Originally Posted by JBAZ4

Original firmware, not updated at all. The updated firmware was what I was worried about since the radio had performed flawlessly as original. As to why was I using the radio? Duh it was my radio!

Now to start studying up on a replacement system. I am looking into JR 11x and Futaba 12 dual processor model.

JB

After a few fly-aways I changed to JR11X. The SG-10 would be a possibility---I am not a fan of Futaba programming.

Another option if you like your A9 is the XPS modules. I know that "theKM" has had great success with the XPS modules in his A9.

Red z06,

I can't remember where I read that you guys were not flying the A9 with helis any longer, is that still the case?

Doug.

Doug

We are not with the Hitec team. But, we still fly mostly Hitec stuff because they work. Justin is still flying his Aurora 9 with his helis and airplanes. I left the team to be able to test other brand servos (haven't done it yet although Savox and MKS servos are mounted on test helis) openly.

We test fly Futaba and JR tx on daily basis while testing or tuning club members' helis and airplanes and felt that there is no real gain from switching.

Slow arc, fly away, no control whatsoever, YUP, that was it. Thank God no one was injured! The plane actually left the state of AZ, flew across the Colorado River and ended up in BLM (Indian Land). The field we fly out of has soccer fields, a park and other places where people relax, so I am just happy that no one was in the Crash Path! At least they might of heard the engine running (idling) before impact.

At this point I am afraid to try the A9 with a big plane again. Heck I admit it, I am afraid to fly a 100c again, but it just flew and landed like a dream. Fuselage is only $300 bucks and I have an extra set of wings, so figure with all replacement parts I can be flying the 260 again for under $400! IFFFF, the engine is ok! Maybe just fly it without the opto kill.

JB

Can someone please explain the optical kill switch thing?
If its an optical kill switch used to turn on/off the ignition I cant see how it could affect an Rx?
(except if it was malfunctioning very badly, they are built to fail in a safe way)
It has optical coupling to isolate the ground loop which protects the Rx from the igition system regarding RF noise and voltage/current.

Sounds very strange!

Originally Posted by Paroos

Can someone please explain the optical kill switch thing?
If its an optical kill switch used to turn on/off the ignition I cant see how it could affect an Rx?
(except if it was malfunctioning very badly, they are built to fail in a safe way)
It has optical coupling to isolate the ground loop which protects the Rx from the igition system regarding RF noise and voltage/current.

Sounds very strange!

it was hitecs first thought of the lock outs. it has since been eliminated as a suspect.

OK, makes sense...

Originally Posted by SleepyC

Another option if you like your A9 is the XPS modules. I know that "theKM" has had great success with the XPS modules in his A9.

+1 on the xps modules I have been using one in the A9 since it was released.

It sucks when people have lockouts, I got to see a couple the other weekend on another brand, again with no apparent reason why.

I've been flying my A9 for about a year and a half in giant scale planes and 3D helis, absolutely flawless for me. I recently put an optima 7 into an electric 2m sailplane, and sent it up until I could barely see which way the wings were pointing, didn't get so much as a hiccup. For what it's worth, I fly the Smartfly optical ignition kill in all my giant scale planes.

I fly a few helis with an 8FG, mainly because it's got bad ass programming for helis (remote governor settings, gyro gain settings for all 3 gyros).

To the OP, are you going to send your gear to Hitec to be checked out? I'd be interested to hear what they find.

I am sending the Optima 9 in. Like I said, I have been using the Optima 6/7 on at least 8 planes without issues. Of course when I changed the 7 for the 9 the lockout occurred (maybe coincidental).

Is the XPS system from the guy in Lake Havasu City, AZ? I thought I saw him at the float fly in Havasu last year with a turbine heli?

JB

Originally Posted by CSpaced

To the OP, are you going to send your gear to Hitec to be checked out? I'd be interested to hear what they find.

They will change the gears......

Originally Posted by JBAZ4

Original firmware, not updated at all. The updated firmware was what I was worried about since the radio had performed flawlessly as original. As to why was I using the radio? Duh it was my radio!

Now to start studying up on a replacement system. I am looking into JR 11x and Futaba 12 dual processor model.

JB

After i lost 3 planes to the A9 flyaway mode,and two of my good friends had the SAME EXACT issues with there A9,s.....we all went to the 11X and we are right back on track and non of us have lost a plane since,just like ALL THE YEARS of NO ISSUES prior to the A9.....I liked the A9 alot,it felt good and was a blast to program a plane with-but that damn thing has an issue,sure hope they fix it fast....It has been almost 2 years since we had our issues.....and i am not trying to say JR is the way to go,just what a bunch of guys around here are using with not 1 issue.

Originally Posted by Full Spool

Hitec posted on there web about using opto kills with there system....... I love my A9 and stand behind it 100%, im sure there are better radios out there but money for money there isn't.

Not sure about where you live,but alot of places i fly,and events i go to,you have to have an ign kill.....Hell,i went to one event that they gave anybody that did not have one for 10 bucks so they could fly for the weekend-or go home.