Chris wrote:One important bit of info, is to stay away from radios in the 72mhz band if possible. These are reserved for RC aircraft (channels 11-60).
Chris wrote:One important bit of info, is to stay away from radios in the 72mhz band if possible. These are reserved for RC aircraft (channels 11-60).
Excellent advice. We have several folks in our RC club who have in excess of a thousand dollars tied up in their planes ... one plane is well over two thousand. Think about a carbon fiber $65 prop and a $75 aluminum spinner. Our club rule, as in most clubs, is if you cause the interference and shoot it down, you pay for it!!!
If you can specify the radio frequency or buy your RC equipment separately, you should consider purchasing a 2.4 GHz system ... FASST, Spread Spectrum and DSM are some of the names associated with 2.4 GHz equipment. There are several different technologies based on the brand. Futaba has the most experience in this area. All transmitters are manufactured with a different and unique electronic address. The receivers go through a "binding" process where they learn the address of the transmitter they're to take instructions from. Thus, each radio/receiver combo has a unique working relationship ... unique world wide.
At each point in time, Futaba's radios transmit/receive on two different channels in the 2.4 GHz range. Each of those two channels change to another channel after 1/500 of a second. If, by accident, there's any interference on a channel, you're past the problem in 1/500 of a second. The receiver compares the new data to the data received in the last 1/500 of a second and ignores bad data. Plus, it compares the data from the two channels and picks the strongest, cleanest signal to process. So, if any interference happens, you'll never even know about it.
The 2.4 GHz stuff is rock solid and will not interfere with other equipment nor be interfered with by other equipment. Two pilots can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with exactly the same equipment and have no interference problems. No concern about nearby airfields or a nearby park flyer ... just a good solid connection.
Cheers,
Tom