Is 2.4ghz safe in Jets?

[BVM>Bandit>Kid]

Is it safe? I've seen quite a few jets go down with spektrum, but is it safe with other brands?

[Costas]

2.4GHz is quite safe in jets!

Just because you have witnessed some go in with a particular brand does not really mean much as the root cause needs to be identified.

I have seen all sorts of craft go in with ALL (2.4 and non 2.4) current radio systems.. Does that mean they are all no good to fly with?

Search the forum and you will get some good tips on avoiding any poor installation methods for radio gear installs with 2.4GHz gear.

[thewrap]

I went to a jet rally last year and there were several guys running DX7 in there jets so I would assume that it is safe sense I never saw any of them go down. Go for it.

[XJet]

We had a jet meeting here a month ago (biggest in the country) and quite a few of the guys were flying Spektrum/JR 2.4GHz. Not a single radio issue and no crashes (apart from a broken undercarriage) all weekend.

I did notice that there was not a single XPS system in attendance however, and that whereas last meeting saw a handful of FASST setups, there were non in attendance this time (maybe the ZGUID issue scared them off).

I'm in the process of doing up a video of the event but I did a quick "preview" for YouTube:

ANZAC jet meeting NZ

[Foamaholic]

XPS does work in jets. JD and Scott fly their jets every weekend.

[dubd]

I fly Spektrum in my turbine F-16. Just about every jet pilot I know flies on 2.4Ghz.

[Toro]

Yep... all the Jet guys I fly with fly 2.4. including a 20k F 18 horny. HOWEVER !, They do make sure to run power systems that really support servo draws above and beyond what they expect. FROMECO D/C Ups (D CUPS) are the way to go ! simple, and as Arthur Guiness would say BRILLIANT !

[jaguar bone]

I took notice of (Da Man) Bob Violett and his full blown posse at the Tangerine scale event in Apopka FL. last year. As stated in another 2.4 related post round here, they were using both 72MHz & 2.4 MHz.

Many - not all of their jets at the event were flown with a 2.4 rigs. I interpreted this mixed hanger as a "no sweat" and gradual transition to the new technology. Surmising - their confidence level in both radios would have to be equal. Equal because some of the jets these guys demo must cost the same as a 2006 Toyota!
That friend (IMO) is having some bucks on the line in a single decision. If all jets had one one type over the other, the tone of this post, would be entirely different.

Why not give em a call for a firsthand review and possible suggestions - then post here again with your results and thoughts?

[ericb]

It will be fine if you make sure to set it up correctly. Just like 72mhz, it is not bullet proof if not set up correctly.

[jonkoppisch]

Lot's of people are using 2.4 in jets!!!

Mostly spektrum as they've been out for awhile now and are widely known but I know some using futaba as well.

The advantage of spektrum and fasst is that they offer redundancy.. Big advantage in the more expensive planes as everyone has found out, whether it be redundant batteries (using 2 receiver packs), redundant receivers etc..

Spektrum uses 2 channels to receive on so if 1 gets blocked it has the other to fall on, but it wont 'hop' to a new channel if both are blocked

Fasst uses 2 channels and continually 'hops' in case of interference.

Both of these systems are redundant

xps uses 1 channel and doesn't hop if it encounters interference.

[Hammbone]

In my opinion, 2.4Ghz is not safe to use on any plane. The radio signal gets blocked much easier on 2.4Ghz vs. 72Mhz. 2.4Ghz has problems seeing through or around carbon fiber and metal. How much carbon fiber and metal is in a jet?

On a different forum, I'm reading where guys can't get sequencers and failsafe units to work on 2.4Ghz systems, but the same devices work fine on 72Mhz systems. They don't know why they won't work on 2.4Ghz.

Lots and lots of pilots still having problems and crashing planes on 2.4Ghz. Yes, many are having success with 2.4Ghz, but it's not worth the risk to me.

Jim

[DadsToysBG]

Hammbone, I don't know where you are getting your information, but if everybody that hasen't had a problem with 2.4 posted here or on other forums this place would be swamped. Seams that only people with a issue post. It's like the guy with a good wife, never here anything from him. The word lots needs to be numbers. Give numbers to back up your statement. I know heli guys have no trouble because of numbers. Last year at Muncie 750 pilots only 125 on 72. Not one problem. FL jets this year. Give me numbers of 2.4 failure. These new systems come with a learning curve and most if not all problems are behind the curve. Mine been solid for over a year. The only crash was due to a old voltage regulator not the radio. Dennis

[Hammbone]

You have access to the forums just like I do. The guys that are having problems are on the forums telling you about it. Sometimes you only see what you want to see.
Like I said, many guys are successful with 2.4Ghz. I will even agree that it looks like there are more that are successful than there are that are not successful, but there are still way too many that are not successful.
Plus, I know that 2.4Ghz has problems with the signal being blocked. This is why they want you to use several rx's. They are hoping that if the signal gets blocked on one rx, you will still get the signal on the other rx, but what if the signal is blocked on all the rx's at once? The guys that have lost planes can tell you what happens then.
I'll stick with 72Mhz, simply because I know the radio link is better on 72Mhz.
2.4Ghz has some nice features, but a better radio link is more important to me, especially on a jet that could easily kill someone.

Jim

[DadsToysBG]

What i generally see are people that don't understand the system, or blame the radio when there is other causes. Just read one post where he had added another sat. and didn't know that he had to re-bind to make it work. You are right that the Spektrum system with the sat receivers or there to keep from fads. That why you use a data logger to fine tune your system. I sell to hi-end users and if there was any real problems I would hear about it real fast.. when i read these posts I try and read inbetween the lines and find in most cases it is user error or misinformation. While 72 does work well there have always be reports about failure for no reason and we kept flying. In May Horizon will have their ARF trainers on 2.4. These new people will never use 72. At some point in time the 72 users will be a small minority. All I can suggest to you is try one on a small plane and gain trust and you to will become a convert. As one movie said "cross over to the dark side" with the rest of us. Come fly with us at the BlueGrassJetJam in KY this year and see for your self. See the flyer at Skymacrc.com Dennis

[Hammbone]

I've been flying JR 72Mhz PCM for 19 years now without any radio problems. I have no reason to switch, especially to a system with an inferior radio link. Several of my planes have a lot of carbon fiber in them. 2.4Ghz offers some nice features, but I just don't want the features bad enough to justify giving up a better radio link.
If they somehow improve the radio link on 2.4Ghz systems, I would consider it then.

Jim