How does it feel?
Simply put, you forget you are holding the O6! It feels quite light compared to some transmitters and fits easily in your hands. The ergonomics make it very comfortable, with all switches within easy reach of your fingers and thumbs, without straining them. The switches themselves are very positive in operation, and have a certain feel of quality.

The stick lengths can be adjusted, and gimbal tension can also be adjusted, by removing the rear casing and turning the appropriate screw for a particular channel.

On switching the Tx on, you are greeted with a bleep, and the bright blue "power on" lamp illuminates. The large LCD display is crystal clear, and is basically the same as that used on the older, but just as capable Eclipse 7. All info displayed is easy to read, and tells you exactly what you need to know whilst flying.

Changing 'Mode'
This can be a tricky and fiddly job on any transmitter. The older Eclipse 7 was a nightmare to change over (the instructions said it had to sent back to the manufacturer for conversion… wrong!) HiTec have learnt from this, and the mechanical change over on the Optic is a doddle.

Before anything can be changed though, you first need to remove the two dark plastic plates that clip to the sides of the Tx (see photo above).

A word of warning here, the plastic is quite soft, and it's all too easy to damage it and spoil the looks of the Tx. Once these are removed, unscrew the aerial, remove the RF module containing the crystal, unplug the battery, and finally remove the 6 screws that retain the rear casing.

It sound like a big job, but it's easy really! A small plastic block with a protrusion (above right) is used to lift the gimbal return arm (left) clear, thus leaving the gimbal to float freely until the ratchet spring is put into place.

The plastic block itself is then held in position with a small screw.

The electronic side of the mode setting is adjusted within each model memory.

The photo right shows the heart of the system - the main PCB board.

The photo on the left shows the standard RF module, with crystal. This will be replaced in due course the the new Spectra synthesizer module that accommodates 30 channels, without the need for crystals.

Mixing features.
This is the part you've all been waiting for! "What functions does the Optic 6 accommodate, and will it do what I want from it?"

Conclusion
I've owned the Optic 6 Tx for a couple of weeks now, and although I've not really put all the software through its paces, it's nice to know it had all the functions I could possibly need.

Whether you fly Power, Electric, Helicopters… or like me, gliders. This system caters for your needs!

Rating out of 100 - 100!

Available from all Hitec stockists. Distrubuted in the UK by Amerang. Tx only - from around £70. Full set - from around £135.