75mhz gear - Condition Red

[bob the builder]

Well, I was hoping that the supply of 75mhz gear would last longer than it has, but it appears that the supply of our needed radios it's getting close to drying up.

I have now nearly exhausted my inventory Sombra receivers. I have a few of the SL 8 units left but after that, nothing left. I was also hoping that they Vex Robotics transmitters would remain on the market for years to come, as there was a massive amount of those units in stock with the supplier. I just learned that they wrote the whole selection off, and scrapped everything that was remaining.

What is on the market now is what we have to play with.

Of course, we can always make do with sticking antennas above the surface and running gigahertz gear, but that is certainly not and ideal state. If we are to make this hobby something that appeals to the masses and provides the highest degree of enjoyment, we will need to source radio gear to make it all happen. I'm standing by to help in whatever way I can. If anyone has any ideas, suggestions, or comments, I would certainly be very happy to facilitate in any way that I can. I may have stumbled upon a source for receivers, but without transmitters they are next to useless.


Bob

[Guest]

433mhz is the answer, it's just the balmy red tape you have over there with needing a ham license to use it legally. Is there a lower wattage limit that you can use to circumvent that I wonder?

[bigdave]

eBay
There is a lot of used equptment out there.
Stick with the brand names and they should last LONGTIME. BD

[thor]

I have been buying new 75 MHz gear off of ebay when it shows up. There is always some nice units reasonably priced. I know this really is not a long term answer for new equipment, but there is a ton of gear out there that should keep us in 75 MHz gear for a very long time. Not to mention that you can have 72 MHz units converted over to 75 MHz units for a very small price by Radio South and others. There is an almost endless supply of nice used, or new old stock 72 MHz gear. I have had many systems converted over the years with no trouble at all.

Maybe I need to set up a radio gear section on the Precision Pattern website so there is a point source for 75 MHz gear?

[bigdave]

That sounds like an excellent idea for the SC too Matt.
A radio section devoted to the different brands, models, shifts.
All things RC gear pertaining to RC subs. What do you think Jeff? BD

[Guest]

I think you chaps are looking at it from an enthusiasts perspective rather than a business.

You can just picture it can't you. Potential customer comes up looking for the works, you say i can supply you with everything, but for a radio you'll just have to have a scout around on ebay for a secondhand unit. Before you know it, the potential customer has chosen to buy a model helicopter instead.

[salmon]

That is really a good idea! A resource for new to the hobby as well as seasoned enthusiasts.

[thor]

Thats an excellent point, Andy. I am giving serious thought about being a point source for 75 MHz gear. I have been doing it for myself for quite some time and currently have near 30 radios in my shop in boxes. I can, easily, maintain a nice inventory of good gear on hand for sale.

[David F]

I think that you should be looking very hard at using 433Mhz in the US. The system was developed by Tim Senecal, publicized on here, and has a number of benefits:

- No frequency clashes. You can drop the "peg-board.
- Telemetry is a very useful option - you can view depth and battery voltage, for example.
- I note that is now being suggested by Andy (see above)

I have being using it in all my subs for the last 3 years. (My 40Mhz gear (needed in the UK) is gathering dust!)

The technology easily transferred from the US to the UK with Tim Senecal's help.

David F

[thor]

The only downside is that applying and obtaining the federal license for 433 Mhz is a pain in the butt. I know there are a couple of suppliers out there, but it is still not widespread. Maybe in the future?

Tim Senecal has been very successful with the 433 MHz system and has taken & tested the technology way past the point where most modelers would want to pursue it. I think that Paul Crozier has been using it successfully, as well. Maybe they can pipe in here to summarize their experiences with it?

[Guest]

The US seems to have much stricter rules governing radio use. Here in the UK we have much more lenient legislation, with lots of frequencies slots on 27,40mhz and the 433/458mhz which gives enough bandwidth to allow frequency hopping. No license is required, provided you don't start using high wattage devices, which aren't needed anyway, so it's a case of use your loaf and no bother.

However, doesn't really help out modellers in America, or indeed in Continental Europe where they also have tighter regs. Perhaps a custom built tuner module and RX in the 75mhz band would provide an answer. There are plenty of inexpensive module based transmitters in current production, usually using the JR module format, and they're excellent, with the sort of features and flexibility you would have paid hundreds for a few years ago.

[JWLaRue]

Andy is quite correct. What's needed is for one of our vendors to take the excellent work that Tim has done with the 433MHz-based solution and turn it into a viable product offering that becomes a drop-in replacement for the older technology.

-Jeff

[Guest]

You pretty much have that already. 433mhz modules and RX's are available from a number of places. The orange 433mhz systems from Hobbyking are probably the cheapest, but there are other systems out there, with the backing of US dealers if you favour that.

The actual transmitter handset can be anything module based, generally either JR or Futaba. Current good value sets are Turnigy 9XR pro and Frsky Taranis range.

For those handy with a soldering iron pretty much any old set could be adapted to use the module as a tuner, although I believe once again there are some restrictions in the US regarding altering the electronics inside radio sets.

The elephant in the room, is the Ham license and whether modellers will wish to obtain it to run this kit legally.

[JWLaRue]

I agree. We just need someone to take through the last step.

-Jeff

[bigdave]

The test is not easy.
I looked into it and took the sample test and without studying I only missed by one answer.
I got most of the electronics questions correct BUT the antenna and FCC rules questions were multiple guess for me. Unless you really want to study, or the FCC changes the rules I can't see 433 going anywhere for the average Joe. BD