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-   -   3PK or 4PK (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-1-8th-scale-buggies-244/7302046-3pk-4pk.html)

Osirisf16 03-29-2008 04:09 PM

3PK or 4PK
 
Hey guys, i have a question. I'm planning on buying a good radio for racing. I want only Futaba, so i can't accept other radios. So, i read a bit of these two and i can't find many data. So, i thought that you may know something that i do not. However, i wonder if these two have a major difference in performance (i mean electronics, memory, that stuff). I saw that the 4PK has a rechargeable battery of 1700 mAh. Does the 3PK has one too? Can i upgrade those batteries to MUCH MORE? Anything you know, please share it. I'm all "eyes" ;) Oh, and what are the differences between the 3PK and the 3PKS? Thanks.

gbasile77 03-29-2008 06:36 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
I am looking to upgrade my radio too, and from reading I think I too want to go Futaba; from reading here it appears that the futaba fast system is better than the spektrum. So I am tossing up on 3PM, 3PKS and 4PKS.
I am hoping that with the release of te 4PK, some hobby shops might put a clearance on the 3PKS and I can get a good deal.
As far as differences and features, I know that the 4PK has the module built in unlike the 3PKS. This link has some good discussions on it:

http://www.rctech.net/forum/showthread.php?p=3771272

46u 03-29-2008 06:53 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
You do not want my opinion as it is not Futaba and the radio I use has features Futaba does not have. Nothing like pushing a button and knowing my receiver pack voltage or pushing another button and knowing my engine temperature and know it is not a Spektrum with all that add on stuff as my radio comes with it. :D

secretsg 03-29-2008 08:54 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
4PK is 2.4ghz only. It is a pure digital radio and uses less batteries. 3pk is modular but is not native 2,4ghz. Also heavier. Just get the one that fits best in your hands.

RevToTheRedline 03-29-2008 09:07 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
I wouldn't trade or sell my 3PKS with FAAST for anything in the world, it's the heart and soul of my RC lifestyle, the ergonomics and balance are amazing, the features are out of this world. IF and only IF if I didn't have one, I would buy the 4PK without a second thought, but I don't really see any major advantage to it, you can get off paying a ton less for a 3PKS with the Faast 2.4ghz system and have literally the same radio. I think the combo 3PKS+2.4ghz is near like $150 cheaper than the pretty much identical 4PK, but it's I guess a matter of how much you wanna spend.

I had a Nomadio Sensor 2.4ghz radio system before I happily sold it for the Futaba, the design, features and quality of those Nomadio's are pure crap in comparison to the top quality performance of Futaba. The thing I always refer Nomadio to now since owning one is, if I wanted to buy $350 worth of Fisher Price toys, I would have bought $350 worth of Fisher Price toys. The React is also no different, not to mention is horrid reliability. Nomadios selling point is being able to hook it up to a computer via USB and further adjust features, but sorry that's not a feature if I can't adjust those things on the fly, which can be done easily with a KO Propo, Airtonics, or Futaba pro radio.

I dunno how this got in to a Nomadio bashing rant, but I guess it did.

annie_himself 03-29-2008 10:22 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 


ORIGINAL: RevToTheRedline

I wouldn't trade or sell my 3PKS with FAAST for anything in the world, it's the heart and soul of my RC lifestyle, the ergonomics and balance are amazing, the features are out of this world. IF and only IF if I didn't have one, I would buy the 4PK without a second thought, but I don't really see any major advantage to it, you can get off paying a ton less for a 3PKS with the Faast 2.4ghz system and have literally the same radio. I think the combo 3PKS+2.4ghz is near like $150 cheaper than the pretty much identical 4PK, but it's I guess a matter of how much you wanna spend.

I had a Nomadio Sensor 2.4ghz radio system before I happily sold it for the Futaba, the design, features and quality of those Nomadio's are pure crap in comparison to the top quality performance of Futaba. The thing I always refer Nomadio to now since owning one is, if I wanted to buy $350 worth of Fisher Price toys, I would have bought $350 worth of Fisher Price toys. The React is also no different, not to mention is horrid reliability. Nomadios selling point is being able to hook it up to a computer via USB and further adjust features, but sorry that's not a feature if I can't adjust those things on the fly, which can be done easily with a KO Propo, Airtonics, or Futaba pro radio.

I dunno how this got in to a Nomadio bashing rant, but I guess it did.
I love Futaba but was your experience with Nomadio before or after they fixed the bad batch of radios?

RevToTheRedline 03-29-2008 10:35 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
Please explain "fixed the bad batch"

Cause as far as I know they are still poorly made, feature less in the field and overpriced.

annie_himself 03-29-2008 10:44 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 


ORIGINAL: RevToTheRedline

Please explain "fixed the bad batch"

Cause as far as I know they are still poorly made, feature less in the field and overpriced.
I heard a few racers who got the first 50 or so hated them but they got better as time went on. I forgot exactly what was faulty on them.

