Which transmitter?
 

Hi..We started with a KO esprit on 40fm and suffered interference(sods law it was mostly in finals!)
Moved to another KO which is converted to spectrum..Had range issues so bought new recievers and an ariel for the module and in the last 2 events its run perfect all day only to go into failsafe in both A finals!!! Gutted!
So can you guys reccomend a 2.4ghz tranny? Been looking at the KO universe on Ko 2.4ghz. Really dont want to buy the wrong thing!
Thanks Dave:thumbsup:

Dave, forgot to ask you yesterday whether you run a powercap in your receivers. Its basically a capacitor that plugs into a spare channel on the RX and helps eliminate voltage spikes and voltage drops.

Looks like this. Availbale here for just £6.49 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Spektrum-Volta...562ef6ffb1153e
http://www.selections-web.co.uk/hard...tor%20Lrg1.jpg

If money isn't a problem get yourself a Futaba 3vcs :thumbsup:

http://www.servoshop.co.uk/index.php...CHF&area=Radio


or take a look at the Futaba 3gr.

KO Universe :wub
I've got the spektrum module but they've got their own 2.4g system now, it's not compatible with spektrum receivers though (nor is the Futaba 2.4g) so you'd be looking at new receivers too!
Tried the 3VCS and didn't get on with it after being used to KOs.

But as Jamie says try the power cap first.

So it looks like Owen is getting either the Futaba 3cvs or the KO universe.
Which one though?

Jamie i'l try the power cap(Looks like i'm getting anoyher of Owens hand me downs!) Thanks for the link bud:D

Dave, i just now realised i had a spare powercap in my box. Been looking for the bugger for ages and found it earlier whilst cleaning the grass out of it.lol

But try the powercap, im almost certain that will sort it, and remember to re-bind your receivers with the throttle stick on brake or neutral to set the failsafe.

Yes.. Rebind failsafe to neutral not full throttle:blush: Funny how the both times its happened its been on a full power part of the track suggesting a power decrease at the reciever as you have said..Just ordered the power cap so fingers crossed it wont happen at Cobra wrca,dont think the poor lad could take anymore dissapointment:cry:

I really felt for him yesterday Dave, he was doing so well and all :(

Hopefully the problems can be ironed out for COBRA, and im sure hes gonna do very well there.

Dent remind him i beat him twice in the 'A's yesterday then Dave... :woot:

Seriously though, the set up you've got is good, try the powercap first, cheap & cheerful to test :)

I changed from the esprit II to a 3vcs and never looked back.

took a few races to get use to it. you can always put the aerial up if you get nostalgic lol. Very easy to operate and move through the menus. The range is stupid. I can drive the car until I can't see it and still turn out and come back.

R603FF's are a little on the large side, but no problems getting them into any car I've owned

Shhhh..Dont remind him!! poor devil's gone from 3rd fastest at tally then missed the loop in the A. Then TQ'd even the 4wd with his x6 at gnr only to hit the collapsed jump(you know the one:p)5 times in a row and claw back 2nd.Then spectrum failsafed in the A at caldi so a dnf.Then at s,foot he was on the last 2 corners running 3rd to Andy and Belsten only to failsafe and dnf again!!
His lucks got to c hange soon..
Dates are up for yhe MAM rounds...You in??

Ps.How does my x6 look from behind:p

I'm hoping to do them mate, superb racing experience. Get booked in!!!
I had a few problems with my handset unbinding, but after bluetacking module tight and a new speedo, everything seems ok. (i hope i haven't just jinxed myself!!!) What other electrics is owen using??

Alrite Andy
Speed passion pro speedo, Sport 3ch spectrum reciever savox digital servo.Reciever ariel is very short though so going to get the wire further out of the shell and try the power cap..Owen should have his new tranny by the next wrca so il prob inherit his if i can fix it

Could go either way Futaba/Ko
Thanks for the advice Big G

Been a Futaba man almost all my racing life, if you discount a flirtation with JR in the 1980s. I find them very (very!) reliable, and all their kit does exactly what it says on the tin. My Txs have been put through an oscilloscope at a couple of big meetings and all passed that test with flying colours.

I would recommend a 3VCS (I have one) as it will take either the Futaba or Spektrum 2.4 system (I use Spektrum). My tip would be always to use a Futaba receiver if running 40Mhz, and preferably Futaba servos. However, I ran KO servos with no issues for many years in Off-Road and TC using the Futaba FF3 and a Futaba receiver.

Txs are one of those things that people swear by one make or the other, and it's not often that people agree with each other!! I swear by Futaba, and hope that my experience helps. If you've any other questions on Futaba kit, please post here or PM me, and if I can offer advice, I will.

