radio range problem

[FlyerCAN]

i used to have an AM hitec 2 channel radio and wasnt getting any range with it. Like 500ft. I bought the hitec fm 3ch ranger III and I am still getting the same results. Is there something about the 260 zen that may cause radio interference that I should be correcting. The boat is my 57Magnum from WHH so if there is something wrong its all from Tony. Just the radios are mine. My friend has an enforcer gator and an expensive radio and gets a hell of a lot more range than I in the same waters. Will be trying his radio next time out, but was just wondering if anyone had this problem and solved it without changing radio.

Chris

[Doubledog]

Antenna fully extended in the boat? How about the one screwed into the Tx? Batteries fully charged in both? How about changing the plug? Simple things that we all tend to overlook once in a while that might be the problem.

[FlyerCAN]

I thought about the plug. I always go with full batteries. Even if i didn't, there would have to be at least one of the times I would have and got some range. As long as the short antenna is, maybe a foot long. Never cut, ya its fully out on the receiver, and the transmitter. Is there some way to ground out electrical noise from the motor or something. I will try changing the plug but they don't sell them here in my town so I will have to order another spare from WHH. Wanted some other stuff anyway. Still don't have an autobailer. Don't forget that this is a problem that is present with 2 different radios and I am about to try the good one this week expecting the same results as now, but hoping not.


Thanks DD
Chris

[Doubledog]

Failsafe maybe?

Come to think about it, mine started glitching last year. After removing the FS it was all good (though nervous about running without it):O Also could be a servo? Do you have an extra that you could try?

[Ron Olson]

There has been reports of radio glitching using certain brands of failsafes. Check everything electrical. you could have a hairline fracture in the plug, a crack or loose connection in the spark plug wire. Look for any metal to metal rubbing from any loose part on the engine and exhaust. There are dozens of things that can cause radio system problems.

[rico3]

yeah i get that too with my BONZI FOUNTAIN and im using the HITEC FM AGGRESSER 3 channel... i always discharge my batteries after every use check the plug and the FAIL SAFE..Then fully charge the batteries the night before i go down to the lake..I just dont get the range that other boats do .... i thought it might be the antenna that BONZI fitted to boat cause it quite small.... i havnt figured it out yet, or like you said it might be the fail safe I just dont go out as far as i would like... since we are using the same transmitter, there could be a fault or problem with HITEC FM TRANSMITTER GEAR.... :eek: :eek: :eek:

[countryrook]

i have a hitec fm aggresser 3 channel also i had raido problems but was due to me have a to short antenna i cut by mistake so i put a new antenna wire on it was about 231/2 inchs and had no more problems i use a futuba fail safe seems to work fine hope that helps good luck

[Micho523]

seems to be hitec witg all the problems... try a futaba!

[dadyo39]

I also have hitec fm aggresser 3 channel . Bought it new from tower and the
antenna wire looks short also is this normal for that rx?

[Burkey1000]

the wires should not be cut, the lenth is pre set and tunned to the rx, i use futaba and have great range, also have jr and that works great on my sons marder, but yet again i do have a an aggresser set the same as ricos and the range has always been crap from day one, i think its a case of you get what you pay for. One question for all to answer is the hi tec the one you get supplied with a rtr boat if so then were all on about the same bottom of the line tx an rx, might be worth us all banging a few e mails in to hi tec, have a very basic futaba set for my sons little tugboat and the range is perfect also, might be that set that has the probs. Sorry folks no help but it seems to be a prob for alot of people, just thought i would highlight it. :)

[abx131]

Something else to consider, All real boats and jetskis use resistor type spark plugs as to not cause interference with the onboard electronics. Check your spark plug. There should be a letter "r" at the end of the code number.

[FlyerCAN]

Hi guys,

I changed the spark plug today and was astonished!! My failsafe didn't kick in for as far as I attempted to go! For the first few passes anyway. There were a couple of jitters afterwards, but I am hoping it was something else. What I don't understand is that I had this range problem since I had the boat. Bought new. Could it have been a bad plug from the beginning? will it go bad again soon? Is there another option than the stock NGK. Never seemed to have these problems with nitro so it seems to be with gas engines only. Anyone care to correct me on that one. I was going to try the radio on my T-Maxx to see if it does the same thing.

Yes there is an R in the plugs model#, but not at the end so I am assuming its resistored anyways.
I have plans to get the Sensor radio soon anyway so in that case as well, I hope I get what I pay for in the better sense.

It seems hitec may also be the problem. Maybe they are susceptible to sparkplug noise. Don't you have the same radio Jamie? You know DD that by removing the failsafe you only hide the problem. Or thats what would be happening if I did that. It was only a split seccond that it would happen then throttle up again constantly though. In my case if I remove the failsafe the throttle would stay in the same place even though it lost signal masking the problem altogether until it got totally out of range. Then I would have to cry If I lost it into some rocks or lost it altogether. I run in a big river and my only retreival sys is a rubber dingy. No where near 40+ MPH LOL.
And Ron, I am going to look for a new sparkplug wire and cap that is low noise or something. My cousin, a mechanic, mentioned i do that. I will look next time I go if there are any metal parts rubbing together. Should or could I ground the engine to all the major metal parts in the boat and to the water? Hmmm. Should the water passing through the engine be enough grounding

I never cut my antenna wires. Almost did once a long time ago on another boat, but I didn't.

Thanks for all the help guys.

Chris

[Doubledog]

Found it, good.

I've got two failsafes. A Venom & some other brand (MCI or something... little orange one). The orange one is started giving trouble. When the incident occured, it was in a three acre private lake. A little shot of Amsoil MP seemed to do the trick. Don't ask me why as I've ran it that way for two years & it started wanting to act up all the sudden. Dang Gremlins. :D

[Burkey1000]

good question about the plugs, what other ones have people tried, like gold plugs and platinum spelt wrong i think lol, anybody tried any of them andif so what ones and how did they perform.

[Doubledog]

NKG's.... CMR 7 H (part number 3066) ;)

[Burkey1000]

i know about the cmr by champion was wondering if anyone had tried some of the gold ones etc :)

[kevin28]

You can also run a wire from the engine to the stuffing tube, to ground some noise.
Metal to metal rubbing will cause glitching, grease the cable real well.

[Doubledog]

Burk, we've crossed wires mate :D

Here's the numbers I use:

Champion --- RZ7C
NKG --- CMR7H or part number 3066

There had been talk about the NKG's being a better plug. I've got 'em both & no trouble so far.