2.4ghz transmitter for rc boat

[Mel279]

hi

does anyone know which 2.4ghz transmitter best for rc boat?

[Jimmy Sterling]

Do you have a budget ?

If not I would definately go with either the Futaba 4PK (telemetry), Spektrum DX3S(telemetry) or the DX3R (non telemetry). Especially helpful when setting up a new boat.

Jimmy :tiphat:

[Mel279]

Im limiting my budget not more than $200, I've previously bought one 2.4ghz Acoms model, I ask the guy who sell it at ebay and he say it can be use on rc boat, so I bought it and use it, and my boat crash as the signal are not far enough. So the futaba and dx3's, how far can it go?

[Mel279]

have anyone ever use this transmitter

http://axonracing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=0_23&products_id=33

[AndyKunz]

So the futaba and dx3's, how far can it go?

I have a Spektrum DX3R and both SR3000 and SR3100 receivers. With both setups I have been able to drive my boat from one end of my lake to the other, well over 500' away (it's shaped like an L, making it really hard to judge distance when you're at water level.

The big problem is that you can't see your boat when it's that far away...

Andy

[DISAR]

Eventhough I do not have it, I read in here in a similar thread "2.4ghz systems" that the 2.4 ghz system provided with the UL-1 is very successful. It is this one:

http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/proddetail.php?prod=dh-tactic-combo

[waynedawg]

i just got a futaba t3pk with the spektrm 2.4 sm1000 modual in it does anyone know anything good or bad about this radio?

[Bill-SOCAL]

Do you have a budget ?

If not I would definately go with either the Futaba 4PK (telemetry)


To the best of my knowledge the Futaba 4PK does not have a telemetry feature. At least mine does not!!

I can strongly recommend the Futaba 2.4 GHz FASST radios for boat use. Mine have been rock solid.

The 3PM is a perfect boat radio and can be had for under $200 for the transmitter and receiver.

[Mel279]

I have a Spektrum DX3R and both SR3000 and SR3100 receivers. With both setups I have been able to drive my boat from one end of my lake to the other, well over 500' away (it's shaped like an L, making it really hard to judge distance when you're at water level.

The big problem is that you can't see your boat when it's that far away...

Andy

Its not a problem, its a good thing that u still can control it eventhough it is far away, can it track the top speed w/o the use of gps and does it have a temperature indicator?

[Mel279]

To the best of my knowledge the Futaba 4PK does not have a telemetry feature. At least mine does not!!

I can strongly recommend the Futaba 2.4 GHz FASST radios for boat use. Mine have been rock solid.

The 3PM is a perfect boat radio and can be had for under $200 for the transmitter and receiver.
do u know how far this futaba 3pm can go?

[detox]

Aquacraft Tactic 2.4 is well under your budget. I think OSE has these on order...$80.00 radio and transmiter.

[Mel279]

Aquacraft Tactic 2.4 is well under your budget. I think OSE has these on order...$80.00 radio and transmiter.

Yes they have but still Out of Stock:doh:

[AndyKunz]

Its not a problem, its a good thing that u still can control it eventhough it is far away, can it track the top speed w/o the use of gps and does it have a temperature indicator?

For any system in a boat, you can't track the speed without an accurate speed-measuring device such as GPS, lights, or a pitot tube. It's not like a car, where you have near-0 slip (at times), so you can't get it directly from the RPM although RPM can be a great indicator if you have previously determined your slip using one of the other methods in conjunction with RPM. I don't care about absolute speed, just seconds around the oval.

If you use the SPM1305 with an SR3000 you can get telemetry data (RPM, temp, and voltage) with a DX3R. Or use the SR3300T since it has telemetry built-in.

The DX3S has the telemetry integrated into it. I have a 3R because I want my son (pit man) to read the telemetry info. I can't read and drive at the same time.

What exactly are your requirements? We can probably help better if we know what you're trying to accomplish. Why do you want to be driving something you can't see?

