Have i been ripped off ??

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

I purchased a 6 channel 2.4ghz radio control set and when i got it home i was extremely dissapointed and annoyed to find just the control box and reciver NO servo's NO battery for the reciver NO charger .Have i been ripped off or is this now standard and buy servos seperatly .The unit is a Hi tec 2.4ghz AFHSS Lite4 .I paid £49.99 for it from Antics in Cardiff , so do i have ton buy seperate servos or should they be supplied ?????

Andy from Cardiff

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

What did the advert for the set say or what did it say on the box was included?

Looking at the Antics website even at over £300 for a transmitter / receiver set you DON'T get the servos. Since servos can easily cost over £25 each that's not surprising! The reality is that generally the radios are made for the model aircraft market where the flyers will want to choose their own servos etc based on weight, performance etc, so a set of "base" level units wouldn't be much use to them anyway and just get junked. Including 6 even base level units would put the price of the combo up considerably.

I have to say at £50 for the set I don't think you've got much to moan about!

Keith

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Andy,

no rip off at all. This system is advertised as a perfect beginners system for flying…… The blurb I found also states that it requires 4 x AA batteries for the receiver. Price was £49.95.

I do know some sets are sold without receivers too.

And well, yes, you have to buy the servo(s) you need and the battery types you prefer, and a charger if required. Usually, batteries and charger are a one off purchase. At least the unit is made by a recognised manufacturer.

The AFHSS Lite4, 4-channel radio is the perfect transmitter for beginner pilots. With its simple-to-use design and advanced 2.4GHz technology, this radio will have you flying a variety of models confidently and securely from a basic trainer to more advanced aerobatic-type aircraft. Coming complete with the Minima 6S Park-range, micro receiver, Hitec’s AFHSS Lite4 is your very affordable and straightforward radio solution!

Point to note – this is a 4 channel unit not 6 as you state.

Kimosubby

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Fifty quid for a new 4-channel Hitec set is a bargain, but don't pay over £25 for a servo or you will have been ripped off. A standard Hitec HS422 servo is good enough for just about any general application and will cost you eight quid. A Futaba 3003 is similar and is the same price. Either will fit your radio.
The reason why your set didn't come with servos is that there are so many different type these days, especially for flying. Had you bought a set with servos then you'd probably have three spares because most model boats only need the one.

DM

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

Many thanks to all for your help and advice .The last time i bought a new set was from Bagnalls in Staford many years ago and that was for my DUKW and it was a 4 channel complete with servos so i guess that is what i was expecting .I was very supprised at the size of the reciver it is very small with virtualy no areil what so ever what is the range of this compared to my old 27mhz fm unit ???

Andy

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Range will be at least as good. Higher frequencies need smaller aerials (it's to do with the wavelength). This is also why the transmitter aerial is a short affair and not three feet of tubular metal eye-prod.

BTW my first digital proportional radio was a Futaba Digimax 4. It came complete with four servos, rechargeable batteries (charger built into transmitter), a full set of crystals for all six of the (then) available 27MHz frequencies (with coloured aerial flags), and servo-mounting trays galore. This was £125, in the days when £30 was the average weekly salary and a pint of bitter would set you back around 8p.

Ripped off? No, Andy – fifty quid is pocket money c/w 1967's prices.

Dave M

[Author]

Posts