What is a good RC boat radio???

[T.S.Davis]

hehe Jay, are you saying that not everything I read on the net is true? Wwhhhat?

I have about $2k in my scale. $40 radio makes sense. Gotta save dough somewhere.

Someday I want to find a radio so cheap that they pay me to take it.

[Fella1340]

Telemetry is a nice option. I use the temp sensors to monitor esc and motor temp. You can keep track of things when setting up without pulling the boat in, removing tape, hatch bolts etc. Awesome for that and sport running. Not really practical on the race course I would guess. I won't mention the brand. Just that telemetry is a great thing.

[richinspirit]

Well, I will mention my brand...

I run the Fly Sky FS-iT4 and telemetry has saved my butt a couple different times now. A sub-$12 receiver and a $9 temp sensor for each of two motors helped me realize I had a major issue, as I used half my battery capacity and one of the motors was >204 degrees with only intermittent high speed operation.

I had a similar issue in my RC10T4.1 where a temp sensor on my motor showed a serious problem before it became an expensive failure, too. It is entirely likely the FS-iT4 has saved me more money in replacing components that would have failed w/o its telemetry, by giving me a heads up soon enough, than it actually cost me to purchase.

This radio shows you the signal strength the receiver is getting from the transmitter on the OSD for the transmitter, the voltage the receiver is receiving from the receiver battery or ESC, plus the receivers and telemetry modules are available at great prices... $4.50 for a voltage telemetry module... that's nice.

As a $130 option, I believe you should look into it... If you decide not to get it, well sure it's obviously up to you... but don't fail to check it out, IMO.

Now, after having said all that, the first one I ordered arrived DOA. Still, I'd do it again in a heartbeat, at this point. The second one works great.

[siberianhusky]

One thing I should have mentioned is that I use an EagleTree data logger, gave up with the radio telemetry as soon as I got this. Does way more than telemetry and can be set up for flight logging for my planes.
I just can't get the info off the radio screen while boating, by the time I look down and focus on what I'm trying to find the boat has gone more than the length of the straight and I'm past the turn. Plus it becomes a real hazard if you are running with a number of other boats on course. I'm getting old, can't handle too many distractions at once anymore!

[Darin Jordan]

Relating to the Telemetry... Spektrum systems can be outfitted with telemetry such that it will be able to be read from an iDevice (iPad, iPod, etc.) from the shoreline real-time.

Obviously, you'd have to have a partner there looking at the display.

http://www.spektrumrc.com/Technology/Telemetry.aspx

I like the EagleTree option, but I only use if for the GPS and some of the "non-intrusive" features. If I want to see volts and amps, I run a Castle ICE controller.

[Fella1340]

Telemetry isn't for the race course, that's not the point of it. when setting up a boat it can save a lot of time and bother having to pull the boat out of the water dozens of times and removing the hatch. Great for sport boating all around.

[Livewire121]

I agree with most of the opinions given already. Buy a mid range radio from one of the major manufacturers, buy a high end radio if you'll have a use for the features it can provide. Buying a $40-$100 radio to control a $1000 boat makes no sense to me personally. It's like buying a $1,00000 sports car and putting $99 dollar no name tires on it to save some cash. If you want to save some money figure out somewhere else to save it, but don't cheap out on your only life line between you and your hobby investment.
Just my two cents.

[Fella1340]

The spektrum telemetry sensors aren't to badly priced though the telemetry module would hurt the pocket book for multiple boats. You would think the phone interface would be available for Android. Makes a small market for it even smaller. Neat idea though

[T.S.Davis]

You would think the phone interface would be available for Android. Makes a small market for it even smaller. Neat idea though

Yeah, that's just bad marketing.

[Darin Jordan]

Yeah, that's just bad marketing.

I, and Andy, both agree as well... Licensing deal, not in their (Spektrum's) control...


Just for reference, all of the Spektrum surface radios, from the DX2E to the new DX4R-Pro (SUPER SWEET, by the way!) have about the same range performance with the MR-series receivers. If you want to take advantage of the newest DSMX and AVC, etc., you'll need the newest offerings (DX4S and DX4R-Pro). I haven't looked to see if the DX3R-Pro can be updated as well (I suspect not... would need the 4 channels format I believe).

Bottom line is that you can get a quality, name-brand radio system for a pretty reasonable price.

[madmikepags]

I've been using futaba radios and servos for 20 of my 28 years racing RC and have had 1 glitch once!!!!! 8 years with airtronics radios and servos have cost me many races and a carpet oval National Championship, and equipment!!! I've used some of the cheaper stuff in cars without a problem but you couldn't pay me to put one in my race boats or cars.

[Livewire121]

+1

[T.S.Davis]

I've been using futaba radios and servos for 20 of my 28 years racing RC and have had 1 glitch once!!!!!

I don't know man. I've retrieved your T hydro from a far off location twice. On one of those occasion it wasn't even close to being in the water. Had to climb over a tree to get it. Clearly a lose wheel nut. haha Futaba is still the gold standard in the eyes of most I think. They're priced accordingly though.

Dang it Darin! I've only got a half season on my DX3r Pro. Not there's a new one! Tell Andy to stop making new ones please. The one I replaced I just gave away. Still works fine. Has Horizon/Spektrum learned nothing about RC enthusiasts? We don't like to be told we must buy x,y,z in order to do anything. The variety of radios in this thread alone is proof of that.

There are both success and failure stories with most of the brands available. So we each run what we like. A clear consensus on what's the bestest/smartest/mostest/ cost effective......ist..... approach will not ever happen. Look for features you like. Get the best reputation you can afford.

Stuff I need in no particular order:
good signal
multi-model memory
endpoint adjust
comfortable in the hand

I've never messed with telemetry. I have used a third channel before for on the fly trim but that's kind of a distraction.

[Fella1340]

It's hugely expensive getting setup in this hobby and saying you wouldn't run a $100 radio is a boat you race is good advice. Unfortunately when starting out this applies to so much more than a radio. Batteries and esc's are a vital area and probably as important if not more so. Running a cheap motor can take out your esc. Having a fast boat requires a good hull (or appropriately reinforced). Getting a few boats outfitted with everything including a good charger takes planning and often enough compromise. The longer I am in the hobby the better quality everything will be across the board.
Batteries alone will run over $1000 if I use budjet aspec nano's, closer to $2500 plus if I run hyperion or other high end stuff. It's hard to figure out where to save any money period. Mistakes are very costly period. I would feel better running a tactic radio then a cheap esc or bargain basement batteries. It's a minefield out there trying to make choices getting established. The more established I become the easier it is to pick areas to upgrade on. Eventually I will have the best of everything but until then compromises will have to be made. That's kinda the big picture around why I don't have my $600 radio to run this year and I can imagine others are going through the same thing.

[Darin Jordan]

That's kinda the big picture around why I don't have my $600 radio to run this year and I can imagine others are going through the same thing.

People are throwing around some crazy numbers here. Even the top of the line surface radio from Spektrum isn't $600.00....

You can get a QUALITY radio, with good model memory, and ALL of the features you could ever use in a boat, which is WAY fewer than a full-function Car would require, for $100.00....

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/dx3c-dsm-3-channel-surface-radio-SPM3300

20-model memory and every feature you'd ever need...