vintage helo tx & rx narrow banding

[Oooops!]

I'm an oldie but a "newbie" that has decieded to give it another try. I have an "older" Century VII (7 for non-romans). It is a FM system made by JR PROPO, the tx is a net N127AH and the Rx a NER327x. The rx chrystal is removable, but the tx crystal is soldered into a module. I quit R/C flying in the mid 80's when the wide-narrow band width was heating up. I didn't understand what to do to fix the problem then and I still don't. I want to use this tx-rx combo if possible(I know, but we're both "vintage") and everything I find says it possible as long at it is the FM system. It was originally ch 54 which at the time was a "wide band" chanel with the odd numbers being narrow. Does the crystal determine the banding width or the rx and tx themselves?

Can someone help me figure this out and giving me direction in simple english would be appreciated. I think some has tried to tell me this a couple of times in "electronic jargon" with very limited results.

I tried to fly the new R/C simulators and so far have worn out the reset button. I don/t remember having that much trouble flying the actual model!

[BABY HUEY]

I think that it is great that you are getting going again and I to am rather vintage.LOL
I don't know your answer for sure but I think that the crystal just controls the frequency and the Rx/Tx control the band width. That said I have problems understanding why there is a difference between single and dual conversion crystals since sometimes you can mix them and and other times not. I have a Futaba Tx and it is on channel 18 and I use it with a low band dual conversion Rx and also with a single conversion Rx on ch 18 and it works fine with both.
Anyway good luck,
Huey

[Oooops!]

Thanks for the info. From what I can gather regarding the JR radios, they were single conversion and all the electronic mombo-jombo of a dual conversion happened within the tx and rx itself. I would like to keep it together as a unit for "vintage appeal" if there is such a thing, I think I'll make another attempt at contacting JR radio. I'm not sure anyone there knew that FM was a R/C frequency. There has to be someone working there older than 30.

Any more feedback would be appreciated.

[BABY HUEY]

Hell,they still use FM and I have a plane that has a working AM system! Fm is what you get if you don't go with the new 2.4 Gz stuff and that still may use a FM carrier wave.
Anyway good luck finding out and keep us posted. I'm curious to hear what you find out.
Huey

[deanmax]

Hi there it's good to read you're going to give it another try. It is fun and relaxing and not too many (buts) in what you want to do except the year of the radio which you can use it and might get away with using it I'm not that old either until I look in the mirror and well well about the radio it will be fine unless someone else turns to that freq. and down you go. Back then the technology wasn't like today and everybody from handradio guys to radio stations wanted your freq. and used it. You were fine and you will be fine until someone turn on their radio from the pass with that freq. and down you go and you won't even know they did it to you. Then there is the crash but did we miss everyone and everything and do you have that liability factor in not only for you but others? I had that problem once and only wipe out a satillite dish cost of $3000.00 to me it wasn't my dish and I flown there for years.
I didn't know but as the crow flys less than a half mile away property was sold and a new home built and the owner is none other than a hand radio operator.
I crash 7 planes that week. I knew I couldn't be that bad and something else had to be the problem all crashs were at take off about 75' up except the first one. Went and bought a new radio and never crash again.
Well except when showing off.
So with the older radio there is more likely than not that crash factor.
Remember you were too have fun and relax. With the older radio you will never know.

[uneverno]

I remember those days vaguely

You can use the radio, but I don't think you probably should. There were, as I recall, some issues with the legality of using older radios when the narrow band conversion came out. If memory serves, narrow band was required by law.

The trouble is that wide band will bleed over onto the odd numbered frequencies above and below you (53 and 55). If you're flying alone, probably not an issue, but definitely don't at a field with others around.

The other trouble you will likely have is that if you have to replace older servos, new ones may not work with your system. I'm not sure how rapidly things have progressed with RC, but I work with servos professionally, and our older ones (5-10 yrs) are not compatible with our newer drive systems.

Were I in your position, I'd be contemplating the same thing, for the sake of saving money if nothing else, but modern radios are so much less prone to glitching, especially 2.4GHz radios, that I don't think I'd want to risk a vintage bird (which is probably difficult to get parts for.)