Futaba with Phantom 2 (non Vision)

[Jay_Z]

Hey group!

One of my next upgrades will be my radio system. I'm leaning toward the Futaba - 8J, 10J or 14sg.

After looking at the Futaba website, I was completely unable to really comprehend, in layman's terms how these compared. It seems that the 10J is actually less than the 8J in a lot of places.

Any recommendation? Briefly, do you know how these compare or the advantages from 8 to 10 to 14? I would like to have a unit that can be upgraded as I progress past the Phantom but that's not a requirement. I would be interested to hear your experience/advice with these!

Thank you!!

 

[dcoski]

A Futaba 8J is what what a lot of people went to last summer. There were some good YouTube videos how to get your Phantom up and running. I have a Futaba 8j and I don't think I could of done it without thought videos by just reading the manual. I would search YouTube first and see if you feel comfortable doing the upgrade. I am very happy with my 8J.

Here is one video it isn't the I used, but I think it will help to see what you are getting into.

http://youtu.be/jRUDKZGhwuU

 

[goldfishrock]

I put together a tutorial on installing the 8J on a P2Z a while ago.

http://www.phantompilots.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7688

 

[Jay_Z]

A Futaba 8J is what what a lot of people went to last summer. There were some good YouTube videos how to get your Phantom up and running. I have a Futaba 8j and I don't think I could of done it without thought videos by just reading the manual. I would search YouTube first and see if you feel comfortable doing the upgrade. I am very happy with my 8J.

Here is one video it isn't the I used, but I think it will help to see what you are getting into.

http://youtu.be/jRUDKZGhwuU

I put together a tutorial on installing the 8J on a P2Z a while ago.

http://www.phantompilots.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7688

Thanks to both of you! This looks simple enough! Actually looks a little easier than the FPV & Ground Station upgrades that I plan to do this weekend. I appreciate the video and tutorial ... seriously, what would like be like without the internet!

So, it seems like the 8J is popular - although, I see the 10J is comparable or less in price. Do you know if it has any advantages or what the big diff is to the 14?

 

[dcoski]

So, it seems like the 8J is popular - although, I see the 10J is comparable or less in price. Do you know if it has any advantages or what the big diff is to the 14?

It is almost hard to believe the stuff they have hung on these Phantom this pass year. The gimbal was just starting to be used last year at this time. Now it your guest as good as mine. Right now I just have a couple more switches that I could use. Looking forward with these 3D gimbals it is not going to be to long before someone decides they can yaw their camera 360 deg. Which would require a switch or knob of some kind. With the camera turning like that the landing gear is going to be in the way (they are anyway). So I see another switch for retractable landing. I guess my point is the 8j is almost max out. With your gimbal turned say 90 deg. you will probilly need another camera to fly by so it will take another switch to go from one camera to the other. My advice is to buy what you can afford and the type of flying you will like to do over the next few year. Just remember they are going to make a better one the day you take delivery on the one you order.

 

[BigBadFun]

So, it seems like the 8J is popular - although, I see the 10J is comparable or less in price. Do you know if it has any advantages or what the big diff is to the 14?

I'm keen to know this as well. Should I buy 8J or 10J ???

I'm really looking to get smoother pan/tilt/yaws and slower acceleration for nice video - is this what a Futaba upgrade will give me?

 

[dcoski]

So, it seems like the 8J is popular - although, I see the 10J is comparable or less in price. Do you know if it has any advantages or what the big diff is to the 14?

I'm keen to know this as well. Should I buy 8J or 10J ???

I'm really looking to get smoother pan/tilt/yaws and slower acceleration for nice video - is this what a Futaba upgrade will give me?

You might look at this video and see if this helps.

http://youtu.be/rS8_y8Px1kw

 

[BigBadFun]

You might look at this video and see if this helps. http://youtu.be/rS8_y8Px1kw

Cool thanks. Yes, helped me decide NOT to buy one! LOL. That interface is way to intense for me, and I see in the Q&A that you cannot adjust the gimbal tilt speed via the RX which is what I would need to do. :| Oh well, saved some $$$$

 

[Haze]

You might look at this video and see if this helps. http://youtu.be/rS8_y8Px1kw

Cool thanks. Yes, helped me decide NOT to buy one! LOL. That interface is way to intense for me, and I see in the Q&A that you cannot adjust the gimbal tilt speed via the RX which is what I would need to do. :| Oh well, saved some $$$$

You Can adjust gimbal speed.

http://vimeo.com/85044946

 

[Gizmo3000]

You might look at this video and see if this helps. http://youtu.be/rS8_y8Px1kw

Cool thanks. Yes, helped me decide NOT to buy one! LOL. That interface is way to intense for me, and I see in the Q&A that you cannot adjust the gimbal tilt speed via the RX which is what I would need to do. :| Oh well, saved some $$$$

Well that's my video, so I'm a bit bias

But just having a knob on the front does give you smoother manual control than the DJI Tx lever rig (so I've heard, I've never messed with the DJI one).

the T8FG definitely appears to have the ability to program a slower automatic setting.
tho it's much more expensive.

But the Futaba does give you the ability to slow-pan the Phantom, which is quite beneficial. (and easy to set up).

as for camera tilt, it's odd that DJI would no longer allow users to manually slow the tilt down in the NAZA settings.
every other gimbal out there has that ability.

 

[sar104]

Tilt speed is fully adjustable in the Assistant by changing the gimbal gain.

 

[BigBadFun]

Is that just in the 3D version though? My friend has the 3D gimbal and can adjust - I have the 2D and gimbal tilt speed in the software is greyed out???