arpitman

bdavison: I have looked around and can't find the 9CSuper with the synth module for less than $450. Where can you get it for $349?

arpitman

I was also wondering if someone could advise me on what type of radio to get. Some are FM, some are PCM, etc. What mode do I want? I currently have the Blade. I can also get a Futaba compatible receiver at the LHS, but am not sure what it is (FM, PCM, etc). I appears that the 9C Super has several different types. What is the method of choosing?

arpitman

As I look I am coming up with more questions than answers. I am in Utah if that helps. I don't go to any clubs or anything. I just fly with my friends at work. They have all different radios.

I am thinking the Futaba 9C Super is going to be the way to go. Spend a little more and have a radio for life....I am trying to figure out which one, however, because there are a TON of different models. I want the least expensive that will give me enough functionality to hook it to my Blade CP and my Planes and use a Synth module. That is all I need. I like the idea of the CAMP module, but won't pay a ton extra for it.

Suggestions please??? Include where the least expensive prices are going to be.

bdavison

My Feedback: (1)

Call Tony Stillman at Radio South.
www.radiosouthrc.com

Radio South is a authorized Futaba repair facility, and Tony knows everything there is to know about a Futaba radios.
He can hook you up with a good deal on it. Tell him I sent you.

I got mine new in the box 9CSuper tx, Synth Module, Tx battery and Tx Charger for $349.99...$379 after tax. I think thats his regular price on them.

Awesome deal if you ask me, considering its MSRP is like $579 bucks.

bdavison

My Feedback: (1)

The Blade is a PPM(FM) reciever

The 9CSuper will fly PPM, and PCM1024 recievers. You can select which right off the main menu.
It wont fly the old PCM512 recievers, but you will rarely see these. The only Futaba radio I know of that came with one was the old single stick one.

Im working on getting the set-up for the Blade programmed in mine. Once I figure it all out, Ill post it up here so everyone can use it, I dont want you guys to have to figure it out. Its complicated if your starting from scratch.


Also you get a CAMpac module with it that will hold about 6 airplanes, and the radio itself has a 12 plane internal memory. You can get more CAMPac's later that will enable you to store up to 1000 different airplanes.

bdavison

My Feedback: (1)

I think I might have to post a review of it up here with some pics.

arpitman

bdavison: thanks for all the great info. When I get the 9C Super do I have to get one of the CAMPac modules in order to share the configuration stuff or do I just have to get the file from you and download it? If download it, is there a cable I need? Are you setting up your 9C to work with the 4 in 1 that comes with the Blade or your own descreet components? If not the 4 in 1, do you think it would work? I can't afford a Gyro and receiver and everything else and would like to salvage the 4 in 1 even with a new TX. Any ideas are appreciated.

bdavison

My Feedback: (1)

You wont need a CAMPac for it.....The CAMpac is just for saving your setups once you enter them into the radio. If two people have 9CSupers, you can swap airplane setups by putting there campac in your radio, and copying the "plane"

What Ill probably do is once I get it all set-up, Ill post TEXT including the settings so you can just dial them into your radio.

Im going to program it for the stock 4-in-1 box, and try to match the programming exactly like how the stock transmitter works to begin with.....then start tweaking it for max performance.

So far, This is what Ive got....

Swashplate type - SR-3
Ail Swash AFR = -50%
Norm Pit-Crv - 0,13.5,15.0,20.0,37.0

At 37.5 you start getting binding between the swashplate and the bottom of the main shaft. So far this mix, matches the stock mix pretty closely for normal mode.

arpitman

Awesome. I hope I get the 9C I bid on ebay.

blw

My Feedback: (3)

The Futaba settings would be a great thing to have when you post them up.

