2.4g radio newbe questions.

[cobra2411]

So far I've got an HPI Brama, Super Hornet and old RC10 that's in need of a little restoring. My next car will most likely be a Slash 4x4. I've also got my eye on a Clod Buster.

I want to minimize how many radio's I have to have, and I'm also looking at getting into the 2.4g radios but I'm confused by some of the features.

I see some have model memories. Does this mean if a radio has a 4 model memory I can only use it on 4 cars? Is this something that I really need? My current radio's are very basic and don't have any bells and whistles like dual rate or end point adjustment. If I get a basic radio can I just bind it to a new receiver, make some trim adjustments and go?

My main requirement is price. I don't mind paying a little more for features on the TX, but some of the RX's are really pricey. I'm a backyard basher and don't really want to pay $90+ per receiver. So I've narrowed it down to Traxxas ($37 RX) and Spektrum ($50 RX). Even though I don't need more then 2 channels currently I'm looking at a 3+ channel radio. Traxxas radio is a 4ch, but it's not really setup to be more then a 2ch out of the box.

So that leaves me with the Spektrum. I'm looking at the DX3E for starters. Later I would like to step up to the DX3R. Does this sound like a plan? Am I missing any other choices? How is the range on the Spektrum?

Additionally if I get a Clod Buster I would like to convert it to dual servo's and true 4 wheel steering (normal and crabbing). I assume I would need mixing to do that? So that would mean the DX3R and not the E correct?

Should I just bag the whole idea and just keep separate radio's for each car? Or how about since I want to get a Slash 4x4 (comes with the 2.4g radio) could I get a couple recievers for say the Super Hornet, etc and get a radio like the Futaba 3pm-x if I get the Clod Buster?

TIA,
David

[rccardude04]

Personally, I would have to suggest the DX3S. For $250, you get a pretty good 3-channel radio that's capable of running ALL of Spektrum's surface receivers, and the thing actually comes with 2 receivers: Telemetry, and the sport receiver.

The Sport receivers are only 50 bucks each when you need more, and the DX3S seems to have an even better feature list than the DX3R. I bought the DX3R because I liked the feel of it slightly better than the DX3S, but I don't think you'll have a very easy time finding a much more basher-friendly radio than the DX3S.

Personally, I can't stand having a separate radio for everything. 2.4GHz is nice because you don't have to pay attention to what everyone else is doing. You can just turn it on and go drive.

I'm not sure what the actual range of Spektrum is, but I haven't had any problems with my Slayer, which I regularly run out farther than I really should.

Also, for 4 wheel steering, I have decided that I am going to special order a DX6i (aircraft radio) that's modified with dual sprung gimbals so that I can control the rear wheels with one stick and the front wheels with the other.

-Eric

[drummin89]

If your planning on getting a slash 4x4 and don't mind not having all the bells and whistles than just getting some traxxas 2.4ghz receivers may be the cheapest way to go, then getting a radio capable of doing 4ws mixing for the clod. You will need to adjust your trims and such each time you switch to a different vehicle but it you tune everything just right you can get around having to mess with the radio trims each time.

Radios with the multiple model memory save all your trim and end point settings so you don't have to always enter them in. You can certainly have more vehicles than the amount that the radio can save settings for, just pick 1 that you will be ok with changing the trims and endpoints each time to switch vehicles.

[cobra2411]

2.4GHz is nice because you don't have to pay attention to what everyone else is doing. You can just turn it on and go drive. That's why I'm looking into it.

I like the Traxxas controller, but there is no upgrade path for the radio... With the Spektrum stuff I can start with the DX3E and upgrade to the S or R later.

but it you tune everything just right you can get around having to mess with the radio trims each time.That's what I was think I could do. This model memory thing bothered me because I didn't know if it was a hard limit. I know the RX and TX bind together with a unique ID. I did know if it was stored and I would have to delete models every time I wanted to go over the limit.

It sounds like I can have one model that will work with a couple different vehicles. As long as I can bind different receivers to that saved model that would be great.

I recently found the Airtronics MX-Sport has RX's for $60, not $90 like I thought. They're FHSS-2 vs the $90 FHSS-3 version...

[drummin89]

I have 2 airtronics mx-3 transmitters. These are both fhss versions. Both I bought on ebay. The first 1 I got for $80 with 1 receiver. I then went and bought 2 more receivers so I could slim down the amount of radios I had. While looking for another receiver on ebay I came across another mx-3 transmitter that included 2 receivers for $120. I figured for $40 more (fhss version receivers are $80 each) Id get another receiver and have a second transmitter. The mx-3 fhss has a 18 model memory, though I don't think Id get that close to needing that many, but Im getting to the half way mark as far as r/c's. I no longer can live without being able to tweak the setting on my radio there for a traxxas or other basic 2.4ghz radio just won't do for me.

[JEAM]

I see a lot of questions about DHSS/FHSS Radio,s so here,s a small piece of a very Interesting "white paper"
If you want the whole doc. send me a PM

DSSS
provides 11 Mbps capacity links, but it is a sensitive technology (collocation, multipath,
near/far, Bluetooth). The most limiting factor, multipath, may be minimized by using the technology
for short distances or in point to point applications.
FHSS
provides only 3 Mbps capacity links, but it is a very robust technology, with excellent
behavior in harsh environment characterized by large areas of coverage, multiple collocated cells,
noises, multipath, Bluetoooth presence, etc. The technology allows easy cellular poin- to-multipoint
deployment, providing excellent reliability.

[cobra2411]

Wow, Jeam, that's good to know. Where does DSM fit in?

I'm decided to get a Spektrum DX3R. I found one through my lhs in very good used condition for $175 with a receiver.

[JEAM]

Wow, Jeam, that's good to know. Where does DSM fit in?

I'm decided to get a Spektrum DX3R. I found one through my lhs in very good used condition for $175 with a receiver.

Spektrum´s DSM(2) (Digital Spectrum Modulation) technology is based on an optimized version of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum.

Most issue,s about Spektrum on several RC Forum,s is the fact FHSS is more reliable over larger distances, in short FHSS (like most Futaba,s) has a bigger range.
DHSS is better for Telemetry purposes (returnpath transmitting of motor temps for example)