Sean Bowf

Been looking at 3 channel radios...mainly the futaba 3PM. I read through the instruction book, and best I can tell the third channel is on/off only, not variable. Is there anyone out there that that owns one of these radios that can tell me if this is correct??

I was trying to stick with futaba, so I would know for sure that all my stuff would be compatible (plus I hate change). The radio I was looking at was [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLZP2&P=SM]this one[/link].

If the third channel is only on/off, what would be the purpose of this on a ground radio?? I can see it for something like landing gear on an aircraft, but can't think of its use on a ground vehicle.

Lastly, anyone have any inputs on a decent low price 3 channel radio for use in a boat (been looking at branching out into other classes, and looks like I am going to wind up needing a 3 channel radio).

TIA for your input,
Sean

Vertical3-D

My Feedback: (20)

the third channel is offten used for reverse in cars and trucks, I dont know if there is a variable one or not, you would almost need it if you are going to use it to adjust the mixture while running, is that the planned use??? you could also set it so that the travel is short so you could flip it and lean it out a little, but that seems pretty limited...hmmm

Dan S

Sean,
you looked at this instruction manual?

http://manuals.hobbico.com/fut/3pm-fm-fs-manual.pdf

Dan.

terry kelly

sean if i were you i would give airtronics a look see.. i have a m-8 and soon a m-11 they are both great radios and the third channel is a reostat type knob so you can use it for your third needle. i have that same setup in most of my boats and it works great just a move of the thumb whild steering and whammo you have just adjusted your needle and now you are ready to fry your glow plug..lol

terminator

gooycheese

I am not really sure what you are asking Sean, but I have a 3pm radio and on my .12 I don't use 3rd channel on my .45 I have my 3rd channel set up where the button thats on the handle just below the steering is pushed forward to richen and back to lean. It works great , I always leave my third channel in the on position because its never called for in the .12 and is called for on the .45 ( it doesn't change anything on the .12 with it on). If this doesn't help you know how to talk with me.


Paul

Sean Bowf

Dan, I looked at the one that was listed at tower (not sure if that is it or not). It was not recent (couple months back). It talked a lot about how to change which switch controls the third channel,and most of them seemed to be a single push button or a "click" switch. This is why I am thinking that the third channel is on/off, and not variable. I would think it would need to be 2 push buttons or a switch that is spring loaded to center (like the trim switches) for it to be variable.

I don't have time to look at the one you linked right now. I will try to look at it tonight when I get home from work to see if it is the same one I looked at earlier.

Sean

Sean Bowf

Paul, I am trying to figure out if the third channel is designed where I can move it a little, or a whole bunch...so I can give it 2 clicks to get a little richer, 4 clicks to get even more richer, or hold it down to get full travel. From what I am reading in the instructions, it sounds like it would be full travel one way or the other... I was hoping for something that is kind of like the trim on my 2PLs. It actually tells you how far you are trimmed when you trim it. That way once I figure out that "20" is my normal fuel mixture, then I would know that 15 is leaner, and 25 is richer (does that make any sense??).

And if the 3PM is only full throw on the third channel (not variable), then I was looking for another, relatively cheap 3 channel radio to possibly purchase.

I will try to catch you in chat tonight (not sure what m wife has planned for me tonight yet...).

Sean

RcBoatman59

Mine is the 3pm Sean.
As near as we could tell, its on or off. If somebody has figured out how to make it variable please let us know, I have a .45 mono that needs it !

Dan S

According to the instructions that I have read, it shows the 3rd channel being variable from 0 to 100% either direction.

Dan.

I am not speaking from experience since I don't have one, I use a JR system.

Sean C

My Feedback: (25)

edit: wrong radio

LtDoc

An "On/Off" control can do several things. Switch things 'on/off', naturally, or switch between things being controlled by one of the other controls. That 'switching between things' could be used as a mixture control by swapping the speed control (for instance) to a mixture control. NOT real sure I'd do that, but it's possible. Just because it would be much easier, I think I'd go to a 4 channel radio system for the @#$$ of it...
- 'Doc

mopartybob

I'm using a 3pj(earlier model)w/SpeKtrum module,it has all the bells and whistles of the 3pm,and the third channel is variable....I can't see them coming out with a newer model and leaving this essential function as a on/off only.......keep reading the manual,I think you may have missed a page or two....

