REVIEW FUTABA 14SG 2.4 GHZ COMPUTER RADIO
Greg Gimlick [email protected]
FASSTest technology ... flybarless gyro support ... S.Bus programmability ... telemetry ... holy smokes! When searching for a new radio, users are faced with myriad choices on the market today and many of them look good.
Fortunately, it is now possible to buy a radio that will last you for many years and it's backed by a company with a solid history of reliability and support. The new 14SG from Futaba is incredibly priced for a radio with its number of features. The backward compatibility and user-capable updates take the worry out of buying a new transmitter.
FASSTest is the latest revolution in Futaba 2.4 GHz technology and makes the 14SG a bidirectional radio system capable of supporting a range of telemetry functions. Don't worry if you have several aircraft already set up with older FASST or S-FHSS systems, because you can simply select that in the setup menu and continue to use them.
Each memory slot will maintain whatever mode you select and there are many memory slots! The radio has 30-model memory and with the installation of an SDHC card, it becomes virtually unlimited.
Where to Begin
The radio comes in airplane and helicopter versions, but each is capable of doing both, along with sailplanes. The primary difference is the ratchet on the throttle and placement of the throttle hold and momentary switches. I got the airplane version, but because I prefer a smooth throttle, I crimped a piece of brass tube over the ratchet arm. That allows me to have a smooth throttle and still adjust tension. You no longer have to remove the back of a radio to adjust tension; pop off the grips and use a screwdriver to adjust the screws.
The radio has an SD card slot that will accept nearly any size card. I installed a 32 GB SDHC card and as soon as I turned on the radio, it detected it and asked to format it. It must be formatted by the Futaba radio and not on your computer. When it is formatted, it can only be read using Futaba's computer software. My radio arrived with the latest software version, but if it hadn't, I could simply download the update to the SD card and the radio would install it. No more sending the radio off as updates are developed. This opens the possibility of adding endless features to the programming.
The 14SG is not overly clunky or heavy. At 32 ounces, it doesn't wear you out, but it has a solid feel and excellent balance. If you fly using a neck strap, you'll be glad to finally have a radio that is designed to balance perfectly when hung on the loop. The base flares slightly to ensure the radio sets firmly upright on the bench. You won't be afraid that your radio will tip over. Stick lengths are adjustable and the digital trim buttons are well placed. With an eye toward the future, there is an audio output plug on the back of the transmitter. Trainer port and S.Bus connectors are hidden behind a small cover on the back of the radio, which protects them from dust and dirt buildup.
My one hesitation when I got my radio was the "sensor touch" wheel. Years ago I had an iPod with a similar device and I didn't like it. It always seemed to argue with what I was trying to do. My fears were unfounded because the sensor touch wheel on the 14SG works like a champ. After a few seconds, I was easily flying through the programming windows. The four techniques you use are one short tap, two short taps, touch and hold, and scroll. That's self-explanatory with the possible exception of scrolling. To do that, simply slide your finger around the perimeter of the sensor in a circular motion.
Another great feature is the separate exit button located below the throttle stick that allows you to get out of a menu without having to scroll to an exit selection. After you get used to the program methodology, you can zoom through the screens.
I'm No Programming Genius
That's one of the beauties of this radio—you don't have to be. Whenever I try a new radio, I attempt to program a simple airplane without reading the manual beyond the initial charge and update information.
Let's face it, most of us just want to get an airplane in the air and we'll learn more as we go. This radio has templates for everything and the layouts are intuitive. Without the help of the manual, I quickly set up a model employing two aileron servos, two flap servos, two elevator servos, one rudder servo, ESC, and three electric retracts!
I didn't set up mixes for elevator/flap or rudder/aileron, but the choices are there to easily do it. I was able to do the same for my Discus Launch Glider and T‑Rex 450.
After the basic setup was done and I knew it was all working, I looked further into the manual to tweak and adjust things more to my liking; however, I could have gone flying within minutes of getting the radio unpacked and charged.
Ultimate Flexibility
I mentioned that the 14SG could be used with any of the current 2.4 GHz technologies Futaba employs, but its flexibility goes far beyond that. I never liked being forced to accept the channel and switch assignments manufacturers predetermined for me. For years, I used a radio that allowed me to map channels the way I wanted them. I can once again do that, because Futaba saw fit to build that flexibility into the radio.
