As Dave Milbourn warned recently the Planet systems seem to be disappearing from on line shops. I am ok for my present models but I wonder what I do if a receiver goes down.

Will I have to change systems eventually or is there another Rx that would be compatible.

Tim

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10 March 2016 at 13:25 #5409

Tim Cooper

Participant

@timcooper90034

10 March 2016 at 13:59 #63834

Dave Milbourn

Participant

@davemilbourn48782

Tim

I'm told that receivers will remain available for the time being, but quite how long that is would be anyone's guess. I would guess weeks at most, and I've not heard whether or not anyone else will or will be able to obtain Planet sets after J Perkins stop importing them. Howes' are currently running a "There's no more after we've sold these!" promotion on the R6M – at twenty quid a pop. There are no Tx+Rx sets left there. (BTW My favourite little Hitec FULL RANGE Minima 6 receivers aren't much more than that.)

I'm not aware of any compatible receivers – "OME"s tend to be made as alternatives to more expensive sets e.g. Orange/Spektrum, but as Planet is already a budget set there's little if any scope to undercut the price of their receivers and still make money. I would advise you get as many as you think you might need, or do what a few are already doing; sell the lot and use the proceeds to buy a different one. Many of the "big" names now have budget sets for much less than £100 e.g. Futaba 4YF, Hitec Lite 4, Spektrum Dxe6.

I wonder just how long the culture of ultra-cheap radios from China will last. There must come a point when state-subsidised freight costs ceases and the cost of manufacture reaches its absolute minimum. Maybe it already has?

Dave M

10 March 2016 at 14:08 #63835

Dodgy Geezer 1

Participant

@dodgygeezer1

Seems to me that 'cheap Chinese' items are part of modern 'throwaway' life. The cheapest Tx/Rx combo I saw in HobbyKing recently was £11 – at that price you could buy a new radio every time you took the boat out (Cue DM pointing out that you would probably need to!)

In a time of rapid development it doesn't really make sense to buy for quality and long life – and the 2.4Ghz field is developing rapidly. Go with the flow, buy a few spares when you purchase, and expect to upgrade in 5 years or less…

And for those who really must keep an old item going, of whatever description, there's always Ebay. I'm keeping my old 1970s boiler running quite happily with spares from this source, and expect that, if you chase for a while, you'll find a Planet receiver on ebay for quite some time yet…

10 March 2016 at 14:24 #63837

Dave Milbourn

Participant

@davemilbourn48782

I had a conversation at a show a while back with a bloke who buys his speed controllers from China in batches of ten. His explanation was that, of the ten, six wouldn't work at all; three would work for a while and then go pop, and one would work reliably. When I asked him why he didn't just spend £40 on one ESC from a UK manufacturer which was guaranteed and would work straight out of the box he replied that, at £4 each, they were much cheaper from China.

I withdrew with my head in my hands…

Conversely – and on the subject of boilers, we've just spent £1800 on having a new one fitted (this morning, coincidentally). It's guaranteed for all parts and labour for ten years. The alternative was to carry on paying an annual maintenance contract of £300/ year for the existing 10-year-old one. That's a saving over ten years of more than a grand AND the efficiency of a new boiler. Some deals are what they seem……and the boiler was Made in Britain!

Dave M

10 March 2016 at 15:34 #63838

Dodgy Geezer 1

Participant

@dodgygeezer1

Posted by Dave Milbourn on 10/03/2016 14:24:32:

Dave M

I've never needed to run an annual maintenance contract – I just replace when things fail. Which, in the case of my boiler, was two Electronic units at around £50 each over the course of 32 years. Someone on maintenance would have paid the best part of £10k over that time.

In fact, it would be worse, since no one is going to run a maintenance contract on a 30-year old boiler. Which means that you have to upgrade, let us say, once every 10 years, at a cost of £2k each time…

10 March 2016 at 15:43 #63839

Tim Cooper

Participant

@timcooper90034

I noticed the 'promotion' on Howes site on what was the cheapest RX in the range, I have normally bought the slightly more expensive hard case version for the same price! I have one spare that came with a set and bought a hard case version from Cornwall models a few weeks ago. I notice that their site does seem to list Planet at all now.

Thanks you have confirmed what I thought but I just hoped for an unexpected answer.

Tim

10 March 2016 at 17:38 #63840

Dave Milbourn

Participant

@davemilbourn48782

Tim
If you always expect the unexpected then you might avoid a road traffic accident, but commerce will invariably disappoint you.

DG
That's fine, as long as you know one end of a boiler from the other. I just write the cheques and smile sadly. My profession was in tax accountancy and computer systems auditing! It's of little use to me these days. All the other stuff was accumulated along the way – for better or worse.

