Airtonics/Sanwa M12 Transmitter Users

[Brian Spitzer]

Would like to hear from anyone using an Airtonics M12 and what your opionion and experience has been with the system.

 

[Brian Sorgente]

I don't have any experience with the M12 but it looked like an awesome radio. I was planning to upgrade to one this year until I found out Airtronics went out of business... Unless you find a deal you cant pass up I would steer clear... I've already noticed Airtronics components are out of stock at most places.

 

[Kez]

I don't have any experience with the M12 but it looked like an awesome radio. I was planning to upgrade to one this year until I found out Airtronics went out of business... Unless you find a deal you cant pass up I would steer clear... I've already noticed Airtronics components are out of stock at most places.

I did not know Airtronics went out of business. Sanwa is a pretty big Japanese company. I find it hard to believe that Sanwa is out of business. Can you still buy Sanwa radios in Japan?

 

[Jeffmaturo]

According to every single article I have read you will be able to purchase identical products under the Sanwa brand. I guess we will have to wait and see.

 

[Robert Pickard]

Or go with Futaba and be happy and not worry about parts

 

[David Bryant]

I have a few brand-new Airtronics/Sanwa M12 radios, they are extremely well-designed products. The M12 family of radio's are essentially Sanwa product line:

http://sanwa-denshi.com/rc/car/

Sanwa now has the new M12S RS (Racing Sport). They are obtainable through many sources.

It's a little complicated. The Airtronics brand has been defunct for around two years now. Airtronics was originally founded in the early-mid 1970's, and based in Fountain Valley, CA (Orange County). They designed their product-line in-house, and was manufactured by Sanwa in Japan. Many years later Airtronics was aquired by the RC model products chain "Hobby People" (originally "Hobby Shack" going way back), in nearby Orange County CA. Thereafter, Hobby People resumed all Airtronics product sales and service until very recently, now they are out-of-business (sad to see Hobby People go).

So, what's left of the Airtronics brand was aquired by Serpent Of America/Desoto Racing in South Florida, on-road RC Car specialist's:

https://www.serpentamerica.com/shop/home.php

Desoto Racing will honor most any recently aquired Airtronics-brand products as remaining parts supplies exist (as long as they were purchased through a U.S. dealer, with a legitimate receipt). There is much information in regards to Airtronics politics on the "RC Tech" web-site forum:

http://www.rctech.net/forum/search.php?searchid=26268602

Moreover, Desoto Racing are (I believe) now the official U.S. supplier/service center for Sanwa radio control products. So they carry most of the product line.

 

[Brian Sorgente]

Wow I guess I have some research to do. Thanks for the clearing that up David, and thanks for posting this thread Brian.

I dont have anything against other manufacturers but the Airtronics stuff has been bullet proof for me. It's never even crossed my mind to change brands until i thought they were gone... I'm still using my 75mhz M11 that i bought when they first came out like +/- 12 years ago? And the only problem I've ever had was last year when one of my recievers started glitching...

 

[David Bryant]

I dont have anything against other manufacturers but the Airtronics stuff has been bullet proof for me. It's never even crossed my mind to change brands until i thought they were gone...

I feel exactly the same. I still have my Airtronics Caliber 3PS 75Mhz pistol radio as well, love it, solid operation.

I'm just getting familiar with my new M12 radio's, I'll get back with more user-input, they are very nice. Sanwa has an incredible line of servo's (although pricey)

 

[stan simpson iv]

We are still using the m8 model from the 80's,turned it into the 2.4. No issues...

 

[Carl Van Houten]

We are still using the m8 model from the 80's,turned it into the 2.4. No issues...

The M8 was a great radio for me. Even though my M8 is still working, I am looking to buy a new radio. Not sure what I am going to get but I kind of like the idea of the real time mph function of the Lynx. Of course I just like the name too. LOL

-Carl

 

[David Bryant]

We are still using the m8 model from the 80's,turned it into the 2.4. No issues...

I kind of like the idea of the real time mph function of the Lynx

I'm curious how this (MPH) function works on the Lynx sysem? Are they using on-board sensors (accelerometers, etc.,...) ?