Preferred rc radio Futaba or Spektrum or ?

[Livewire121]

I agree that the spektrum rx's are water proof, as a few friends of mine use them, and they've had close to a gallon of water in their Spartans. But I've conformal coated all of my Futaba rx's and have never had a problem either. But can you say that the spektrums have the same range?

[JimClark]

never had any range issues with my older spektrum's have not used my mr200's yet. Then again I race and the course is not a mile away

[Cooper]

Just a quick question as I stumbled onto this thread. I use spectrum dx3 with the mr3000 twin antenna in a saw boat. One antenna is in a plastic antenna tube extending through the hull, other antenna stick out from the hatch seal ( just about the last 40mm, the effective area). As I am in excess of 100mph in this boat I run a ways away. Sometimes the boat will cut out, intermittently during a slow speed sweeping turn (about 15-20mph) so it's not a brown out. The only time this happens is when the boat is away from me. As I have learned the limit I can run this before the lapse happens. In my honest estimation I would guess that is is no more than 150-175 yards away from me. The to is held vertically to the boat attitude, there is no roost in the line of sight between tx and rx. Is this considered what others are considering to limit? As I hear others say the run till they can't see their boats. I have only used spectrum in my high end things. I use the cheep flysky in other stuff as its hard to beat a $6 rx. I thought about swapping and trying that but before I do that (fail safes I prefer) I just thought I would ask. And use spectrum and knock off rx's in a bunch of planes that go way far and no problem but that's stick tx.

[Cooper]

Just a quick question as I stumbled onto this thread. I use spectrum dx3 with the mr3000 twin antenna in a saw boat. One antenna is in a plastic antenna tube extending through the hull, other antenna stick out from the hatch seal ( just about the last 40mm, the effective area). As I am in excess of 100mph in this boat I run a ways away. Sometimes the boat will cut out, intermittently during a slow speed sweeping turn (about 15-20mph) so it's not a brown out. The only time this happens is when the boat is away from me. As I have learned the limit I can run this before the lapse happens. In my honest estimation I would guess that is is no more than 150-175 yards away from me. The to is held vertically to the boat attitude, there is no roost in the line of sight between tx and rx. Is this considered what others are considering to limit? As I hear others say the run till they can't see their boats. I have only used spectrum in my high end things. I use the cheep flysky in other stuff as its hard to beat a $6 rx. I thought about swapping and trying that but before I do that (fail safes I prefer) I just thought I would ask. And use spectrum and knock off rx's in a bunch of planes that go way far and no problem but that's stick tx.

Maybe up to 200yards?? At most. After I thought a little more. :)

[jetnfast]

+1 for the flysky radios. I am running an FS-GT-3C in my Daytona, so far so good.

[ozzie-crawl]

Cooper. I have a similar issue with airtronics. But it is as I turn back towards myself. Soon as the boat faces me it drops out.
Only does it at low speed.

[tlandauer]

I had this happen on my maiden run on my MHZ Lizard Xtreme. had a 4" motor mount rail. The MR3000 is outside the rail on Starboard side. I had one run while the boat was turning CCW so the portside was beginning to face me. I suffered a complete break down of communication. Boat went to Throttle Fail Safe mode, but unlike previous experiences with Tactic system, it will not re-establish contact. Had to wait till boat was pushed back to shore by the wind, no big deal, but was a mystery to me.
What I need to say is that on that particular occasion both of the antennas were inside the hull: I have done that on my DF26 and a couple other non CF lined hulls w/o any problem. Obviously, I don't do that on this particular hull any more.

[T.S.Davis]

I use both but mostly 200's.

[Cooper]

What ranges are you guys getting? As I'm still not sure what is considered range limits. I know it's not definable like 236'6" but some real people with some actual realistic numbers, not as far as I can see. Before I had eye surgery I could say that was about 50 yards,lol,,, now it is mile+ so a accurate estimation would be helpful. Thanks.

[Cooper]

What ranges are you guys getting? As I'm still not sure what is considered range limits. I know it's not definable like 236'6" but some real people with some actual realistic numbers, not as far as I can see. Before I had eye surgery I could say that was about 50 yards,lol,,, now it is mile+ so a accurate estimation would be helpful. Thanks.

For me it's like two football fields then the sputtering starts.

[madmikepags]

8 years futaba 1 glitch but it was a wet reciever, no not waterproof, but they do come back and work after you dry em out.

[siberianhusky]

AS far as actual distance I don't know, but running a dx2s with marine rx (I use both 2 & 3 channel ones) one antennae verticle out side the hull the other horizontal under the hatches I can run my boats far enough away that I can't really see a 30+" boat, just driving by the rooster tail.
I figure if I can no longer really see the boat I have enough range.
With the stock SR rx the radio came with I'd say a good bit under half that range with the shorty antennae inside the hull.
Changed from Futaba to Spektrum when I went 2.4 strictly because of price and ease of local availability.

[martin]

Personally Futaba all the way, interestingly bigsquidrc.com have tested an a number of diff radios & Futaba have came out on top every time. Re range as one example
Futaba 3pmx 1764 ft
Futaba 3 prka 1573 ft
Turnigy gtx3 733 ft
Turnigy 3xs 570ft
Spektrum dx3c 486 ft.

[BILL OXIDEAN]

Airtronics

I've been doing RC for over 30 years, and there are in my opinion 2 top radio mfgrs.
The best being Airtronics. Airtronics radios boast the fastest response time of ANY radio on the market.

Our new M12 responds so fast that companies are now making ESC's that utilize its response time

http://www.airtronics.net/index.php/radios-receivers/2-4-ghz-surface-radios-1/airtronics-m12-competition-pistol-radio-w-rx-471-dry.html

Better yet, I'll let my race manager CK tell you https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...jd0rHecQyMZ7aQ


I've been told time and time again that fast response Isn't vital in boats, I beg to differ.
I used to blow off the water in SAW competition All the time. Once I started running Airtronics again, that all changed. In many cases when the bow rises at high speed
one can back out of the throttle and settle her. I have found decreased response time to aid in that in a major way. Occasionally I have saved myself from clipping a pin saving myself a penalty lap (vital in a heat race).

A faster responding radio makes you feel more "connected" to the model. The great thing is you can actually adjust the latency if you want it slower ; )

The radio has literally Dozens more adjustments. Likely more than you will ever need until we're using mind control : )

[SloHD]

^ I agree. Airtronics has a full waterproof receiver now as well. Fhss-2 so you can buy an older/cheaper radio if need be...

http://www.airtronics.net/index.php/receivers/2-4ghz-surface-receivers/airtronics-rx-37w-receiver-waterproof-2-4ghz-fh-2-3ch.html