Anybody using 27 Mhz radios ?

[Chuck]

I have been using 72 MHz radios for years, but since the lower the frequency, the better the water penetration is (I am told), what's the scoop on 27 MHz radios? There must be some sort of down side, or they would be the talk of the town for sub guys. They are all AM radios, but is there any other downside? Thanks in advance to the radio pro's out there in submarine land.
Chuck

[Guest]

The difference in frequency isn't going to make much difference with regards to range. AM systems tend to be more prone to interference, so you need to be very methodical with motor suppression and cable running.

Don't know about the US, but here in the UK, once the higher frequency FM sets came on the market in the late eighties (40mhz for us ), 27mhz systems thinned out for multi channel use. Thus you're largely limited to thirty plus year old equipment and quite basic transmitters.

[SubtechRC]

There does tend to be more traffic on the 27 mhz band. But, honestly, I have had no issues. I live and run in a very sparsely populated area so my experience may not be typical. Futaba still manufactures a nice 4 channel unit that is very reasonable system. It is basic but very nice.

[Chuck]

Thanks guys....I remember back in the old days, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, that my very first radio was a 27MHz set. Like Matt, I live in a very rural part of Idaho, with dozens of lakes and virtually no other RC boating activity....or any other kind of RC activity, for that matter. I purchased a Futaba 27 MHz four channel radio several years ago from a hobby shop that had lost it's lease, and would like to possibly use it for both submarines and surface boats. I do have one further question. When I was looking to purchase additional receivers from Tower Hobbies, I found that they sell Futaba receivers at a very reasonable price without crystals. They have crystals in stock, but they aren't listed by specific frequencies. The radio that I have is on 27.195 MHz, and am not sure which crystals to order for the receivers. The new labeling regime has the crystals labeled A-1 through A-5. Which ones should I order? I would like to use one transmitter to control two or three models on the same 27.195 frequency. I guess that this proves that everything old is new again because that very first radio that I owned, in 1967, was also on 27.195. Again, thanks for any help.
Chuck

[SubtechRC]

Chuck,

Where do you live in Idaho? I live 13 miles from the Idaho border.

[Chuck]

WOW ! who'd a thunk it ! I live in Preston, about ten miles north of the Utah border....population 5,000. The nearest big town is Logan Utah, about 30 miles south. Pocatello is about 60 miles north. We moved here from the San Francisco Bay Area when we retired. It's about a slow two hour drive to Jackson Hole and a little bit further to Yellowstone National Park. You couldn't get me out of here with dynamite....love this area. Where are you?