WHAT Radio ?

[Allanto]

Hi what radios are good for a newbie like me for my Tamiya Double Blaze? here in 2-3 days so need a radio quickly).

I was looking at a new Acoms Techniplus 27mhz 4ch Fm radio with 3 radios on modelsport.co.uk

 

Many Thanks

[Z]

There is NO WAY you need a 4 channel radio for the Double Blaze; all

you need is 2 channels. Also, you don't really need an FM radio

(they're more expensive), an AM will work just fine! A radio like this

would be about right, it has everything you'll need radiowise for your

DB:

Futaba 2DR 2-Channel AM/2 S3003 Servos

Hope this helps!

[MikeT]

<> - Personally, i would buy an FM Radio, because AM Radios get "echo's" from large metal objects ( Fridge, cooker etc ) and FM's DO NOT.

A side note- Signal echo will make your servo "jitter" and go crazy near big metal objects because the car is getting the signal direct from the transmitter, and it is also getting a SLIGHTLY delayed signal, coming from the TX to the car, VIA THE BIG REFLECTIVE METAL OBJECT.

Personally, i use a Futaba Skysport, with Polycarbonate CNC'd gates from Ant88.

Mike

[Z]

<> - Personally, i would buy an FM Radio,

because AM Radios get "echo's" from large metal objects ( Fridge,

cooker etc ) and FM's DO NOT.

Please don't tell me you run your cars indoors! When you're outside,

there aren't any "large metal objects" to interfere with your radio

signals. I have never used anything but AM radios in my models, and I

have never suffered from interference problems. As a beginner, all you

really need is a 2 channel, AM radio.

[Allanto]

Yeh ok i see what your saying, but still im getting an FM  radio, i also struggle to find the standard type controllers which are 2ch fm, (the ones you control with 2 sticks instead of a whell and trigger). for under 50 pounds. And what do you mean no large metal objects outside  , there was an invention called a car, or will this not effect the interference. I also want more than 2ch because i might be upgrading to a RC model of some sort which need 2+ ch.

 

Many Thanks

[Camshaft]

What about a Futaba 2PH?  Mine only cost $48 at my LHS.  It's a nice 2-channel AM wheel controller.

[Z]

You're so right, I did overlook our 1:1 scale counterparts ; ),

however, as stated before, I have never used anything but 

AM  radio's, and I've never experienced a glitch.

[jozza]

I use 40MHz AM radio, Futaba 2PL, which was fairly cheap. I find that there is a lot less problem with interference and jitters with this radio than you get with the cheaper 27MHz sets, and the wider range of crystals available make it less likely to get a frequency clash with other drivers if you are driving in a group. I have not yet found a real problem running AM as opposed to FM, and I am put off FM by the price of receivers; if you run a lot of cars and want a separate receiver in each one, the AM ones cost £17, whereas the FM ones are anything from £40 upwards.

[Allanto]

Ok so your trying to sway me towards AM radios it seems, but wouldnt a large metal object like a car echo the radio siganl and cause the servo to jitter, not the best thing in the world if you take it up to the beech and have ago neer a cliff.

[Floyd]

I personaly have never had radio interfearence with the AM radios unless the antena was compleatly chopped up and spliced ten times . And thats even with driving my RCs under my 1:1 trucks in the driveway , in and out of my garage , so on and so on .

[terry.sc]

A large metal object like a car will reflect the signal whether the

radio is FM or AM, niether will have much affect if any if you are

running near cars. MikeTs problem is he is driving in his kitchen. The

biggest cause of interference is the R/C car itself.

The advantage of FM is that it isn't affected as much by interference

from the motor and that caused by metal to metal contact, such as in

older buggies suspension. If the motor has capacitors fitted, like the

kit motors will, then you will not notice any difference between FM and

AM when driving.

FM radio is more expensive, receivers are more expensive and crystals are more expensive than AM.

There are plenty of cheap AM stick radios around, you can buy complete

radio sets for under £30, but if you want an FM stick set you are

looking at at least £50 for the same setup.

[Allanto]

Thanks again Terry.sc yet again youve gave a good answer and explanation to my question.

 

Cheers Guys

[MikeT]

Terry, i don't drive in the kitchen, it was an example, LOL!

Allanto, all radios suffer from signal echo ( FM, AM, PCM ) But it is the way in which they are MODULATED that makes the effect the car.

[Allanto]

Yes but no matter how mutch you argue about radios FM will be better than AM. I have a 200+ pound budget i have my car tmaiya double blaze for 95 quid. i need some for batterys ect ect all the necessary stuff. And i am spending as mutch as i can on a radio to ensure a good first truck drive, and if i needed them the extra channels are there.

[MikeT]

Allanto- I hope you DO BUY a 40Mhz FM Radio, i was just explaining that all radios suffer from Signal Echo, it is inevitable, but do to the different ways of MODULATION, they are easier/harder to reject.

PCM- Pulse Code Modulation, Uses NUMERICAL CODING. This is by far the best to deal with signal echo's, but also the most expensive.

I use a Futaba Skysports ( Usually called Futaba 4YF ) With CNC'd Polycarbonate Gates, from Ant88 here on TC.

Piccy;  

Mike

[Mad Ax]

I've personally not had issues with signal echo with any of my AM

radios (27 and 40MHz), and I've never used an FM radio.  And TBH I

don't think you should be using your RC anywhere near 1:1 cars anyway -

just check the other thread on this page today []

FWIW signal echo only occurs if you're very close to a metal object -

i.e. driving next to the fridge in the kitchen, or driving next to /

under 1:1 cars.

Personally I'd save the money and go for a basic 2ch AM radio, but if

you really want FM then that's up to you.  You could keep the

money you save, and in a month or so use it, for example, to buy:

extra batteries

a faster charger (if you don't already have one)

faster motors

chassis hop-ups

In a month's time you might be wishing you had better shocks or faster

motors or more batteries, if you've spent your entire budget now you

might not have anything over.

Check out battlezone ebay shop - has 40MHz AM radios for £25 (UK) and

he usually combines shipping on multiple purchases too []