Opinions on the Core/Etronix/Tamco 3ch radio.
 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1508807499...84.m1423.l2649

Getting started into this nonsense again and would value folks opinion of the above transmitter. Seems to be widely available at this sort of cost. There is also a cheaper 2 channel one with fewer features. Has anybody used these radios and are they reasonable value for money?

Thanks in advance for your opinions...

Jimmy

:woot:hi mate, good radio for the money, ive got an early version of it which uses DSSS in stead of FHSS, the old one uses a direct signal and the FHSS uses a frequency hop signal, both work fine, used mine for 2 years now with no hassle, its as good as a £300 set and does everything you need, get it bought.:D

I have had both and in my pinion are better than a spektrum wheel in terms of quality and value

My son uses one of the more expensive ones and a few guys I know also use them and I don't know of any problems. Lots of people reported binding problems with the earlier DSSS (black receiver) ones but the newer FHSS (blue receiver) seems to be fine.

I had one of the etronix ones. I used it for 1 6min race and got rid.
Hated everything about it!

Could you expand on that... I was just about to click to buy!

Jimmy

I think if you have used a quality radio like a KO, Futaba or Sanwa you won't like the feel of these things. I use a KO Helios wheel and i really don't like the feel of the low end systems.

I have no doubt they have all the functions and work with no issues.

Well, now I'm concerned! I've used all sorts in the past, from top end Futabas to yer very basic Acoms and really have never noticed a huge difference. My favourite transmitter of all time, so far, was one of those white Futaba Attacks from yonks ago. I'll probably still go for it. It'll be OK.

Jimmy

ive had my core rc one for about 18 months , its been used in different cars and never missed a beat !! my mate uses one aswell ...:)

Basically what D20MCK said.
I went from a reasonable quality sanwa on 40mhz to an etronix on 2.4ghz. Whilst I had no problems with the specs and features it simply felt cheap, light and tacky.
I'm now running a high end futaba and don't have a clue what most of the features do, but it feels nice!

I'm with Col on this one. I had the Etronix FHSS version.

Besides not feeling very nice to hold - tacky and light, I had numerous problems.
Binding issues were a constant pain, but the ultimate killer was potentiometer issues. Each model memory channel eventually lost the ability to recognise full stick movement. 100% brake resulted in 20% being applied. For a while I could hop to another model memory but after all 15 were full, it was trash.

Having learn the lesson of buy cheap, buy twice, I spent slightly less on a used Futaba 3gr and never looked back. Feels far far smoother to my inputs and most importantly never ever misses a beat.

I started back with a DSSS and to be fair had no problems but my mate who i picked one up for at the same time had alot of binding problems within months and other lads at the local club had had theirs repaired and replaced and warned us against them, so i'd say stay away both mine and my mates went back his for not working and mine for just in case, I do however believe the FHSS was supposed to be an improvement.

Have purchased the Tamco version of this with the FHSS and the blue receiver. I'll let you know how it goes. £59!

Jimmy

Etronix Pulse EX3GPRO FHSS
 

Raced with an Etronix Pulse EX3GPRO 2.4g FHSS Stick Radio System, Indoors and Outdoors.

Never had a problem with range drop out or binding issues. Decent capacitors on the ESC take care of voltage droop.

Use a Lipo tranny battery Turnigy 2650mAh Transmitter pack and top up charge every 3 or 4 weeks

Some problems can arise from poor connections/shoddy wiring on the car which applies to any setup.

Several club members I have spoken to said they do the business for them and to get anything better is a sizeable chunk of cash.

My only gripe is the manual is a bit sparse in explanation of features.

Regarding feel in use. Nice and light in weight. Sticks lengths can be adjusted to suit. Plenty of feature adjustments and memory store for profiles.

Expensive radio trannys can rotate the stick angles for fine adjustment but not a feature worth paying a packet for club racing.

Thanks Morpheus and everybody else for their input. I feel sure the radio will be absolutely fine!

I still use a Sanwa Gemini 2 on 40 mhz, great radio and great value second hand.

As everyone appears to be on 2.4 these days, I never need to change crystal.

Appreciate my response isn't the question you asked, but some food for thought :thumbsup:

hi aaramsmith ive just purchased a gemini 2, waiting for delivery, what is your honest opinion of this radio and would you recomend 2.4 ghz conversion?:thumbsup:

I have one of those as well. Great radio with all the main features, feels reasonable and cheap to boot.
I don't think you can convert it to 2.4 as it has no module, but there is a Gemini X available (you'll have to import it) that is exactly the same, but 2.4...

The Gemini 2.4 will be out in the uk soon

I use one myself, and have done for the last 5 years.

It's a great piece of kit, has every function you will need and is a quality product.

I have had offers locally to convert it to 2.4, but resisted as there is no need as most others are on 2.4 already - so i never really need to change crystal.

You won't be disappointed

my son has the core / etronix handset, dsss version with black receiver,
it cost £10 second hand,

i dont know if its just me but it seems like the trim on the steering jumps up in double or tripple the increasments that the better quality handsets do, ie:3vcs.

another guy at our track couldnt get on with it, same steering problem which was solved when he purchased another better quality handset,
anyone else noticed the juddery increasments in steering on the trims.?

thanks for the reply, been talking to loadsof people about the gemini and they have the same opinion as you, leave on 40 mhz so thats what im doing.:woot:

I had to use my core 2.4 set after reverse-wiring my sanwa super exzes the night before the kidderminster national.

it was actually not bad, although the sticks were a little loose, but the really irritating 'feature' was the throttle hold switch that I accidentally activated - meaning the loss of a heat due to a car that wouldn't move.

That gets me sometimes too, "Dad my car's not working..."

Once it's happened a couple of times you soon think to check it first if there appears to be a problem. I think you can set the Throttle hold to something other than zero throttle but that might be a bit dangerous.

Agree compleatly imstill using a Futaba field force 3 with spektrum module i did replace it with a 3vc but it felt cheap also tryed a e tronix but would still prefer to use a old 27mhz acoms or futaba

The tranny was delivered today. Just for clarification it is the Tamco Pro 3ch 2.4ghz version of the identical Core and Etronix 3ch stick transmitters.

I unpacked it expecting it to be pretty horrible. But it was OK - quite handsome! I loaded up the cells and it feels pretty good in the hand. It'll be a couple of weeks until I try it for real, but it's looking pretty good so far.

Jimmy

As a follow up to this thread I'd like to just say that I'm quite pleased with the way this radio works. I realize it's a poor cousin to the upper end Futabas and Sanwa's etc, but, to me it feels fine...

...however, it's LCD screen has just failed! Blank. Nothing. The radio still works, so it's probably a dry joint on the LCD PCB. But what a pain. It will probably need to be returned and repaired/replaced and I really can't be hattered!

Oh well, over to Cleveland Models to see what we need to do to get it fixed.

Ho Hum.

Jimmy

Jimmy,
Both me and my lad use the Etronix version as do a few others at the club where we race and the only time we've had any performance issues is when we've let the tranny batteries get a bit low.
Lee