Should I upgrade from Spectrum DX3S?
I was preparing to mod a fiberglass hydro for an antenna tube yesterday. The mod would require a hole in the deck and cuts for an access port in the inner wall to install the tube and thread the antenna wire. It got me thinking - I don't really care for the look of the antenna tubes on boats. The previous owner of this boat ran Futaba and kept the antenna inside the boat. Hmmm... maybe it is a good time to upgrade my radio system to a newer model.
I have had zero problems with my DX3S, but I know it is becoming dated now. Oddly it isn't not even listed on the Specktrum website. Not even on the discontinued list. The discussions about the compatibility of the MR series of marine receivers with newer TX have further muddied the waters. How future proof is my DX3S? I believe it is compatible with the current Spektrum receivers (of course no benefit from any new TX/RX technology). Is it likely compatible receivers are on the endangered list however?
Currently I have two boats connected to my DX3S and I have an extra MR3000 reciever I can use for this new boat if I decide to mod it for the antenna. Regardless of brand, buying another TX would mean yet another TX goes to the pond as it would not be backwards compatible with my current RX. I sometimes let friends drive boats, so I don't mind having boats linked to another radio. Having said that I do already have a Motley Crew linked to the base level Tactic TX that it came with.
I like Spektrum. Can the new Spectrum systems run with the antenna inside a non CF boat? I expect the answer is still, "it is not recomended".
Is Futaba a good choice for running with no external antenna?
Are the new transmitters that much better than my current DX3S?
Should I just stick with the DX3S, mod the boat and quit overthinking this?
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
PB BlackJack 29 / AQ Motley Crew / Tenshock Mini ECO / Phil Thomas Stealth
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