Originally Posted by BeverleyFlyer

Here in Australia a 14 chan futaba rx is around $240 and the average price of a sport model 40 size nitro airframe is over $300

300 AU$ ? what a scam ! you have the chance to be able to buy from China and avoid paying GST (VAT, sales tax)

Originally Posted by BeverleyFlyer

here in AUS a 7chan spectrum rx is only about $10 less than a genuine futaba fasst rx, and the DX18 is a comparable price to an 18SZ

which one ? the DX18QQ was 1200 U$ when it first came out.
the later retrofits (clones) DX18SE, DX18G2.. were cheaper but have been discontinued in the past year.

Originally Posted by BeverleyFlyer

I believe the spectrum is so popular only because of all the bind n fly models being DSM based, A lot of people don't want a lot of different transmitters,

better profit margin for dealers, very cheap compatible receivers, customer service, american company, better programming features than competition, BNF, forum support and flying field reps.

Originally Posted by BeverleyFlyer

Futaba have an 18chan powersafe rx available now I have not heard of any issues with them so how can that be a fail?

There's a thread in the Radios forum with 1,600+ posts. That Rx was a disaster.

Originally Posted by haribo

300 AU$ ? what a scam ! you have the chance to be able to buy from China and avoid paying GST (VAT, sales tax)
Who is prepared to wait 4 to 6 weeks for a sport airframe?



which one ? the DX18QQ was 1200 U$ when it first came out.
the later retrofits (clones) DX18SE, DX18G2.. were cheaper but have been discontinued in the past year.
$1200 us is 1500 aus, 18sz was 1500aus and now $1400 aus so as I said comparable in price,



better profit margin for dealers, very cheap compatible receivers, customer service, american company, better programming features than competition, BNF, forum support and flying field reps.

there are also fast and fhss compatable recievers available for around the same price as the dsm copies, yeah programming is more user friendly but I wouldn't say better features,
mind you I have now been told by a couple of spekcrash users that now you need to register them online for them to even work??

Originally Posted by Pappy

There's a thread in the Radios forum with 1,600+ posts. That Rx was a disaster.

well looks like they must have fixed the issue?

Originally Posted by BeverleyFlyer

there are also fast and fhss compatable recievers available for around the same price as the dsm copies, yeah programming is more user friendly but I wouldn't say better features,
mind you I have now been told by a couple of spekcrash users that now you need to register them online for them to even work??

Originally Posted by BeverleyFlyer

well looks like they must have fixed the issue?

Spekcrash users really... fanboy much?

As for me, yes I ordered one (using the $75 discount now available from Tower). And... I don't really give a rats *ss what anyone thinks!!

Any downside to buying a 18sz vs the 16sz?

None other than it costing a little more money. From what I can tell they are very similar with regards to functionality (especially given that 9 out of 10 people will never use 90% of what they are actually capable of).

I'm thinking seriously about moving over to futaba and am trying to figure out it I should wait for the 16 or get the 18. I don't know enough about futaba to be able to ask the right questions. I heard something about the 14 was designed to do sbus better or something like that. Wanting to make sure the 18 has those features.

For the life of me I am comparing and can't really tell much difference

The 14 is the oldest of the three you mentioned. (including the 16 and the cheaper 18)

So, it's very unlikely it does anything at all that the other two don't.

Originally Posted by Keith Cannon

I'm thinking seriously about moving over to futaba and am trying to figure out it I should wait for the 16 or get the 18. I don't know enough about futaba to be able to ask the right questions. I heard something about the 14 was designed to do sbus better or something like that. Wanting to make sure the 18 has those features.

For the life of me I am comparing and can't really tell much difference

The 16 and 18 will both do sbus the same as the 14, they also will do sbus2,price of the 16 is cheaper by about $300 and the difference of what you don't get is small ,what I mean is do you or have you ever flown a radio that the gimbals are angled inwards or outwards, I haven't and really don't care , I am comfortable flying with my sticks moving north and south and east and west and my plane follows my commands every time,and for the nimh battery that comes with the 16 well if it's like Futaba s other nimh then great you will not have a problem,but if you wish for longer radio time or less charging then upgrade to the Futaba li-fe battery with the coupon savings you get when you buy the radio from tower , I love my 18 and can't wait for the 16

I have the 18SZ and, if I was shopping today, I'd probably get the 16.

Originally Posted by Keith Cannon

Any downside to buying a 18sz vs the 16sz?

2 channels different gimbals and a few less mixers,
16sz is actually 14 propo channels and 2 switchable,

Originally Posted by Keith Cannon

I'm thinking seriously about moving over to futaba and am trying to figure out it I should wait for the 16 or get the 18. I don't know enough about futaba to be able to ask the right questions. I heard something about the 14 was designed to do sbus better or something like that. Wanting to make sure the 18 has those features.

For the life of me I am comparing and can't really tell much difference

The price diffence here in AUS is around $500AU cheaper than the 18, My 12fg dose more than what I will need so both will suit my needs so for me Im going for the 16 due to price difference if it was only $100 to $200 difference I would go for the 18.
they all do sbus well and use the same rx's and have similar telemetry features.

Originally Posted by logantjosh

Spekcrash users really... fanboy much?

Posting from experience actually,
wouldn't even use 1 in a foamy,