Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

OK Guys;

I think I’m about to start a fight… :? I hope someone can straiten me out before I stir up too much trouble.

See if you can follow my train of thought.

#1 I want to go out and buy a 2.4Ghz radio system – I believe that they are the future of RC and I was impressed with the ads that showed the 40 transmitters all lined up and not interfering with each other.

#2 I just installed a ‘Back Up’ video system from CTC on my car – it works on 2.4 GHz too. The advertised range of this system is just over 3 Meters (11 feet). However; I have been driving around for the last week and I keep picking up video signals from other cars as well as surveillance cameras from homes/businesses – entertaining maybe - but very distracting when you are driving.

#3 My new cordless phone is now working on 2.4 GHz – no problems with anything but it is another electronic device sharing the band.

#4 I was just looking at the airborne surveillance system currently being marketed by Fat Shark;

http://www.gowiththeshark.com/RCV922...era_500mW.html

Here they say:
VERY IMPORTANT: THE RCV922 AVIATOR EDITION TX TRANSMITS AT 2.4GHZ. THIS SYSTEM IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH 2.4GHZ RC RADIOS

RCV922 SPECIFICATION DOCUMENT


SO!

The question / concern that I have - Is the electronic engineering behind the 2.4GHz radio systems all that they say? :confused:

OR

Is the 2.4 GHz spectrum starting to fill up with all of these OTHER devices? :yikes:

As we are all running to buy the new 2.4Ghz Radios I would like to know that we are not about to become the next victims of technology.

Re: Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

"As we are all running to buy the new 2.4Ghz Radios I would like to know that we are not about to become the next victims of technology.

We already are.

As to your question?

I believe the Federal Government has just auction off a large chunk of the 2.4 GHz band. Probably more to follow. Right now Multiplex in Germany has still not come out with a 2.4 GHz radio.

Here is link to the Multiplex statement

http://www.multiplex-rc.de/cms/vorsc...ges/2_4_GB.pdf

The band is wide open for other uses as well as R/C. Asied fram the stuff you mentioned don't forget aboun Blue Tooth devices that jump all over the band. Oh yes, wireless networks, car door openers, 2 way radios, securtiy systems and remate cameras, Fire departments use some 2.4 ghz stuff as wel as countless others.

The best person to direct this question to is the MAAC rep in charge of representing our needs in this area.

Cheers

Re: Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

Just looked at the Fat Shark ad.

Seems like it might interfere with the 2.4 ghz radios.

Does that mean that if I buy one and use it at the field all 2.4 ghz guys can't
fly until I land? :rolleyes:

And if everyone else is on 2.4 then I have the sky to myself, and it's legal too.

Re: Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

That was the thought I was having when I posted this thread... it makes you think - doesn't it? :confused:

Re: Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

The spektrum system is supposed to scan the 2.4ghz band and find 2 free channels and lock them in so theoretically there should be no interference from other 2.4ghz devices which are on a fixed channel.

The Futaba FASST system frequency hops the 2.4ghz band multiple times a second so even if there is interference it should not last long enough to interfere for more than a split second.

Re: Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

I think if you look at the camera it is only a problem if it is mounted in a plane that is using a 2.4 Gig radio. Since the camera is low powered (10 mW) it falls through the radio regs. Who knows what it does as far as side band emissions?

Re: Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

Why not just think about it this way... Percentage wise, who is going to have more radio problems? 2.4 or 72mhz? Hands down, 2.4 is much better. I have had THOUSANDS of flights since switching to 2.4ghz, and haven't had any problems at all. That being said, I don't know about the video problems people are talking about.

Re: Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

i just switched to jr spektrum and have been flying without any problems.i have checked with a data flight checker and haven,t had any issues.like anything new that comes out ,theres going to be bugs in the systems and will have to be sorted out till there ready to be used on the market.just my 2 cnts.

Re: Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

Yes the band is full.

No it should not cause you undue problems.

Keep in mind that a 100mW transmission will only carry a few hundred feet before it becomes too weak to be picked up by the average receiver. Unless you are flying right in the middle of a neighborhood of 2.4Ghz devices you won't be affected.
2.4 has been out for a while. If there were serious problems you would have heard about it by now.

On the other side of the coin, Spektrum and FASST are not bulletproof like the ads would have you believe. It still pays to use common sense when flying.

Re: Is the 2.4GHz Band Really safe?
 

I can say the same about 72mhz though, I've had thousands of flights on 72 and haven't had any problems. Any radio problems I've ever encountered were component failure and had nothing to do with the type of frequency transmitted. I wouldn't say 2.4 is much better, different, perhaps it will alleviate some of the old problems we used to have, but common sense came with me when I flew and I have never been shot down or lost an airplane to unexplained radio failure. Having said that, I have switched my jets to 2.4 as a preventative measure, but will continue to use 72 on my sport planes.