What's the best transmitter?

[dethow]

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.

Ummm.... I've never had to access mine. My FlySkys stay binded... and I'd never had to replace a bad one out. Do your Speckrums have issues there???

Like I said, I put a small switch on the side of the box that allows me to bind without opening the box, but I've never had to use it during a race event.
The switch is mostly there incase something happens to my transmitter and I have to bind to my back-up transmitter. Again... never had to do it, but you never know when I may drop it in the water or simply break it somehow. I'd say throwing it... But I don't have a bad temper like I've seen some others have.

Oh... and I put small extensions from the actual RX to the exterior of the box, so if I have to change out a servo or esc I can just plug in/out, again without opening the box.

[kfxguy]

So far for me the sr210 has been the BEST receiver by far. I have a bag of defective mr series receivers both versions. I was gonna send them back to spektrum one day but I've just been lazy and swapping over to the sr210. I just got one of those sr2000 dsmr receivers in yesterday. Can't wait to try it out.

[Darin Jordan]

Do your Speckrums have issues there???

L

No, they don't... But they also keep working even if they get wet...

[dethow]

No, they don't... But they also keep working even if they get wet...

Then why do I hear Spektrum users blame water issues when they loose contact???

Just saying a $12 box may be able to help.... And I can do anything from the outside of my box, I can do from the inside. Except change the actual RX out. And if one is having to change out their RX all the time then maybe they are not using what I would consider to be a dependable radio system.

[Peter A]

Just to throw one in there, I use a HK GT2b on 3-4 boats. Never has a problem. I waterproof the recievers. It has just been a really reliable radio and in my petrol offshore boat we run races up to an hour long. If only I could do an hour straight without messing something up and getting rescued!!
How ever the downside of the GT2b radio is it is really basic with no model memories so I have to get rudders set up well so I don't have to remember the trim setting. I am however looking to upgrade at some point in the future.

[Darin Jordan]

Dethow, I'm happy you are happy with your radio. More power to you. I'm not going to drag out an argument here, and you'll almost never hear me try to convince anyone that something I like is better/worse than something others might like. I simply report what I know about what I've used and let you decide.

I have no idea what you are hearing, but I've been using Spektrum for over 10-years and haven't had any issues. That's all I can speak too. I'll let others speak for themselves, but I think you'll hear much the same.

As for using that box. It's fine. Use it. I don't need nor want one. Just added weight for my setups, and added complexity when I need to switch setups or ??? during a race-day. My setups almost NEVER get wet in the first place. If they do get wet, it's because someone crashed me and tore up my hull.

[dethow]

Dethow, I'm happy you are happy with your radio. More power to you. I'm not going to drag out an argument here... I simply report what I know about what I've used and let you decide.

Dang, Darin... I'm not trying to have an argument with you.

You say you report what you know... and you have reported that waterproof boxes are a pain to deal with in boats. I'm just saying they are not unless you are actually having to change out your RX all the time. And that's what I know...

And as far as what others are saying... I don't have to just hear it. I see it.
Hell, Terry's son lost radio at our last race because a water line blew off and the RX got wet.

I get that a box would be a pain without the switch and extensions..., but is it that hard for you to say someone has a good idea without turning it all into an argument. I'm happy you are happy and happy your radios work when they get wet. But that's NOT what most RC boaters experience.

[Darin Jordan]

but is it that hard for you to say someone has a good idea without turning it all into an argument.

YES, It's VERY HARD! I.... MUST.... ARGUE!!!

Hahahaha... Sorry... sometimes trying to type concise thoughts on a forum makes it sound like I'm being argumentative... not my intent. Please forgive.

But that's NOT what most RC boaters experience.

Using words like "most" when we all have a limited view of the hobby isn't fair. About 80% of our 35+ member club use Spektrum and rarely have issues. When people do, it's usually because the wire connection posts have gotten corroded, not because of an actual internal error.

As for the Box... I add the extensions to them in my Trucks as well. It is a good idea, just not one that I, personally speaking, feel I need to employ.

[dethow]

I have a bag of defective mr series receivers both versions. I was gonna send them back to spektrum one day but I've just been lazy and swapping over to the sr210.

Why do you have a bag of defective mr series receivers? What happened to them?
You should talk to Darin. Apparently he hasn't had any issues in ten years and his even work if they get wet.

And I say that with a smile, Darin... Let's move on

But to be fair... I still feel MOST is accurate when we start discussing water and an RX. No matter what brand the RX is. That's why they sell these boxes, some people put them in balloons, while other find other ways of waterproofing the best they can.

[T.S.Davis]

Maybe I should go to that too Dave. I tend to never own enough RX's for the number of boats I own. If I had the little extensions sticking out it wouldn't matter. Eezy breezy to move them. I could even run the bind plug out that way. hmmmmm

I wonder some times if the fact that the Spektrums are supposed to be "water resistant" makes us take that for granted. Ultimately the little prongs that make up the plugs will get funky if allowed to get wet repeatedly without dealing with the moisture properly after (guilty!).

Dave, Darin has to always be right. hahaha

[Darin Jordan]

The MR series will not work with the new DX4-series of TXs... the new DSM-R TXs are not DSM-Marine compatible.

[dethow]

Dave, Darin has to always be right. hahaha

That's fine... and he usually is. I'm almost sure of it.

In this case, I feel the extra weight is worth it. I see more guys blow their temper over a bad radio connection then anything else.

[kfxguy]

Maybe I should go to that too Dave. I tend to never own enough RX's for the number of boats I own. If I had the little extensions sticking out it wouldn't matter. Eezy breezy to move them. I could even run the bind plug out that way. hmmmmm

I wonder some times if the fact that the Spektrums are supposed to be "water resistant" makes us take that for granted. Ultimately the little prongs that make up the plugs will get funky if allowed to get wet repeatedly without dealing with the moisture properly after (guilty!).

Dave, Darin has to always be right. hahaha

What I've found is water will puddle at the bottom of the case and contact the soldered pins on the other side that the coating didn't stick to. Then it will act wonky. I put 5 minute epoxy over it. No need for a waterproof box. I use dielectric grease in the plugs and also pack some in the housing to cover the connection pins.

[JimClark]

here is the DX4C Darin was talking about TX only

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371629148309

[Erroneous]

Thanks all. I have some thinking to do.. I'll let you know what I get and watch the fallout.