Review: Hitec Aurora 9 (part 1)
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- In part 1 of the Hitec Aurora 9 review I look at the pro's and con's of this radio and compare some features of it to the Spektrum DX8, JR XG8, Turnigy 9X and Futaba 8FG.
In part 2 of the review I'll be casting a technical eye over the radio and looking at how well it is built, how well it performs and what's inside.
Great review. What sold me on this radio was the ease of programing. Having upgraded from the DX6i the touchscreen was really nice
I bought the Aurora 9 after seeing the review loving it so far. You were totally right on how easy to use it is. Looking forward to part 2. All of your videos are very informative. You should post a link to how people can donate items or money to you on all of your videos. I'd send a few bucks to get more info like this on a regular basis such as you provide. Thanks for the hard work.
No matter the topic, your videos are entertaining and informative. Thank you for them.
Hitec just did an update for the A9. Now would be a great time to do part 2 please!
i just want to add my voice to those waiting for part 2!very nice vid
One thing I like about you is you tell it the way it is! if it sucks you tell us! if it is good well you tell us! I do not care about all the crap reviewers that try to sell you junk! I can see you do not sell out to the junk suppliers with deep big pockets! So thank You! and have a great day!
Hey Bruce, I have been looking at my first 2.4ghz radio for over a year now (emailed you for advice which you were more than helpful with) I tried them all and ended up with the A9 - and am really, really happy with it and my LHS threw in the HPP-22 for free. The online support for it is awesome and no satellite receivers! Agree too with your view on the module wire. Love your work Bruce.
Thank you for a great review.
After having used my A9 for a while i prefer it to my JR 9303 simply due to the ease of programming.
Excellent preview Bruce ! you are truly a master of RC generation.
Thank you SO much for this review... will certainly be watching part 2. A new radio is definitely going to be my next major purchase in my end of the r/c hobby world, and I like how both of my most often used online dealers love this radio. This is ceratinly helping learn more about wihat I should look for in radios these days... agree that long cable-only upadtes are a pain, but this is so well priced and comes with as few negatives (cons) as I can possibly see a radio to have.
where is part 2? may you please make it please :D please
@G56AG
The only folks having lockouts were folks using a certain types of optical kill-switch. This issue has been resolved. Electric flyers were never affected.
I was surprised that you made no comment for or against the fact that only the 9 channel receiver has antenna diversity. None of the rest of the Optima line does.
Any comments on this?
Also, any comments on the Minima line as opposed to the Optima line of receivers?
Otherwise, great review and I am looking forward to the next one on the Hitec.
Thanks
More appropriate to post this here I guess...also good to hear that part 2 of the A9 review is coming.
There is a significant rumor Hitec will be announcing and showing off a new 9 channel radio at the upcoming Nuremberg International Toy Show February 1-6th. It is also rumored to have an integral module no more plug-in and faster processor in it. A9 prices in US $250 w/ 6ch rx now.
Another very nice feature about this radio is how easy it is to convert from mode 1 to mode 2 - you can do this without opening the radio - just a matter of turning few screws on the back. You can also tune the spring tensions the same way. But Bruce will probably mention it in the Part 2 of the review...
And oh, another thing - all this whining about the high latency of A9 and how it's a problem with helis was proven wrong long time ago...
Hey Bruce,
The DX8 2.4ghz software is upgradeable by update also. Remember the DX8 was released with DSM2 and the update to firmware 2.0.1 was the release of the DSMX frequency agility firmware. I still love your reviews....
Outstanding.
Your friends at Radical RC appreciate your plugs
I had a DX7 and it took hours to program complex models with flaps, retracts, mixes.... I can now do this in like 5 min with my A9. I agree about the nooks and crannies collecting dust though.
To transfer model data from from one receiver, you do it thru the trainer port. You set it up as multiple I/O with one Hitec A9 sending and the other receiving. Should be as fast as sharing memory cards.
I believe Hitec has been offering the transfer module with the radio at no extra cost in the US.
What happened to Part 2? Have been waiting for 2 months for it.
Need a part 2!!
Bruce, part 2 please! :)
OK, so where is Part 2 of this review? It's been nearly 2 months.
i think i like this ..and i cant wait for part 2 as i might pick one up i fly helis and quads.
part two will be comming out verry not so soon.
Tnx 4 the in depth review! I luv the BIG screen on this thing and while u consider the "made in China" thingy to be a con,,, i consider it a pro :) I hate the fact that EVERYTHING we buy these days is made in China and the quality is jst not there. Yes it may be cheaper, but is cheaper always better tho? Sometimes if we spend a little more, we get a WHOLE LOT MORE! I was horrified to discover ALL the servos in my plane were made in China. Cheap metal, cheap plastic, cheap labor (yikes)
Part 2 ?