RevToTheRedline 03-29-2008 10:49 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 

ORIGINAL: annie_himself



ORIGINAL: RevToTheRedline

Please explain "fixed the bad batch"

Cause as far as I know they are still poorly made, feature less in the field and overpriced.
I heard a few racers who got the first 50 or so hated them but they got better as time went on. I forgot exactly what was faulty on them.
I had mine from Feb 07 to June 07, and I was racing with people that had Reacts with problems after problems down to October of last year when I did my last big race.

I guess they fixed it (if they fixed it) pretty recently. I couldn't tell you the number of people locally that had Nomadio products that dumped them because of issues for Airtonics of Futaba radios.

But hey if you got one and it's not being an issue, more power to you. But that won't change my outlook on them.
http://www.revtotheredline.com/photo...9_zuScZ-XL.jpg
http://www.revtotheredline.com/photo...0_A8CuS-XL.jpg


Calin666 03-29-2008 11:48 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
I have a great radio, and for the money you just can not beat it. So it is not backlit. Wah.
You really should check out the Spektrum DX3R DSM2. The thing is bad ass, and the scroll wheel..... Oh yeah.
I thought about buying the 3PK. Just didn't like the feel of it. Keep an open mind, and at least check it out. Besaides, until April 30th, you can get a free reciever with purchase.

Osirisf16 03-30-2008 11:18 AM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
Thanks of all the info guys, but still...wanna more :D Anyone know about the batteries?:eek:

{GBI}Harryball 03-30-2008 11:44 AM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 


ORIGINAL: 46u

You do not want my opinion as it is not Futaba and the radio I use has features Futaba does not have. Nothing like pushing a button and knowing my receiver pack voltage or pushing another button and knowing my engine temperature and know it is not a Spektrum with all that add on stuff as my radio comes with it. :D
Let me guess HMMMMMMMMMMMM I know, its a nomadio system. ;)

RevToTheRedline 03-30-2008 11:50 AM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 


ORIGINAL: Osirisf16

Thanks of all the info guys, but still...wanna more :D Anyone know about the batteries?:eek:
The 3PKS comes with a 700mha Sanyo 8 cell nicad flat pack, not quite the capacity of the 4PK but it gets me through the day, I'm gonna put a ProTek 3S lipo in my 3PKS eventually.

RcRacer37E 03-30-2008 12:25 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
The 3pk fasst system for sure. It beats the radio that tells temps, and has better features. Handle vibrates at a preset time; example, you get 8 min run times, set the time for 7 min and you know you have one min to pit, or next time by pit lane.
You can also turn on the radio without sending out radio signals to adjust servo speeds. If the servo is to fast or slow, just go in and program it to move faster or slower and it will save the selection and wont be sending out radio signals. Next time you turn on the car and radio, the changes made will already be made.
Strap clip, love this touch. Get a neck strap, clip it on, place around your neck and you have both hands free to carry a car, starter box, fuel or a smoke and still have the radio with you.
It beeps. Forget to turn it off? If you do, it will beep at a set amount time without movement.
Bigger screen for reading. Its always looking for clear frequancies for the fasstest time.
There is so much good stuff I could just keep going on and on. Besides, your pit man can tell you the temp your running, or you can tell just by the way it drives if its to lean or fat, I can.
Oh, drop down steering wheel, 7 diffent led lights, shoot, if your left handed you can change it to be a left handed controller, ie gas brake with right hand and steering with left.
Best thing, its the fasstest radio out to date.

RevToTheRedline 03-30-2008 12:29 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
Nascardad knows what hes talking about :)

Osirisf16 03-30-2008 12:36 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 


ORIGINAL: nascardad24

The 3pk fasst system for sure. It beats the radio that tells temps, and has better features. Handle vibrates at a preset time; example, you get 8 min run times, set the time for 7 min and you know you have one min to pit, or next time by pit lane.
You can also turn on the radio without sending out radio signals to adjust servo speeds. If the servo is to fast or slow, just go in and program it to move faster or slower and it will save the selection and wont be sending out radio signals. Next time you turn on the car and radio, the changes made will already be made.
Strap clip, love this touch. Get a neck strap, clip it on, place around your neck and you have both hands free to carry a car, starter box, fuel or a smoke and still have the radio with you.
It beeps. Forget to turn it off? If you do, it will beep at a set amount time without movement.
Bigger screen for reading. Its always looking for clear frequancies for the fasstest time.
There is so much good stuff I could just keep going on and on. Besides, your pit man can tell you the temp your running, or you can tell just by the way it drives if its to lean or fat, I can.
Oh, drop down steering wheel, 7 diffent led lights, shoot, if your left handed you can change it to be a left handed controller, ie gas brake with right hand and steering with left.
Best thing, its the fasstest radio out to date.
Nice answer :D But from all the features, i'm aware of the battery. The 3PKS got a 700 one, and the 4PK got a 1700. Can i change the 3PKS's battery to 1700 or even more?

46u 03-30-2008 12:37 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 


ORIGINAL: nascardad24

The 3pk fasst system for sure. It beats the radio that tells temps, and has better features. Handle vibrates at a preset time; example, you get 8 min run times, set the time for 7 min and you know you have one min to pit, or next time by pit lane.

