DSM

[SayMikey]

Namba steps into the future with DSM only in 2023. Might hurt a few feelings but I feel its the right choice as a C/D putting on races

 

[John Beardslee]

It’s been maybe 10 years ago at Joe Nall and Florida Jets that they went to DSM only. It’s inevitable for at least the big events. Just my 2C

 

[ALLAN YUEN]

Why?? Can explain ? And illegal ”air “ TX ? Must use only ”surface” TX ?

 

[Don Ferrette]

Nope. May be an OK approach for the big R/C factions like cars or planes/jets where losing someone over not wanting to spend big $$ switching to DSM is no big deal but with our dwindling numbers in boaters if a guy has a properly functioning FM radio system we need to allow them. Hey Joe Warren how's that hunt for 75mhz crystals going??

 

[SayMikey]

I agree to disagree a Futaba 3pv can be had for $149.00 Guys complain about change all the time. Any weekend race guys normally piss away $100 to $200 Ask your self how old is the newest Chrystal radio?

 

[SayMikey]

Another thing this is a heads -up plenty of time to get ready. Im suprised The federal regulators have not taken those channels away already

 

[Joe Warren]

Nope. May be an OK approach for the big R/C factions like cars or planes/jets where losing someone over not wanting to spend big $$ switching to DSM is no big deal but with our dwindling numbers in boaters if a guy has a properly functioning FM radio system we need to allow them. Hey Joe Warren how's that hunt for 75mhz crystals going??

The problem is not the cost, we have all seen many boats stuck in the bank at races & the operator holding a DSM Radio.. Now you tell me are they fixed & reliable Now?

 

[FloridaScaleBoater]

I've seen & stuck my fare share of boats in lake banks.....
While using a 75meg radio.
The failure is rarely connected to frequency, but more often an internal failure.
Bad battery switch
Low or dead battery
Or the result of a water cooled radio box

 

[Buckshot]

The problem is not the cost, we have all seen many boats stuck in the bank at races & the operator holding a DSM Radio.. Now you tell me are they fixed & reliable Now?

2.4Ghz systems are sooo much more better than fixed crystal systems and the interface features are more user friendly. I will only trust 2.4Gz in any of my equipment.

 

[Mark Anderson]

Every radio failure that I have ever had could be traced to one thing-ME! The early DSM systems had some issues (one brand more than others), but that was almost 20 years ago. Systems today are pretty bullet proof. That is if you buy good equipment and follow best practices on install. Put a $10 receiver in a $2500 boat and get what you deserve!
Allan 2.4 is like 27mhz, no such thing as air/surface.

 

[Danny King]

Since I’ve returned to boats. 10 yrs now I have seen way way less radio failures then the years before. This is a no brainer.

 

[Grimracer]

Not much has to change.. use a 400mm RX antenna and shove it into your existing tube.. done.

Those using MHZ.. we do understand.

I have had a few VERY minor issues in the past.. one was the use of the wrong C rating for an RX battery. I also had an issue ears ago at a fast electric race. it was a short RX antenna in a bad location.

None of them ended in a boat on the beach.. truth is they all went on to finish heats!

Is it a leap of faith.. sure.. but i can tell you.. if you go to 2.4G you will NEVER go back to MHZ!

Grim

BTY.. there is Z E R O percent chance I will EVER fly this on MHZ.. ZERO!

 

[Bill Gibson]

I have had issues with DSM radios in aircraft, not so much in boats, but i cant remember having issues with FM radios in aircraft or boat's.......i like DSM systems, but i think they are a little over rated.......they can fail just as any system can. I have race boats that are on both DSM and FM and will use them both for as long as im allowed to.....i still have a few AM systems i use on play boats.....ive seen how systems are installed on some models and its no wonder why they have problems.
I will say if i was racing a multi thousand dollar twin rigger, or flying a multi thousand dollar heli, or airplane, i would probably be using a DSM system.........i guess i still remember playing with this stuff back when i barely had 2 nickels to rub together, so i made do with what i could afford and took REAL good care of it!

 

[Grimracer]

I have never had an aircraft 2.4 failure of any kind using Futaba.. (Sense 2007).

Having said this I do know of other company's that have.. (when you have to build an "Crash investigation team" you have an issue! LOL (I am not naming names).

I worked with an RF engineer back at Hobbico.. he was like WOW.. (the other guys!).

I have however had a buddy that had a Futaba system that failed. I met up with the head of Futaba USA at that time.. He filled me in and made a statement about the "non Futaba products in the boat" but that was not accepted by the user.

So.. yes.. most of the issues are.. not heeding the information in the manual. OR.. not understanding the needs of us boaters.. (we are all MUCH better at that after this number of years). We have all made mistakes.. ME TO!

2.4.. turn on and enjoy!

Grim

 

[RaceMechaniX]

I would also argue that many potential loss of radio signal crashes could be avoided with proper setup of the fail safe function. That also goes to say you absolutely need to have tidy wiring, water tight radio boxes and decent switches and batteries.

 

[SayMikey]

A lot of races ive been to the problem happens on Sunday because you did not air out the radio box thats not quite water tight

 

[Bill Gibson]

Great discussion here! We've come a long way since the days of AM radios on 27 mhz!

 

[Don Ferrette]

Don't get me wrong I am PRO 2.4 but I don't want to lose a single boater because they are "forced" to change. Lord knows we've lost enough already for other reasons..............

 

[John Beardslee]

If I remember right, wasn’t the transition to DSM coupled with digital servos? My recollection is that with heli’s, what many thought were DSM problems were brown outs from inferior batteries. That and the early DSM systems weren’t frequency hoping, one year at Joe Noll a number of experience planes augured in due so many aircraft on 2.4 at the same time and jammed or slowed the signal. At one time there were places in Europe that you couldn’t use 2.4 because NEXRAD radar interfered with it. I believe all of these obstacles have been over come.

 

[BigChuck]

We are VERY fortune that the distance we run boats with DSM is relatively close. Had a variable of this discussion on a different message board.
Found that the DSM signal was being absorbed by the water rather than bouncing off it. For those that know..90% of the boaters at home have switched back to 75MHZ because they make the distance WITHOUT interference...