THE NEW FUTABA
14MZ
by Dave Baron                                                    page two                             return to page one

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!

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.

LINKAGE MENU MODEL TYPE PICTURE SOUND FREQUENCY FUNCTION

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!

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. 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.

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 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, www.futaba-rc.com, www.14mz.com,
(800) 682-8948.

For more information, please see the source guide in the magazine.

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