futaba reciever replacements

[urbs00007]

i presently use a futaba 3pmx. are there cheaper brand receivers that will work reliably with this radio?

[NativePaul]

I use Futaba FASST 6EX and 8FG plane radios, mostly with Futaba RX but I do have one mini hydro that wont fit a side plug or cased RX and as the only end plug Futaba RXs are VERY expensive high end SBus units that I loath to run uncased, and while uncased it would just fit, I went off brand with a FrSky TR4B (not to be confused with FlySky, who are very low end), which is much smaller and lighter.

As with my genuine RXs the range is more than I need, or can use.

The failsafe (as tested by switching off the TX (as yet I've never used it for real with FASST)) is just as quick.

On removing the cheesy cardboard "case" the soldering on my example was good. I have had no issues with mine, but it is less than a year old so longevity has not been tested yet (most of my Futabas are 8 years old now with no issues from any).

Chinese quality control has a reputation of being very bad unless watched like a hawk by their customers in factory QA workers like the big names supply, so even though some of the higher end Chinese manufacturers like FrSky are getting a good reputation for quality, at the moment my peace of mind is still greater with a Futaba product. While I cant fault the functionality of the product I received and will undoubtedly buy more FrSky RX for slow boats, and Mini FEs with packaging issues. I will continue to buy Futaba RXs for all my fast models that have room for them, despite them being bigger, heavier, and more expensive.


Why am I prepared to pay a premium for the best radio link available and branded receivers? Many of my boats have a lot of time and/or money in them and I always wanted to protect my investment, and as the only thing in a boat that can fail and lose the whole lot is the radio it made sense to spend a decent amount on it, but something happened recently that had me getting much more serious about it.
A lowly P Ltd or mildly tweaked RTR weighing 6lb and doing 50mph has 682 Joules of kinetic energy, that is similar to the muzzle energy of a .357magnum or .45ACP+P. When dealing with that amount of energy which is not directly under my control, I want the best control over it that I can possibly get, in order to minimise the chances of having a runaway boat maim or kill someone. I have seen someone hit by a flying boat and I am very thankful that A, it had flipped so was flat on, B, it was a glancing blow, C, the heavy parts missed him, D, it was a fairly young and resilient chap that got hit, E, he was an understanding fellow boater that didn't sue, and F, it wasn't my boat that hit him. But for the flip of a dice any of the first 4 factors could have made it a serious or fatal injury, and if any one of them had been different how could I have justified not using the very best that is available?

As it happens the incident above was not caused by a radio issue at all, but someone losing his boat in the spray and driving the wrong boat out of it (so be careful with that, it is dangerous too. A quick lift of the throttle or twitch of the wheel can quickly tell you if you are not 100% sure which boat you are driving).

[Flying Scotsman]

Paul, a well written and thoughtful post on the topics you brought up.

Douggie

[NativePaul]

Thanks Douggie, that means a lot. I was expecting to eat some flack on this one.

[slider46]

I run nothing but Futaba radios and rx in my boats and have never had a glitch or failure.... Its cheap insurance as far as I'm concerned.... I have a genesis that runs 73 mph and a f41 stryker cat gas boat that runs hi70s to low 80s. I can't afford to loose the radio while running the boat...

[urbs00007]

I run nothing but Futaba radios and rx in my boats and have never had a glitch or failure.... Its cheap insurance as far as I'm concerned.... I have a genesis that runs 73 mph and a f41 stryker cat gas boat that runs hi70s to low 80s. I can't afford to loose the radio while running the boat...

its going to be used in a 30 mph electric mono.

[grsboats]

John I don't think there is a china generic receiver compatible with this radio..btw the same radio I've been using for years with zero issues.Gill

[JimClark]

moved to radio forum

[SweetAccord]

John I don't think there is a china generic receiver compatible with this radio..btw the same radio I've been using for years with zero issues.Gill

Really? I find there are.

Peek here: https://hobbyking.com/en_us/radios-r...ers/fasst.html

I still stand by that the smallest receiver you can get that is just as reliable as anything Futaba is the ASSAN. Way less expensive and is tested many times over in boat and planes. They still have the smallest receivers on the market with a fail safe and have beyond eye sight range and still no one has come close to copying them. Size: 36 X 14 X 3mm (1.97 X 1.02 X 0.39 inch)Weight: 3.2g
Try finding something smaller, you won't for the price and reliability.

[grsboats]

Nice.

[NativePaul]

That is not an apples to apples comparison. Assan use one of the most basic protocols out there, it is a single channel with a static frequency, it has ample range like most radios in good conditions, and the build quality is great, but it is far more susceptible to interference than FASST (and most other competitors), which uses 2 different channels simultaneously and both are constantly hopping around across the whole frequency band, it is not just as reliable. The simple protocol also needs far less complicated electronics so a smaller lighter package is the obvious result.

The FySky TR4B I said I use in post 2 is only 4 dollars more and 1.8g heavier than the admitedly tiny Assan at 5g, yet utilises the superior FASST protocol and has 2 regular length antenna. Well worth it IMO.

Assan's own FASST compatible receiver is 47x30x10.8mm and 12.8g, heavier than Futabas equivalent RX, much cheaper though.

[grsboats]

Thanks Paul..more clear impossible!

[SweetAccord]

That is not an apples to apples comparison. Assan use one of the most basic protocols out there, it is a single channel with a static frequency, it has ample range like most radios in good conditions, and the build quality is great, but it is far more susceptible to interference than FASST (and most other competitors), which uses 2 different channels simultaneously and both are constantly hopping around across the whole frequency band, it is not just as reliable. The simple protocol also needs far less complicated electronics so a smaller lighter package is the obvious result.

The FySky TR4B I said I use in post 2 is only 4 dollars more and 1.8g heavier than the admitedly tiny Assan at 5g, yet utilises the superior FASST protocol and has 2 regular length antenna. Well worth it IMO.

Assan's own FASST compatible receiver is 47x30x10.8mm and 12.8g, heavier than Futabas equivalent RX, much cheaper though.

Far more susceptible? No way no how. I been using them for 10 years now, never one glitch. Airplane guys use them too which are way more susceptible as they are closer to towers and buildings with antennas and never a glitch or lost plane. Frequency hopping is way over rated. It has no advantage over a strong locked channel.

[SweetAccord]

The dual antenna X8 are still DSSS which covers a more wider range of frequencies and are just as resilient to interference as anything FAST. Futaba FAST just hops around at different frequencies and rates, I prefer solid signal with failsafe rather than something hopping around, to me that is a good chance for a brown out as you are vulnerable while looking to find another channel and still have to keep a failing frequency to stay connected to.

I never found a reason to go to them as the single antenna with failsafe works beautifully. Sure technology gets better and better but like everything there is a point of diminishing returns. The single antenna are also DSSS and you can go with either but if you are paranoid the dual antenna is just a piece of mind option.

[TRUCKPULL]

This is all good for the FAST system.

Does anyone make a receiver to match the Futaba - 2.4GHz - S-FHSS system??

Larry