One thing's for sure - judging by the numbers you see at all the RC classes, Futaba and KO are the most popular Txs. If eitehr of them were riddled with faults, then we'd all be running something else! It's tough choosing between two great products, isn't it!! HTH :)

Yes im warming towards thge futaba.It also looks neater than the ko..So you dont use the futaba 2.4 you use the specrtum module and reciever in the futaba? If thats correct then any reason?
Thanks Slowone:D

I've seen a few 3vc(s)'s with the speccy modules in

Could you tell me what value and voltage these power caps are? :)

Well i was too tight to buy one so i bought a capacitor from Maplin and solders a lead on. I got the 47 Capacitence with 16v rating and it's worked a treat.

Ive used Futaba and KO over the years but always felt the Futaba stuff had a better quality feel to it.
Lots of people run Spektrum and Futaba's 2.4ghz module in the 3vc
Iv heard and seen more problems with the spectrum system than the futaba one, but the Futaba one is more expensive to buy if you have a 40mhz 3vc and want to upgrade to 2.4ghz!
There are lots of people who don't have any problems at all with both systems which ever way you go you will have a very good Tx :thumbsup:

3vcs seem dirt cheap without the 2.4 setup so if funds are tight you could always stick with 27/40mhz and find out if you like the tranny before you commit to 2.4.

also with this tranny I put a £20 ebay lipo in which runs it for 15hrs before it needs a recharge. I hate having to recharge the tranny every other meeting as I found with my old KO, but that probably could of been solved with a proper set of AA's

No probs! I use Spektrum because I bought it originally for my Futaba FF3, wanted to use it on the 3VC. Imagine that, a 15 year-old Tx (FF3) that would already accept the new 2.4 Ghz modules straight away!! :thumbsup:

I was only looking for a new Tx, the one offered had both 40Mhz and Spektrum modules/receivers included. Although a bit more than I wanted to pay, the seller was offering them in excellent condition, and he came with a great recommendation from someone I know who knew him, so the deal was done and I now have two Spektrum modules and receivers. HTH :)

ko gets my vote :thumbsup:
Ive got the spektrum caps spare if you wanted to borrow one

We can't both be wrong surely!
Get a KO!:wub

Yes you can, lol!!!

Futaba are the best manufacturers out there, my venerable old 3VC still is faultless and running 2.4GHz, only ever had it go fail safe once, and that was cured by a cap on the receiver.

K.O. at your peril.... lol

sanwa :)

another vote for the 3vcs.
keep an eye out on ebay.
I got a T3VCS 2.4ghz for £92 delivered!!!!
It is replacing a 3VC that I bought in 2000 so no quibbles on quality or faults!!

Pah, rubbish, never had any problems with KO

Ko sets are great to use, but a lot of people seem to be having trouble with 2.4ghz. I do, sometimes mine just won't bind. Although I've seen people have similar problems with spectrum
Love my ko. Just wish it would work properly all the time like it used to do:mad:

I use the esprit 3 with Spektrum and its been very good, but on Sunday i was having signal issues with it. So i took the module out the back, bent the pins slightly to make better contact with the module and it did the trick.

But apart from needing to do that little mod, its been a great controller, and so was the esprit 2 before that which also used Spektrum.

I've got the spektrum module in mine, so no binding problems and it's been fine plus I've not needed to bend any pins to make it work either?

Trouble with transmitters is that much of it is subjective and down to personal preference. In truth there isn't much to choose between them and the best thing Owen can do is try the Futaba to see if he'd get on with it (the universe feels the same to use as the Esprit 2)
The menus on both are easy to use - Universe is a big improvement over the Esprit 2

I've always used Ko, im wanting to upgrade to 2.4 has anyone any experience with the Sanwa exzes 2.4 system i think it's the same as the M11. Also is it easy to navagate the tranny.

the sanwa exzes has a very very easy menu system,nice large screen and simple to program.
the newer exzes plus has more things to program but the same style easy menu

its also one of the most comfortable ergonomic radios going and feels just right to hold,i know of 3 people that have changed to the sanwa this last month due to having problems with their ko and futaba 2.4's overheating and shutting down (but im talking rallyx here and dont think the 5 min electric boys have this problem)

the only bad thing if it is a bad thing,is dont charge thru the charging jack on the transmitter,remove the battery to charge has it has been known to blow the internal fuse.

overall a cracking radio.

That may explain why mine stopped working over the weekend... Stopped working after I had been charging via the jack.

Any ideas how to replace the internal fuse?

Thanks

try plugging the charging jack back in and out a few times as it has been known to stick in the open state causing the tx to not get any power.

failing that its pretty easy if your very good with a soldering iron as its a surface mount jobby,if you dont know what your doing you could really mess it up tho.

i will send you a link on how to fix it via pm as its on another usa based forum.

or you could speak to dave baileys dad,im sure he can sort it for you.

Thanks for that - yes I would appreciate the link please. Shame to throw a nice TX out. My Dads an electrical engineer so any soldering jobs goto him :thumbsup:

Thanks again.

I've recently switched to the Exzes X from KO, and it's a very good radio. I haven't 100% got comfortable holding it yet, but it's getting better every time I use it.

Overall very happy with it - although I haven't fully got my head around what is where on the menu either!!

just make sure you turn the abs and arc curves off as they arent needed and thats it really.