Conference vmszoo::rc

    Re: .-1,
    
    JR is a fine radio but, im humble opinion, it's overrated and
    over-priced.  In my immediate circle of flyin' buddies, the one
    guy who flies JR exclusively has more radio-related problems than
    the rest of us combined.  Obviously, this is just one case and it
    could certainly be a reflection on how this individual uses/maintains
    his equipment but this has bred a distrust of JR in me personally.
    
    Other considerations, aside from price:  very few [if any] R/C
    service/repair outfits will work on a JR...the _have_ to be returned
    to Circus for such service; the JR transmitter right now has a bad
    rep regarding the dirtiness of its signal propogation (around here
    at least); you cannot walk into yer' local hobby emporium and by
    parts accessories for JR radios, at _any_ price...Circus is just
    about the sole source (again) for these items. If you need a switch
    harness, extra servo, battery pack etc., you _have_ to order it
    from Circus; Circus Hobbies in Las Vegas is the sole distributor
    for JR in the U.S. so don't look to find JR's discounted by various
    dealers or mail-order houses...you pay Circus' price, period!    

      |
      | |      00	 Adios,      Al
    |_|_|      ( >o
      |    Z__(O_\_	(The Desert Rat)

    Very funny Bill, I shall not comment further....
    
    Al,  All that is changing. Circus Hobbies has branched out to develop
    an all new distributor called Hobby Dynamics. THey will carry
    everything that the old Circus hobbies did but also all of the other
    items that a distributor normally carries. They are offering
    merchandise at discount prices to get JR's carried in your local
    hobby story at similar prices to the advertized prices in the mags.
    Also they will have their own service department.
    
    
    				Tom

I have one JR century 7 Single Stick.

It has worked fine and I really like several things about it but
it has two anomalies that bug me.

1.  You can't cycle the batteries - that is you can't discharge them
    you can only charge them.  Doesn't give me a warm feeling - but I've
    been charging them for two years with no problems.  I think there is
    a diode in series with the charge connectors - also there is circuitry
    there that allows you to run your receiver servos by connecting your
    transmitter to it without using RF - shooting down your friends.  This
    uses the Rx charge jack - and the instructions warn you not to attempt
    to discharge the Rx or Tx or you will smoke your system and void your
    warranty.

2.  Sometimes when I turn everything on the receiver does nothing.  If I turn
    it off and on again - still nothing.  I cycle the Rx and Tx several times
    still nothing.  Starting to get desperate and trying strange things and
    suddenly everything works.  Sounds crazy and scary - but the radio has
    never glitched once you can turn it on.  Remember at Anchors high speed
    taxi tests in Orange when I was saying I had a dead Rx battery?  Well
    later it came to life and I flew several flights since.  It is as tho the
    Rx somehow goes into fail safe and won't come out even if you cycle power
    on it.  Anybody ever encounter or hear of this?

Summary
    I like JR, Futaba, and Airtronics.  I think it is worth the extra bucks
    to get a radio that can share a trainer cord with whatever your instructor
    has - around here that is usually a Futaba Gold series radio.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
================================================================================

Kay, with reference to your 2).  I've seen this effect, of
everything going "dead" when you turn the Tx on.  When I was
first bench testing my decoder, I did not appreciate the critical
nature of the circuits between the receiver output and the
decoder input.  Frequently the receiver would oscillate in the
feedback path between the AGC detector there and the 1st IF amp.
This knocks the daylights out of the Rx.  Our receivers have a
very powerful AGC circuit.

So, I'm saying that what you saw could be functin of receiver
design.  I've also had this effect on my Silver Seven when
turning on the Tx right adjacent to the Rx.  The effect has
dissappeared since I learned how to fine tune the Rx.  So you
may also have an Rx tuning problem.

Next time this happens, could you move the Tx off about 5-10
feet, turn the Rx off and then back on -- if what I'm saying is
correct, the Rx should be solid.

A JR question:

Is it possible to buy something like ernst charge 
receptacles for the JR line of cnonector ends?  My
ernst for my old F* J-end won't take the JR.

And if so, could someone get me a few and send them
to me in Germany?  I can send a DCU check (a normal
US $ check) or get the money put into your DCU account.

