Do I need a new controller?

[ArAKern2]

So I do not run my car very often and there is always that dread then utter supprise when my Acoms Technicplus powers up and works fine.

But one day it may die and should i replace it now?... personal upside = no aerial and access to waterproof receivers.

Other advantages = Depending on the controller ability to make many adjustmets. As I only use the car for bashing and have never had them before would I use them is available?  

[Wooders28]

The old controllers are fine, but yeah, one day old elecs do what old elecs do, and just stop working. My Futaba Attack R packed in mid race, and my car stopped on the straight, the resulting crash broke my car, and the car that hit me.....

That dragged me kicking and screaming into the modern 2.4ghz world, and I just wish I'd got one sooner!! 

There's not that many stick controllers on the market to choose from though, they're mainly wheels, which some people can take to, but with 35yrs on sticks, I just can't.

The main features I use are ,multi model memory and EPA (End Point Adjustment), but have used the throttle curve for speed runs and duel rate for when the steering is a bit twitchy.

Steering end points are never equal, left to right, I think one of my cars is 84% one way, and 106% the other, to get the steering lock the same! This helps the servo from pushing against the end stops, which stretches the servo saver. With the steering end points set, and running metal geared servos, I've done away with servo savers on most of mine now.

Epa is also great for letting kids have a drive, even with a fast brushless motor, you can just turn the speed down ,and off they go.

I've used the throttle EPA when bashing, with brushless and 3s, if I go from a beach on paddle tyres it's 100%, then throw on spikes and run on grass, I just turn the throttle EPA down to keep if fun and controllable.

[ArAKern2]

Well drawn up a bit of a short list. (Admittley have a unfounded bias towards sticks)

Absima SR2S 2 direct replacment for the Acoms,   -no extra features, + waterproof Rx available 

Carson Reflex Stick 4 Channel Pro 3.1,  + has extra features and multiple model, -rx are more expensive and only water resistant.

Not sure i can make the adjustment to wheel but..

Absima CR3P AFHDS, + has extra features and multiple model + waterproof Rx available, -asthetics

Flysky FS GT3C + has extra features and multiple model + waterproof Rx available 

Or FlySky FS-i6X yes i would need to mod the sticks but can you program it with the other car like features.?

[alvinlwh]

1 hour ago, ArAKern2 said:

Carson Reflex Stick 4 Channel Pro 3.1,  + has extra features and multiple model, -rx are more expensive and only water resistant.

Absima CR3P AFHDS, + has extra features and multiple model + waterproof Rx available, -asthetics

I have these.

The Carson is the only (I think) surface stick radio that has model memory and EPA + DR + EXP adjustment on the market right now. If you must have a stick, get it before it is gone. Regarding the expensive RX, consider getting the nano (500501538) instead, they are a bit cheaper.

The CR3P is a perfectly fine radio, effectively the same as the GT3, but more expensive and looks better (subjective). It (and the GT3) had constantly been recommended for beginners and casual users on this forum although some snobbish types will thumb their noses at it. Best thing is you can use very cheap FlySky RX with it and they now have a version with gyro built in.

[Wooders28]

1 hour ago, ArAKern2 said:

Absima CR3P AFHDS, + has extra features and multiple model + waterproof Rx available, -asthetics

I got my daughter one of these (she struggled with my sticks, as her hand/ thumb is too short to turn fully left), and although a bit laggy, and a faff to set up (needed to calibrate a 10bl120 esc using the steering/ch1 as ch2 just wouldn't calibrate reverse/brakes, and took me most of the night, and several YouTube videos to bind another reciever) , it's not a bad budget radio! 

 

44 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

The Carson is the only (I think) surface stick radio that has model memory and EPA + DR + EXP adjustment on the market right now.

I've the Sanwa Exzes ZZ, with features I'm never going to use (can alter braking force per % steering, telemetry etc),  and there's the Futaba T4GRS, but maybe a bit strong money if you're just bashing.

[alvinlwh]

43 minutes ago, Wooders28 said:

I've the Sanwa Exzes ZZ, with features I'm never going to use (can alter braking force per % steering, telemetry etc),  and there's the Futaba T4GRS, but maybe a bit strong money if you're just bashing.

Looking at his list, I am guessing he is looking at the <£100 or even <£50 range. 

The Sanwa can buy 10 of the Carsons while the Futaba about 4.

Perhaps I will revise my statement to "the Carson is the only stick I know of with model memory etc for casual bashing money". 

[El Gecko]

24 minutes ago, alvinlwh said:

Looking at his list, I am guessing he is looking at the <£100 or even <£50 range. 

The Sanwa can buy 10 of the Carsons while the Futaba about 4.

