Futaba 7C 2.4 GHz

Choosing the right transmitter is probably one of the hardest decisions an RC enthusiast can make. Price is a major concern but you don’t want to buy a cheap transmitter that has too few features. You also don’t want to skimp on quality, when buying your transmitter. After all, the transmitter will be the link between you and your helicopter. One small glitch can mean the difference between taking your Helicopter home with a smile on your face or in a shoe box.

Futaba is probably the best known and most highly respected brand of transmitter manufacturer in the world. In fact they are pioneers in the field; they were the first manufacturer to offer 2.4GHz systems. Now unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, you will know about some of the benefits that 2.4GHz offers. Gone are the days when you turned on your transmitter and prayed that no one else was using your frequency. 2.4GHz is a spread spectrum technology, which means that once you pair your receiver to your transmitter, it becomes almost impossible to interrupt the link.

The Futaba 7C is Futaba’s mid-range transmitter and is built using a wide range of technologies. With 7 available channels, it should be able to cover all your RC Helicopter needs. I have been using mine for a few months now and I am really enjoying it.

Specifications

Features

• Futaba’s FASST (Futaba Advanced Spread Spectrum Technology) shifts very quickly virtually eliminating signal conflicts and interruptions unlike other 2.4GHz systems that only stay on one or two frequencies
• Dual antenna diversity enables FASST system to automatically and seamlessly select the best reception between the two antennas built into the receiver ensuring that the aircraft stays under constant control of transmitter regardless of altitude
• Newly designed Dial-N-Key jog dial with joy stick button allows cursor movement in four directions for very user friendly navigating through menus and programming

Includes

• Futaba 7C 2.4GHz Transmitter
• R617FS FASST 7-Ch Receiver
• FBC-2J 230V Battery Charger
• NT8S600B 600mAh 9.6V NiCd Transmitter Battery
• NR-4RB 1000mah 4.8V NiCd Receiver Battery
• Switch Harness w/Charge Cord

Helicopter Menu

• Governor select makes it possible to match rpm/blade speed to maneuvers
• Swash to throttle mixing helps helicopter pilots keep their rpm steady
• 3 programmable mixes
• Throttle curve (5-point normal, idle up 1 & 2)
• Pitch curve (5-point normal, idle up 1 & 2)
• Revo mixing
• Gyro mixing
• Hovering throttle
• Hovering pitch
• Throttle hold
• Trim offset
• 6 swash plate set-ups (5 CCPM options)

First Look

When opening the box I was impressed by the quality and attention to detail that Futaba prides themselves on. The package contained everything I expected and nothing had moved or been damaged during shipping.

If you’ve ever owned a Futaba radio then you will be used to the familiar layout. The stick and gimbals are laid out to ensure maximum comfort for those long flying days. The new antenna is made from hard rubber and is about 10cm long. As with all 2.4GHz products, the antenna should be perpendicular to the transmitter when in operation. The transmitter has a total of 6 switches which are all within easy reach. On the back of the transmitter are the battery compartment, a trainer cord connection, and a transmitter status indicator.

Programming the radio is easy with the LCD display, 4 navigation buttons and Futaba’s “Dial ‘n Key”. The Dial ‘n Key works much like the scroll wheel on an iPod and lets you browse through the radios various menus. The screen does seem a bit small and cramped but it is more than adequate. Futaba’s excellent manual is a great reference point for any settings you are unsure of.

Setup

The included receiver is extremely small and well designed, small enough to fit into almost any helicopter. The receivers 2 short antenna should be positioned in such a way that they are 90 degrees from each other. I decided to mount it into my trusty HobbyKing HK-450 for the initial test flights.

Now in order for the transmitter and receiver to communicate they must first be “bound” to one another. Binding is a simple process, simply turn on the transmitter first and the turn on the receiver, press the small bind button on the receiver, the LED’s on the transmitter will flash and finally change to solid green and then you can release the bind button. Congratulations the transmitter and receiver are now bound.

After binding it is time to program the transmitter to suit your helicopter. The main things to look out for are the Swashplate type and Gyro settings.

Flight Testing

My first flight with the system turned into quite boring. After testing a few Chinese made transmitters that made my helicopter jump around this flight seemed too easy. After testing all the flying surfaces on the ground I decided to spool up and hover around for a bit. Everything worked just as expected, my field was quite crowded at the time and I noticed 0 glitches or interference. After a couple of circuits my confidence was enough to try some mild 3D. The layout of the switches meant that it was easy to switch from one flight mode to the next without ever taking my eyes off the helicopter. All in all I returned home with a huge smile on my face.

Conclusion

Futaba has probably been around nearly as long as the hobby has. During that time they have built up and unbeatable reputation and it’s not hard to see why. The Futaba 7C fits nicely into the mid-range transmitter market segment and at a really difficult to beat price. The quality is superb and the features are more than enough even for experienced flyers.

If you are in the market for a new transmitter, then I highly recommend you check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

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