Andy

[DISAR]

Very interesting. I see that the price of the DX3S is not that high for what it offers and cheaper than the DX3R (in ebay). May I ask, you can see the motor's temp and rpm and boat's speed on the screen of the radio (DX3S or DX3r)? How is this done, do you connect any cables on the receiver?

[AndyKunz]

If you have a DX3S, the telemetry data can be shown on the transmitter screen.

If you have a DX3R, the telemetry data is shown on a handheld LCD screen (see SPM1305 (http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SPM1305)) that you can mount on your antenna, just like an Eagle Tree Seagull. NOTE: The handheld screen can be used with the 3S also, so you can have a pit man read your data for you.

To sense the temperature, a sensor on a lead is attached to either the SPM1305's interface unit or your SR3500T receiver.

The RPM is sensed by a small opto sensor and band that goes on your output shaft, and connects to another port on the SPM1305 or SR3500T.

There is also a short cable that connects the 1305 to the rx.

There is NO SPEED SENSOR - you need a GPS or an Eagle Tree with pitot tube. You can convert RPM to speed, but it isn't accurate by any means.

Of course, you can get all this info by simply clicking on the link above and getting the manual.

FWIW, I use the SPM1305 with my DX3R when I need telemetry data. Note also that the telemetry link has limited range. If telemetry is real important, especially speed, I recommend getting the Eagle Tree system - it can provide more types of data, it can be loaded into your PC, has much greater range, and graphs can be generated afterwards.

Are you just trying to get the speed of your boat? If so, get a GPS. Are you looking for all kinds of other data including speed? If so, get an Eagle Tree. Are you looking for some data to try out different setups? If so, use the 3S and/or 1305.

There are lots of guys here who can tell you the advantages of one system over the other, but you will get a lot better input if you tell us what you're trying to accomplish.

Andy

[Bill-SOCAL]

do u know how far this futaba 3pm can go?

At my lake the farthest you can go out is about 1,000 feet. Doing so puts you into the shore. I have gone almost that far out during SAWS races and not had an issue in anything that I own. Take a look at where you run on Google Earth and measure how far you are really going out. I think you will be surprised how far away you aren't!!

Bottom line, range has not been an issue for me nor have I seen any range issues reported.

[DISAR]

If you have a DX3S, the telemetry data can be shown on the transmitter screen.

If you have a DX3R, the telemetry data is shown on a handheld LCD screen (see SPM1305 (http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SPM1305)) that you can mount on your antenna, just like an Eagle Tree Seagull. NOTE: The handheld screen can be used with the 3S also, so you can have a pit man read your data for you.

To sense the temperature, a sensor on a lead is attached to either the SPM1305's interface unit or your SR3500T receiver.

The RPM is sensed by a small opto sensor and band that goes on your output shaft, and connects to another port on the SPM1305 or SR3500T.

There is also a short cable that connects the 1305 to the rx.

There is NO SPEED SENSOR - you need a GPS or an Eagle Tree with pitot tube. You can convert RPM to speed, but it isn't accurate by any means.

Of course, you can get all this info by simply clicking on the link above and getting the manual.

FWIW, I use the SPM1305 with my DX3R when I need telemetry data. Note also that the telemetry link has limited range. If telemetry is real important, especially speed, I recommend getting the Eagle Tree system - it can provide more types of data, it can be loaded into your PC, has much greater range, and graphs can be generated afterwards.

Are you just trying to get the speed of your boat? If so, get a GPS. Are you looking for all kinds of other data including speed? If so, get an Eagle Tree. Are you looking for some data to try out different setups? If so, use the 3S and/or 1305.

There are lots of guys here who can tell you the advantages of one system over the other, but you will get a lot better input if you tell us what you're trying to accomplish.

Andy

Thank you. I had an eagle tree but not working now (?) and I want to buy a 2.4ghz system therefore I was just curious to see what the DX3S can do. Does it make coffee? Thanks again for your very explanatory reply.

[AndyKunz]

Eagle Tree is good for service too, so don't hesitate to send it back.

