on February 26, 2012, 01:19:10 pm

the Tx (and Rx) looks great and operates smoothly with a quality feel,

If only they had better trim...

Quote from: ayrshire andy on February 26, 2012, 01:19:10 pm

can't say anything yet about range as apparently I will have to build a model boat around the Rx before I can go sailing...anyone else found this?

What! You mean I have been wasting all this time sitting in the pub? I thought that you just bought the radio and somehow the boats just happened...

Netleyned · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2012, 04:03:55 pm »

Younger at 70 (one of the forum members) says his was done for him
but no details forthcoming.
Ive done the fifth chann mod and works ok

Ned

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #18 on:** February 26, 2012, 05:04:54 pm »

Quote from: netleyned on February 26, 2012, 04:03:55 pm

Younger at 70 (one of the forum members) says his was done for him

Yup - I chased him, but got no luck. GC radios are now so cheap, however, that it's becoming hardly worth modding them. The FlySky 6-channel costs £4.06 more than the 4-channel - you couldn't buy two pots for that, let alone the knobs and switches....

The long Build · « **Reply #19 on:** February 26, 2012, 05:17:46 pm »

NOt sure if it adds to anything here, but just looking at the wiring of the Radiolink to plumb in a socket to take an external Battery pack, It has a Mode 1 / 2 dip switch within the workings, also a Mixer dp Sw.. The Mode 1 /2 sw I could see what that did but not the mixer..

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #20 on:** February 26, 2012, 05:26:36 pm »

Quote from: The long Build on February 26, 2012, 05:17:46 pm

NOt sure if it adds to anything here, but just looking at the wiring of the Radiolink to plumb in a socket to take an external Battery pack, It has a Mode 1 / 2 dip switch within the workings, also a Mixer dp Sw.. The Mode 1 /2 sw I could see what that did but not the mixer..

Covered here http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=27616.0

And if you want a manual for it, see here: http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=34948.msg346870#msg346870

The long Build · « **Reply #21 on:** February 26, 2012, 05:32:30 pm »

So it is

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #22 on:** February 26, 2012, 06:06:30 pm »

Mods - I wonder if it's worth having a sticky for reviews, or even a separate section?

It can be quite difficult to find information on a product if the search engine just produces ALL mentions of it...

Anyone else got any thoughts?

richald · « **Reply #23 on:** February 26, 2012, 07:36:02 pm »

I still have one of the channel 5 toggle switch/cable units (see below)
along with the plug to solder to the PCB - Ashleylad passed a few onto me
when I bought my T4EU transmitters - if any body wants it please send me a PM

Richard

richald · « **Reply #24 on:** March 08, 2012, 09:53:27 am »

Last lead now gone.

News:

Author Topic: 2.4 - what to get (Read 10844 times)

xlaorta

ACTion

richald

Welsh Wizard

Grub

ayrshire andy

The long Build

The long Build

richald

richald