What is the range of a FF9?

[thecadman]

I have just got set up with a standard EasyStar fpv setup and am gently trying the boundaries.
I can fly around my park pretty well now but was wanting to find out the limits of range of my Futaba FF9.
I tried it across a valley in a static situation where my son was the other side with aircraft and mobile phone and we didn't get any control.
Just looking at Google maps the distance was approx 2000yds - just over a mile.
What sort of range should I expect?

[jbourdon]

That depends on lots of things.

What receiver are you using ? (brand, model, technology) Some receiver of the same brand can give dramatic results.
dual conversions seem better at clubs where there are more planes flying together, so it can separate them better, while single conversion like Berg have been known to have incredible range... lots of glider pilot use them, but it seems FPV equipment can mess them up.
Are you using PPM or PCM? PPM will still allow some control long distance, with lots of glitches, while PCM will reject any packet if it is not perfect.

How high did you fly?
I think the radio signal go along a cone, higher you fly the further you can control the aircraft.
Were you flying in desert contry side, or near urban town/radio towers, power lines?
Were you using the radio in the optimum way (antenna always vertical for horizontal range, horizontal for altitude range, never point it at the plane!)

Also If you buy a US import FF9 radio, they have more power than european one, but are not covered by EU laws, and maybe not by insurance if you have an accident.

Make sure your reciver antenna is full extended (not coiled), and not cut (1/4 length of the wave of the frequency you're using) and not near conductive part of your plane, like carbon rods, piano wire, etc ....

if you mount the receiver right next to your video tx, it will also decrease its range. They don't use the same frequency, but it will still affect it. like trying to listen to a conversation, while someone is shouting right next to your hear.

one last thing, but it tends to be easier in rc cars or in a mikrokopter, and difficult in a plane or heli, it is better if the wire antenna of your rx is parallel to the antenna of your ff9.

Normally, unless you start going long distance (above 5km) your video should always be the one that give up first.

for more info search RC groups. I remember a guy flying close to Antartica from a boat with a telemaster got a range of several 10km with a ff9, but that was idea conditions.
as a start pointer:  (3.2km at 1.5m above ground level)  http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10772147&postcount=11

[Njoro]

Hi all

Got my Futaba 9C. any idea what the range from this set?

[HelenJames]

I think this topic was discussed loads of time before at this forum

[Njoro]

Hi all

Got my Futaba 9C. any idea what the range from this set?

mmmh I posted this Q ages ago def not 2 day? I think it has been brought forward!

[Coyote]

Wonder who did that, its as old as the hills lol