Andy

[Mel279]

1000ft!!!..that pretty far and I would need to bought a binocular also just in case LOL, u convince me:thumbup:, maybe I wanna bought futaba 3pm, since range is my priority.

THANKS Bill:smile:


At my lake the farthest you can go out is about 1,000 feet. Doing so puts you into the shore. I have gone almost that far out during SAWS races and not had an issue in anything that I own. Take a look at where you run on Google Earth and measure how far you are really going out. I think you will be surprised how far away you aren't!!

Bottom line, range has not been an issue for me nor have I seen any range issues reported.

[Bill-SOCAL]

I rarely do it and only for SAWS runs. At those distances you are driving by the roostertail.

For most oval racing venues that I attend I am hard pressed to get more than 300 to 400 feet away from the driver's stand. I guess I do not understand the need for extreme range in a boat. If ultimate range is an issue, install and airplane radio.

[jantagg]

I have been using a Spektrum DX3 (2.4) radio with a SM3001-Pro receiver. It works flawlessly at our club F/E racing. Recently, I returned for Orlando where I participated at the Orlando Gas/Nitro Winter Nationals. I took my radio and a reciever and put them in my brother Thunderboat since he has two TBs with only one Futaba radio. My Spektrum glitched at a rather short distance. His Futaba (in my boat) worked fine. The gas guys say that Spektrums are no good in boats and in deed, I saw none of the gas guys with a Spektrum similar to mine. I find that curious.

[Mel279]

The reason why Im considering the range, was that I don't to crash my boat as to my previous 2.4ghz that I've use before. That why range is my priority just to be on the safe side. Im curious, why is it all 2.4ghz have short antenna?:confused2:


I rarely do it and only for SAWS runs. At those distances you are driving by the roostertail.

For most oval racing venues that I attend I am hard pressed to get more than 300 to 400 feet away from the driver's stand. I guess I do not understand the need for extreme range in a boat. If ultimate range is an issue, install and airplane radio.

[Bill-SOCAL]

The antennas on all our radios are based on the wavelength, the shorter the wave length the shorter the antenna.

75 MHz radios have a wavelength around 4 meters. The antenna is roughly a 1/4 wave antenna, about 1 meter = 39 inches.

2.4 GHz frequency has a wavelength around 0.12 meters (4.72 inches) A 1/4 wave antenna will be about 1.2 inches long.

What other 2.4 radio were you having issues with??

[Mel279]

this radio that Im having issue with
http://cgi.ebay.com/Acoms-Technisport-2-4Ghz-radio-system-w-2-x-servos_W0QQitemZ270330872117QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRad io_Control_Parts_Accessories?hash=item270330872117&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50



The antennas on all our radios are based on the wavelength, the shorter the wave length the shorter the antenna.

75 MHz radios have a wavelength around 4 meters. The antenna is roughly a 1/4 wave antenna, about 1 meter = 39 inches.

2.4 GHz frequency has a wavelength around 0.12 meters (4.72 inches) A 1/4 wave antenna will be about 1.2 inches long.

What other 2.4 radio were you having issues with??

[Bill-SOCAL]

Never heard of it, but a little research showed that it uses a type of 2.4 implementation that has proven not to be very reliable in boats. There are several different 2.4 spread spectrum schemes and one is when the radio locks on a single bit of the spectrum and stays there. This is the worst possible method for our use.

Futaba is what is called Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). The Futaba radio sweeps the entire spectrum in a semi randomized manner 500 times a second. This virtual eliminates the possible of interference with the signal. It has proven to be very robust in the marine environment.

I can guarantee you that you will find the Futaba FASST radio to be far more reliable than the one you were using before.

By the way, where are you located? Where is "BN"??

[Bill-SOCAL]

Duplicate post

[JimClark]

Bill his profile says Brunei

I was wondering my self where BN was so I snooped

[Bill-SOCAL]

I looked there but did not see that. Thanks.

