Radio for brushless vehicles
 

I am about to buy a radio, and I can get a futaba 3pk system for the same price as a spektrum dx3. THe futaba comes with a rechargeable battery, but the spektrum comes with an extra receiver. The futaba is also a discontinued model since the 3pks came out. Which would be a better choice for brushless? Does brushless behave better with 2.4 ghz or fm?

3pk pros: rechargeable battery, more adjustability, upgradeable
3pk cons: discontinued model, not 2.4ghz

DX3 pros: 2.4 ghz, extra receiver, cool antenna
DX3 cons: uses alkaline batteries, not as adjustable or upgradeable

Anyone have any suggestions, since my current futaba magnum junior is over 12 years old and has seen better days.:007:

I really like my Spektrum DX3.0. What features/adjustability are you looking for?

I really like my Nomadio React. Its $300 with usb programming all the bells and whistles including telemetry feedback. Transceivers are pricey at $100 each for additional vehicles.

I recomend checking out the new 2.4ghz radios from Futaba and Airtronics... similar to the Spektrum and Nomadio DSM radios. Pretty loaded but not as pricey as buying the top of the line + DSM to go with it.

I like my Specktrums, but they aren't very customizeable. BTW, if you experience what appears to be glitching, go with an external BEC, no matter what cell count you are running.

When the MX-3FHSS comes out I'm thinking I'll buy it. Tower Hobbies has it listed for $190 and Late April:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPNM6&P=7

But I can get an Airtronics MX-3S 75mhz for $96 brand new (with my employee discount). Decisions, decisions...

What kind of batteries are you guys using in your transmitters. I know the high-end ones have rechargable packs, but what about the more budget minded transmitters? I dont want to have to keep using alkalines, but the voltage of rechargable AA is 1.2 instead of 1.5, so i dont think you can use them in transmitters.

Yea, you can use rechargables in your transmitter. I use Duracell Supreme 2650mah AA's in my M8.

I was really considering the MX-3FHSS. I know a person at my LHS so hopefully, I'll also be able to get a discount.

I ended up getting the MX-3S 75mhz (one with two servos) for $96 ($103 with tax). My guess is that the employee discount from Hobby People on the MX-3FHSS will be ~$130-140.

Metalman - Out of curiousity, do you think there will be the MX-3FHSS radio systems at the big sale next to the store you work at?... the one that is at the end of August I think?

The warehouse sale? That sale is usually for items that were returned, that they then sell at a low price. The only way there would be a MX-3FHSS there is if it were returned.

Oh, I see. Because I remember last year there was the MX-3s for $50 each!! My brother ended up selling some on ebay for mroe and made a nice profit. I bought one, and then stupidly thought I didn't need it, so I sold it. Now I ma in search of a nice radio system again.

A lot of folks will have different opinions...but I like the Spektrum DX 3.0 so far. It performs well and offers quite a bit of flexibility in terms of adjusting exp/epa. I also really like the fact that you can add telemetry and get real time data from your car (e.g., motor temp, voltage, speed and RPM). By the way...you can purchase rechargeable batteries for the Spek and recharge them using your RC charger (all you need is a 9V battery adapter and an extra Deans (or Tamiya) plug. You can see my telemetry mounting scheme at

http://picasaweb.google.com/ssspconcepts


I have heard a lot of good things about Nomadio...but the React is significantly more expensive...especially if you are installing telemetry on several cars.

Personally, I would go with the React. It's just a better radio...

That's what I hear...but I don't like the way Nomadio's telemetry operates. The sensors are not as easy as the Spek to install and they are more prone to being knocked out of alignment in a crash (mainly the rpm sensor because it uses a heavy magnet instead of a reflective decal like the spek). The react does have an integrated telemetry screen (big plus), but it is small and difficult to read.

There are plenty of upsides...faster signal communication and a lot more adjustability. It also has the ability to store like 40 models where the Spek can only store 4.

I'll second that...

All the radios that have been mentionend here have every function you'll ever need. And a few you'll never use. I've owned a 3PK, MX-3S, M8, DX3, Hitec CRX and EX-10 Helios. I like the EX-10 a lot better than any of the others. It's not about functions and screensize, but the way it feels when you use it and how accurate it feels. The Spektrum and Nomadio radios (yes, I've tested but not owned a Nomadio) are together with the MX-3S radios I'd never buy again. Spektrum and Nomadio put all their money in technology that you can easily add to the EX-10. The wheel feels less accurate and the grip isn't very good at all. Nomadio React has the same case as an old Multiplex radio. I also prefer to have a radio with a module system because I also need 27mhz for mini-z racing.