There is nothing easier than setting up a four‑servo biplane by assigning each servo its own channel! They are still all controlled and trimmed with the aileron stick and trim button, but each can be perfectly dialed in using its own subtrim during the build. The same goes for a twin‑servo elevator. This feature alone would have been enough for me to buy the 14SG, but when combined with everything else it had to offer, it was a no‑brainer!
Safety Matters
When it comes to safety, Futaba has stepped up the game. When you turn on the radio, there is a screen asking if you wish to transmit radio frequency. Radios used to automatically send the signal. Why do we care? In this crowded environment of large fly‑ins, there is the possibility of hundreds of radios being on at the same time, especially when you take into account the ones actually out on the flightline and the ones being used in the pits.
We've become complacent with the advent of the 2.4 GHz technology, but there can still be interference with band saturation by large numbers of radios being on at the same time. This allows us to do some radio programming in the pits without ever sending a signal through the air. To check the settings, you'll eventually have to transmit and check the model, but you can do much of the programming without transmitting RF signals.
I fly electrics, glow, and gas aircraft and I always set up a mix that allows me to use one of the switches to kill my engine or motor. This is necessary for safety, especially with electrics. A gas engine won't run up if you accidentally hit the throttle in the pits before you start the engine, but once armed, an electric is an accident waiting to happen.
The 14SG's programming allows you to tell it that the throttle is a motor and from there you can adjust the settings. It essentially assigns a kill switch that prevents anything from happening if you hit the throttle and the ESC is armed. This should be a mandatory feature on all radios and Futaba has seen the importance and taken action.
For gas/glow fliers, there is an idle-down and throttle-cut function that allows you to bring an engine instantly to idle or shut it down completely with the flip of a switch. These functions are set up to work at throttle settings below 30% and are adjustable for each model without affecting the others.
Program Sequence
The 14SG shines in this regard. The three program sections are logically arranged to make it a sequential process from left to right.
The System menu sets up the radio options that affect how the radio functions. This is where you set up the trainer functions allowing the student to have as few or as many controls as the instructor wants.
It's also where you adjust the display, user name, sound, hardware (stick reversal, mode, calibration), start setup, auto lock information regarding the transmitter, and program the S.Bus servo. Think of these as global settings that you will seldom access after you customize your radio.
The Linkage menu is the next step around the sensor wheel and is where you begin to program each model. In this menu you will have access to:
- Servo (also accessible through the "mon" button beneath the aileron stick)
- Model select
- Model type
- System select: mode of 14-channel FASSTest, 12-channel S-FHSS, FASST-Multi, or seven-channel FASST
- Function: choose your channel mapping and trim adjusters
- Subtrim
- Reverse
- Fail-safe
- End point (think ATV or travel)
- Servo speed (perfectly adjust your retract or flap speed)
- Throttle cut
- Idle down
- T1–T4 (set trim sensitivity)
- Warnings (low battery, throttle cut, idle down, etc.)
- Telemetry
- Sensor
- Data reset
Each of these settings only affects the selected model and can be changed without affecting another model in the memory. The same applies for the next section.
The Model menu is the next segment of the sensor wheel and contains all the sections for fine-tuning the model and its mixes. Most are self-explanatory and many are preset templates for the most frequently used mixes. Here's a rundown of the Model menu:
- Servo (same as in Linkage menu for monitoring servo movements)
- Dual rate
- Program mix (these are five free mixes for customization)
- Throttle curve
- Aileron differential
- Flap set
- Aileron to camber flaps
- Aileron to rudder
- Camber mix
- Elevator to camber
- Camber flaps to elevator
- Rudder to aileron
- Rudder to elevator
- Snap roll
- Air brake
- Gyro
- Motor
Special Considerations
Several areas might benefit from further explanation, although a radio with the 14SG's capabilities would require a book to address everything. Practicing with the transmitter in hand and a few test aircraft is the best way to learn.
Flight Conditions
Flight conditions can be selected in the sailplane or helicopter modes, but the option is unavailable in the airplane mode. It's not a problem in actual usage. There is no reason not to program a powered airplane using the sailplane model type, thereby giving you five flight conditions.
