solar696

I like to hear your opinion on RX fail safes, Use it or not?
I have an enforcer super G and my TX is a futaba magmun 2PL AM computer radio.
I always had a fail safe throttle cutoff installed ( when the radio signal gets lost it cuts the throttle).
In the past I had some random shut down at somewhat close range and I was told ( here on RCU) to ditch the failsafe.
The boat has a clutch and being used for recreation use only. Idle screw was removed , but thinking of putting it back on.

What's your advise?

thanks

rcguy1411

i dont sugest an AM radio with GAS engines they tend to glitch at the very least you should use a FM radio and use a failsafe seen to manmy boats run away and be destroyed or badly damaged

Hardtime

Ditch the fail-safeandinstall a remote kill switch.

R.J.acker

how does a remote kill switch work?

rangerfredbob

My Feedback: (13)

when I just set up my airboat with a car radio I just backed out the idle screw and set the brake position to kill the throttle which kills the engine very well. sounds like your purpose is the same as mine and mine is probably going to be slower... (airboat with a 27cc 4 stroke, about 20mph but it's enough to putt around with)

Hardtime

It's like a Fail-safe only "kills the motor"
ie: a powered relay acts like a switch to Kill the motor
if power is lost or to low to hold the relay open or is interuped for a set time
or if remotely activated via 3rd channel..
I use a few different types but all are basicaly the same.
see www.killerrc.com for more info on thier kill switch.

Justaddwata

My Feedback: (3)

Warehouse Hobbies also offer an EKG (Engine Kill Guard) which is another option.

Not sure who told you to ditch the failsafe - I would only think to ditch one in favor of another - certainly not run with nothing

solar696

EKG is a good idea but it seems it only protects when RX power is low or lost.
It would not kill the engine when TX or RX signal gets weak or lost.

So there is two things to consider:
1) loss of power from the RX batteries which would render servos inop. to move.
2) loss of TX/RX signal servos stay in their position and no control over them.

SO i need one that does both

Paul M

Or 2.

Very bad idea not to have failsafes in the equation. I hear people frequently complaining about failsafes causing problems when in fact they are simply just doing the job they were designed for.

Radio equipment is the one thing you do not want to go cheap on. I'd recommend you consider a 2.4 system.

I run on a river and destroying my boat is the least of my worries.

Hardtime

Killer Bee or Mod pico
See the" Rough Guid to Kill Switches"on the HPIBaja Forum.

Johnnysplits

+10 on the killer bee kill switch and a 2.4g radio system

mistycreekboats

My Feedback: (1)

I only run Futaba 2.4 on 12 boats and never have a problem...... well worth the money ........

Start with something good we don't use AM here on the water . have had way too many problems with them

Cheers

solar696

Alright ... I 'll bite. I'll ditch the AM radio, ( better yet I will keep it for my toy EP boats.)

I searched and there is way too many options out there for s spread spectrum radio, Fhss, Fasst, and what not.
It seems the futaba Fasst radios are very expensive and RXs are in $90 range.

In reality I only need a 2 channel radio for my super G, I don't have a fleet of expensive boat and I don't race.
Does the all 2.4Ghz radios have built in fail safe?

Those of you who are experienced with the new 2.4 pistol grip radios, please chime in and help me pick a good radio at a decent price for my super g gas boat.

Ron Olson

My Feedback: (1)

Cheap and at a good price I'd pick the Futaba 2 PL 2.4 system. You already know how to adjust the 2 PL so that one should be easy for you. It is not a FASST radio.

Dan S

Ron is correct,
not a FASST system but it is an FHSS radio.
$110 on Towers and $60 for extra receivers. You may be able to find the radio for less somewhere else.

FASST receivers are not compatible with the 2PL FHSS.
yes it has built in fail safe, however I would still use a pico engine kill fail safe or a killer bee in conjunction with the built in fail safe.

3 channel radio is very nice to have when using the additional fail safe.

Dan.

solar696

Thanks guys,

I think I will opt for this piece: New Futaba 3PL 2.4 fhss, 3+1 channel; it is $10 more than the 2PL 2.4 fhss.
[link=http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/futaba/futk1300.html]details at tower[/link]
This is not a FASST, but my understanding is that FASST advantage is when used with digital servos.

It comes with a 4 channel receiver, If i am reading it correctly the 4th channel is only 2 position - on off
a little better review here.
[link=http://rccaraction.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=E29CAE68A6D4457BA0FB171BEC7D56D2&nm=Site+Features&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=A1AE71D75ADC4D20AA53CDB92FC1E9BD]details linky[/link]
This TX has no external antenna, built in coaxial? will range suffer?
Also the receiver has a short antenna. Need to remount on top if the radio box, if I route the antenna out to the side of the boat I will loose all antenna length.

It seem to have a throttle fail safe (nice)
For engine kill (loss of battery power) I will still use a pico kill or just build a simple 6V relay system hooked to the engine kill switch.

Please advise on placing the receiver+antenna.

Dan S

the new 3 PL 2.4 just came out, it may be a bit difficult to get some feedback.

so new that Futaba has not updated their site with the 3 PL, the 4 PL or the 4PKS.

they should all have a built in fail safe (Futaba), will return the throttle to the position that you have programmed for low Rx battery (voltage preset at factory), and
will return throttle to that same position for loss of signal (still use a pico or other known engine kill fail safe).

As for the coax, I have the 603FF FASST, and only have 4 inches of the coax coming straight out of the radio cover.
Works great.

Dan.

Hardtime

I'm running Airtronics MX-3X (FHSS) in all my large scale RC's with no issues.
Futabais the other choice.
Yes it has it's own failsafe, that I don't use.
Remote kill switch is my choice.
Hey the money you save buying the Airtronics could be spent on the RKS.

solar696

SO how do you mount this reciver with such short antenna?
You place under the radiobox cover with the antenna lead sticking out all 4 inch of it and use a stubby antenna tube? Am I on the right track?

Dan S

yes sir.

Dan.

black talon

My Feedback: (5)

I have a 3pmx and i get extended antenaes from a guy called juice on jim's boat dock.i think they're $16.well worth the extra 4" or5"

Dan S

ooops,
forgot about the longer coax,
good point Black.

Dan.

Johnnysplits

I use the futaba 3pm fasst system on my boat. Ive had that thing out so far that you could barely see it. Never a range issue or a glitch. Why get a longer coax?

Dan S

no, not saying to get the longer coax.
only that if it make's someone feel more comfortable or due to setup that would be the only way to get a good 3 or 4 inches out, than sure if someone wants one, they are available.

I don't use them, haven't had any need for them. 3 to 4 inches out of my radio box has been plenty and had the same results as you.

Dan.

Johnnysplits

Oh ok. I wasnt sure if there was an issue with the Rxthat I needed to know about. I've seen people actually run the coax inside the radio box with no problems!!!