Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 21 Location: Memphis, TN area
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:54 am Post subject: Programmable transmitters - why better?
I'm a newbie, and I'm sure this is probably a dumb question, but what is it about programmable transmitters that make it easier to fly a helicopter? I believe that the programmable transmitters are better/make flying easier because so many folks recommend. I just don't know what they do that makes flying easier.
I'm thinking about getting a DX6i for my Blade 120 SR largely because a lot of folks recommend it to make flying easier, but also because I can use it with other copters including 6-ch collective pitch if I decide to progress to that. I understand that you've got to have a 6-ch transmitter to operate a 6-ch copter, but what does a programmable transmitter like the DX6i do to make flying easier (i.e. how does it give better control, help to avoid crashes, etc.)?
Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 3635 Location: Santo Estêvão, East Algarve, Portugal. 76, but still feels 18.
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:10 am Post subject:
Main advantage is the Direct Rates and Expo functions which allow you to restrict total movement and vary the rate of movement around center-stick. The usual beginners fault is overcontrolling and by adjusting the Direct Rates and Expo functions, the 'jerky' responses will be less severe and this will tame the heli down. As you progress you can gradually increase the amount of movement and speed up the response.
However, it will not save you as much as a simulator will in repair bills. Great if used in conjunction though.
Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 21 Location: Memphis, TN area
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:56 am Post subject:
Thanks.
I also have to ask, has anybody ever bought a used transmitter on E-bay? I've been looking at the DX6i's, and these suckers typically go for $15 - $25 less than purchasing new (including shipping). I don't want to offend anybody, but I can't imagine someone purchasing a used piece of electronic equipment, site unseen, for a measley 10% - 15% discount. I know some of the E-Bay sellers are bogus-- bidding up the price trying to get someone to jump on board, but are they all bogus?
Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 695 Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 4:35 pm Post subject:
Hi Jcrogers,
I purchased my DX6i on Ebay using PayPal and at the time saved a good 40%, the Tx worked flawlessley for 12 months when I upgraded to a DX8 at that time I sold the DX6i for 75% of what I had paid to a friend and he is still using it 2 years on.
If it had been faulty I would have bee able to claim my money back through PayPal. Ebay is great if you use it wisely, it punishes the not so wise. _________________ Keep your rotors spinning
Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 21 Location: Memphis, TN area
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:04 pm Post subject:
admiral wrote:
Hi Jcrogers,
I purchased my DX6i on Ebay using PayPal and at the time saved a good 40%
Exactly. New you can get shipped for $160. I figured I should be able to get a lightly used for around $100 shipped, which ties back to your 40%. I figured that for a heavily-used transmitter that someone was selling because they wanted to upgrade, I should get for maybe $75 - $85 shipped.
I know some of the transmitter sales on E-bay are bogus because I've seen a couple of descriptions from old auctions, come back up on new auctions. These transmitters supposedly "sold" for well over $100. One was missing an antenna and other pieces, yet supposedly sold for over $100. I'm just wondering if nearly all of them are bogus.
Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 874 Location: Latvia / UK
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:08 pm Post subject:
Non programmable : You will have trouble setting up CCPM ie the swash control ....... as the NP radios usually are seriously limited on interlinking servo action.
Rest is as posted.
(I have non-programmable JR 8ch as well as Programmable gear) _________________ If you don't crash - you ain't flying !
Fast learning to be 450 Heli Repair specialist !
Have : 2ch Bumblebee,
Co-Ax Syma S006 Alloy Shark
2x Clone 450 SE V2
+ fixed wing stuff ...
Returning to RC after 20 odd yrs away .. Ex Display flyer.
Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Posts: 35 Location: Calif. desert
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:02 pm Post subject: 120sr w/ dx6i
Hi JCJROGERS, I too am new to the hobby. I bought a 120sr about 3 months ago and love it. On windy days my only choice is to fly around my small living room (not good for my wife's plants ). Anyway, after getting a dx6i I'm able to do several laps without crashing (most of the time). You're kind of limited with your trim settings on a stock controller but you can fine tune the dx6i to your liking! I would suggest you get a neck strap for it, I almost dropped mine the first day Good luck to you!