The CAMPac is a small module that isn't very expensive. Most radios come with them installed nowadays. Mine came with one from Tower Hobbies. I think you can store 6 or 8 models in it. I mostly use mine as a backup for my main radio memory...just in case. My 9C started draining batteries too fast and I had to send it in for warranty repair not long ago. A friend had a 9C that he has hardly used and he offered to let me borrow it. I plugged my RF module in his for my channel, and ran it off of my CAMPac without any problems. I had some complex settings for my pattern plane and I doubt that I would have put those in his radio if not for the CAMPac.

You cannot swap CAMPacs between 9Cs and the 9C Super. They will be erased if you do.

DarkWombat

Yea I'm using a JR 6102 TX for my heli, great system and it's inexpensive. Sorry bdavision, I'm not a Futaba guy

DarkWombat

This questions is directed to both you radio conversion guys and to the brushless conversion guys. I'm still toying with the idea of going brushless with my Blade. Had a crash recently so It's a reason to get an all-aluminum frame and tail boom and skids setup for my rebuild. But now I'm considering a brushless motor. It would be cool, no doubt. I've already converted my Blade to use a 6102 TX and I had an Eflite 2-in-1 controlling the main and tail motors. However in the crash the impact was so hard (the rotor blades smacked into a wooden post, the impact was so strong that the spindle actually snapped and the rotor blades took off in opposite directions landing almost 10 feet from the heli, it was one of those rare screw-up cases where I didn't realize how close I was getting to stuff, but anyways....) that my 2-in-1 actually burned out. So I can replace the 2-in-1 and go with the aluminum frame setup or I can use this as a reason to go brushless. Tail motor burnouts shouldn't be an issue because the aluminum frame comes with a dual tail motor mount that splits the work between two motors so they last a LOT longer. I expect to be using carbon fiber blades and if I go brushless I'll first get a Hyperion E-Meter which is a digital wattmeter and tachometer in one unit to post results. My 3S 900mah LiPo battery came out of the crash unscathed (thank God) so I will be using it again.

Anyways, the real question here is how to you get two separate speed controls to share the same battery pack? I expect to use a Phoenix brushless ESC for the main motor (will be an Eflite 370) and probably a pixie or some other brushed ESC for the tail motors, but how will the tail motor ESC get its power? Would I have a plug that connects the battery inputs for both speed controls and merges to a single battery connector, or are there other, better ways to go about this? Also, how will the gyro interface with the tail motor speed control (I'm using a GWS PG-03 gyro).

Of course there's always the possibility of using my burned-out 2-in-1 for the tail motors and just not using the main motor. The 2-in-1 only burned out the main motor speed control section; the tail motors, BEC and gyro system works fine still. I could use that to control the tail but I'd have to find some way to give power to the Phoenix running the brushless motor.

Any suggestions?

thecheatscalc

do what I did on my 36 just patch the power wires into the Rx batt cables (the ones that have the deans/whatever connector and goes on the battery connector) though I'm not really sure how it works with a blade controler having the tail motor and all... you could just get a new Rx...

bdavison

My Feedback: (1)

Since ive been playing with the pitch curves in my 9C, Ive noticed that it is possible to get the head to spool up so fast that the tail rotor cant spin fast enough to counteract torque....and thats with the stock motor. Im a little hesitant to put a brushless motor in there, because I think I would have to go brushless on the tail too to get it to work properly. A brushless motor only is going to put alot of strain on the tail motor to keep up.

Im almost finished with the pitch curves and programming....should have it up here shortly.

DarkWombat

I dunno Bdavision, using a Park 370 shouldn't have a big effect on head speed, sure it'll go up a bit but the big advantage here is the efficiency and noise factor. Also, the Phoenix CC's have governor modes so I can use that to keep head speeds down. A brushless motor would probably also have a nice "reserve" amount of power that it wouldn't be using in normal flight, but if the governor needs to speed it up or whatever it will be able to work harder without straining the motor. That and the brushless motor should be able to keep head speeds high under heavier strain. I don't think it'll make a big difference with dual tail motors either. Just my take though.

