Technically Speaking ...
Greg Hahn Technical Director [email protected]
New Tricks
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? That one's been debated since the beginning of time on both sides of the fence. I used to laugh at such statements and scoff at the senior members of my group (local club) about their fear of accepting something new and/or different. I'll have to admit that with age, skepticism of the new can be a distinct reality. That old habits die hard is a given, and with age one begins to get very protective of the comfort zone. For me, 20 years ago trying something new and different didn't take a second thought. I lived by the adage that new and better were synonymous, so to the deep end here I come.
Experience and knowledge are two things that usually come with a price, and as time goes by you begin to realize that not all new things are better; they're just new. Such has been the case with me and the new spread-spectrum radio systems.
Working in the hobby industry as I have for the past 15 years or so comes with associated perks, one being that I get to hear of new technology and products long before any of them actually become the newest and greatest. Sounds great, right?
In some ways that's not really a perk, because being there I also get to see the trials and tribulations and highs and lows of getting the new products to work properly and perform as stated. Seeing the gyrations of product development in action firsthand makes you realize just how difficult some things can be. Add those realities with age and experience, and you begin to think Fred Flintstone is onto something!
Getting back to the spread-spectrum thing: I flew my first giant-scale airplane on the new (not new anymore) 2.4 GHz radio system this past week. Talk about a leap of faith. Making that change has been the toughest thing I've done since popping the question on bended knee!
All went extremely well. The old B-25 felt more solid than it ever has, and I actually couldn't wait to get it back in the air for a second flight.
I put you through all this to make a point: making the change to 2.4 GHz radios, though tough on the nerves, is well worth the effort. I field several emails and phone calls a day asking the same questions I have about how good, bad, or difficult they are. Should I trust them or not? What about range—that little antenna?
So much of the new radio system goes against what we've come to be comfortable with and confident with. If I can make the change over, anyone can.
One of the nicest points about using spread spectrum is getting ready to fly and not having to ask, "Who has the pin?"
See you at briefing. MA
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