Glenn
Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 874 Location: Latvia / UK
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:48 am Post subject:
jcjrogers wrote:
admiral wrote:
Hi Jcrogers,
I purchased my DX6i on Ebay using PayPal and at the time saved a good 40%
Exactly. New you can get shipped for $160. I figured I should be able to get a lightly used for around $100 shipped, which ties back to your 40%. I figured that for a heavily-used transmitter that someone was selling because they wanted to upgrade, I should get for maybe $75 - $85 shipped.
I know some of the transmitter sales on E-bay are bogus because I've seen a couple of descriptions from old auctions, come back up on new auctions. These transmitters supposedly "sold" for well over $100. One was missing an antenna and other pieces, yet supposedly sold for over $100. I'm just wondering if nearly all of them are bogus.
Often when a description gets repeated as you mention - that indicates usually that seller is dealing in the product, not just sellinmg privately one. They resurrect the auction page and use it again and again. I thought same as you until a close friend in UK who sells quite a lot on Ebay explained how he re-uses auction listings to cover more of same product.
OK - onto ways to get bargains on Ebay .......... DON'T BID via the Ebay system. That is designjed to instant bid and push bids higher. You should use a proxy bidder that puts your bid in just seconds before auction ends and no time for a counter bid to top you. Various free sites do it for you ... EZsniper, Goofbay, etc.
All you have to do is decide what is maximum price you would pay. Enter that figure and then the snipe utility will enter next increment bid at last moments IF your bid is higher than existing. If your bid maximum is not enough before end of auction - the snipe utility will email you to ask if you want to increase the amount.
Obviously sellers and bay don't like these utilities, as they help keep prices down.
OK ... onto the DX6i .... no matter what radio - programmable is recc'd as it mixes the cyclic / collective functions so easily and gives you all the permutations of head types.
Personally I would consider the DX6i as a base model for Heli use ... and as you progress - I think you would be looking for higher spec. The only value I can see in staying with Spektrum is the Bind and Fly option. Other than that - there are better priced radios with more functions / mixes / channels out there. Yes - I am a confirmed Chinese radio user ... the FlySky 9X with FrSky module / Rx ... 8ch full facility radio that certainly does more than I ever need ... and at half the price in total that nearest rival. _________________ If you don't crash - you ain't flying !
Fast learning to be 450 Heli Repair specialist !
Have : 2ch Bumblebee,
Co-Ax Syma S006 Alloy Shark
2x Clone 450 SE V2
+ fixed wing stuff ...
Returning to RC after 20 odd yrs away .. Ex Display flyer.
Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 695 Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:40 am Post subject:
solentlife wrote:
The only value I can see in staying with Spektrum is the Bind and Fly option. Other than that - there are better priced radios with more functions / mixes / channels out there. Yes - I am a confirmed Chinese radio user ... the FlySky 9X with FrSky module / Rx ... 8ch full facility radio that certainly does more than I ever need ... and at half the price in total that nearest rival.
My philosophy on Radios is different, I bought the Spektrum DX8, and that is the only radio I have, 12 Helicopters and 2 Fixed wing on it, and slots for another 16, so I am always using the same Tx, the switches and feel are the same for every flight as well as I fully conversant with programming it, only menu variation is between Heli & Plane modes. Only drawback I can see is that if for any reason I don't have my Tx, I don't have any Tx, although it is all backed up I could buy another DX8 and be backup and flying with all my setting the same in hours. _________________ Keep your rotors spinning
Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 874 Location: Latvia / UK
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:07 pm Post subject:
admiral wrote:
solentlife wrote:
The only value I can see in staying with Spektrum is the Bind and Fly option. Other than that - there are better priced radios with more functions / mixes / channels out there. Yes - I am a confirmed Chinese radio user ... the FlySky 9X with FrSky module / Rx ... 8ch full facility radio that certainly does more than I ever need ... and at half the price in total that nearest rival.