The wing-type selections will give you enough options to set up dual aileron servos and dual servo flaps, along with more mix options. You will lose the automatic templates for variable pitch propellers, snap rolls, and rudder-to-elevator mixing, but with the five free mixes, you can make up for that.
Another benefit of setting a model up in the sailplane template for flight conditions is the ability to have various mixes and trims set that can be programmed to work across each condition or only within one.
There is also a provision to prioritize the switches, so if you accidentally flip a switch that would put you into a mix that would interfere with one you’re presently using, the switch can be set to have a lower priority so it would be ignored if the first switch was already activated. It’s easier than it sounds.
Using flight conditions can present a situation where changing the trim of something might be necessary, but not when going to one of the other conditions. You can program across-the-board trims or program them only within that one condition. The flexibility is incredible.
Sensor Touch
Depending on your method of holding a transmitter, your palm could touch the sensor and possibly make a change. This can be prevented by locking the sensor either automatically or manually.
I’m a thumb flier when I fly airplanes, but I’m a finger flier when I fly helicopters. Because I don’t use a tray, I have heard a beep telling me my palm has touched the sensor while flying a helicopter. It hasn't made any changes, but you can set the lock to automatic or set it manually as I do.
Start Select
This feature in the System menu allows you to customize how you want your radio to start. You can set it to have the model select menu come up when the radio is turned on or set so that the last selected model is the one still available. If there are four aircraft that you frequently fly, you could set it so those are the choices you see when you power on the radio.
Motor Function
This feature is valuable for anyone using an electric motor to power an airplane or sailplane. The safety feature alone makes buying this radio worthwhile, but the electric-powered sailplane fliers are going to fall in love with it.
In the past, Limited Motor Run pilots had to use the throttle stick for the motor, losing the ability to use it for mixes. Now the motor can be set up on a switch, the ramp-up speed of the motor programmed, and the throttle stick used the way experienced sailplane pilots used it before electric power.
Imagine using various positions on the throttle stick to deploy flaps, crow, extend the landing wheel, or change camber—all on one stick.
Helicopters
Helicopter pilots will appreciate the ease of setting up a machine and the options the 14SG offers. During initial setup, there are six swash configurations from which to choose including the increasingly popular 140° setup. Flybarless users will find all the options they need including three-axis gyro support.
Conclusion
I’ve barely scratched the surface of what this radio can do. This is a top-end radio at a mid-level price. The flexibility of the Futaba 14SG will take you down a path of programming that most haven’t enjoyed before.
The available updates for future improvements are a huge plus and the SD slot makes it even better.
Free channel mapping gives the user a clean slate if he or she doesn’t like the standard templates. Learning a new radio usually brings with it a little cussing and fussing, but this one brought nothing but smiles each time I found another thing I could do with it.
I may be in love!
—Greg Gimlick [email protected]
AT A GLANCE
SPECIFICATIONS
Futaba 14SG Transmitter
- Transmitting frequency: 2.4 GHz band
- System: FASSTest 14CH; FASSTest 12CH; FASST MULTI; FASST 7CH; S-FHSS switchable
- Power supply: 6-volt HTSF1800B NiMH battery (optional 6-volt LiFe battery)
- Dimensions: 180 x 190 x 50 mm
- Weight: 32 ounces
Futaba R7008SB Receiver
- Receiving frequency: 2.4 GHz FASSTest system
- Power requirement: 3.7–7.4 volts (voltage range 3.5–8.4 volts)
- Current drain: 75 mA
- Extra voltage port: 0–70 volts DC
- Size: 0.98 x 1.9 x 0.56 inches
- Weight: 0.38 ounces
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 1800 mAh NiMH transmitter battery
- LiFe spacer for optional FT2F2100B/FT2F1700B battery pack
- 12-volt DC battery charger
- R7008SB eight-channel, high-voltage receiver
- Manual
- Switch harness
- Neck strap
PLUSES
- Programming for airplane, helicopter, and sailplane
- Backward compatibility with FASST and S-FHSS
- SD card allows for easy software updates
- Backlit screen
- LiFe battery option
- Fully assignable switches and controls
- Good ergonomics
MINUSES
- No smooth throttle option for airplane version
- Extensive features deserve a larger user manual
MANUFACTURER/DISTRIBUTOR
Great Planes Model Distributors (800) 682-8948 www.futaba-rc.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