BTW - I recently did something I have resisted for a very long time. I bought a prosumer point and shoot. A Canon Powershot SX110IS. For the money I am amazed at how well it does. Plus it takes video. 36-260 optical zoom with digital zoom out to 748mm equivalent. Canon IS technology seems to work pretty well. But I miss my "L" glass!! But I have to tell you how nice it is not lugging around a 20 pound kit with my lenses and body!!

But I am having a hard time getting used to no viewfinder!! Old habits die hard. 8GB card in it allows something absurd like 7,000 high res images or 2 hours of video.

I'll be giving it a workout this weekend at the gas races at Lake Havasu. We race right in the shadow of London Bridge!!

[JimClark]

I will be interested to see how it does with moving objects. I just bought my wife a Sd890IS. It is small but she has small hands and so far it is working real well also. I just got a much nicer backpack that has a great waist belt that takes the majority of the load and should be a lot better on my shoulders carrying my gear around. Did you sell the L glass?

[Mel279]

Yeah, BN stand for Brunei, its a small country situated in South East Asia in Borneo island, not far from Malaysia and SIngapore. There's only few FE boat hobbyist here, around 4-5 people thats include myself, and we're all still new to this stuff. Sorry if my english is bad, as it is my 2nd language but Im learning:banana:


Never heard of it, but a little research showed that it uses a type of 2.4 implementation that has proven not to be very reliable in boats. There are several different 2.4 spread spectrum schemes and one is when the radio locks on a single bit of the spectrum and stays there. This is the worst possible method for our use.

Futaba is what is called Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). The Futaba radio sweeps the entire spectrum in a semi randomized manner 500 times a second. This virtual eliminates the possible of interference with the signal. It has proven to be very robust in the marine environment.

I can guarantee you that you will find the Futaba FASST radio to be far more reliable than the one you were using before.

By the way, where are you located? Where is "BN"??

[Bill-SOCAL]

Did you sell the L glass?

No!!!!! I am waiting until I win the lottery so I can swing getting a full fram sensor back like the 5D so I can use the wide angle more effectively. I have a 16-35, 24-70 100-400 zooms plus a 50 (f1.0) and an 85 . In addition to the action shots I alos enjoy nature and landscapes. The 1.6 sensor on my 10D just ain't doing it for me.

The new camera is for when I am too lazy to cart the real camera around. Hopefully it will take some decent shots. I tested it at a jet rally a couple of weeks ago and it seemed to do OK even with the fast movers.

We'll see how it does with boats!!

And Mel - your English is just fine. I hope you are getting some useful information.

[calcagno45]

Ahh and we digress.....:doh::just-kidding:

[Bill-SOCAL]

I don't see your point. I was talking about taking photos of boats equipped with 2.4 radios to demonstrate the range they are capable of. A discussion of the equipment necessary to do this is part and parcel of the discussion!! :tiphat:

[calcagno45]

I'm sorry you missed the ":just-kidding:" at the end of the post there.

I understood the relevance of the topic you guys veered into and I saw the quote as stated below. I too am curious on the range of the 2.4 radios. I'm in the market for one as well.


We'll see how it does with boats!!

[Bill-SOCAL]

Nope, I got it. I guess my response was too tongue in cheek. Even I will admit that it was a stretch to tie the topics together!!

And with regard to range, unless you have some need for extreme range, say over 1,000 feet, I can tell you that the Futaba FASST radios are going to work fine for you. If you have a need to go WAAAAAY out there, then maybe a radio intended for airborne use would be better suited. Like I said, measure you pond on Google Earth. I think you will be surprised at how far away you aren't!!

[AndyKunz]

The Futaba radio sweeps the entire spectrum in a semi randomized manner 500 times a second.

http://www.flyelectric.ukgateway.net/24scanner.htm

Found that last night while looking for some info. It has some neat info in it, thought you might enjoy it.

Andy

[Boatman]

Bill, Is there any talk of a 5.8ghz controller soon? I see they have them for cordless phones or have. Would it matter?

[bustitup]

why has no one suggested the dx3.0...this wont work?