Yes there is, search the Aurora 9 threat on rcgroups for info. There are also 3th party 5 and 8ch minima recievers that are good and cheap as beans. Aurora is the way to go!
In reading some of the message boards I'm seeing they are having a lot of problems with lockouts on the Aurora 9. A lot of people thought it might be a software problem but the software has been updated and the problem still pops up from time to time. Its been out a couple of years but the factory still seems to have no idea what's going on, and haven't been able to find the problem so they can fix it.
Aurora 9 and gas planes. I have 6 gas planes three 50cc one from china and one DA 50cc and a old brisson 3.2 no problems and three 100cc 2 DA100 and 1 from china all have been in service before the Hitec up date. I also have the smarfly optic kill and it's fine to.
I've also seen a very large war bird fall from the sky that had a FUTABA 2.4 radio in it, the rx
was returned to futaba and they said it was a bad rx and replace the rx but not the war bird.
Love it, the A9 is the easiest radio to set up and use.
A couple of things. Firstly new update out v1.09(0) - fixes a number of bugs INCLUDING the previously inaccurate timer. Secondly, in this video you said there will never be cheap compatible receivers - not true, a 8ch full range and 5ch micro available now on HobbyKing. Finally, any chance of the remaining parts of this radio review Bruce? :)
Bruce, there are numerous after market stick ends you can use (some go for a whopping 3.99USD at HK) or maybe you could simply shorten the stick and lengthen the threads.
All your videos are awesome, do you know if there is a mod/hack to enable the use of a head tracker? I was gutted when I found out it didn't support the feature. Keep em coming Bruce - best channel on youtube !
Great review Bruce. I've done the updates you mention on my A9 and it's transmitter module and my receivers. Really wasn't a big deal but, as you said, it is a bit slow and could be improved. I also didn't have any issues with AV software when using Windows 7 and Norton AV. I didn't have to turn off Norton when doing the updates. Maybe this has been resolved?
@mboiko I THINK it has the same software as the older eclipse, i am not sure but it looks like it. so the main difference is the new design
Nice review. You covered the highs and lows well ... and humorous gestures, tool. For a split second it looked like you were about to toss the manual in the trash - and I expected a fast "clunk" as it hit the bucket. I looked at this radio and, as you noted, it felt terrible in my hands. Utterly bad feel. Stretched thumbs, fingers, the grip, and my hands quickly HURT. Reaching the trims was like doing gymnastics. And that module wire. Yuck. I settled on something simple, the RDS8000. Works fine.
Hey Bruce great Part 1 review...looking forward to Part 2.
Have you seen the new Hitec Eclipse 7 Pro..what do you think?
-mike-
Excellent review!
I have the A9 for more then a year now and like it a lot, I'm a pincher, not a thumber though.
Couldn't agree more on the nooks&crannies, what were they thinking o_O
FYI you can actually transfer models from one A9 to another via the trainer cable.
IS there an available module to access all of my Spektrum kit DSM2 receivers?
Did you ever do a Part 2? I can't find the video!
RCG user SimonChambers claims to have reflashed the FrSky VD5M receiver to run AHFSS. Should be a nice fit in the little Radjet 420 from HobbyKing.
Maybe we'll see some more clones for the A9...
Bruce, I see someone else already asked this, but where did you find the China made dsmx receivers? Also, great review
Thanks, Bruce. Keep up the good work!
Wheres Part 2??
Hey Bruce, nice video this one. Do you have any eta for the 2nd part? Thanks!
Part 2??
What website did you see the DSMX chinese receivers at?
Way to step up the content on your channel lately.
Is it just me or is anyone else noticing a pattern? I see a lot of part 1's on a lot of products but not a lot of part 2's.
Hey, why do you have a mode 2? Did you switch over or what?
I had one of these and loved it, well that was until it locked out on my two of my large petrol models, I went back to Futaba with there 8fg and it feels better and a more sold feel to the link, I looked at this when I bought the Hitec but that big touch screen clouded my judgement and that cost me two large models, yes I miss the ease of programming but love my models staying where I put them with the Futaba and not having a mind of there own and nose diving.
i have one and i have never had that problem, and i've had it for about 1yr
Yeah but the new DX18 has the sliders ;-) still great review Bruce but i'll be sticking with my radio for now,still this has been very helpful.
Can I ask why you would ask this question? I have one of these and was told that the 9x would be better for fpv as it is a 12v. my a9 is only 7.4V
have you found out anything more about this! I wanna do log range fpv and was told that the 9r is way better because it take a 12v rather then the 7.4 of the a9.
