ripped off?

liamo333

i had a 72.670 transmitter and phoned up green hobby and model and they said that you need a new controller. so i went down and got a hi tec lazer6. recently learnt that you can change the crystals. could i have just changed the crystals and saved 120 euro? thanks.

dts

120 euro is alot for a transmitter, did you get servos as well with that?
You ask a strange question. My question to you would be was your old transmitter broke or was there an issue with your christal set?

You could have got this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hi-tec-RANGER-2N-radio-gear-27Mhz-inc-Tx-Rx-servos_W0QQitemZ6034704525QQcategoryZ34063QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

liamo333

it was working fine just that i did not know about the crystals.

vectra

liamo333 wrote:

i had a 72.670 transmitter and phoned up green hobby and model and they said that you need a new controller. so i went down and got a hi tec lazer6. recently learnt that you can change the crystals. could i have just changed the crystals and saved 120 euro? thanks.

Sounds to me that you were using a 75mhz transmitter.
If so i think that Green Hobby were right as i am sure you cannot use that frequency in this country.
was it from and American Import ?

dts

If it was working fine, what made you change?

liamo333

you can only legally use a controller between 34.99mhz and 35.???.
i only started flying very recently and the flying club im in you have to have the right radio frequency.

dts

Ahh
if its for a plane I am assuming thats why the controller will be so expensive.
Oh well, I am sure you saved a whole bundel getting the plane from the US?

syl77

I doubt that the 72.670 transmitter would have had a replaceable crystal or even if it would have suited flying.
Not fimilar with the laser 6, does it have dual rates and expo.....very usefull for flying.

loopingfred

That's official...
You can't use a 72 mhz transmitter in Ireland...

Source: CIAM Delegate

Aircraft Freqs in Ireland are 35.000 to 35.250 Mhz only. This is known in Europe as Ch.60 to Ch.85.


Fred

coolwings

liamo333 wrote:

i had a 72.670 transmitter and phoned up green hobby and model and they said that you need a new controller. so i went down and got a hi tec lazer6. recently learnt that you can change the crystals. could i have just changed the crystals .....

The information that you can "just change the crystals" is incorrect.
If you have a 72FM transmitter, you may put 72FM xtals in it - this makes it 72.010, 72.020, 72.030 etc However it will still be transmitting on FM72 waveband . This is illegal in Ireland and this waveband is reserved for other industrial users. I believe it's construction, and a crane operator could "shoot your plane down" or you could cause damage on a construction site with your US type radio.
On the other hand .... if you install "Irish" 35FM xtals into a 72FM set your FM72 transmitter will not work while these xtals are inside.
So you actualy did need a new controller and receiver and xtals, though the servos, battery, charger and switch should be the same and will work with either system.

coolwings

liamo333 wrote:

...i only started flying very recently and the flying club im in you have to have the right radio frequency.

This is because the expert model fliers at your club know that they are responsible for instructing learners. So if they let you use incorrect equipment, and for example, you plane crashed into someones parked car, then they would be responsible in a court case, since you could pretend that you didn't know better.
So the club has a safety officer who will always check that members use gear which is adequate, and this is so the club, officers and members cannot get sued if a preventable incident occurs.
Model airplanes are dangerous you know - a glow engine model at 100 mph has more power than a bullet if it were to hit you. People have been killed by them, one happened recently in the UK, and it was investigated by the police.
**********************************

Here is the report....

INQUEST TOUCHING THE DEATH OF TARA JANE LIPSCOMBE

The Coroner's inquest touching the death of Tara Jane Lipscombe was held in Gravesend on the 17 November 2003. The Coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Tara was tragically killed by a model aircraft on the 15 April 2003 whilst she was out walking with her family on Dartford Heath. The Heath is common land on which model aircraft flying is permitted under the by laws. She was struck on the head by an Acrowot powered by a 7.5cc size engine and died in hospital shortly after.

The British Model Flying Association was requested by Kent Constabulary to advise and assist with their investigation and an independent report was prepared for them and the Coroner. Because of the circumstances surrounding this accident, it is inappropriate to publish all of the British Model Flying Association's findings and recommendations. Nevertheless, the cause of the accident has been established and we can release details on this.

The cause of the accident was the pilot losing control of the aircraft because of structural failure of the airframe.

The aircraft had not been assembled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The tailplane and fin had been assembled after painting and although epoxy adhesive had been used this resulted in paint to paint joints. The fin had been incorrectly positioned in the locating slot at the rear of the fuselage and a gap of approximately 3mm had been left between the base of the fin and the tailplane. The fin of the aircraft was not covered prior to painting. The combination of these poor practices culminated in the fin separating from the aircraft under the flight loads resulting in the aircraft departing from controlled flight.

Other factors contributing to the accident which are appropriate to publish are:

a. Evidence indicated that the pilot probably failed to close the throttle after control was lost resulting in a high speed impact.

b. The aircraft was being flown outside of the designated flying area.

The British Model Flying Association recommends:

Proper care is taken during the build of any aircraft to ensure that good practices and the manufacturer's instructions are complied with.

Rigorous airframe integrity checks are carried out following the build of new aircraft and the purchase of second-hand aircraft and are incorporated into pre-flight checks.

Any controls over model flying that are in place are rigorously adhered to, especially when flying on land to which the general public has access.

All model pilots discharge their responsibilities under ANO Article 64 in that they do not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property.

Pending the outcome of further action, the use of Dartford Heath remains suspended under the current voluntary agreement.

Our thoughts and sympathy are with Tara's family and friends following their tragic loss.

mugenextreme

Yeah what the guys are say is correct, 72mhz band is not legal in Ireland, planes are in the 35mhz range and i believe any good club would ask that u run a legal band before they would let you flight. As a member of the Irish on road association , i can tell u 27mhz and 40mhz are the only band ranges that should be used. Also to any one using the new spectrum kit these kits have not yet been cleared to use in the republic at the min, so be aware that like with the 72mhz if you have a accident that ends in someone getting hurt be aware if a insurer finds out u are running illegal band width they will use it as a way out of paying any money out.

syl77

What about toys that fly (those small toys planes found in toymaster etc..)and use the 27mhz, is it legal to fly them anywhere and if not, how come the toys stores can sell them....or is it a case of its not illegal to sell or possess them but it is illegal to fly them.

coolwings

27AM is all uses in many countries, so they are legal there, and that's why they are manufactured.

But here in Ireland, safety standards are higher than many countries, and here 27AM is for surface models only, exactly as mugenextreme said .

So a plane on 27 is illegal here, and a car user nearby who is also on 27AM will "shoot it down out of control".

loopingfred

"But here in Ireland, safety standards are higher than many countries"



No offence...

Fred

coolwings

Hi fred!
Hah Hah Hah
The law is one thing (generally pretty ok) ... I guess the restriction of 27AM - surface only decision is for safety reasons.
Otherwise I find myself agreeing with you ....

liamo333

thanks guys.