What's the best transmitter?

[Erroneous]

Looking for a reliable, good range pistol radio. My old airtronics MX3-fg from my crawler is due for retirement and from what I've read airtronics isn't what it used to be.... Futaba fast 3PM-X? Looks good for crawling and boating. Any insight is welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Fluid]

The Best? IMO:

Futaba 4PX or 3PV
Spektrum DX4R PRO


I've owned two of these, and both have been flawless. Do you need a $300+ transmitter? Depends. If you own several models, if you need excellent range, if you race or run very fast or expensive boats then I would say perhaps.

Can you get by with less? Of course, the 3PM-X is probably a great transmitter. I am very glad that you are not looking for a cheap radio.






.

[Erroneous]

Thank Fluid. My Zelos36 is carrying just under $400 in just batteries, so yeah.

[Darin Jordan]

If you are considering Spektrum, and want the performance of the higher priced TX but don't need all the additional whistles and bells (which, you really don't for boats)... this is another option. Same range performance, etc., but just fewer features, most of which you'll never use anyway.

http://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdId=SPM4200W

SPM4200W_a1.jpg


All that said... There are programmable upgrades that I'm aware of that are on the way for the DX4R-Pro, which is one of the benefits of having the higher-end TX. Things like Active control, Telemetry, etc. These upgrades usually target the higher end stuff, because it's capable of operating it.

[T.S.Davis]

I have both the 3rPro and 4rPro Spektrum. Love em but Darin is right. The 4R does a bunch of stuff I'll never use.

I've not owned a Futaba in ages but I have driven with a Futaba. Has a certain feel in the hand that's hard to describe. You know it's a quality piece of equipment. I think it's still the gold standard. But then it's priced as such too.

You absolutely will hear success stories from people using cheaper gear. The FlySky and Tactic radios work well too but I often wonder if we simply don't hear from the guys that have had a real problem. Sorta like "My Yugo always got me where I wanted to go".......................until it didn't.

[T.S.Davis]

Oh BTW. My favorite feature of the Spektrum 3 and 4 radios is the grip itself. The handle where you hold it is shaped like a pistol. Fits my hand perfectly.

[dethow]

The FlySky and Tactic radios work well too but I often wonder if we simply don't hear from the guys that have had a real problem. Sorta like "My Yugo always got me where I wanted to go".......................until it didn't.

You don't hear from the guys that have a real problem... because real problems don't exist with them. LOL

I love my FlySky, and I've told that to you repeatedly...
In fairness, I've never used anything else. But I've watched several racers with both Spektrum and Futaba have problems on race day, while I've never lost communication. UNLESS my c/f boat turns upside down and it's stuck in wide open throttle. And that's when Terry laughs at me. Even though it's only happened (I think) 3 times. I like to spend my time laughing at the guys dead in water with their f/g boat right side up...

Plus the price is nice at $140 WITH telemetry and you get real time temps on your motor and esc. Nice feature to have when testing different motors and props.
It is as easy to setup, adjust and customize as an iPhone. Color screen with stylus is nice.
Oh... and the FlySky comes with two different sized grip pads so you can choose the one that fits your hand best.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-it4-touchscreen-radio-orange.html

[kfxguy]

You don't hear from the guys that have a real problem... because real problems don't exist with them. LOL

I love my FlySky, and I've told that to you repeatedly...
In fairness, I've never used anything else. But I've watched several racers with both Spektrum and Futaba have problems on race day, while I've never lost communication. UNLESS my c/f boat turns upside down and it's stuck in wide open throttle. And that's when Terry laughs at me. Even though it's only happened (I think) 3 times. I like to spend my time laughing at the guys dead in water with their f/g boat right side up...

Plus the price is nice at $140 WITH telemetry and you get real time temps on your motor and esc. Nice feature to have when testing different motors and props.
It is as easy to setup, adjust and customize as an iPhone. Color screen with stylus is nice.
Oh... and the FlySky comes with two different sized grip pads so you can choose the one that fits your hand best.

http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-it4-to...io-orange.html

Where have you been? Lol




I have a dx4S not the r because I didn't figure I'd need all the features. I love it. It's very light, only 4 aa batteries to power it. The grip is very comfy. I can't think of one complaint as long as you use a good receiver it reaches further than you can see. I'll have range problems on carbon boats if I do a very short antenna out the hull. Here's an example. I need to lengthen my tube by an inch or so. It's been shortened a few times because I keep bending the tubes.

[Fluid]

I know that four members of my club ran FlySky radios and had nothing but control issues. Three gave up and the forth still runs his...and often does not finish a race due to lost radio control. The local gas club had four or five member go to SkyFlys for a season, now they have all gone back to Futaba or Spektrum. Oh, sorry, one other club member still uses his FlySky....for his retrieval boat.

I am happy that some folks have good luck and I hope it continues - but from what I have personally repeatedly seen I wouldn't put one in the same truck as my boats.......


.

[T.S.Davis]

haha Our gang never lets anyone off the hook. If you have an issue we'll have a laugh at your expense. Dave, in your defense I'm pretty sure I held your radio for one reason or another and it doesn't feel like a cheesy thing in the hand. That's the better version with the bells and whistles.

I saw some issues in Phoenix with FlySky but that was a couple seasons ago.

I've seen guys with RX problems with every brand. Accept Tactic. Those always seem to stay linked best I can tell but no danged features on those at all. When I have an RX go bad it's always for the same reason. Abuse. The Spektrums are pretty water tolerant but repeated drenching without proper drying and they'll croak eventually.

[Darin Jordan]

The Spektrums are pretty water tolerant but repeated drenching without proper drying and they'll croak eventually.

I think these ones have been released to deal with that as well... pretty much totally potted in:

http://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SPMMR4000

SPMMR4000-450.jpg

[dethow]

haha Our gang never lets anyone off the hook. If you have an issue we'll have a laugh at your expense. Dave, in your defense I'm pretty sure I held your radio for one reason or another and it doesn't feel like a cheesy thing in the hand. That's the better version with the bells and whistles.

I saw some issues in Phoenix with FlySky but that was a couple seasons ago.

Yeah... most of the FlySky radios are on the cheaper end, being $25 to $55. I can understand and agree that Tactic is probably the best low cost radio. But once you start spending over $100, I feel the FlySky FS-iT4 is a good choice. I've had great luck with it.

Fluid says that several club members have tried FlySky and had control issues.... I wonder if those were the cheaper radios???

As far as water issues... I keep my receivers and telemetry modules in the Traxxas water resistant boxes. Worth the $11.59 from OSE.
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...p?prod=dh-3628

And I added a small waterproof switch to mine so I can flip the switch and have it in bind mode without having to open the box.
DSC00001.jpg

[T.S.Davis]

Darin, all those dangling plugs. Ugh

Do you know if that is going to work with the 3R?

[Darin Jordan]

Darin, all those dangling plugs. Ugh

Do you know if that is going to work with the 3R?

Probably, but not with the range that the MR-series have... For DX3R/S/C stuff, I'd stick with the MR receivers.

[Darin Jordan]

And I added a small waterproof switch to mine so I can flip the switch and have it in bind mode without having to open the box.
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I have those in my trucks, but for racing boats, it's a total pain to work with if you are in the heat of the event and have to access the RX for some reason.

Probably a decent idea for sport boating though.