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Long story short. Years ago I bought an RC Heli (Esky Honey Bee). It went up, and then came down....hard. It's not been flown since.
Can I re-use the radio gear for something else i.e if I buy a Tamiya kit, can I easily use the 6-channel radio gear for a car?
In theory yes.
You may have more of an issue with frequency clashes if using it in a club setting. Also, assuming as it was a heli, it’s Mode 2 - what mode would you use for cars/trucks?
Not recommended. As above different frequencies for cars and planes. If you are just playing around and theirs no chance of interference with any aircraft then try it but it has quite a range.
The latest stuff is something like 27 meg and that can be used for all models.
The latest stuff is frequency agile 2.4GHz and is jolly cheap and rather good.
Err...no idea on the above. I know the heli is 2.4G. Not looking to drive near anything else - it would probably just be driving around the garden with my lad.
27MHz was the standard for r/c aircraft back in the day. Until CB radio arrived, also on 27MHz, leadin* to lots of “shoot-downs”, so aircraft switched to 35MHz.
I have a heli on 35MHz that’s about 10 years old. 2.4GHz is the standard for aircraft now, in the UK at least
You’ll be safe if it is 2.4. Very, very unlikely there could be a clash.
You 2.4ghz kit is digital so almost zero chance of interfering with anyone else. In a club environment there is no need to bother with frequency control anymore and we’ve had upwards of forty models on the go at the same time. I’ve not seen analogue 27 or 35 MHz kit used for many years apart from on toy grade models.
Was 27 and 40 MHz back when I used to race the national series (1:10th off road). I feel old!
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">As stated above, you'll be fine running your help gear in a car if it's 2.4ghz.</span>
Sorry to hijack - but if I was looking at getting hold of some new RC 2.4ghz gear - not too spendy, mostly for bashing and the occasional track meet - what would you lot recommend? Is Futaba still the shizzle? Ideally I'd like some sort of model memory (doesn't need to be more than about 3 or 4) and it's for cars, so I don't really need more than 2 or 3 channels... Not bothered about stick or wheel, but wheel feel should be nice and not plasticky. Thoughts? 🙂
Im a massive fan of Spectrum 2.4 for planes.
Otherwise fill yer boots
<h3>Ko Propo Esprit IV - 2Ch Stick Radio Set <span style="color: gray;"><small>KO80700 bit speedy though.</small></span></h3>
I imagine that was a common experience with the Honey Bee.
Anything 2.4Ghz has done away with the frequency clash problem. Thanks mainly to mobile phone tech. Anyway, for semi-serious and serious stuff -
FrSky kit is arguably the best low (and mid) cost kit.
Spektrum clobber is mid market and all very good quality.
Futaba is obscenely expensive and doesn't offer anything FrSky or Spektrum doesn't, they've been way behind the curve for years now.
Proper 5/6 channel Heli's are a steep learning curve, especially small ones!
Some of the electronics fitted to small rc helis can be customised somewhat to keep the price/weight down, so there may be limits to what you can do with it. Often everything is on one board, instead of separate receiver/speed controller, gyro etc.
I've got Spektrum Tx and buy the compatible orange Rx's.
Does everything I need without being stupidly expensive.
Used to have Futaba, but have sold all my planes including transmitters.
If i was to start again i would go Spectrum this time, find it much easier to use their programming functions.
2.4ghz kit is digital so almost zero chance of interfering with anyone else
There's at least 1 vid on the FliteTest youtube channel where they have a mass flying session of RC aircraft. Easily 100+ models in the air at once. Pretty good demo of how many vehicles one can fly in the same place and same time these days, and not need a peg board. Collisions in the air are more likely to happen before channel overload causes plummets.
Think it was Graupner RC kit I was looking at, but then decided I have too many hobbies and too much "stuff", so put it on hold. Either that or FrSky or Spektrum.