Futaba 2.4 had a bit of an issue!!!

[AndyKunz]

Don't assume that ALL 2.4's have the same limitations as your radio, Don.

Spektrum has receivers that are quite water-resistant and DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR BOAT USE.

Spektrum receivers do not have problems with heat. We have published reports of them baking in ovens, working perfectly well, long after the plastic covers are useless.

Spektrum is used successfully in ignition-powered vehicles without any more protection than what would have been used in 72 MHz (usually with less).

Most of your other points I agree with - especially the $50 radio in the $1500 boat point.

I will still use my Spektrum radios in all my airplanes and boats. But then, I'm just a week bit prejudiced since I work on the design team.

Andy

[detox]

Eliminate the switch. I plug my rx batteries into receiver before running.

My FE boat once died on the water (no steering or throttle). The 1600mah receiver batteries were low.

[LuckyDuc]

Steven,

I would place a bet that the ON/OFF switch gave up..

Grim

That's what my money is on. I've seen it first hand too.
I don't use switches anymore. I use bullet connectors and a wire loop to close/open my Radio box circuit.

[don ferrette]

Don't assume that ALL 2.4's have the same limitations as your radio, Don.

Spektrum has receivers that are quite water-resistant and DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR BOAT USE.

Spektrum receivers do not have problems with heat. We have published reports of them baking in ovens, working perfectly well, long after the plastic covers are useless.

Spektrum is used successfully in ignition-powered vehicles without any more protection than what would have been used in 72 MHz (usually with less).

Most of your other points I agree with - especially the $50 radio in the $1500 boat point.

I will still use my Spektrum radios in all my airplanes and boats. But then, I'm just a week bit prejudiced since I work on the design team.

Andy

Sorry Andy but I've seen every issue I've listed happen to Spektrum radios as well including serious range problems in the recent past. Unlike yourself I made it a point to not address any single manufacturer in regard to the 8 recommendations I made but have seen any number of them happen on boats with different brands of radio systems in them. Sounds like you guys have now addressed the issues that earlier plagued the Spektrum 2.4 radios and kudos to you and your design team.

[AndyKunz]

We haven't had any problems with the Marine systems.

Perhaps you are referring to the (wrong) usage of Spektrum Surface (car, SR-series) receivers in Marine applications. The Marine radios were one of the first projects I worked on when I got here; prior to that we (engineering) had not recommended use of car products on the water.

Andy

[Fluid]

Eliminate the switch. I plug my rx batteries into receiver before running.

This doesn't work for gas boats. Most guys will not open their radio box during a day of racing, they need an external switch.


To clarify, when I noted the failure of Spektrum radios in my above post, I have no idea if they were the marine version or not. Frankly, based on how gassers seem to cut corners more than most others with their radios, I'd guess they were not marine versions.

.

[don ferrette]

We haven't had any problems with the Marine systems.

Perhaps you are referring to the (wrong) usage of Spektrum Surface (car, SR-series) receivers in Marine applications. The Marine radios were one of the first projects I worked on when I got here; prior to that we (engineering) had not recommended use of car products on the water.

Andy

That's good to know, it's shame it took as long as it did for that information to get out. More than a few unhappy boaters looking for answers got told differently by Spektrum folks before it was said to not use them for boats (and those stories were posted on various "marine" forums). Most likely explains why you guys are still digging out from the bad rap that exists to this day. Glad to see that it appears it will no longer be the case with the Spektrum radios.

[LuckyDuc]

My switch

Here is an example of my external switch for my IC boat radio boxes. Nice, simple, and reliable.

[Fluid]

Elegant solution. Too bad few gas guys can solder reliably.....




.

[Grimracer]

We haven't had any problems with the Marine systems.

Perhaps you are referring to the (wrong) usage of Spektrum Surface (car, SR-series) receivers in Marine applications. The Marine radios were one of the first projects I worked on when I got here; prior to that we (engineering) had not recommended use of car products on the water.

Andy

Andy.. it has been working out better.. maybe it was the "Crash Investigation Team"

Grim

[tiqueman]

I also will say that I am running one Spektrum controlled boat (Mr3000) and have not had any issues with it. It is the unit that comes w/ the Proboat Geico. I did have steering gitters once but thats because I hit something in the water, blew the strut all outta whack and water intruded up the shafts and the rx and servo got sprayed as water slung around the hull. Within an hour it all worked fine. Although a lesser expensive unit, I do wish it had model memory as I do enjoy the radio. But Ive always had Futaba radios and very rarely have had an issue.

At some point or another something is going to fail, whether maintained or not, its electronics. Back in the day, I was one of those who would run a $1500. gasser and a $80 radio. Its the best I could do at the time. And even at that, I had a couple Rxs go under salt water and still use them today. They were FM type RXs and that was over 10 years ago. I still dont run the best of the best, but I love my Futaba Fasst 2.4 T3PM radio.

I can see this becoming a "Chevy vs Ford" type battle. I think as for brand, run what you can afford, run whats well suited for your application and maybe even run whats available in your LHS so its easy to pick up spare rxs etc..... At some point you may encounter a problem, but try and figure out what it was (switch, water, impropper install, etc) and move on to fix the issue. The older I get in life, Im finally begginning to accept that $h1t happens..... and focus more on why and how not to let it happen again.

[tiqueman]

Here is an example of my external switch for my IC boat radio boxes. Nice, simple, and reliable.

Thats a fantastic idea.... very clean. If I ever run my gassers again, looks like I have something to do to them.....

[AndyKunz]

Elegant solution. Too bad few gas guys can solder reliably.....

<flame suit on>

It's not just nitro and gas boaters that can't solder well, Jay!

Andy

<keeping flame suit on :) >

[siberianhusky]

I was very surprised how quickly 2 digital servos would drain a 6v AAA rx pack in my JAE 12.
Very easily could have turned ugly. As they say ignorance is bliss though.
So far never had an issue with my Spektrum that I honestly can't attribute to user error, bad antennae routing the two times funky things have happened, once blocked by the pipe on the rigger, once in a SV27 the antennae would go below the water line in sharp turns, both times extending the antennae properly above the hull completely eliminated the problems.
About 20 years ago I had a complete write off of a HotShot 3.5 running a Cox/Sanwa AM radio, full tilt left turn into the stone shoreline. Toothpicks everywhere! Changed to a Futaba Magnum SPort, ran that until I tried the Spektrum, this is my second season with it.
LOL I've owned a grand total of 3 radios in over 25 years!

[ron1950]

gas guys here in mississippi and louisanna all poo poo the spectrum....they all say they have seen guys with spectrum radio's have problems...i say when and its always a few years ago.....i asked if they ever tryed the marine recivers always get same answer,,NO.....i love my spectrum dx3r for my cars and dx3s for my boats...never in 6 years of oval car racing and boats have i ever had a problem with my spectrum radios at all......wish i had about 3 more mr3000 recivers is all i can say...when i put 800 dolllars in a boat i want to be able to trust the radio and that is exactly what i get from spectrum radio's i even put a spectrum decal on my tunnel boat and i dont usually put any free advertising on any of my stuff but i am sold on spectrum