[hr2pilot]

A question for the experts out there:

I am getting back in the hobby after being away for nearly twenty years.

These are my two old Futaba FP-7FG/K transmitters (vintage 1985 or so).

One has a gold sticker with a FP-TF-FM channel 34 (72.470 mhz) module. The other is channel 40 (72.590mhz) and is identical in all respects, but without a gold sticker.

Are these transmitters legal in Canada?

[craigk]

Do yourself a favour and buy a new (or at least newer) system.
There are so many systems available for not too much money, why chance your return to some 25 year old technology.

I expect the gold stickered tx is still legal, but

there were good in their day,but then so was I

[Jiver]

I would hang on to those; vintage and antiques!

As mentioned by craigk, seek out a new or recent radio as technology has improved.

Thanks,

Gordon

[moo]

Originally Posted by craigk

I expect the gold stickered tx is still legal, but

Provided the long arm of AMA dictates the laws of Canada, Futaba has this fully disclosed on their website:

http://www.futaba-rc.com/faq/service-faq.html#q41

Is your TX either FM (PPM) or PCM or both? If so, it is legal, no matter what Futaba model it is. ALL Futaba FM and PCM transmitters met the standard.

[RayMan]

Definately hang on to those!

[michel gravelle]

Hi

Welcome back to the hobby , you will find prices are better than 20yrs ago , and information is at youre fingertips . Don,t forget to have a ton of FUN .

BTW...................... buy a new transmitter , you won,t regret it .

Michel

[moo]

I neglected to mention: the transmitters are narrow band, but you need to check your receivers.

Although they may work well at home, they may fail you spectacularly at the flying field if they are wide band when someone switches on channel 33, 35, 39 or 41.

[Spitball]

I would say you could fly with them but not on a field with too amny others. The Txs with these modules are good and one of yours is Gild Stickered and they are both on current frequencies BUT your recivers will likely not be too selective and will be subject to interference from others on near-by channels. If the model number has a single digit number, eg FP-R6L then it is not so-called 'narrow band' but if it has a 3-digit number, it would likely be so, eg FP-R107M-72, the former will have the old style Futaba connectors throughout and the latter the newer connectors on all the airborne parts.
MOO, I must go there and check that site out again but it more or less agrees with what I'm thinking.
But again, avoid crowded fields with many people flying.
They were jolly fine radios, though.

[hr2pilot]

Wow....what a great site for information! Thanks to all for replying....

I can see where the hobby has gotten a wee bit more complicated than it was back a decade ago. These sets at the time (if my memory serves me well) cost me over 400 bucks each (in 1985 dollars no less!). They sure worked well at the time, and kept my fleet airborne with seldom any problem with interference. Ahh, life was so simpler back then.........( I'm sounding like my father now). But I'm planning retiring soon, would like to get back in the hobby and would like to be able to use some of this stuff again.....sort of a nostalgia thing I guess.

I just lowered the Zero and Spitfire from the rafters, and cracked them open to check the receivers. The decade old whiff of fuel and oil soaked balsa coming out of the fuselage brought back those great memories of flying R/C.

The receivers are FP R107N, and FP R107Q. The connectors are all "J" style.

So, am I to understand that these receivers are narrow band, and therefore less susceptable to interference?

Really, if these sets are seviced with new battery packs, do I really have to buy into "new technology" to still have fun?

[Jiver]

For nostalgia reasons and if a range check is OK; go for it! I suspect the batteries will be useless at this point in time, replace the packs with NiCd or NiMh receiver batteries and go have fun!

Sounds exciting...

Thanks,

Gordon