Dave

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 10/03/2016 17:43:31

10 March 2016 at 20:29 #63844

Andy C

Participant

@andyc56856

Just read this, thanks Tim and Dave. Elite Models still have the r6m for £16 + 5.00 p&p. Just bought 3 for future models.

Andy

11 March 2016 at 10:38 #63847

ashley needham

Participant

@ashleyneedham69188

Its a right b###er this, I decide to convert virtually all my boats to 2.4, choose a Planet system and now this..

What to do ?? I only have one transmitter. And if that goes what then if I splash out now and buy up any Rx that I can find (£22 now at Howes)?? I have perhaps 8 or 9 receivers already and may call it a day.

I may simply keep on using the good old 27M sets, as I have three of them and loads of receivers…

Ashley

11 March 2016 at 11:32 #63850

Dodgy Geezer 1

Participant

@dodgygeezer1

Posted by ashley needham on 11/03/2016 10:38:03:

Its a right b###er this, I decide to convert virtually all my boats to 2.4, choose a Planet system and now this..

What to do ?? I only have one transmitter. And if that goes what then if I splash out now and buy up any Rx that I can find (£22 now at Howes)??

Ah – there's your problem.

When I moved to 2.4Ghz I bought a RadioLink T4U 4-channel combo from Giant Cod (as was) for around £35. And then I bought another.

Those two are now going to my kids, as I found the Radiolink 7-channel T7F for sale on Ebay at £22. I bought 3 of those, for not much more than the cost of one Planet.

Now I see (admittedly bottom quality) 2-channel pistol-grip combos for £11.

With the way prices are going, I'm going to wait until THEY pay ME to take my next Radio…

11 March 2016 at 19:41 #63856

mike farrell

Participant

@mikefarrell21522

Now then .What a bummer ,immediately went on a search .Yes folks no Planet 5 available .Fortunately I bought 3 Receivers 2 weeks ago so have enough to be getting on with but now for the future

What is the next who is going to the wall next ,what is the next best option ,maybe the Spectrum which seems to have been around for a decade will surviveMichael

12 March 2016 at 08:49 #63858

Dave Milbourn

Participant

@davemilbourn48782

MIke

I think you could safely buy Futaba, JR, Spektrum and Hitec with little risk it will become unavailable in the short term. Futaba has been around since the 1960's.

Dave M

13 March 2016 at 11:32 #63864

Paul T

Participant

@pault84577

On the subject of service contracts I arranged one for my Father in Law, the deal included a new boiler and heating system, an annual service on all gas appliances, an annual electrical safety inspection, free call out and repairs for all household structural and appliance breakages, it even covers broken glass in his greenhouse. All for £25 p/month.

Eddie, who is in his eighties and sufferers from Parkinsons, now has piece of mind and far cheaper gas bills.

19 March 2016 at 18:19 #63943

Andy C

Participant

@andyc56856

Well, would you believe it, you probably would, Elite models have not got any Planet receivers in stock after all. Despite what the website says. Got a full refund though, so not complaining. Well not too loudly anyway. Emailed Howes, they still have some but boy are they expensive in comparison. Ordered two just the same.

These things will be like hens teeth or rocking horse @&&pound soon. Have to investigate an alternative , just in case. But will make them transferable from model to model where possible.

Andy

19 March 2016 at 18:42 #63945

CookieOld

Participant

@cookieold

Oh so true Dave , I think we are just about there

Best Regards Dave

23 March 2016 at 19:59 #64003

Andy C

Participant

@andyc56856

Not to keep banging on, okay just a bit more. Silly question time. Can these things be built diy fashion. You know a circuit board, a few bits and pieces and a bit of soldering?

Andy

23 March 2016 at 20:20 #64005

Dodgy Geezer 1

Participant

@dodgygeezer1

I presume we're talking about radio receivers and not boiler electronics? Anyway, I suspect the same issues apply – a lot of modern electronics uses custom chips and on-board software – which you're not going to be able to reproduce.

As a matter of interest, here is a thread where we are trying the remote repair of a 1950s single channel system: **LINK**

DM, eat your heart out!

Edited By Dodgy Geezer on 23/03/2016 20:21:23

24 March 2016 at 09:01 #64009

Dave Milbourn

Participant

@davemilbourn48782

Andy

Most of the ACTion units can be bought as DIY kits but, as DG says, most components these days are 'surface-mount' and many need programming. Unless you have the right soldering equipment and the object codes for the microprocessors you'll not be able to do it. Also EU rules require anything that transmits a signal to have been type-approved before it can be sold commercially; this costs a lot of money. Kits for transmitters and receivers stopped dead when that piece of Brusselry came in. Easiest to sit back and let a machine across the sea make it for you.

Maplin and various other suppliers stock Vellemans kits for electronic modules (eg timers, dice). I can recommend them.

Dave M

25 March 2016 at 08:23 #64019

Andy C

Participant

@andyc56856

Oh well, just a thought. My other system is a Tamco, similar prices for the receivers.

