Decent 2.4 radio for under $100

[tlandauer]

Howard I have 2 transmitters, one for cars one for boats as for the dx3e I think the dx3 c is a worthy replacement and for a few more dollars than the other budget systems I think it is a clear winner. For what its worth I bade a 100$ + fm titans before the 2.4 craze switched to the 20$ hobbyking 2.4 and it sent my beloved modified Elam into a bank went back to fm till I could afford a "real radio"

I was eyeing this more than a year ago, then I read someone said he had issue with this particular Tx paired with the MR rx ( this is MR compatible) , now I could be wrong on this, I could have confused the model name, but I always wanted to know if anyone actually used this Tx, it seldom gets mentioned and I wonder why, it's a fantastic value judging from its spec and price.

[Fluid]

It seems like there is not a 100% guaranteed boat radio out there, cause everyone has had a problem with every radio at 1 point in time or another...

I have to take exception with this statement from personal experience and that of some of my club mates. I NEVER had any control issues with my Futaba 4PK other than from one wet receiver. I'd still be using it if it hadn't been destroyed in a car crash. I replaced it with the Spektrum DX3R PRO and in the past year-and-a-half I have had ZERO problems with it - both radios included lots of SAW racing where long range is vitally important. I did have some minor issues with older Spektrums (~2009 vintage) but nothing since. Other club members with Futaba 2.4s have similar stories - and we run twice a month every month so they get a lot of use.

Not so with some of the cheaper setups. I can't count the number of heats a couple of club members have lost due to control issues with their FlySKy radios. Ditto the local gas racers, many of whom tried the FS but went back to quality radios. All the time and money spent on a race boat and their $50 radio lets them down....

...the majority of radio systems & components come from chi-com now anyway....

It makes no difference where a radio is made, any decent electronics factory can make high quality stuff if they are held accountable to do so. But that takes oversight and QA/QC systems which raise the sales price considerably. BTW my Futaba radio was made in Taiwan and the Spektrum radio was made in Malaysia. Parts, who knows.



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[Alexgar]

on the box and in the manual it states this tx is surface and marine compatible, as for having problems I only use the surface esc that came with it and the spektrum compatible orange rx that hobbyking sells 8 boats zero problems been a little over a year , have had some issues with older escs and endpoints or adjustments but resolved when spending some time on them then saving them into memory so it won't happen again.btw I don't use ant cf boats

[tlandauer]

Yup, that's why I was wondering why that guy suffered glitches. Wish I can dig up that post. It seems this particular Tx is well suited for sport boating guys like myself. Higher end Tx has so many bells and whistles that are aimed at the competition land vehicle users. I wouldn't know how to use Anti-lock or AVC on my boats anyway.

[Alexgar]

I love it I'm chiming out before I get accused of Bering a spektrum salesmen or employee LOL

[gsbuickman]

For a Ben Franklin, I think I would jump on the Airtronics MX-V that slowhd suggested.

http://www.amain.com/product_info.php/cPath/61_119/products_id/260511/n/Airtronics-MX-V-FHSS-2-24GHz-Radio-System-w-92625-3-Channel-Waterproof-Receiver

[T.S.Davis]

The 2.4 technology is more reliable than ever before. I will say this though. The last radio problem I witnessed was with a Flysky. That does not mean they're all crap BTW.

The only issues I've had with my Spektrum were self induced. You can only submerge those water resistant rx so many times before they give up the ghost. Never lost one on the water though. Odd now that I think about it.

Honestly, if your on the cheap I get it. Been there. But if you want cheap and reliable why steer away from a proven commodity? The Tactic just works. Zero features but I don't think I've ever heard a Tactic guy fighting limited range or signal loss. Although, I do not know how guys can stand not having end point adjustments.

Cheap is only good if it works. If it fails and puts your pristine beautiful scale boat into the bank or a steal sea wall it's too late to figure out you maybe might not shoulda spent minimum possible dollars on a radio. That I've seen on more than one occasion. Pretty sure that's Howard's point.

[pugman2]

i always run a failsafe weather its a expensive radio or a cheapie on my gas boats

[forescott]

I think Ill just stick with the trusty tactic. Didn't even think to look here @ OSE. Steve has some in stock for $65. Im not trying to cheap out on a radio, just got $400 from my wife for my birthday. So I'm trying to stretch my dollars for a budget cat build.

[olwarbirds]

Spek DX3C and up xmttrs work with all spek surface rcvrs...its the older spektrums that have a prob with the Marine specific rcvrs...The Spek marine rcvr was designed with CF boats in mind, you just have to set up the ants correctly one horizontal one vertical and you will not experience any brown outs. I been using and selling spektrum products since they came out. Each to their own on where to spend the $. I havnt used Futaba in yrs and that was on planes and buggies, but I hear good things from customers on them. The reason I have more than one Radio is all the model memory got used up and one is for my offroad/onroad racers.....DJ



NO EPA to me is just asking for

[ron1950]

I am with jay on this one dx3r pro and 8 marine recivers and never a glitch or boble spend a little save a boat lol