Perhaps I will revise my statement to "the Carson is the only stick I know of with model memory etc for casual bashing money". 

Let's not count out Flysky. I'm hoping to get an FS-i6 because I believe it does EPA/DR/EXP in addition to multiple (20) model memory, for not a lot of money compared to Sanwa/Futaba/etc. I have the FS-i4 and it's been fine, although I had to flip the Y axis setup on the pots to get spring return on the left stick throttle. The FS-i6 should work with all my existing receivers, too. Possibly a good budget option for the casual basher who needs more adjustability, like me.

[alvinlwh]

2 minutes ago, El Gecko said:

Let's not count out Flysky. I'm hoping to get an FS-i6 because I believe it does EPA/DR/EXP in addition to multiple (20) model memory, for not a lot of money compared to Sanwa/Futaba/etc. I have the FS-i4 and it's been fine, although I had to flip the Y axis setup on the pots to get spring return on the left stick throttle. The FS-i6 should work with all my existing receivers, too. Possibly a good budget option for the casual basher who needs more adjustability, like me.

I have no problem with Flysky, I have a CR3P which is effectively a GT3 and use only Flysky Rx with that. 

Is the FS-i6 a surface or air TX? And does the FS-i4 have model memory? Useful information to have if my Carson breaks and I need another stick. 

[El Gecko]

2 hours ago, alvinlwh said:

I have no problem with Flysky, I have a CR3P which is effectively a GT3 and use only Flysky Rx with that. 

Is the FS-i6 a surface or air TX? And does the FS-i4 have model memory? Useful information to have if my Carson breaks and I need another stick. 

From my research both the i6 and i4 are either surface or air, can be used for drones or RC cars/boats/planes/etc. The i6 is the cheapest Tx I've found with model memory. The i4 was about $20 cheaper and does not have any sort of memory on it, but you can still bind with multiple receivers. I have 9 Rx all bound to the same single i4 Tx at the moment, because I replaced my old Futaba 2NBL Tx due to interference. The i4 was a nice step up from those basic Futaba units, as they only had trim settings. The i4 has servo reversing switches and even mixing switches for air control. But it would be nice to have model memory so I don't have to reset the trims each time I take a different car out for a drive. And EPA etc. which hopefully will allow for finer steering control on some of my unruly old 2WD hotrods.

[ArAKern2]

Definatly just for bashing (little bit embarrassed to say how little it comes out of the loft these days) Budget is definatly a factor as my Mad Bull was free only spent money on upgrades .

Kind of leaning towards the FS-i6X ONLY if it can be setup as surface?  (have an unfinished RC hovercraft project to finish)   Otherwise Flysky FS GT3C.  

[El Gecko]

1 hour ago, ArAKern2 said:

Definatly just for bashing (little bit embarrassed to say how little it comes out of the loft these days) Budget is definatly a factor as my Mad Bull was free only spent money on upgrades .

Kind of leaning towards the FS-i6X ONLY if it can be setup as surface?  (have an unfinished RC hovercraft project to finish)   Otherwise Flysky FS GT3C.  

I'm planning to use the FS-i6 for surface vehicles (cars only). It's basically the same as the i4, with some extra switches and knobs, and an LCD screen instead of the row of reversing/channel mixing switches on the i4. I'm guessing it'll need the return spring swapped to the left (normal) throttle control side like I had to do with the i4, but that's really no big deal although you do have to open the Tx shell. I've noticed that some versions are now coming with spring return setup on the left pot already, so they're ready to go out of the box. Just make sure you know which one you're getting.

[Jonathon Gillham]

I was looking into this a couple of years for boats and despite radios being advertised for surface or air there is no difference other than the return spring on one stick. I think it was a thing BiTD when they used different frequencies but that isn't relevant now with 2.4 radios.

I have the FS i6 and it has a lot of options. The lack of return spring for me is a benefit as I use it as the sail channel which you need to be able to set and it stays. I have used it for other things like a tank and the channel mixing is easy to use and makes driving tracked vehicles easy. I'm pretty sure you can buy bits to add the return springs and lock out one axis for not much money.

Flysky are great value radios, the work as advertised and offer a lot of features for relatively little money. 

@Wooders28 you missed the Futaba T7XC!

[KEV THE REV]

On 6/8/2022 at 3:04 PM, ArAKern2 said:

Absima SR2S 2 direct replacment for the Acoms,   -no extra features, + waterproof Rx available 

I bought this as it has sticks and is for general running and my one has a steering end point adjustment knob (£40 inc post from Jadlam ) . It is basically a rebranded Flysky and you can buy extra ( cheap) flysky receivers for other cars you might have and use the same handset