Great review!
Woulnd't mind seeing you doing 3D either :D
The Aurora 9 has nice programming but it no good to fly with gasoline planes. I like the trainer function you can set it on a switch and leave it on then mix the trainer setting and use both transmitters at the same time. The stick or either transmitter will move the plane at the same time. You have to make sure the end points are set right when using the buddy box like this because you can go over your settings and bottom out the control surfaces if the endpoints are not set.
I bought the FM synthesized module for this radio and the screen would just go blank. The module would cause feed back to the screen. It did not do this on 2.4.
Thanks for the great review!
do u now if this will work with a helicopter and a quad-copter. and dose it have telemetry and is it any good.
Oh and by the i pinch and fly 3D. Works quite well. Lets see some 3D Bruce!! :)
You folks complaining about the reach must have teeny tiny hands on you. Mine are smallish, and I cab reach everything just fine.
Before this review I had never heard this complaint. Strange....
I was reading a post on RC Universe about this radio. The guy was claiming that the Aurora9 only has half the power coming from the antenna than the Futaba Fast radio systems. Can you test this and let us know.
So you wouldent recommend this tx for long range fpv .Im using one of these for a quadrotor and lost a $1,200 set up last week flying FPV.
Are you still going to do a part 2 of this radio?
Thanks for this great review!
So Does Anyone know if finally the (Lockout) problems has been resolved or what is causing the Problem???
that has me still thinking if to buy it or to go with the new Futaba T8J.....
You probably have one of the first batch radios with the longer sticks. I sold my first Aurora when they came out with the new batch that has the shorter sticks. They are much shorter now Bruce.
What type of connector is the antenna Sma or something else and is there a way to increase the range of the transmitter
Still waiting for part 2
Part 2? Is it coming?
First, thank you for all your great videos. I also like the FrSky products and use them in my 9x with the DIY kit. Is it possible to use the FrSky DIY kit in this radio? I know you said the Optoma recievers are cheap, but I already have so many FrSky recievers and would hate to change all those out. Perhaps an idea for another video...
I was looking forward to part 2 but..... it is not there! Bruce!!! ;) What is happening?
Where is part 2?
Wating for part 2!
Anyone know the power output of this baby???
Hi Bruce love your review s of RC kit could please advise me on using a mobile phone camera to be use in a mpv system please?
Hi, is it possible for u to do a review of the futaba 8fg
thanks
Hey Bruce, I thought you guys fly mode 1 over there?
I have bought the AFHSS 2.4 module and a pair of the Optima 7 receivers to upgrade my ten-year-old Eclipse 7. Has anybody got any experiences to share regarding such an upgrade? Has anybody used the telemetry function this way (obviously with additional hardware, eg. HTS Voice, or HPP-22 and connection to a computer) ? I would love to run a variometer this way.
:) Great video Bruce!!
will these work with multirotors?
where is P2 ????? I want to buy a new radio and this one is on my short list,,, but need the Pro and Cons with actually setting it up on an airplane,,, and using it,,, ole jimmy
@xjet If I could have one sent to you, would you be willing to review one of these receivers? If these use true DSMX, I'm sure many viewers would be interested... I am.
On a plus side Bruce, no clones from other companies means NO CLONES ...... I almost lost a plane to a 'branded' receiver that wasn't what it was branded as - never again will I trust one of my aircraft to anything other than an OEM receiver (ie - only store brought). As for price, RC Bandits rates are scary for this radio when I consider what I can buy it off the shelf legitimately for next time I'm in Melbourne, almost double the cost!
I think Assan moduals claim to be able to fit into the Aurora 9 transmitter.
How do you like it?
WHERE"S PART 2!?!?!
not a rc pilot myself, but i like your videos
does anyone know if the issue with lock outs was in deed completely fixed?
I bought my A9 to use with Dragon Link for FPV
Your only a few years late with the A9 review Bruce :P
Battery voltage has nothing to do with the power output, as most transmitters steps down the voltage.
Service menu, in some brands allow to change power output, as some countries have different max output limits.
I have bouth the A9 now, but still don't feel safe with expensive models or flying high / long.
I don't trust 2.4 Ghz yet, especially because of the range.
Actually you can transfer one model to another aurora via bluetooth. You dont need a comouter
@RCModelReviews Search for "hitec aurora data transfer" here on youtube.
Hobby king sells a minima rx that is compatible with hitec 2.4 module.
at amazon, now do they overseas ?????
like EU Countries, for example UK ENGLAND ????
I fly quads and it works great!
THANKS!!!!