Topic: cheap 2.4ghz sets (Read 10575 times)

hooper · « **on:** October 25, 2009, 01:06:56 am »

Hi, does anybody have any spec on these cheap 2.4 sets now available, one called PLANET 5 in particular. I'm trying to find out such things as range etc. and are they any good for power boats producing a large rooster tail because someone told me that signal can be lost at certain angles esp when driving away from ones self.
They seem too good to be true for the price, but I'm building my new boat with a 26cc zen and est speed of about 50 mph and the last thing I need is a dodgy radio system on board.
Any help ie what systems or brands are worth a try would be great. ....cheers...

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2009, 04:10:41 am »

Hi Hooper,

Personally, I wouldn't skimp on radio if controlling high speed / power boats for safety reasons... your own and other people too.
This is intersting what Spektrun say about 2.4G on water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ick_-9g_b4Y

Martin

HS93 (RIP) · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2009, 05:44:00 am »

so if you use NON marine Spektrum radio will you still be insured, as it is not recommended and has never been for use in boats, we know how these company's like to have a get out..

Peter

dodgy geezer · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2009, 12:01:40 pm »

The Spectrum piece was long on innuendo and short on fact. They said that they 'didn't recommend' their standard radios for marine use 'for several reasons', and then that they 'tested the standard radio in a boat and it worked ok, but didn't have quite the range that customers had come to expect'.

No indication on whether the range was adequate or not.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2009, 01:09:27 pm »

I wasn't advocating Spektrum or 2.4G I was just stating whatever radio you use, first consideration for fast boats is "safety first."
Proper range checks and a 'fail safe' device ( shuts down the throttle on loss of signal ), you don't want "a 26cc Zen and est speed of about 50 mph" coming at ya out of control!!!!

HS93 (RIP) · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2009, 03:19:15 pm »

Quote from: dodgy geezer on October 25, 2009, 12:01:40 pm

The Spectrum piece was long on innuendo and short on fact. They said that they 'didn't recommend' their standard radios for marine use 'for several reasons', and then that they 'tested the standard radio in a boat and it worked ok, but didn't have quite the range that customers had come to expect'.

No indication on whether the range was adequate or not.

Isn't that a clever way to say it did not meet the req specification, there site had for a long time a disclamer saying not suitable for marine use and never mentioned boats a all..what it does not say says it all...

Peter

Max Power · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2009, 08:24:14 pm »

Quote from: Martin - Admin on October 25, 2009, 01:09:27 pm

I wasn't advocating Spektrum or 2.4G I was just stating whatever radio you use, first consideration for fast boats is "safety first."
Proper range checks and a 'fail safe' device ( shuts down the throttle on loss of signal ), you don't want "a 26cc Zen and est speed of about 50 mph" coming at ya out of control!!!!

I use 2.4GHz (Futaba) in planes and boats. Over half the members in my model flying club have changed to 2.4GHz for peace of mind when flying. Unlike 35 or 40 MHz no one can shoot you down by switching on a transmitter on your frequency! What I am saying is that with a properly set failsafe 2.4GHz is inherently much safer than other frequencies.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2009, 09:10:25 am »

Quote from: Max Power on October 25, 2009, 08:24:14 pm

a properly set failsafe...

andyn · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2009, 06:05:24 pm »

My Multi using Specktrum DX5e radio and Bill's Makara using Futaba 6exa 2.4:

hooper · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2009, 01:26:56 am »

Thanks lads. I've noticed that the spectrum dx5 systems are reasonably price now I may just give one a try. Has anyone had bother with the dx5, Guess i'm just old school using the same gear all these years..

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2009, 07:44:28 am »

A couple of known niggles but nothing that should put you, Spekrum have a good reputation.
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=20180.0
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19529.0
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19352.0

ando · « **Reply #11 on:** October 27, 2009, 09:07:30 pm »

hi i,ve got one of these set,s it works fine on land ace really good
but you put it in you boat and your in TROUBLE all contolled worked but all was reversed etc or it just went were it wanted !!!
so i would NO use it on water !!!
regards Andy

HS93 (RIP) · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2009, 09:15:38 pm »

Quote from: ando on October 27, 2009, 09:07:30 pm

hi i,ve got one of these set,s it works fine on land ace really good
but you put it in you boat and your in TROUBLE all contolled worked but all was reversed etc or it just went were it wanted !!!
so i would NO use it on water !!!
regards Andy

what make was it and where did it come from so other Mayhemers dont fall foul

peter

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2009, 12:06:13 am »

At a recent inter club visit to our lake, a number of members of the visiting club were using Turborix 6 channel 2.4 Ghz sets which cost about $60 landed in Australia. They all said that they have had no problems with any of the units, and recommended them highly. They came from R2hobbies.com in Hong Kong.

Has anyone else had any experience with this brand of 2.4 Ghz set? At that price I am tempted to buy one.

Peter.

red181 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2009, 12:52:51 am »

there have been a lots of posts Peter regarding these turborix 2.4 sets. I have one tx, and 3 rx's im my boats. For the money they cant be beaten, why some people are paying more money for 3 channel 40 meg sets beggars belief

6 channel rx, with 2 proportional knobs on the tx. You do need however to have the programmes for multiple applications on your pc in different folders, or like me, have all boats with the same operating characteristics, as the set has no model memory, or servo reverse, you just plug the tx into the pc, and upload the required folder with your settings.

They are rebadged "flysky", if you google that, you will find instructions, the instructions that come with turborix are useless

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #15 on:** October 28, 2009, 01:45:21 am »

Thanks for that Red181, I'll check the site out.

