What is the difference in AM and FM?

[blueblast02]

Which one is better? I have a new Futaba controller, can I change crystals to make it AM or FM?
I also have got a problem with my reciever, it is very old and about 25 feet away it starts to mess up. Any suggestions?

[HardcoreDragonX]

AM stands for amplitude(?) modulation, and FM stands for frequency modulation. I'm not real sure on how either one works, so I wont try to explain.
I do know that FM is far less prone to glitching than AM is, due to the way it transmits. And no, you cannot switch between the 2 simply by using different crystals. Its a part of the way the radio is built.
As for your reciever, its possible that it's just wearing out. You could try testing a set of different crystals, and making sure that the antenna isnt broken or frayed anywhere other than the tip, but if neither of those seems to help, and you've checked it with a different transmitter, you probably need to replace it.

[trxrustler11121]

AM controllers/recievers are made only for AM crystals. You can look at it this way (this is how I was taught). AM is one kind of frequency radio wave, FM is another. Turn on your car's radio and set it to the best AM radio station you can find. It is usually very very fuzzy. That is like the signal you are giving your car. Now find even a decent FM station, see the differance. There you have it. Plus FM comes in soooooooo many more channels and frequencies.

[blueblast02]

My controller says nowhere on it if it is AM or FM, even though I use AM. Is there anyway of "boosting" my signal? I really hope my reciever is not going out, it is one of the best ones Futaba made. Also, is there any certain wire to use for the antenna? My original snapped and I replaced it with a wire of about the same guage. (sp?)

Oh yeah, will a bigger Mhz "boost" my signal even the slightest bit?

[SuB_z3r0]

Also, is there any certain wire to use for the antenna?

If you go if you go to tower hobbies, search for your radio and there should be a link on that page that says "Parts". Click on that and search for your antena. If I had your radio name I could search it for you.

[HardcoreDragonX]

I think the best thing to do for the radio antenna would to just ask for some reciever antenna at your hobby shop. I believe that the way its made effects the way it performs. Anyway, it shouldn't cost more than a buck.
A higher mhz will not help to boost the signal. One thing that might, though, is to switch to alkaline (like duracell) batteries in the transmitter, if you are currently using rechargeables.

[blueblast02]

Thanks for the help. Do you think Radio Shack would haave reciever wire? And, I already use Duracell.

[HardcoreDragonX]

There's a possibility, though it probably wouldnt be labelled that way. If you look at radio shack, take a sample with you, so you have something to check against.