Budget radios. Thoughts?

[penz]

For a low cost radio I use the 2.4 setups from HK. I have a pistol set for my FE hulls and a run stick for my slow boats and crawlers.
Considering I run up to 60mph on FE I am happy with these radios.
As far as range goes the scale/slow boats are near out of sight and still under command !

The hk radios are just re badged flysky radios, they have also been badged as exceed. They are great radios for the price..

[penz]

OK, I will ask the question...did you run marine compatible Spektrum TX and RX equipment?

Douggie

No, I had the dx3s it came with my lst xxl. I sold it before I got into off shore rc. Spektrums are great radios, there are other more affordable options out there, and that's the route I went.

[burgerchow1]

I'm using 2 tactic systems on my pt109 and my motley crew. Works great for the price. Just wondering though if anybody is using futaba fast system. I have a 4pk for my cars and extra 614 receivers. Would a surface system work in marine conditions?

[FastVee]

I used 3pm for years and no problem. had the 603fs rx. -surface system. -submerged few boats with the rx in and it never got damaged. only needed drying and back in the boat.

[norbique]

i can only join FastVee. Futaba surface systems work well on water too.
I also use an air Futaba 35Mhz FM system on water, no problems there eiter.

[JIM MARCUM]

I have a Fly Sky GT3C & love it. The only problem is it's hard to read the screen in direct sunlight. You can buy a new GT3B with reciever on ebay - 150628445629 - $55 shipped from the USA, and extra recievers from China for $8.50 - 320725479362.

I bought a pile of extra recievers for all my boats & cars. JIM

[penz]

I have a Fly Sky GT3C & love it. The only problem is it's hard to read the screen in direct sunlight. You can buy a new GT3B with reciever on ebay - 150628445629 - $55 shipped from the USA, and extra recievers from China for $8.50 - 320725479362.

I bought a pile of extra recievers for all my boats & cars. JIM

$55 Yikes!! you can get right now on hobbypartz for $35!!! Extra rx's are $7... They are located in cali and have quick shipping.

[RandyatBBY]

The Fly Sky radio is OK for small ponds but I would not run one of my Expensive boats on big deep water it is Hitec, Airtronix or Futaba when it comes to the big water!

[burgerchow1]

Sorry to jack this thread, but seems to be general concensus that Tactic and HK radios the best for low budget.

If I was building a $2000 boat and I wanted to run the best radio equipment, what do the pros suggest?

[JIM MARCUM]

PENZ: Thanks for the tip. hobbypartz.com is way cheaper. JIM

[jwt]

A guy at our club uses a HK GT2 radio,
and he just leaves the aerial iside the boat, and never has a problem.

TMS

[domwilson]

My suggestion is to do your research. Ask questions. Read the reviews and buy the best that you can afford. Now days, you don't always get what you pay for. Expensive doesn't always equate to quality. Sometimes it just means you're paying for marketing.

[gsbuickman]

Ok, I ran the Flysky FSGT3B in my UL-1 Sport Hydro. The first time out, she jumped onto plain and once she hit about 100 ft out, she went dead in the water. She lost all signal, and I spent the afternoon watching her float around my local water hole. I missed the Boise state / Colorado ball game too. I invested in a pro boat rescue duck, and plan on grabbing a spekky dx3.0 as well. I will be using the mr200 receivers from now on. The gt3b is nice, but its junk on the water, it'll stay with my off road vehicles.

[Rumdog]

The gt3b is the best radio for the money bar far, and a much better choice than the Tactic.

[sundog]

Ok, I ran the Flysky FSGT3B in my UL-1 Sport Hydro. The first time out, she jumped onto plain and once she hit about 100 ft out, she went dead in the water. She lost all signal, and I spent the afternoon watching her float around my local water hole..

And is that the end of the story? Did you check your batteries after the return home? Sounds like maybe the LVD kicked in. Was this a maiden voyage (you said 'first time out')? Did you check the distance of signal on land? Was the antenna inside the hull? I'm only asking because you seem to automatically write it off as a bad radio signal and the GT3B has proven itself quite worthy. It could have been a lemon, but I'm thinking it could have been a number of other things as well. Didn't bring a means of recovery with you...?