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I am building the robbe U-47. My problem is the radio I have is an old Futaba 6 ch. 72Mhz. The local hobby store (200mi round trip) told me that I need to find a 75Mhz or get my Futaba re-tuned to the 75 band. My son, who's into planes told me to use the Spektrum brand radio. But the only radio I can find on the internet is the 3 channel type that is used for cars & trucks. And I need / want a 5-6 channel stick radio. I seen in other sub driver's pictures the stick type radio. So my question is, what brand, type of radio do I need for a diving sub. And where do I find them? I am kind of at a wall here, as far as I know I am the only Sub "nut" in this part of north-eastern Michigan. Thanks, Matt
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Re: Sub Radios??
Hi Matt,
Welcome to r/c submarines!
It's unfortunate, but using a 2.4GHz radio isn't an option since radio waves at that frequency cannot penetrate water.
If your 6-channel Futaba is in good shape and you like it....you may wish to consider having someone like Radio South tune it to 75MHz. If you don't prefer that, then you'll need to find a vendor that has some 75MHz radios on hand.
-hope this helps,
JeffRohr 1.....Los! -
Re: Sub Radios??
Tony at Radio South does great work. You will need to send with the radio a 75MHz transmitter and a receiver . He can also not only add this but also a 2.4 GHz transmitter and reciever with a 3-position locking toggle switch.
This will let you use everything, land, sea and air.Comment
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Re: Sub Radios??
Thanks Jeff & Giovanni, I'll give Tony a call sometime this week. Gawnefishing/ MattComment
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Re: Sub Radios??
Well I still have a problem with my Futaba 6 channel radio. I did send it to Tony at radio south, he stated that everything worked ok after the re-tune and the addition of a three way switch.
When I tried to set-up my Viper sub10 ESC in the sub I was getting a no receiver signal indicator on the ESC and allot of servo glitches / chatters. Also had a no signal indicator on the ballast tank switch.
I took the sub & radio to the local hobby store (200 miles round trip) and the owner of the store & I worked for about 3 hours on the boat. And He stated that the futaba receiver is not working and the transmitter is causing the servo glitches.
He tested the servos with a spektrum receiver and my DX5e transmitter that I brought along. And the servos worked like they were suppose to with no problems. The only thing that we couldn't test was my engel ballast tank (no three way switch).
I know that I can't use a spekrum radio in the boat, but I am about at my ropes end after spending over $1,200. on kit, with parts & pieces just to have a static model. I am a "old school" modeler this "new" stiff is driving me nuts. I need help, I am in the lower, upper east side of Michigan, and from what I can tell I am the only "sub nut" around here.
If anybody has a working 6 channel radio for a sub with a three way switch that they don't want anymore PLEASE contact me. Or someone Please tell me what I need to make my 20 year old Futaba 6, that is now a 75mhz "paper weight" work for my boat.
And yes I am going to contact Tony at radio south about the radio fix that he did for me.
Thanks, Any help is better than no help.
GawneFishing.......MattComment
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Re: Sub Radios??
Matt,
A couple of things come to mind as possible 'sanity check' items:
The first is the state of your battery power. Are you using the same battery to both run the ESC and to power the receiver or are you using a separate receiver battery? If you are using two batteries, did you remove the positive pin from the ESC's receiver cable? And are you certain that the battery is charged?
The second is to ask if you might have a 2nd 75MHz receiver that you can try to see if the problem persists with the different receiver.
Lastly, what happens if you only connect the receiver to the servos and not to the ballast tank switch? Do the servos still act up?
-let us know, we'll help figure something out.
JeffRohr 1.....Los!Comment
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Re: Sub Radios??
Jeff,
I only have one main battery in the boat to power everything in the boat, a 6 volt 10000ma 5 cell Nimh. & yes it's charged. On a second receiver I don't know I'd have to look. We couldn't get the ballast tank to work as it also showed a no signal light. And the servos only acted up with my futaba tx. The receiver didn't appear to be working at all.
MattComment
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Re: Sub Radios??
Just looked no extra receivers.Comment
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Re: Sub Radios??
You say it is a 20 year old Futaba, I wonder if that could be an issue? My old Futaba (FP-T6FN) is a TX that does not support FM-PPM and my newer RX needed it. Some components are designed specifically for the newer transmission types. Just throwing a guess out there.If you can cut, drill, saw, hit things and swear a lot, you're well on the way to building a working model sub.Comment
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this is an interesting thread as i just spent 2 weeks trying to find a radio with enough channels for my wet nellie project and have been rather disappointed. So here's my 2 cents.
