FE and Radios question.

[JMSCARD]

Ok so anyone putting their boat in the water (even if they are using a 2.4ghz radio) and knows a Frequency tree is not in use while others are operating on am/fm is taking their own risk...

I mean really? at our clubs flying field we don't have this problem... why you ask... because we are SUPER SUPER strict on using the frequency "clothespins" ..... we even require 2.4ghz users to have a 2.4ghz pin on their radio... why you ask.. just because... it forces habit, and its the right thing to do...

So... if someone put their boat in the water even if you are using a 2.4ghz radio around other people using boats who are running fm/am with no frequency tree....then you are taking a risk...period... done.... and you have no reason to be upset if your models goes crashing full speed into shore... or if you get crashed into... its your responsibility to also make sure the place your are running is doing so in a safe manner....I am pretty sure IMPBA probably won't cover ANY damages should something occur when folks are not following proper procedures either... so I think the "toy" boat is the least of our concerns... the bystanders being injured could cost ya a heck of a lot more then a $800 boat.... just sayin'.

[longballlumber]

I will. And if your boat slams into mine because of your radio conflicts with another radio, we will have to talk.

Just sayin'

so i am curious, what happens if YOUR boat slams into someone due to and issue out of your control? Radio issues CAN happen, even with 2.4...

Just sayin'

[Diegoboy]

We are not eliminating accidents with this statement. Just trying to reduce them. 2.4 may have issues resulting in accidents, but it is FAR less than AM or FM.
Enforcing a seatbelt law will not save everyone's life, just decrease the amount of unnecessary deaths.

...and because I started this new trend, "Just sayin'

[raptor347]

I'm thinking back on the race last weekend. The three control issues that occurred were due to poor procedures and poor maintenance. Two of three had 2.4 systems in the boats.

I'm not going to get into the contact caused by poor setup/driving of "in control" boats.

Most all out of control issues that I've seen have nothing to do with radio transmission frequency and everything to do with proper practices, setup and maintenance. In some ways the advent of 2.4ghz systems has made us very lax in how we go about our modeling.

Ultimately, if you don't want to have a chance of coming in contact with another boat, don't put it in the water with them.

[Darin Jordan]

I'm thinking back on the race last weekend. The three control issues that occurred were due to poor procedures and poor maintenance. Two of three had 2.4 systems in the boats.

I'm not going to get into the contact caused by poor setup/driving of "in control" boats.

Most all out of control issues that I've seen have nothing to do with radio transmission frequency and everything to do with proper practices, setup and maintenance. In some ways the advent of 2.4ghz systems has made us very lax in how we go about our modeling.

Ultimately, if you don't want to have a chance of coming in contact with another boat, don't put it in the water with them.

This forum needs a "LIKE" button! Perfectly stated!

[Insaniac]

The new Futaba FHSS 2.4 GHz is only 70 bucks!

[egneg]

It looks like the opinions are fairly evenly divided. I was thinking this would be the easiest way to prevent these sort of things from happening. Yes it involves some cost for folks running fast boats but it's a much cheaper option than replacing a boat and prevents hard feelings and finger pointing among club members. To me this is a cheap price to pay to maintain friendships and goodwill within the club.

[Doug Smock]

Having spent a several years in a Scale, Sail, and FE club before joining the Atlanta Club, I'm wondering what rules you have in place to keep other accidents from happening. Are you dividing pond time Scale, Sail & FE or is it a free for all?
Doug

http://www.vac-u-boat.com/club.htm

[egneg]

Having spent a several years in a Scale, Sail, and FE club before joining the Atlanta Club, I'm wondering what rules you have in place to keep other accidents from happening. Are you dividing pond time Scale, Sail & FE or is it a free for all?
Doug
http://www.vac-u-boat.com/club.htm

Good point Doug, it's been a free for all. Up until now there have been very few FE boats and we always run much farther out than the scale boats. As members get faster boats and new members join I agree that we have to do something and maybe allotting certain times for each would help. Then again whats to stop a guy from checking his boat on shore while another is in the water. At regular events we always have the tree set up but like I stated earlier at the informal Sunday runs this is harder to control. I use 2.4 so I guess it's partly my fault for not maintaining the rules among members.

http://capehenryrcboatclub.webs.com/membershiproster.htm

[Flying Scotsman]

Chuck, this is a great thread and all the responses have their merit. I personally will not remove my FM gear from my older boats and as I stated all my new boats run on 2.4 ghz. As an aside almost all new RTR boats run with 2.4 ghz radios and the old FM systems may now be free of an idiot firing up his boat on the same frequency.

Douggie

[drwayne]

Poll: FE and Radio frequency
This poll will close on 08-07-2011 at 06:49 AM Be advised that this is a public poll: other users can see the choice(s) you selected.

0 Yes, I agree
0 No, I disagree
0 Undecided

Ok, what is the question ?
Should we abandon RC and return to tether boats ? Yes, I agree !


Trees, boards, pins/pegs, Tx impounds .. whatever makes you communicate with the other users.

During these 33years in RC .. . every freq conflict Ive seen is due organic error ... a failure to communicate.



Wayne

[wparsons]

Just to play devil's advocate (since all my boats that I actually run are on 2.4ghz now), how many people do a proper range test with a 2.4ghz system every time you're out with it? How do you even do a range test with something like the Tactic system? I know how to do it on my DX6i, but I'm quite certain you can't even do it on the Tactic TX.

As RTR packages get cheaper and better quality I fear that basic things like setting them up, range testing the TX/RX every time out, proper field/pond etiquette, etc are all getting lost.

If it's an organized club and someone has their TX on without a frequency clip make them face consequences. If it happens a second time they're gone for good. IMO it doesn't matter if it's cars, boats, planes or helis, the consequences of it can be quite severe, hitting an innocent bystander will get your club shut down in a huge hurry.

Just a side note regarding signal blocking, yes all AM/FM/PCM (2.4ghz is PCM) systems are based on line of sight. The difference is that the shorter wavelength (2.4ghz) waves are much easier to block and won't penetrate some surfaces that 27 and 75mhz will easily. C/F and water are two "surfaces" that 2.4ghz systems have a bit problem getting through, but 27 and 75mhz have no issues. Also because of the shorter wave lengths there's a bigger "shadow" behind any object with no signal coverage.

I do totally agree that if you're concerned about signal coverage to a boat behind a tree something far worse has already happened :D

[Doug B]

I dont see anything at all wrong with specifying 2.4ghz tech at race events, and this comes from someone who is about to put FM receivers in both his boats (so I can free up my 2.4ghz rxs for use in my offroad cars)