Cheatscalc, I'm kind of confused with what you said. I'm not using the 4-in-1 either, I'm using a JR RS6UL (6 channel micro FM receiver). Would it be unsafe to power the motors from the receiver itself? Amperage draw shouldn't be TOO high....

DarkWombat

Ok I found a great article on how to do this the "right" way here. So it looks like it's just a matter of splicing the battery leads and cutting a couple leads here and there, but for the most part it looks entirely do-able.

arpitman

DarkWombat: Well, I guess it is time to give an update. I have purchased a JR XP6201. It was $100 cheaper than the 9C and I was told it is easier to program in the end. I don't want to start a Fut vs JR battle in this posting, just giving an update. So to your question. What I ended up doing was to remove the receiver half of the 4 in 1 module. I took the JR receiver mini that came with the 6201 and velcro'ed it to the 4 in 1. I then made a small adapter cable that splits the throttle output from the receiver so I can plug it into the 4 in 1 and the E-Flite brushless ESC. I then made another small cable to take the rudder output from the JR receiver and plug it into the 4 in 1. If you take the 4 in 1 receiver side off you will see what to plug into. It is a 2 position female connector. I took a header connector and soldered the wires onto it to plug into this female header.

The reasons for doing it this way are 2 fold. 1. You get to use the brushed ESC for the tail motor of the 4 in 1. 2. you get to use the built in gyro of the 4 in 1. The pots for the tail and gyro work like normal. The big one for me was not having to buy a gyro. Let me know if you have questions or need more details. I love this setup. Using the 4 in 1 makes it easy and using the JR TX & RX makes it very very flexible. I am able to control all aspects of rotor functions like throttle / pitch / percents throws and everything. It is great. I have not made my "Idle Up" mode yet, but am pretty sure it will be easier than trying to futs with the brushless and the stock controller since you don't have control of the pitch curves with the stock TX.

Enjoy....

oppie

My Feedback: (5)

bdavison,
I will be very curious to see your programing for the 9C. I have been very frustrated trying to program mine for brushless and a GWS PG 03 gyro. I get everything right (I think) but can't get the gyro to work. Like your thoughts I thought the brushless was to fast for the tail motor as I am using a brushed DD tail motor.

DarkWombat
I think you might find this sight helpful if you haven't already seen it for setting up two ESC's to one power source.
www.helibobby.com/html/separate_electronics.html

oppie

My Feedback: (5)

Sorry the correct url for that conversion site is
http://www.helihobby.com/html/separate_electronics.html

DarkWombat

Hehe that's the url I posted oppie. But it's all good

And about the 4-in-1 "conversion"...while it's easy, yes, it's still better to use a 2-in-1 in that case and use an aftermarket gyro. I found that an aftermarket piezo gyro (only $35) works a lot better than the stock 4 -in-1 gyro. But that's just me.

oppie

My Feedback: (5)

I forgot you put me on to that site....thanks There must be a way I can test the GWS gyro off the blade to be sure it is working? Any idea how? I guess I could do it with just a servo connected to it?

tomcatt51

oppie, Are you holding full left rudder to arm the esc? You'd have to hold full right if you have the "servo" reversed. Happy flying, Tom

cptsnoopy

hey guys,

just for the fun of it, why not try a 400(380SD) brushed motor? that is if your looking for more power without a lot of electronic changes. I put one on my df#4 and it made a substantial improvement.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2833333/mpage_13/tm.htm] RE: Walkera #4 Fixed Pitch Helicopter Forum[/link]

I don't know how the extra weight and size will affect the blade.

oppie

My Feedback: (5)

TOM,
ITRYIED FULL LEFT AND FULL RIGHT........... NOTHING.....[]

speedcrzy

My Feedback: (8)

I have a quick question before I do my brushless conv. I started it but I didnt know if the stock receiver had a battery elimination cercuit B>E>C> could you tell me if Id have to split battery inputs from the esc to the 4in1 or if the esc will power everything.