G.McClintic

My Feedback: (2)

I have an M8 and I'm having trouble reaching over to grab the knob when I want to adjust the mixture. I can't reach it with my left hand (trigger) and I have to let go of the wheel to reach it with my right. Is anyone assigning the mixture to the 3rd channel trim on the M11 so it can be adjusted while holding the wheel?

Glenn

mopartybob

Hey glenn,I'm ASSuming your mix trim is on top/forward of the wheel,you can glue an extension arm to reach back towards the wheel to provide a little easier control,....[:-]

TheRealDeal

Sean,

The Futaba radio is a on/off switch with a choice of two different buttons,a slide button or a push button,,

As for cheaper radio's,I'm useing Hitec SRX's for my rock crawlers,the third channel has the linear option and is controled by a trim switch by the steering wheel,You might like this set up because you can click the switch one click at a time or hold it down and you can count the clicks by listening to the beeps,it also shows the value of switch on the digital screen,

heres a tower link,

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJTU8&P=7

gooycheese

On the 3pm I use I set the first button on the handle under the steering wheel to be my 3rd channel needle. I can push it forward or backwards and it does move small amounts and beeps as it moves, I can move to any position from 0-100% and leave it anywhere I like between there. If for some reason I am not getting rich enough or lean enough at that point I have to adjust my manual needle a little richer or leaner and go from there. The way I have mine set I have the manual needle a little rich at 50% on the TX and can richen or lean the engine from that point. I can richen 1 click 2 clicks 10 clicks what ever I want , and vice versa. Hope this makes a little sense


Paul

Sean Bowf

Well...now I am really confused...seems like 2 different folks with the same radio have different opinions about the third channel... Is it possible there is more than one version of the 3pm out there?? Or that one of you two has something other than a 3pm?

Sean

TheRealDeal

Sean,

what Paul is doing, is useing the trim of the third channel to do the job,and that will work. The Hitec radio's move about the same speed as the Futaba radio when you use the linear switch,I'm probily going to cut mine up and install rotary knob's so I can have a faster rear steer on my crawlers,just have'nt got that far with them yet,but I woud'nt do it for the boat radio's,I would say two beeps on the radio,would equal one click on a high speed needle,which would give you a realy fine high speed adjustment

RcBoatman59

Paul, are you using one of the trim buttons then ?
Wht did you replace one of the trims with if so ?

gooycheese

Ok there are 4 digital trims. The one above the wheel is steering trim. The trim to the left of the wheel is the throttle. Now there are 2 more trims I have the first one on the handle under the wheel is the 3rd channel. The second one under the wheel on the handle is the dual rate steering. Now if there is a wheel controlled 3 channel radio with a different type of control for the third channel the go with that but really I have no idea what you are looking for?


Paul

This is reminding me of explaining the remote control for the TV/Cable Box/DVD player to my parents.

Sean Bowf

You have a remote control for your TV?? Is that 2 channel, or 3 channel?? AM, or FM?? Set fequency, or synthesized?? (yes, I am joking....)

Sean

Rick Sowell

My Feedback: (2)

Sean: as Paul has said you can assign the third channel to any of the switches on the handle, I have mine set like Paul's and you can move the trim switch on the handle to rich and lean, however many beeps it takes. It explaines this in the poor instruction manual. If you get the radio and need help in set up let us know. by the way I have the version with the synth. frequency and this is a great feature when going to races. Rick

TheRealDeal

I just read the instructions again and on page 54 it does say you can use the DT3 lever for channle 3 (I stand corrected) there for I would difanatly go with the Futaba radio over the Hitec

Sean Bowf

When I had read the instructions, I pictured DT3 and DT4 as push buttons. So I thought when it said you can put the 3rd channel there, than pushing the button would activate it (to full travel).

I also thought the switch in front of the steering wheel was the default switch to control the 3rd channel. So I thought pushing it forward moved the 3rd channel all the way one direction, and pulling it toward the steering wheel made it go full travel the other direction.

After talking to Paul, it makes more sense now. He said the switch by the steering wheel only turns the third channel on and off...and is not the control for it. Also, after talking to him, I take it DT3 is a momentary slide switch (spring loaded to center). So you can push it forward, or you can pull it backward to variably adjust the position of the 3rd channel. I am going to wait till I find a boat, but if a radio does not come with the boat, this will probably be the radio I will get (no more fooling with crystals...heh).

Thanks to everyone for their inputs, they are much appreciated.

Sean

gooycheese

I need to reassemble my Hawk, after I do I told Sean I would make a short video of how I operate my 3PM radio with my third channel with the dt3.


Paul