About marine receivers

[orck]

I was wondering what makes a receiver to be named "marine". Is there anything special about these receivers? Or we are buying them having faith on the manufactures statements?

What if I use a non marine receiver?

[tlandauer]

The Spektrum came up with that moniker because earlier Spektrum surface receivers had trouble on the water, something to do with how 2.4 ghz signal was affected by the water. I believe that is when they started to have two antenas working to compliment each other.
If you buy the Spektrum MR3000, this one is encased in conformal epoxy and thus is completely water proof, to me that makes it a "marine receiver".
Electronically other brands such as Futaba and Airtronics do not equipt their surface receiver with two antennas, yet Futaba is extremely reliable on water.
Tactic receivers don't even have an external antenna, but AquaCraft uses them on all ther RTR boats lately, so in my opinion ther is no need to be concerned about this "labeling".
Just my $.02

[Darin Jordan]

Speaking from strictly a "Spektrum" perspective, the MR200 and the MR3000 "Marine Receivers" have a different signal protocol when compared to the "surface" receiver line (SR200, SR310, etc.). Sending some types of radio signals out over water "atenuates" the signal, reducing it's effective range.

Spektum basically uses an Aircraft signal protocol with their MRxxx receivers to overcome this.

In addition, Spektrum "pots" their MR3000 RX, and conformal coats the MR200 (as well as the new SR410) to make them "water resistant" (they can't/won't say "water-proof" for liability reasons, I imagine)... They are essentially water proof, as proven by several years of unprotected RX use by many of us.

So, in the case of Spektrum, "Marine" receivers are just that... intended and specifically made to perform optimally over water.

Hope this helps.

[tlandauer]

Thanks for the informative info., Darin, I wasn't aware that the MR200 has conformal coating, that is good to know, I like both of these and I use them on half of my boats where i don't mind having an antenna sticking out.

[Darin Jordan]

For what it's worth... I run the antennas in my Sport boats, and in my Lynx OPC, under the cowling. Ran Ken Haines' Vision with the antennas inside the hull as well. For race-course distances, I've yet to have a problem with this. Must test it out before you go this route, however, as with any new radio setup.

[tlandauer]

For what it's worth... I run the antennas in my Sport boats, and in my Lynx OPC, under the cowling. Ran Ken Haines' Vision with the antennas inside the hull as well. For race-course distances, I've yet to have a problem with this. Must test it out before you go this route, however, as with any new radio setup.

Got it, I actually just finished setting up an used ML PS-295 tunnel, I pulled both antenna out and taped them on the outsides of the radio box, will test first but I am sure it works, thanks again.

[orck]

Why only Spectrum has "special" marine receivers? How Futaba can have the same receivers without problems?

[Darin Jordan]

Why only Spectrum has "special" marine receivers? How Futaba can have the same receivers without problems?

Different companies... different strategies... different patents... etc... Pick your poison....

[tlandauer]

Speaking from strictly a "Spektrum" perspective, the MR200 and the MR3000 "Marine Receivers" have a different signal protocol when compared to the "surface" receiver line (SR200, SR310, etc.). Sending some types of radio signals out over water "atenuates" the signal, reducing it's effective range.

Spektum basically uses an Aircraft signal protocol with their MRxxx receivers to overcome this.

In addition, Spektrum "pots" their MR3000 RX, and conformal coats the MR200 (as well as the new SR410) to make them "water resistant" (they can't/won't say "water-proof" for liability reasons, I imagine)... They are essentially water proof, as proven by several years of unprotected RX use by many of us.

So, in the case of Spektrum, "Marine" receivers are just that... intended and specifically made to perform optimally over water.

Hope this helps.

I think it's pretty clear that the designation is meant to identify those intended for land base vehicles and those for water crafts. It is not an indication of different levels of quality .

Why only Spectrum has "special" marine receivers? How Futaba can have the same receivers without problems?

I like the water resistant factor. I have had zero failure on these receivers and the MR3000 has dual terminals for channels so if you run twin motors with two ESC's you can plug them into their own terminals, no need to make a "Y" adaptor for your servos and ESC's.

[Mike Caruso]

Nice to know.

[Fluid]

Electronically other brands such as Futaba and Airtronics do not equipt their surface receiver with two antennas, yet Futaba is extremely reliable on water.

Actually, the Futaba receivers do have two antennas. From their website for their FASST receivers:

Unlike less reliable single antenna receivers, Futaba employs antenna diversity-one internal and one external antenna on the R603FS
receiver to eliminate dead spots anywhere on the track.



.

[T.S.Davis]

Darin, ever run the antenna on the inside of a carbon boat?

[Darin Jordan]

Actually, the Futaba receivers do have two antennas. From their website for their FASST receivers:

Unlike less reliable single antenna receivers, Futaba employs antenna diversity-one internal and one external antenna on the R603FS
receiver to eliminate dead spots anywhere on the track.



.

And, to complicate, errrr... I mean IMPROVE, understanding even further... the new Spektrum SR410 RX's have the new "DSMR" and are designed to work with the new DX4S Transmitters, and work well over land AND water, AND has only a single antenna... These are also conformal coated, so "water resistant".

A lot of the newer RC-car/truck/buggy/truggy related "stuff" is coming water resistant/proof so the car guys can thrash harder. Benefits us as well...

[martin]

Yes the Futaba Fasst systems use 2 antennas, i use the R617 rx which is an aero rx in my boats. These use 2 long antenna wires, the FS surface rx also use 2 antennas to which 1 is a long wire the other is inbuilt into the rx so no external wire coming out of the rx case.

[Darin Jordan]

Another item of note, relating to the Spektrum MRxxx receivers... The "Antenna" is actually only the last 31mm of the coaxial wires exiting the case (the silver portion). Everything under the gray cover is shielded and simply a means of providing the ability to get the antenna portion out of the hull.