problems with stock FF controller
 

well, this is making me angry. What is wrong with my stock controller? it was working fine the other day, and now it has a range of like 10 feet! i replaced all the batteries, but still the same deal. do I need a new radio?

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

if you replaced the batteries in both the car and the controller, check your antenna cable on the car and see if its broken somewhere. maybe even take it apart and check the solder joints on the circuit board. if you need a new one, i just got a spektrum dx2 and its awesome! $169

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

http://www.cenracing.com/special%20program.html

Check out this link. It looks like CEN Racing will be doing their radio swap program again. It was a great deal before. If you radio is bad, hold onto it. Maybe CEN can let us know how soon the swap program will start.

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

Yea basically the stock radio is worth about 20 bucks, and you know the story, "you get what you pay for", its a pity they include such a crap unit (and servos) with a RTR, but its to keep the cost down. Personally I would have liked to have paid a little more in the beginning and get something that would last a bit longer.
Cen should replace it for you free of charge IMO if you send it back to them.
The radio swap programme is a good offer, hopefully they start that again, IMO they should never have stopped it! Its a way that they can say "Hey look people, we F***ed up with this radio, but heres a way we can put it right without it actually costing us anything."

My 2 cents.

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

Make sure all servos and and receiver connections are tight in the battery box. I had issues with mine being loose from the factory.

But yeah either way upgrading wouldnt hurt, factory one does suck

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

is the radio swap program free? just wanted to know. also , if I send it back for a replacement, do i still get the same crappy radio?

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

No and Yes. The radio swap program was $60 last time, but you get a pretty good FM setup. If you send back the stock radio, you will get another just like it. Or even worse, a recertified radio (if they do that).

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

hhhmmmmm, so somebody needs to tell cen to get their radio swap program back up...

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

Youy can get a futaba 2ph for 40-50 bucks and it better then anything CEN would prob offer. . . .Remember they arent in the business for customer service

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

CEN sent me was the Airtronics MX-3 during their last radio swap program. They even sent me the exact frequency I asked for.

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

Well, I have a similar problem and was wondering if somone could shed some light? I returned my first airtronics radio & reciever due to glitching problems. Now I'm having the same issue with the replacement! I tried swapping the failsafe and that made no difference either. Customer service told me to try replacing the servo's one at a time with different ones to see if one of them is causing the interference. I haven't tried that yet because I don't have any extras at the moment. Has anyone had some of these same issues? I read tonight in the radio installation guide to keep all wiring away from the antenna and I've got it all stuffed inside the front box of my Nemesis. I installed my old AM radio from my t-maxx as a test and it worked fine with no glitching problems! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and please don't tell me I need to spend another $100 bucks on a new radio system!

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

Try a new set of crystals. You can get them for a couple bucks on Ebay or buy them at the LHS. That could be the problem. Unfortunately, you are going to have to try some new electronics to find the problem. If there is a hobby shop by you, see if they will help you troubleshoot the problem if you buy the parts there to fix it.

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

Since swapping radios with CEN, I've had 2 different sets of crystals already and no luck on channel 86 & 71! I'm gonna try pulling the mg645 hitec out of the maxx and trying that. The nearest hobby store that is an authorized dealer in 40 miles away although I do business with one that may help me out. Thanks for the advice!

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

I ordered up a used hitec lynx controller. Ill keep ya updated on how it works

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

What sucks about the stock radio system? I have one, (a Sabre Dash) and it's fine by me. Battery life good, plenty of torque in the servos, fine range... What advantage would an FM radio offer?

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

Here in the States CEN's stock radio was the Impact 3 and now the Skyion (the Sabre wasn't offered in the states). Both are bottom line radios and in my opinion shouldn't even be offered with a RTR truck. The cheap Hitec Agressor's and the Traxxis radios are considerably better.

The advantages to FM are more frequency's and allot less glitching problems and are allot less prone to interferance.

fastlane7, Have you contacted Airtronics? http://www.airtronics.net/company_information.htm
They might be more help than CEN. The MX3 is a good radio.




rolland

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

Rolland,
No I haven't but I also did not fill out & return my warranty card either. I was hoping to find someone on the forum with the same issues I'm having for a quick fix. I did change back to the AM radio but would really like to get this problem resolved. Thanks for the link....I'll give em' a call!:D

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

my Skyion is doing the same thing at 60 ft with my CT5, CT5 in 60 feet is like 2 or 3 seconds worth of drive, there is somethign wrong for sure and im calling CEN tomorrow or tuesday.... with my JR XS3 Pro with JR RS 310 Rx today i was getting just over 500 ft, flawlessly. imo they can keep the stock or airtronics radio, and i ll send them the full Skyion set up for another JR RS 310 rx.. its only 65.00 retail, so they should be able to get one for 30 bux or so.... but i doubt that will happen. im hoping to just get a stock set up that goes over 60 ft, everything else is great, but the range... it just suxxxxxxx.
Timmahh

RE: problems with stock FF controller
 

I got my hitec lynx radio a while ago, and even though its an older radio, It works excellent. I can actually let it run down the whole parking lot now without it going outta range! although, im down for a while. (stripped another spur) anyway, basically the impact cII controller is crap, and if you are planning to buy an FF, you better plan on getting an alright radio, because teh range on mine started out at about 60 feet, then 40, 20, then I couldnt get it farther than 5 feet away. I am very pleased with my new radio.