The best radios in the market (3PK, M11 and EX-10) will always be better than cheaper Futaba, Hitec, Airtroinics/Sanwa, Spektrum and even the Nomadio.

So if i can get a 3pk for the same price as a dx3, i should get the 3pk; it will be a better decision in the long run, correct. I agree that the "cheaper" radios do feel cheaper, but one thing i noticed about the dx3 is that the throttle travel and steering travel are less precise feeling than even my OLD futaba magnum.

Thats one thing I love about my M8. Its very precise, throttle and steering.

The only thing I don't like about buying the 3pk is that it is a discontinued model (which is why I can get it kinda cheap), but the new model(3PKS) does not have any upgrades that I find worth the extra cost to me. I have come to realize that the way a transmitter feels in your hand and being comfortable with it is more important than smaller functions, since it is your hands that are doing the driving, not the controller.

so far i love my sanwa exzes plus ( stick based on the m11).
it feels great. but i hear an m11 is top heavy.

My M8 is top heavy, so I would imagine that the M11 is aswell. Especially if you add a LiPo battery to them.

i just bought a 3pks and put a fasst module in it. gigantic upgrade from a dx3! the throttle and steering are so precise. way more features than i could ever expect to use, but it feels good in my hands. so far i'm impressed. highly recommend it!

I wouldn't worry about the fact that the 3PK is discontinued. I assume that the warranty is still the same. There's one very very important thing you have to remember if you buy the 3PK/3PKS - don't buy the first version of the Spektrum system for it. Get the Spektrum Pro version or Futabas Fasst system. They had a lot of problems with the first generation of Spektrum modules for the 3PK/3PKS.

The "old" 3PK is still an excellent radio. The top drivers where I live use it, and they could easily afford to buy the 3PKS if they wanted to.

Squee still uses his M8, also an excellent but discontinued radio. Don't worry - the 3PK is an excellent choice.

I ended up buying the 3PK, and I am way more impressed with the throttle and steering "feel" than that of the DX3. The Futaba FASST system is just their version of 2.4ghz, correct?

Fasst and Spektrum are basically the same thing. 2.4ghz but there might be differences in latency. Check out www.spektrumrc.com and www.futaba-rc.com.

Enjoy your new radio :)

Thats cause I can't afford a new React or Sensor right now. :p

I still love my Spektrum. Although the only comparison I have is against the stock Traxxas TQ3 radio. Anything is an improvement over that (except it did fell nice in my hand) :)

BrianG, i want to get a DX2.0 for my truck. I can get it for $189 CAD, so it's alot less expensive than other good radios.

How DOES it compare to stock radio? :032:

I am having trouble programming the MM using the 3PK. The receiver that came with the radio is a HRS (high response system) and transmits data too fast for me to keep up with the beeps. In the 3PK manual, it says to use a DSC cord and a two way cord to program any non-futaba ESCs. I have tried this, but i am still having problems. Has anyone programmed a MM ESC with a 3PK with a HRS receiver?

I know I can program it on a computer, but I only have a Mac

You could try to switch modulation. Try PPM. Page 16 in the manual. I have to admit that I haven't tried this myself with the 3PK, only the EX-10. It should work though. I don't know if you can switch back to HRS after programming the esc and keep the settings you stored in PPM mode. Do you have a digital servo?

Servo is digital, the manual says that you must use a DSC cord and a two way cord, but the guy at the local hobby shop said i could plug the dsc cord into the hrs receiver and plug the MM into the receiver, but this created the same problem. Can i use PPM mode sith a HRS receiver, the manual says not to.

I just thought you could try programming it in PPM or PCM mode and then switching back before you start using it. As I said, I haven't tried this myself and don't know if the settings will be deleted when switching back HRS.

Theoretically it should work, since the settings I am worried about are kept in the ESC, not the transmitter, so switching modes on the transmitter should not matter. I wonder if the transmitter will transmit through a HRS receiver in PPM mode. The fact remains that I am still trying to program the ESC through a HRS receiver, so it is a speedy signal problem. I could use another futaba receiver that was not HRS and just change the crystals to program the ESC, but i do not have any fm futaba receivers, only am. Probably gonna just have to use my brother's pc to get this done. Thanks for the help.

I think you still need to do the basic programming with the radio. Not 100% sure, but I think that you have to do the basic forward-nuetral-reverse with the TX. Everything else can be done with the PC.

That is not a problem, as its just hold the throttle then brake, it gets too tricky later on in the programming when you have to determine between 7 or 8 beeps that all sound like one.
Does the HRS receiver perform much better than a normal fm receiver?