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THE NEW FUTABA
14MZ
by Dave Baron
page
two
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HIGHER RESOLUTION,
FASTER RESPONSE
The 14MZ has twice the
resolution of the previous top-end PCM 1024 systems—it offers 2048 discrete
steps. It also offers backwards compatibility with all of the receivers you
currently use with your Futaba radios—PCM 1024 as well as PPM/FM.
Futaba has named this
new system PCM Generation 3 (PCM G3). The frame rate is 40% faster than that of
the Futaba 9Z. The higher resolution and faster response time means that your
control of your airborne ship has never been tighter or more precise. The
servos pick up even the slightest stick movement, and respond 25% faster. This
is a serious advantage for planes with lots of throw and large amounts of
exponential. They tend to spread out the steps of motion to the greatest
extent, and they do it right around neutral, where you can feel it most!
THE BIG SCREEN
The screen is of the
HVGA type, and it is big and very easy to read, indoors and out. The full color
transflective touch screen is highly visible even in bright sunlight. It
features a special lens system with a liquid between the lens and the film that
virtually eliminates glare, for maximum visibility both indoors and outdoors.
There is a ton of
information available to you on the large screen—this is a real eye-opener. The
screen offers a PDA-like graphic interface, a big improvement over standard LCD
characters. I have quickly embraced this remarkable interface as a fast and
efficient way to monitor critical parameters like battery capacity, model
memory selected, trim positions, etc. at a glance. This is a welcome new
experience.
The most notable
feature on the screen is the image of the plane you have selected from memory,
right in the display. To get your own plane into the display, you need to take
a digital picture and convert it to a bmp file in your PC. Next, you will need
to insert the CF card from the radio into the port in your PC. Transfer the bmp
file(s) to the CF card and insert it into the radio. Now there is no excuse for
you to have the wrong memory selected when you fly!
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STARTUP
SCREEN
SYSTEM
MENU
MODEL
MENU
MENU NAVIGATION
Editing can be navigated via the
touch screen panel, or with the help of a rotary dial. With either system, you
will discover Futaba’s most intuitive programming system yet. From the startup
screen (top left), you can navigate to any of three secondary screens: Linkage
Menu, System Menu and Model Menu.
Note that at the bottom of the
startup screen there are buttons for short-cuts to these three most-used menus.
The PDA-style graphic interface
simplifies and speeds navigation through programming options when you are
setting up a model. Moving from screen to screen is just a touch away. For
example, the Linkage Menu (top right) features buttons that lead to the Model
Type, Picture, Sound, Frequency and Function screens shown, among other
choices. As you’ll see in our next installment, the screen’s expansive display
also facilitates use of the powerful programming templates and curves that
Futaba has built into the system.
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LINKAGE MENU
MODEL TYPE
PICTURE
SOUND
FREQUENCY
FUNCTION
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CHANGING CHANNELS
The 14MZ also offers
frequency-synthesizing capability. Channel selection is accomplished solely
with the transmitter. Select your channel through the transmitter and the
receiver will automatically synchronize to match the selected channel of the
transmitter. No crystals required, and the receiver is amazingly small given
its capability.
MUSIC AND VOICE
PROMPTS
At first I thought this
was absurd excess. Sounds stored in a transmitter…but the more you work with
it, the more commonsense needs begin to shine through and justify this novel
addition. The 14MZ can play back WMA (Windows Media Audio) files that are saved
to the CF card. You can listen to these files using the built-in speaker, or
you can listen in private with the included earphones. To record these, you
simply speak into a microphone that is built into the transmitter.
Short “Sound Bytes”—Essentially,
there are two separate systems working in this system. One involves short sound
bytes or recordings, approximately three seconds long, that you can use to
perfectly identify a switch when it is moved. Imagine deploying flaps and
hearing the radio say “flaps down.” You don’t have to take your eyes off your
plane in flight. You can assign up to 24 different voice prompts!
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You can replace 8 of the toggle
switches on the right and left
shoulders. Each of the
switches on each shoulder of
the radio is customizable and
interchangeable. For each
switch station, you can
choose a 2-position tall or
short switch, 3-position tall or
short, a spring- loaded tall or
short, or a simple button.
The knobs on the 14MZ can be
adjusted and then stowed in a
recessed position to prevent
accidental rotation—a nice
touch.