Peter.

wideawake · « **Reply #16 on:** October 28, 2009, 04:11:02 pm »

I got one for evaluation a while ago Peter. The Tx lacks the sophistication, looks-wise os Spektrum or Futaba but the set-up works fine for me. I had to wait for a vista compatible version of the programming software but, while I was waiting, found a fix online. Programming via the laptop is easy and the ability to assign ch 5 & 6 to switchesor knobs is good.

WRT different models the TX can be re-programmed with a laptop pond-side. when I originally looked for info there was talk on one of the r/c forums of someone writing a PDA version of the programming app but I've not followed that up for a while. To be honest, I tend to actually use the DX6 for real sailing.

HTH

Guy

ando · « **Reply #17 on:** October 28, 2009, 09:23:40 pm »

hello it was -is a plant 5 2.4 ghz set from a local model shop how i think got it from jp distributions
once again it works fine on land but not over water !!

tony23 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2009, 10:33:53 pm »

I use a JR PCM9XII with a spectrum 2.4GHZ module and Spectrum receivers on my IOM yachts the only reason I use the JR transmitter is I had it from my R/C flying days so needed a sophisticated transmitter. I have used a Spectrum 6DXi transmitter which I would highly recommend, for the life of me a cannot understand why some of you guys cheap out on radio gear when a decent boat is going to be worth at least £300 plus to me that's like owning a new car and putting remoulds on it.

As for range how many of you get to the lakeside and do a range check I bet not many if any, I have never seen it wherever I have sailed I do because that's come from my flying experience I also always programme in failsafe I had to when flying it is part of the BMFA insurance.

Spectrum receivers need to be above the water line to work correctly if your receiver is lying close to the bottom of the hull with the whiskers (aerials) low your range will be very limited I have just purchased one of the new Spectrum MR3000 3 channel water resistant receivers to my yacht and taped one ariel to the underneath of the deck and the other protruding out of the deck through a straw type tube into the air the range has been limitless the yacht is so far it cannot be seen to be sailed so that will do for me, I have now started to repace all my receivers for these.

you will notice extra pins these are so you can plug in 2 rudder servos and 2 throttle servos not needing Y-leads the thickness of the receiver is about 3mm.

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2009, 10:56:15 pm »

I flew RC for many years, and would never attempt a flight without first having done a range check. However, I must admit I don't do one when I'm boating, as the risk of damage should a radio fail is almost non existent, compared to flying, and a disabled boat is easily recovered, at least at our lake. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do a range check if you so wish, in fact, if you are into fast boats, whether they be IC or electric, then such a check would definitely be advisable.

I am interested in comments concerning the range over water of 2.4ghz sets, or rather, the lack of it. I can only repeat what I said in an earlier post about the experiences of the members of the Brisbane club that visited us recently. They were nearly all using the 6 channel Turborix sets and none of them reported any problems. Perhaps, as SpamCanMan said, the positioning of the receivers and aerials is critical. Where we sail, boats are rarely more than 100 metres from the operators, so radio range should not be a problem.

I will continue to follow this topic with interest.

Peter.

red181 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 28, 2009, 11:55:11 pm »

Peter, the range on my turborix is one side of Newsham Park Lake (Liverpool), virtually to the other bank, sorry dont know how far that is, but you can google earth it!

, with a rc boat, you dont really want it that far from you, however, the turborix tx is very hungry on batteries.
I agree that spektrum, futaba 2.4 etc is superior, better quality etc, but are we comparing fairly, ?? those sets are what....3 times the price of turborix?

, price for price, we really should be comparing 3 channel hitec zebra against turborix, I know where my money is, I still regularly see boaters switching on transmitteres with a total disregard for others, or "hogging" frequencies for ages, no such worries with 2.4

hooper · « **Reply #21 on:** October 29, 2009, 01:39:05 am »

I've just checked out the r2hobbies site, are we tallking about the £24.65 turborix sets they seem unbelievable for that price if they work. DONT get me wrong i'm not a cheap skate when it comes to radio gear or safety but like all things in life we sometimes end up paying just for a name badge when lesser known products do the same job and just as well.
For example one of our club members has just bought an rcmk 26cc engine from south korea, 5hp out the box, and it flies, less than half the price of some other engines on the market or available as tuned up options from certain places. As for durability time will tell !
After all there is a global credit crunch...LOL...

wideawake · « **Reply #22 on:** October 29, 2009, 11:45:57 am »

Quote from: hooper on October 29, 2009, 01:39:05 am

I've just checked out the r2hobbies site, are we tallking about the £24.65 turborix sets they seem unbelievable for that price if they work.

Yes we are and they do! As I've said, with the one limitation that if used in several models that need different settings then you need to download these settings from a computer. You can bind several RXs at the same time so if all your boats are OK with one set-up it's not a problem.

Cheers

Guy

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #23 on:** October 29, 2009, 09:14:47 pm »

Red 181, is it possible to use rechargeable batteries in the Tx - (NiCd, NiMh), or do you have to use alkaline cells?

Peter.

wideawake · « **Reply #24 on:** October 29, 2009, 09:46:34 pm »

Quote from: Peter Fitness on October 29, 2009, 09:14:47 pm

Red 181, is it possible to use rechargeable batteries in the Tx - (NiCd, NiMh), or do you have to use alkaline cells?

Peter.

I'm using NiMH cells in mine with no problem.

Guy

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Author Topic: cheap 2.4ghz sets (Read 10575 times)

hooper

Max Power

andyn

hooper

ando

wideawake

ando

tony23

hooper

wideawake

wideawake