Thanks
Chad

    Well, I am impressed with at least the speed of response from JR
    America...
    
    I sent a letter on 26-Feb inquiring about microcode, number of setups
    and of course, my pet peeve, "F" compatability.
    
    Although the answers weren't as positive as I would have liked, I did
    receive a personal (handwritten even!) letter on 7-Mar.  Yes, 11 days
    including USPS storage time!
    
    Actually, the answers were very non-commital, much like we answer
    customers that don't have non-disclosure agreements.  They neither
    confirmed nor denied that they were looking into "F" compatibility and
    more plane storage....
    
    	"For now the X-347 does not have a mode..."  (futaba compat.)
    
    	"...most of the RAM is taken up.  While there are no definite plans
    to change the X-347 this is no to say that we will not perform any such
    modifications in the future."
    
    Interestingly, the firmware source code is not even available to JR
    America (or so he says).  
    
    Ah well...
    
    Cheers,
    jeff
    

    Sounds like the same sort of BS people got when asking about ABC&W
    

    And the same sort of BS DEC gives to customers regarding unannounced
    products.

    Yea, but these products (ABC&W Receivers) are announced and advertised!
    

This seems like the best place.

Has anyone heard anything about the new 4ch micro Rx that JR announced in this
month's Model Aviation? it was listed in the AMA list in the same issue. I'm 
interested in it but the $130 list price isn't realistic. Has anyone seen it 
in any discount ads yet? I would expect to see a micro glider system to come 
out based on this in the near future. I'm still happy with the $80 RCD 535 
micro until the JR price becomes more competitive.

    
    Just checked the latest RCM, and the rx wasn't listed in any of the
    usual places yet.
    
    I'll try to remember to ask Tom when I go there this afternoon if he
    has a price.
    
    
    Dan
    

    FWIW - I just check the latest X-347 prices with Hobbies Plus for my
    Aussie friend..
    
    Standard power setup (4*507 servos)  = $339.95
    
    Up $10...  (now, if we coudl just get DEC stock to do that!)
    
    cheers,
    jeff
    

I ordered a 2nd 347 transmitter last night. One piece of news that I got was 
that Hobby Dynamics has been bought by Horizon Hobbies. The dealer was unsure 
as to the effect this might have in the short term. In the long term his 
representative has said things won't change regarding availability.

    Hi Jim,
    
     Im about to order 2 JR X-347 FM's with standard servo's I checked
    around and found that Sheldons had then for $349.99 each plus $5.00
    shipping and it would take 7-10 days to ship . I brought this info
    to the owner of Hobby USA in Ashland and he gave me a price of $699
    for both(basically no shipping) and they would arrive about 3-7 days.
    
     What kinda price did you get (if I should boldy ask?)
    
    thanks
    
    Bill_whos_gonna_order_then_tonight!

    
       Check Hobbies Plus in Nashua, NH. They have generally had the
    best JR prices around.
    
            Hobbies Plus: (603) 882-9200
    
                                    

    I called Hobbies Plus in Nashua last week...  $330 for the standard
    package...
    
    Tell him I sent you (and he will probably up the price!)
    
    jeff
    

    I bought the package from Hobbies Plus with ball bearing servos (I think
    they are model 517 as opposed to the standard servo which is 507) and
    paid 369.95.  So, for only a small uplift in price you can get a higher
    performance servo, provided you really need it.  The $40 differential
    works out to $10 per servo, so that's a bargain considering the much
    higher performance and quality.  I did this, as I was using
    two servos for a pull-pull system on my Aeromaster, and clearly ,
    pull-pull needs ball bearing servos.  My only problem with Hobbies Plus
    is they carry no stock, and you have to wait for the order to come in. 
    Most times this isn't too long, but don't expect to walk home with it.
    
    
    BTW:  I really love the X347 system and concur with all the accolades
    it has recieved in this conference.
    
    Regards,
    Joe

    With Hobbies Plus closed for the summer, I called RC Buyer's Warehouse
    to order one for my Aussie friend.
    
    The going price for the X-347 with 507 servos is $349.99.  Not quite as
    cheap as Preston, but Preston's prices were going up...
    
    Ah well, it is on its way..
    
    cheers,
    jeff