Radio gear

[TheFalcon]

Does your transmitter have to match your reciever (make) or is is just the crystal colour that is important?

Thanks

Paul

[BiggusDitchus]

you can use different transmitter/receiver combinations.. as long as you use the crystals that match in colour then no problem at all.

[TheFalcon]

Thanks

[GPZ1000RX]

Try BEFORE you buy some are not quite as equal as others!

Do a range check before trusting a prized model (or anyones safety!) to an unknown combination. You do this with the transmitter antenna fully down and a helper holding the model up off the ground, operate all the controls, while slowly backing away, you should be able to get 25 to 30 metres away before your helper signals that the Tx has lost contact with the Rx. If much less than this then there is a problem.

[BiggusDitchus]

hmmm i sincerely doubt you will get quite that far with aerial down 10 or so meters with aerial down is acceptable.

[GPZ1000RX]

You could well be right Biggus, I'll try it again to refresh my memory next time I go out to play. I've always used Futaba/Futaba myself tho.

[WillyChang]

If you're mucking about with different brands of RX & servos, occasionally you'll find the servos operating in 'reverse' too. Nothing a reverse-switch on your TX can't fix.

AM radios can be commonly interchanged, no worries.

FMs are a little more finicky, especially with xtal brands.

[icon]

It doesnt have to match per se, but you are better off as there are a number of factors you have to account for if you are switching brands.

is your radio am, fm (ppm), pcm?

does your radio need/require hrs receiver to work?

does your radio use positive or negative wave?

27mhz, 40mhz, 75mhz etc?

Just to give you an idea, my KO Mars R will only work with their newer line of 301 and 302 receivers with HRS feature, the older KO 297 w/o HRS will not work with the Mars R. Novak put out a bunch of XXL receivers that is matched to specific brands (FUT, AIR, KO, etc), so i'm sure there are subtle differences among all of them. JR are not compatible with most brands out (i cant remember if they use positive or negative wave, but that is the reason when compared to other mfg.). There are also a lot of little subtleties here and there, but I think you get the idea.

Bottom line is unless an aftermarket receiver is specified for your radio, its easier, wiser, and will cause less headache to just buy/match the correct receiver brand to your transmitter.