The sliders mounted on the
sides of the radio are well
positioned for easy access.
Note that one of the sliders
has “arms” that can be
rotated from the front or back
of the transmitter.
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The included 32MB CF card can be
used to save programming and images
for up to 100 different models—this is
in addition to the 30 model memories
built into the transmitter. The card also
can store music or a sequence of
maneuvers as a digital WMA file. It is
also used to update the radio's
software. |
Long “Sound Bytes”
— The second
system relates to lengthier stored files. These can be music, as we see used
more and more in freestyle competition, or verbal sequences. Have you ever had
to rely on a caller in scale or aerobatic competition? Have you ever had a
caller pause or misstate a maneuver in a way that threw you for a moment and
possibly affected your score? It has happened to me! With the 14MZ, you would
establish your sequence and then record it as a digital WMA file. You load the
file into the CF card and then, with the card back in your transmitter, assign
the file to a switch for playback. You can pause the recording when you need
to, and continue when you and the judges are ready.
MODEL MEMORY AND
UPDATES
The radio includes 30
model memories, but this is expandable. Using the CF card, you can save
programming and images for up to 100 different models. You have up to 32
characters to name a model.
With a radio system as
sophisticated as the 14MZ, you know there will be software updates as time goes
on. Futaba has made the updating process extremely simple. To update the
radio’s software, all you do is insert the CF card with the software update and
turn on the radio.
CUSTOMIZABLE
STICKS
Each control stick axis
is supported by dual ball bearings. Stick tension, length and detent are all
adjustable,
so airplane and heli modelers can personalize to their preference. That’s only
the beginning, as you can customize other aspects of the hardware interface as
well.
SWITCHES, SLIDERS
AND KNOBS
All of the eight
switches on the transmitter are interchangeable among four different switch
types and styles, and these are assignable for any application. Extra switches
are available from Futaba so you can choose exactly the configuration that is
right for you. Buttons can be installed where you want them, and spring-loaded
switches used exactly where you need them. Don’t forget that with the ability
to program in voice prompts, your custom-configured switches can be programmed
to tell you what their function is when you operate them!
The sliders on the
sides of the transmitter are very comfortable. Futaba has stacked two into the
location where only one slider typically exists on other brands and models. I
really like this type of slider, as I can adjust it comfortably and confidently
without looking and, most importantly, without lifting my fingers off the
controls of a plane or heli. Having four sliders in reach is a feature that I
will use. Off the top of my head, I can envision three applications: I would
assign one for flap deployment, the second for spoiler or crow-style speed
brakes, and the third for traditional throttle trim adjustments (start
position, normal idle, and kill).
The knobs of the 14MZ
are unique. To my knowledge, this is the first use of a stowable knob in the RC
industry. You press the head of the knob and it rises to a position for
adjusting whatever function you have assigned it. Then, after setting it where
you want, you depress it back into its recessed position. It is safely stowed
and cannot be accidentally rotated.
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LITHIUM BATTERY
POWERED
The transmitter’s
7.4-volt 2200mAh Lithium-Ion battery provides between two and three hours of
flight time. The use of the audio functions, as well as the brightness of the
screen, affects the power consumption. The coolest thing about using Lithium
cells is that the power output is up and the weight is down. More good news is
that the charger accompanying the system can recharge the battery in
approximately one hour!
14MZ FLYER'S CLUB
This will be a prestige
club for 14MZ owners that will periodically provide 14MZ update information,
free items and special offers. We expect this may include clothing and outdoor
wear for members. Members will have an inside line on the availability of
software updates and other product enhancements. Check out
http://www.14mz.com/ for updates straight from Futaba on the radio, and
you can sign up for email updates as well.
CONCLUSION
Our first look at this
radio has introduced you to the features of the 14MZ and explored why you need
them. You can see that the radio is a huge leap forward in terms of basic
functionality. There is a lot more to this story. The 14MZ offers powerful
programming templates and curves that you can adjust and customize on the fly.
In our next installment, we will show you actual installations and explain how
we accomplished them. You’ll be surprised at the intuitiveness and power of the
programming. See you next time!
Loops & Rolls
Dave Baron
Links:
Futaba, distributed exclusively by Great Planes Model
Distributors, http://www.futaba-rc.com/,
http://www.14mz.com/,
(800) 682-8948.
For more information,
please see the source guide in the magazine.
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