some radio questions

[bdmiller]

I'm kind of new to rc cars and I don't really understand the radion systems. I have 3 cars (looking to get more http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif ) and 3 radio systems. Is there a way for you to use one transmitter for each car? Would this be wise to do? Which transmitter works for this? Sounds like everytime I get a car then, I would have to buy a reciever that works with my transmitter.

Also what does it mean when a transmitter is 6 channel or 7 channel? And what is the funcion of a crystal in the radio system?

Whew. Thats all for now.

Thanks for any help.

[tc3guy]

If you dont want to spend $300 get a futaba 3PDF its only $189. Thats what i got and it has 3 model memory.

[JoeTheShmoe]

Or you could just get a futuba 2PC and switch the reciver when you want to use a certin car.. Right now i have 6 rc's and 2 radio's. (gonna get another soon), but im not down with paying 300 for a radio...... id rather spend 300 on a new rc. http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

[tc3guy]

I thought about doing that but its a pain to have to adjust the settings every time you switch cars. thats why i got a 3PDF

[Nairb]

What kind of radios do you have? If they are all the same brand, you can use one transmitter with all 3 recievers. Or you could buy a Novak reciever for each new car. The only things to note about using one transmitter with many recievers in many cars is the trim settings and compatability. You either have to set up the trims again each time you drive a different car, or you use a radio that has memory for a certain car's trim (these are usually expensive). The other deal is that radio equipment must be compatible. One brand always works with its own brand (ie - Futaba radio/Futaba reciever) as long as they're the same brand (AM/AM or FM/FM), Novak receivers work with all AFAIK, and some brands can work together, like Airtronics/JR and Futaba/Hitec (I'm not sure which work together).

[Oyster]

Some of the higher end Futabas and the higher end Airtronics allow you to use them with 8 to 10 cars... depending on manf.

But, you'd have to have electronics in each, yes... BUT, the radio can be set for special setups.

What was your second question....

[Oyster]

Ahh yes... a 6-7-8 whatever channel radio is made to control ... a helicopter, or plane for example. For example, you have a channel for "up and down" a channel for "left and right" maybe a channel for fuel mixture.... Or another example if you've seen Battle Bots, they use a channel for forward/reverse, one for left/right, one for a hammer, one for a saw, whatever.

Crystals. Just like in old police scanners, you have a crystal "tuned" to a certain freq. Same basic deal here.

Hope this helps! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif

Jon

[bdmiller]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've been looking around and I'm leaning towards a HiTech Lynx 3D. It has 10 model memory and it comes with some sort of frequency module that comes with like 30 frequencies so you don't have to change transmitter crystals. Anyone have this?

[JP]

I have the JR XR3 radio with DCX receivers. FM, bunch of features that you need, I got 75mHz, 3 car memory. Its all I need, just get a different receiver for each car.

You dont charge crystals, you charge the batteries in the radio.

[bdmiller]

Another question fellas.

If I were to get a HiTech transmitter, would it matter which reciever I got? For instance could I get an airtronics reciever? Or does it only matter that the crystals are the same frequency?

[tc3guy]

It matters what brand of servos you have, because if you had a Hitech reciever you would probably have to use hitech servos. You have to do this because the plugs on the servo might not fit into a hitech reciever if you are using a different brand. If you buy a novak XXL you can buy a brand specific one that will fit hitech.

[Nairb]

Servo harnesses can be changed easily, and they will work with any brand of reciever. Now, the cross brand radio/reciever deal I'm not sure about.

[Racer2racer]

Hey miller, The lynx is a good radio and i like the fact that u dont have to change tx crystals. I dont know if u know this or not but novak has a new receiver comin out that u dont have to have crytals for either. Just thought id let u know.

[rvrrun]

The cross brand Tx/Rx compatability is not a problem as far as Futaba/Airtronics FM is concerned. I have a bunch of Tekin, one Novak and a couple Airtronics Rx's and never had a problem. Not saying that getting the cars set up w/similar settings/trims wasn't a pain, but it did work.

I am much happier with the 3pj and having memory for different cars.

MS