Comment by IKE on August 7, 2010 at 7:18am

The next big thing will be an open source 2.4 Futaba transmitter clone!

Comment by Melih Karakelle on August 7, 2010 at 8:35am

This illegal clones worst thing on the rc community!
Futaba or Spectrum designing unique protocol for own receivers and transmitters and all parts sharing costs. Then a Chinese guy copying this protocol :( It is very easy job with a protocol analyzer, because all 2.4ghz RF chips using SPI protocol and you can learn all communication in 10 minutes.

You saying "Increase the transmitter prices or die" to Futaba When you buying this clones.

I have an inventive design for glow fliers and i guess all glow fliers wants this new design, but i know a chinese guy will copy it in 2-3 month and he will make money from my mind :(

Who want to design something under this conditions?

Comment by Nick Bright on August 7, 2010 at 9:35am

Newsflash: Ripping off IP and churning out cheap clones what China does, film at 11.

Comment by Wayne Dancer on August 7, 2010 at 10:05am

You also get what you pay for. I wouldn't mind getting one of these for my park fliers (I can't justify a $99 receiver on a foamie), but I would only use the real Futaba ones in my expensive airframes. Futaba has had hardly any bugs in relation to their FASST and are rock solid. The cheap copies, however, probably have all sorts of issues.

Moderator Comment by Morli on August 7, 2010 at 12:27pm

BTW , I wonder where are original futaba radios made ?!!

Comment by Nick Bright on August 7, 2010 at 1:02pm

Morli, probably in China or Taiwan. Typically what happens is corporate espionage - Someone infiltrates the manufacturing facility, steals the designs, goes back to the mother ship, then they copy the design (frequently without even making changes) then use lower quality components and less quality control to churn out cheap copies.

Wayne is exactly right - you get what you pay for. These are cheap copies, and you will get cheap copy performance.

Developer Comment by John Arne Birkeland on August 7, 2010 at 1:52pm

In my experience "cheap" china clones cost what the product is actually worth, not what some brand name marketing director thinks they can get away with.

Moderator Comment by Graham Dyer on August 8, 2010 at 3:57am

Well said John, as per usual the brand name prices are determined by what the marketing department/director thinks people are prepared to pay, NOT what the item costs plus a reasonable profit.

Why couldn't the brand names sell their products themselves (esp. receivers) at a reasonable cost, that way more would be sold, which equals more units for profit not profit per unit.

Comment by Melih Karakelle on August 8, 2010 at 6:05am

@Graham

We cant discuss about their strategies because you don't know anything about their costs. This clones not an engineering products , they are stoled ideas from Futaba's engineers and you cant say "hey, this is great price"

If you want to use cheap systems, you can buy Assan or Corona 2.4 modules for your transmitters. They are designing own 2.4 systems and selling from reasonable price. It is better way than rewarding the thief. ;)
This is the capitalism. Stolen ideas is different thing.

I'm using Assan mod module with my Futaba 6XAP with Assan receivers too. They are cheap and useful modules.

Comment by Melih Karakelle on August 8, 2010 at 6:08am

And a Notice:

What is next? They will copy the Futaba Transmitters and brand name will FUTAPA ?

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