First off 75mhz radios with a lot of channels just dont exist anymore... there used to be the polk III's , and i have one (8 channel), but i needed more. So at 75mhz that right there kills it unless you bought some channel expander crap but i just wanted a quality radio ready to go... The only other choice is 72mhz radios where there are tons more options but as we know these are for rc aircraft. Well.... thats all hogwash nowadays. You cant go into a hobbyshop and buy a new radio without it being on 2.4 ghz for any group no matter if its cars, boats, planes, helis... you name it they are ALL 2.4 nowadays unless its a really really low end radio.. All the manufacturers have went this route for one reason, money. With ppm any number of Chinese knockoff companys could make cheaper, and often better, recievers that could work with both futaba and jr radios... but with the advent of 2.4ghz, that stuff is all proprietary so they can charge whatever they want for THEIR rx's... just go compare prices for rx's for a 2.4 vs an older fm rx... and there are no knock offs. You say oh but dave surely there are still people flying on 72mhz... sure but very few. I can remember my last trip to IRCHA in 2009 at the ama headquarters where we have the largest heli event on the planet with more than a thousand registered pilots usually. That year they did away with the radio impound trailer cause everyone was on 2.4ghz, and they stuck the 72mhz freq board out in the grass to use at own risk and monitored by the pilots themselves i couldnt believe it and i think i only ever saw 3 or 4 pins on that board out of a thousand pilots and that was in 09.... more and more 72mhz is ending up on ebay at rock bottom prices... thank god for that for submariners....
The problem with 2.4hgz is its basically choking rc submarines out of existence cause we cant use 2.4 period... we have to have 75mhz or 72mhz since these are the only other bands available for rc here in the states. most boat radios as i said nowadays are 2.4 as well just like for cars... You cant just go buy a 75mhz radio anymore OR a 72mhz for that matter....
And as for radio south i emailed them and asked some questions about converting radios to 75mhz and never got a response so the way i see it this old myth of you'll be shot at dawn for using 72mhz gear on your sub or boat needs to stop so that rc submarines have a chance to survive in an already very very thin portion of the rc world... and i do fully intend to use my recently acquired used futaba 14mz 72mhz radio on my wet nellie project and the first old fart that says i am not allowed to use it is going to get an earfull....Comment
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While the likelihood of it ever happening is very low, you'd better hope that the old fart that says you can't use it is not from the FCC.
There are usually Multiplex Royal Evo radios on the rcgroups.com classified. Buy one that's not synthesized and send it to Ernie to get a conversion to 75MHz. A number of us have done that.....works quite well.
-JeffRohr 1.....Los!Comment
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I was lucky enough to find a futaba 9cap on eBay for under $100 and then got a 75 MHz module for it.
I know others that have done the sameComment
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Tim is doing some incredible work with the 433MHz arena and I do know of someone that is working on a 75MHz receiver that is super small. "Legally"433MHz you need a Ham Radio license (even the technician license) to use this frequency. I will be the old fart to just say that SC needs to support the hobby and the laws we are under. That being said, if you want to go on your own (and we all can understand), if you came to a Fun Run would SC allow you to participate?
I may start playing with 433MHz before I get my license, but I would not bring that to a SC event.
Futaba 9CAP is a great radio and it has that modular capability so you can pickup a 75MHz crystal-less module and never worry about channels. I have a wFly radio that also uses the Futaba module (or HiTech) and it is really nice to have that channel freedom.
If you have not looked at 433MHz, look at Tim's articles at subpirates.com. you can get feedback FROM your sub!If you can cut, drill, saw, hit things and swear a lot, you're well on the way to building a working model sub.Comment
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You have a couple of choices. You can look for a secondhand unit - ebay, gumtree, small ads etc.
Look for new old stock.
You can go for UHF operation on 433mhz using open LRS modules. If you have a modular transmitter already, then you only need to buy a TX module and receiver to get started, plus a small programming board. Tim Senecal has documented what's involved well on this site already. The cost is low.
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Sadly it's no myth.
Like Jeff said you better hope the old fart is not a HAM or connected to the FCC.
Because they have no sence of humor when it comes to upholding the regulations.
They are actually bound by the law to report anybody not following the rules or they can be held accountable.
I am supprised Radio South never got back to you. I have heard they are quite reputable.
I would try again. Remember you are dealing with the email system.
Actually the move to 2.4 by the industry is the best thing that has happened to us lowly 75MHZ subhumans.
So many choices of cheap, quality, used equipment out there for sale.
Futaba 9Z, 9C, Multiplex EVO, JR, Polks, or Airtronics.
I would stick with top shelf equptment.
If your 14 MZ Futaba can be converted it would be an awesome radio.
Although for the price to convert it and then only being able to use it on 75 MHZ I would buy a 9Z or 9C which both use modules.
We must look on the bright side and turn lemons into lemonade.
Let the flyers and surface craft have their 2.4 and we get the cheap quality used radios. BDsigpic"Eat your pudding Mr Land"
"I ain't sure it's pudden" 20KComment
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