Budget radios. Thoughts?

[norbique]

I've never had any issues with the gt3b either, i run all my boats with it.
I once surface tested it in a kinda unusual way. I didn't wanted to know how far it can go in line of sight, I'd rather left the RX at home with a servo attached. Asked father to call me from the house on my cellphone to let me know how it's working.
I walked out of the house (and I'm talking about brick, concrete, steel, and NOT wood house) then out on the street and kept on walking... about 300+ meters, a LOT of concrete, steel lamp posts, brick walls, electricity poles and cables, and other interference stuff I finally reached the point where the rx and servos stopped working. So with all these interferences I am more than convinced of the quality of the gt3b.
I was thinking of doing the same with the T6EX futaba to check how that would compare....

[Flying Scotsman]

That test means nothing, you have to test it on the water but it is a start.

Douggie

[sundog]

First mistake - I was not "talking about you", there are others in this thread (see above) who have expressed the same mind set.

What "rebuttal" are you referring to? I simply asked why some folks - it's both sides of the aisle on this issue really - resort to emotion first instead of thought

.

Fluid, you are so full of yourself! Gabuickman posted that his radio quit (after this thread had been silent since July), I tried to help out, and you (originally, before editing) wrote "Why is it that those who defend cheap radios will 'attack' those who have bad experiences with them? These 'problems' are usually considered the fault of the user, never the radio (see above)." And so happens my post was above yours, defending the radio. You didn't "simply ask why some folks"...etc.

I agree with what has been said before - buy what suits you. But don't talk bad about something just because it is inexpensive; especially something you don't have any experience with.

[desmobob]

I have a closet full of high-end name-brand radios from the airplane and heli side of the hobby. When I bought a cheap 1/8th scale nitro buggy to play with when the weather wasn't good for flying, I bought one of the HobbyKing GT2 sets to run it... at the time I think I paid right around twenty bucks for the 2.4ghz Tx and Rx. It worked so well, I was shocked!

Two years later, I used that same Tx and another one of HK's $6 receivers to run my first boat. It worked perfectly, so I "upgraded" by dropping the princely sum of $37 on a new HK GT3B set; I wanted expo and multiple model memories. The Tx had faulty firmware that made the expo useless. I bought some electronic parts on-line and had the radio's firmware re-flashed. Now, the radio offers more features and programming than any other radio I've ever heard about. Extra 3ch receivers are less than seven bucks (!), and when dunked in CorrosionX, seem to be oblivious to water.

After my experiences with these two HK 2.4ghz radios, I personally don't have any reason to spend more money on a big-name, big dollar set-up. If I had the disposable income, I'd have a top-of-the-line Futaba or Spektrum. But it would be more for the "warm fuzzy" of having it, rather than a need for better performance.

Take it easy,
desmobob

[sailr]

It is amazing. Reviews we read/hear about the GT radios (FlySky) are either very bad or very good. Not much in between. We were excited when contacted by the manufacturer and were sent several radios. We test marketed the FlySky radios before they were available to the public and found them to be complete and total junk. Only 1 out of 3 worked and 2 out of 3 had very bad range. If you have one and it works for you, bless ya but our opinion is "Buy at your own risk".

I personally have bought 2.4 futaba 2.4 module/receiver clones from a place here in the U.S. called www.rcmodules.com . They are flawless! I have also bought cloned futaba receivers from HK and they work good.

We don't sell the Tactic and can't even get a discount on them but they are by far one of the most reliable out there. I have $1500 boats I used them in! I just wish they would come out with a transmitter with some model memories and features on it. I love the fact there is no antenna on the receiver!

[norbique]

That test means nothing, you have to test it on the water but it is a start.

Douggie

I didn't say i haven't tested it on water. But I accept your opinion.
As I've said earlier, I use the gt3b on all my boats. Not a glitch ever. RX plastidipped, it even works underwater...

[Darin Jordan]

If I had the disposable income, I'd have a top-of-the-line Futaba or Spektrum. But it would be more for the "warm fuzzy" of having it, rather than a need for better performance.

You know... this is really kind of misleading... Futaba and Spektrum both make more "entry-level" prices systems, that offer the same reliability and performance in a lower cost package.

Just because there is a name attached to it, doesn't mean it's expensive, overpriced, or whatever...

[sailr]

Yep, and they're worth it. I just wish Futaba and Spektrum would figure out how to do a receiver without an antenna on it!

[Griff]

I agree. thats why i wanted peoples thoughts on these. I usualy say buy cheap buy twice but with the lowish price of the stiletto and the low price of the flysky its got me back in the water for now. I work for bosch (the heating boilers side of things) and our product is quality but what sets us apart from the rest is our warranty, its always a no quibble and thats why you pay top dollar! i woud imagine no one would even try to complain about a cheap radio just chuck it and get a new one.

where abouts do you work James? I'm a Bosch Engineer too.
Tom

[Rumdog]

No external antenna means worse range. I've actualyy read no "very bad" reviews on the GT3B. The only real negative stuff I hear over.... and over, and over again is "you get what you pay for."

[sailr]

The "no antenna" tactics have excellent range. I believe the Gt radios have antennas AND bad range. My experience anyway.

[Rumdog]

The gt3b? Never heard of range issues.
Is this just your experience with the pre release models you have.
The GT3B is so much more radio than a Tactic, and for less money. I'd suggest trying one.

[sailr]

I'm happy you like the GT3B but I know too many people that have had trouble with them. I wish they were better. I love the features and the price. No point in arguing this any longer. I respect your good luck with them and hopefully you will respect my experience as well.

Cheers!

[Rumdog]

What were the failures? Seems odd. I don't read about these radios failing. Mine certainly doesn't.

[desmobob]

If I had the disposable income, I'd have a top-of-the-line Futaba or Spektrum. But it would be more for the "warm fuzzy" of having it, rather than a need for better performance.

Take it easy,
desmobob

You know... this is really kind of misleading... Futaba and Spektrum both make more "entry-level" prices systems, that offer the same reliability and performance in a lower cost package.

Just because there is a name attached to it, doesn't mean it's expensive, overpriced, or whatever...

I don't think you took it the way I meant it... I wasn't very clear. What I meant was, I'd buy the very best surface/marine system Spektrum or Futaba made, so I'd have all the bells and whistles and the warm fuzzy would come from the brand quality reputation one gets with the big name manufacturers in all their products.

My R/C air radios are all Spektrum, Futaba and Hi-Tec. The only reason I ever tried an HK system was for budget reasons for a surface model that I knew wouldn't get used often, and 99% of the time would be used in my own back yard with virtually no risk to anyone. I would never had tried an HK radio for the first time in a flying model, and would likely not have even tried one in a boat if I hadn't experienced such satisfactory results with the one in my nitro buggy.

If the system in my buggy had been buggy, I'd very likely be in the same boat as a lot of you and would distrust them for good! (Bonus points for two puns in one sentence?)

I certainly respect everyone else's opinions and especially their experience.

Take it easy,
desmobob