Same thing as the radio that tells you temperature at a push of a button or receiver pack voltage all so tells you if the receiver is trunned on in your car and a WHOLE LOT MORE. Being 2.4GHz does not matter if you radio is sending out a signal! :eek:

RevToTheRedline 03-30-2008 12:42 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 

ORIGINAL: Osirisf16


Nice answer :D But from all the features, i'm aware of the battery. The 3PKS got a 700 one, and the 4PK got a 1700. Can i change the 3PKS's battery to 1700 or even more?
You can put a 2700mah NiMH pack in the 3PKS if you want, you can put a 3300mah 3S lipo in it if you want, but why would you want to, are you going 2 weeks racing without the ability to charge it?

I'm putting a 3S ProTek 1700mah lipo in my 3PKS for 2 reasons, first one being lipos are lighter and have no self discharge (well they do but its very little comapred to nicad/nimh) and the second reason being that after a while of using the stock 700mah nicad its starting to lose its capacity as nicads do, so its time for a replacement.

As for getting me through the day, 700mah does it no problem at all.

Osirisf16 03-30-2008 12:43 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 


ORIGINAL: Osirisf16



ORIGINAL: nascardad24

The 3pk fasst system for sure. It beats the radio that tells temps, and has better features. Handle vibrates at a preset time; example, you get 8 min run times, set the time for 7 min and you know you have one min to pit, or next time by pit lane.
You can also turn on the radio without sending out radio signals to adjust servo speeds. If the servo is to fast or slow, just go in and program it to move faster or slower and it will save the selection and wont be sending out radio signals. Next time you turn on the car and radio, the changes made will already be made.
Strap clip, love this touch. Get a neck strap, clip it on, place around your neck and you have both hands free to carry a car, starter box, fuel or a smoke and still have the radio with you.
It beeps. Forget to turn it off? If you do, it will beep at a set amount time without movement.
Bigger screen for reading. Its always looking for clear frequancies for the fasstest time.
There is so much good stuff I could just keep going on and on. Besides, your pit man can tell you the temp your running, or you can tell just by the way it drives if its to lean or fat, I can.
Oh, drop down steering wheel, 7 diffent led lights, shoot, if your left handed you can change it to be a left handed controller, ie gas brake with right hand and steering with left.
Best thing, its the fasstest radio out to date.
Nice answer :D But from all the features, i'm aware of the battery. The 3PKS got a 700 one, and the 4PK got a 1700. Can i change the 3PKS's battery to 1700 or even more?
Except that, how much time does the 700 mAh battery give you on the track?

Osirisf16 03-30-2008 12:45 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 

ORIGINAL: RevToTheRedline



ORIGINAL: Osirisf16


Nice answer :D But from all the features, i'm aware of the battery. The 3PKS got a 700 one, and the 4PK got a 1700. Can i change the 3PKS's battery to 1700 or even more?
You can put a 2700mah NiMH pack in the 3PKS if you want, you can put a 3300mah 3S lipo in it if you want, but why would you want to, are you going 2 weeks racing without the ability to charge it?
Something like that :D 2700 you said? Nice. I prefer to stay away from Lipos untill the little "explosion" problem they got is vanished.;)

RevToTheRedline 03-30-2008 12:47 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
There are premade packs for the 3PK all over the web, made with various NiMH cells, like there are a few on ebay right now made with 2700mah Sanyo nimh, premade 8 cell flat packs ready to go with connector, or you can get crafty and make your own pack.

Before you get too concerned about not having enough capacity with the 700mah pack, I'd say try it first.

Osirisf16 03-30-2008 12:49 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
How about the time those batteries give you on the track? How long is the 700 one gives you? :eek:

Sure i'll try but i wanna know what is with that radio first. I can't buy it like this. ;)

46u 03-30-2008 12:59 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
All so the radio that tells temperature and RX battery voltage all so beeps and vibrates if you RX or TX battery is low or if your engine over heats. I think the 4 PK is going to be a decent radio but for the money you would think it would have more features.

RevToTheRedline 03-30-2008 01:00 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 
I dunno the exact time, but it last me all day, from practice, to all 3 heats, to an hour main, and not dead.

RevToTheRedline 03-30-2008 01:02 PM

RE: 3PK or 4PK
 

ORIGINAL: 46u

All so the radio that tells temperature and RX battery voltage all so beeps and vibrates if you RX or TX battery is low or if your engine over heats. I think the 4 PK is going to be a decent radio but for the money you would think it would have more features.
What features do you think it lacks? It FAR exceeds the capability that any Nomadio can offer. The whole temperature thing isn't a big deal, I had it and I parted with it without second thought. To me that is the only advantage Nomadio has over anyone, the rest of the system lacks over every other competition radio on the market.

I've only been in nitro a year and I've never felt the need that I have to know the temperature every second of every minute I'm running, it's just not an issue, get it tuned for the race and forget about it. To me the temp sensor feature of the Nomadio is just another cluttered up wire to add to the system that I couldn't care less about.

Until Nomadio gets their act together with build quality, field features and design, they won't get my attention. I'm truly glad you feel happy with your purchase of Nomadio but I'm sorry to say it's not up to par with the competition.


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