Alternate radio options???

[rpedro]

My Atomik ARC is coming with a get by radio, and I am considering a replacement eventually... Looking at the the Spektrum Dx3r, do I have to have the marine receiver??? Also liking the Futaba 4pl, but doesn't have a marine receiver included... Will I need to upgrade my servo??? Not sure if any of the other Spektrums are worth checking out...Thanks again guys!!!

[siberianhusky]

The dx3c is more than you'd ever need in a boat. They all have the same basic transmitter module in them, your just paying for more features most of which you will never use in a boat. I have a 2s and the Spektrum telemetry is pretty much useless in a boat even if it did come on a marine rx it isn't with it.
Up until a couple years ago I used an AM futaba radio I bought in 1988, it's only feature was servo reversing.

[dana]

What different about a "marine" rx, than a regular old rx? I dunno

[Serpents811]

What different about a "marine" rx, than a regular old rx? I dunno

marine rx has dual antennas

[HOTWATER]

Futaba R603FS receiver has dual antennas....rpedro...do yourself a BIG favor and buy FUTABA!! You will not look back.....

[bfast]

I run a 4pl in my boats and 4pks in my cars . My experience with spektrum has been glitchy futaba has been awsome and works perfect .

[wade7575]

I know alot of guy's on the Baja forum who really don't like Spectrum Radio's at all for some reason they do not do well with gas engine's and there range is horrible in a Baja when compared to Futaba in a Baja and that is the biggest complaint on the Baja forum is range with Spectrum.

Almost everyone on the Baja Forum runs Futaba,myself I have a high end Futabe not sure what model it is and for the boat's I'm keeping it simple I'm using plain old Tactic Radio's that are nothing fancy but work really well.

[rpedro]

I have always used Futaba radios all the way from my Grasshopper buggy days... I will probably just go ahead and stick with what I know... they have always had good radios... I know you mention the dual antenna marine receivers... are they a necessity, or does it really matter??? thanks...

[Fluid]

I used the usual surface receivers with my 4PK for years with never a problem. Just get the antenna outside the hull in an antenna tube.




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[ruffdawg]

Look at the flysky-gt3b,Lots of guys were using them at the test pond when i got into the boats so i tried them and have had excellent results - extremely long range,very simple set up ...no one i know has had any glitches and the recievers are waterproof and only 10.00...i have been putting a little spot of marine goop on the antenna at the reciever and range checking all my recievers and spares.I use a dx3rpro on my rc trucks -late models and truggys and for 1/3 of the cost the flysky has been flawlwss for me ...just my opinion,ive used mine in the gas and electrics boats with no issues and excellent results.

[siberianhusky]

If they fixed the software issues from the factory on the GT3 I'd say they were an ok radio. But they don't have a true model memory, remembers the bind but non of your settings and the exponential doesn't work. You have to go through the process of modding the radio to be able to flash the firmware to fix factory problems.
A buddy of mine here has one, I'd throw the thing in the pond! Half of every run is getting the settings dialed in for that specific boat, kind of funny if he forgets and launches with the steering reversed! Plus it did something odd one day and his 6s tunnel ended up on the bank (only time I've seen or heard of any problems like that think it was user related, bad antennae routing inside the hull).
I'll be honest I have a hard time wrapping my head around using the cheapest radio you can get to run a 1000$ boat.
I lost one boat years ago due to radio issues, that is a horrible feeling, standing there waving around a radio watching your boat smash to pieces on the rocks. Back in the days of AM radios and no failsafe. The next week I bought a Futaba Magnum Sport, used it for over 20 years until I switched to 2.4, that radio is in my RC10 Gold Tub and still works. The radio that failed was a Cox/Sanwa.

[dana]

You'll never get Everyone to agree on here.
I use the flysky with good results. Others hate it. Tactic are good but no model memory.

[T.S.Davis]

Futaba R603FS receiver has dual antennas....rpedro...do yourself a BIG favor and buy FUTABA!! You will not look back.....

Unless the RX gets wet. Then toss it in the garbage. Just say'n.

If the Spektrum RX gets wet just finish your heat.

[ruffdawg]

When i took my FLYSKY to an IMPBA dist 12 race over the summer and set it out by my gas boats it was funny,some of the racers freaked out ,thinking it wouldnt controll my boats or maybe HYPNOTIZE their radios into failing.everything was fine though and by the end of the weekend actually had some of the more experience guys with the old futaba stuff asking about it .I agree with the whole cheap radio-expensive boat thing though ,it is a little unnerving at first ,but hey ,im new at the boats so i shake like a leaf on the stand anyway

[T.S.Davis]

im new at the boats so i shake like a leaf on the stand anyway

Never goes away for some boats.