Andy

25 March 2016 at 09:51 #64020

Steve Walker 1

Participant

@stevewalker1

This thread has been illuminating, even the boiler bits.

As a beginner who is plodding his way through Dave and Dodgy's pages on RC, and who currently doesn't have any parts, I have decided to buy a 'named' system rather than Chinese. My thinking was exactly the theme of the thread – continuity of supply, together with the need for it to work, as a system, straight out of the box. I don't ever imagine needing more than one TX but like the idea of the RX and other components being left in the models I choose to build. I have just reconciled myself to the fact that I won't be able to build anything other than my Tritons for a fiver. Although, as a proud Scotsman, I reserve the right to try out the cheapies once I feel more confident in my model making future – and I see how my granddaughters 'test' the build quality of their Tritons.

As a further aside, about 30? years ago I was in conversation with a guy who designed the engine management system in Vauxhalls. He needed a replacement chip which cost 10p but the software needed to make it work meant even he had to buy a whole unit at a cost of over £300, and that was less than I had bought my previous 4 cars for! It's always the software that's the killer, and the most guarded.

25 March 2016 at 11:08 #64021

Dodgy Geezer 1

Participant

@dodgygeezer1

Posted by Andy C on 25/03/2016 08:23:20:
Oh well, just a thought. My other system is a Tamco, similar prices for the receivers.
Andy

Really? The RadioLink receivers are still readily available – between £6-£7 on ebay….

Posted by Steve Walker 1 on 25/03/2016 09:51:19:
… I have decided to buy a 'named' system rather than Chinese. My thinking was exactly the theme of the thread – continuity of supply, together with the need for it to work, as a system, straight out of the box.

If you are not sure of your ground, it is sensible to pick a 'safe' option – at least initially! Though note that all the systems are probably made in China. The difference is that with the 'named systems' you should get better quality control (both of components and the completed item) and better after-sales service. You should also get a set of readable instructions – the cheap items are notorious for 'Chinglish'…!

Posted by Steve Walker 1 on 25/03/2016 09:51:19:
…I don't ever imagine needing more than one TX but like the idea of the RX and other components being left in the models I choose to build.

I think I have owned 11 transmitters so far – with 3 in general use at the moment. You will find that, as technology changes (and gets cheaper!) the idea of getting a new system becomes quite attractive!

Posted by Steve Walker 1 on 25/03/2016 09:51:19:
… I have just reconciled myself to the fact that I won't be able to build anything other than my Tritons for a fiver.

That sounds like a challenge! What kind of boat, and what size, would you hope to make next …?

25 March 2016 at 12:12 #64024

Tim Cooper

Participant

@timcooper90034

I have 5 Tx. Two 40 mhz, 2 x 2.4 ghz ( Planet unfortunately). I managed to convince myself that there was a good reason for buying them all at the time. The last is an old Ranger 27 mhz in a 52 year old Veron Trident Trawler. The Tx is only 20 years old though. Perhaps it's time to take it to the pond again.

Tim

25 March 2016 at 12:28 #64025

Steve Walker 1

Participant

@stevewalker1

Dear Dodgy,

It's the Sea Princess, of course. I have even bought a 'proper' prop and rudder for it. I am using the balsa left over from my Tritons, so there are one or two cosmetic changes, but will do the hull in ply which I will get when I'm back on the mainland. I also now have a 6-15v RE 360 motor which I will connect to my 9" prop shaft so that I can get ready for RC. If all this comes together I am going to start something more substantial for the winter. (Comments on matching this up welcomed.)

If the stuff I buy lasts 20 years, Tim, I will be well pleased – if I'm still here!

25 March 2016 at 14:28 #64028

Dodgy Geezer 1

Participant

@dodgygeezer1

Posted by Tim Cooper on 25/03/2016 12:12:27:

Tim

I have compiled this table of my history of R/C purchases – with a few estimates! All figures are in round pounds.The 'equivalent price 2015' is taken from a 'worth-measuring' site, and so is capable of multiple interpretations, but it does indicate the phenomenal drop in price for hobbyist equipment, the cost of the hobby in the earlier days, and the consequent agonising over purchases which should have disappeared by now, but still seems to be around..

I bought items when they were cheap. The 'equivalent 2015 price' for more common radio control sets in 1969 could be over £5,500 – much more if you got a top of the range item…

Radio Make	Date bought	Price then	Equivalent price 2015
World Engines	1969	55	700 to 1800
World Engines	1975	50	400 to 800
Futaba	1990	37	70 to 110
Futaba (2)	1995	27	50 to 60
Radiolink T4U	2009	25	27 to 30
Radiolink T4U	2010	25	21 to 23
Radiolink T7f (3)	2015	20	20
Graupner (second-hand)	2016	40	40