My philosophy on Radios is different, I bought the Spektrum DX8, and that is the only radio I have, 12 Helicopters and 2 Fixed wing on it, and slots for another 16, so I am always using the same Tx, the switches and feel are the same for every flight as well as I fully conversant with programming it, only menu variation is between Heli & Plane modes. Only drawback I can see is that if for any reason I don't have my Tx, I don't have any Tx, although it is all backed up I could buy another DX8 and be backup and flying with all my setting the same in hours.
I would say the DX8 is a different world to the base DX6i and DX5 ... but anyway .. model memory is common across all programmable radios. My stock 9X is limited to 8, but that can be increased dramatically by the reflash of firmware, even to infinity as reflash allows upload / download from PC.
Back to OP ... non-programmable radio on a heli ? Having been in that world 30yrs ago - I now have no wish to return to it - my 9X today has adjustable pitch / throttle / hover via knobs as well as via menu, switch for Normal, Idle 1, Idle 2 ... gyro sense change ... throttle cut ... just to name a few. _________________ If you don't crash - you ain't flying !
Fast learning to be 450 Heli Repair specialist !
Have : 2ch Bumblebee,
Co-Ax Syma S006 Alloy Shark
2x Clone 450 SE V2
+ fixed wing stuff ...
Returning to RC after 20 odd yrs away .. Ex Display flyer.
Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 695 Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 6:58 pm Post subject:
Hi Solentlife,
No issues with your coments, except I think your selling the DX6i a bit short, it is a very capable programmable radio and while the DX8 is an improvement it should be too for the price difference.
Anybody starting out would be well served with a DX6i if they want to go down the Horizon/Spektrum stream if not most of the progammable Radios will be good for them.
Like you I go back a long way, I have been flying models for over 50 years, Helicopters for about three years, but the one thing I have learned is that nobody is wrong, its what works for you and your budget. _________________ Keep your rotors spinning
Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 874 Location: Latvia / UK
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:15 pm Post subject:
admiral wrote:
Hi Solentlife,
No issues with your coments, except I think your selling the DX6i a bit short, it is a very capable programmable radio and while the DX8 is an improvement it should be too for the price difference.
Anybody starting out would be well served with a DX6i if they want to go down the Horizon/Spektrum stream if not most of the progammable Radios will be good for them.
Like you I go back a long way, I have been flying models for over 50 years, Helicopters for about three years, but the one thing I have learned is that nobody is wrong, its what works for you and your budget.
I think with the upgrade to DSMX the later 6i has been given a new lease ? but it is long in the tooth now. If I was to go Spekie - it would be the 7 or higher. But there is one item I do not want ... Model Match. Why ? I aim to have some big models and with those it's good to have multiple Rx's ........ with Model Match how would you do it ? Anyway - I don't knock any of the radios actually .... learnt that lesson a long time ago when Acoms AM gear appeared ... _________________ If you don't crash - you ain't flying !
Fast learning to be 450 Heli Repair specialist !
Have : 2ch Bumblebee,
Co-Ax Syma S006 Alloy Shark
2x Clone 450 SE V2
+ fixed wing stuff ...
Returning to RC after 20 odd yrs away .. Ex Display flyer.
I have to questions.
1. Can DX6i be used to fly the simulator? I mean can it be connected to the pc?
2. Is it compatible only with Spectrum/Horizon, or also with other brands?
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). Anyway, after getting a dx6i I'm able to do several laps without crashing (most of the time). You're kind of limited with your trim settings on a stock controller but you can fine tune the dx6i to your liking! I would suggest you get a neck strap for it, I almost dropped mine the first day 
Good luck to you!
