released the switch the servo returned to neutral (These were true self centering servo's). To turn left at less than full throw you would pulse the switch. The same applied to elevator on the left switch except it moved up and down.

When the proportional radio's came out, the sticks were connected so that the right horizontal was aileron, and the left vertical was elevator. This was because reed equipment flyers were use to this mode of operation.

Mode I - Right stick horizontal is aileron, right stick vertical is throttle. Left stick vertical is elevator, left stick horizontal is rudder.

Mode II - Right stick horizontal is aileron, right stick vertical is elevator. Left stick vertical is throttle, left stick horizontal is rudder.

I won't get into the argument of which mode is the best, but most new flyers, with no previous preferences, start with mode II.

Pulse sequencing - Although I know of no valid reason, manufactures have chosen to differ in the position for which channels are placed in the encoded serial output. The stick pot you connect to the encoder channel 1 input defines the function of the first channel. Any stick pot could be connected to any input.

Futaba and Hitec use a sequence of aileron, elevator, throttle, rudder. JR selected throttle, aileron, elevator, rudder. While Airtronics chose to send elevator, aileron, throttle, rudder.

On AM modulation all transmitters will operate all receivers, and if you wanted to use a Futaba receiver with a JR transmitter you would just have to remember that you plug the servo's into the receiver based on the transmitter sequence and not the receiver definition. The receiver does not care which control is on what output.

Now on FM we have a different story. Manufactures have chosen not only to rearrange the pulse sequence but to also select  opposite high/low frequency shifts. (We will address the

FM incompatibility in a later article when we cover RF and Modulation). 

JR and Airtronics are compatible xmitter to receiver, and Futaba and Hitec are compatible. What this means is that a JR receiver will work with an Airtronics transmitter and vise versa if you remember to plug the receiver according to the transmitter sequence.

Futaba and Hitec are also compatible using the same rules.   

If you do choose to operate one manufactures receiver on another manufacturers transmitter, be sure to range test the combination before using it.