Lynx 3D questions
 

Hello, I am going to get the Lynx 3D but I have a few questions first.

1. Will my Futaba 3 channel FM receivers work with this radio?
2. Will my Futaba crystals work also?
3. If I buy the radio without the Spectra module can I buy it later?

Thanks for the help!

Hey!

1. Yes
2. yes
3. yes

That was easy, I wish they all were, LOL.

TTYL.

Gary F.

Thanks for the fast reply!
Also does the radio have model naming? If not how do you tell which model you are on?

No model naming unfortunately. Heres how it works with the Lynx3D:

You have 10 model memory. The radio list them as 0-9. So, the first model you put in would be "0".

Once you get your radio, definately take the manuals advice and add little number to the recievers so you can remember which car is which in your radio. Or, if you share a reciever between two or more cars, place the number on the car itself, somewhere near where the reciever will be mounted.

The manual reccomends writing the number on the little sticky dots that you can find in most stores. I had an old Autographics decal sheet that I wasn't using anymore, which had small number decals on it, so I used those.

Ya, what he said, LOL. What I do is I have a small strip that I have printed off my printer taped to the top of my radio. I race 6 different classes so I kinda need it to keep track, hehe.

Gary F.

Well here is the deal, I have had Futaba radio's for the longest time...maybe 1984 and I think the quality has gone down a bit. I seem to be getting more and more interference and glitchy cars lately! I recently switched to JR radio's and really like the way they work but I want one radio to do all my cars and don't want to spend the money for the R1! I really like the way you can add the Spectra module to the 3D but at the same time I am concerned about the quality of Hitec's products. They have great prices and most of the time I hear "you get what you pay for". I have had many Hitec servo's and have mixed feelings about them. The ones that work work great, others burn up premature or never center right from the start. If I spend $300 on a radio I want to make sure it is a good, well manufactured radio!!

I have had my 3D for over 2 years now. I have never had a radio hit or glitch. I have seen others have problems, but thats due to their neglect of the radio. Not storing properly(ie putting it in a damp location), dropping, or my favorite, slamming the radio down after a bad race then complaining that the radio doesn't work right anymore. Our product is rock solid and has the best warranty in the buisness(2 years!!).

As for servos, what I have found with our servos is that most ppl buy our inexpensive servos throw them into applications that are extremely harsh on them, and then complain that the $35 servo didn't last the same as their $110 airtronics servo, or $120 JR.

Every servo, reguardless of make, will fail eventually if abused and not used properly. One of the top gas racers has told me that if a throttle servo doesn't burn out in 3 months then your not racing hard enough, LOL.

Bluntly, yes our radios are very well manufactured. You won't be dissapointed. TTYL.


Gary F.

I have to agree with Gary. I bought my 3D in 00 and have been very happy with the radio and performance. I do not have the spectra module :( but I am working on that. The naming would be nice... hint.... I store mine in a reinforced pistol case and have had great service.

As to the servos I do not use them. I use JR and have good luck so I stick with them. I agree that you get what you pay for.

Gary: Man, I hope that "top gas racer" was joking, because thats ridiculous! I've used stadard servos that have lasted for years and worked with no problem.

Raydee: I'm happy with my Lynx 3D so far. I haven't gotten to use it in the season yet because it hasn't started yet here, but I don't anticipate any problems. I keep mine in a hardened plastic tool box thats the perfect fit for the radio. The only other thing in the box is foam to keep the radio from shifting.

I have never used a Hitec servo. I have simply heard too many bad things about them to take that chance. Always focused on how the servos don't center properly. Either right out of the package or after short term use. I know local racers who have very expensive Hitec servos in their pit boxes collecting dust, because they say they don't center correctly. So I doubt they feel they got what they paid for. I don't know if they are exaggerating or not, but I know they aren't keeping those servos in their box for decoration! I also know for certain that they don't abuse their equipment. Then on the other hand, many top level people like to use Hitec servos, so there must be something there they like. So, I guess you can take this info for what its worth.

When it came time for me to pick up my first expensive servo, I went with KO Propo. I have never heard of problems with them. And mine has performed flawlessly.

As for "you get what you pay for". Not always. Sometimes you pay a lot for something not so good. Sometimes you pay less for something thats a really good deal. Just look at the Lynx3D, its probably the lowest cost "top-level" radio on the market. But, that doesn't mean its not as good as the likes of the 3PJS, R1, and M8.

I had problems with Hi-tec servos in my cars and went through a few of the cheap ons tha come with the AM radios. Bumped up to a ball bearing Hi-tec and got better results, but it eventually failed.

Now I have a Hi-tec Digital servo, been running it for about a year. It centers great. That is the only kind that I would buy. If you are not digital, then I think that you will always run more of a risk about not centering right.

that is my two cents.

C

LOL Darkseid, my only experience with a KO was a blast, Litteraly. It went into my car, made 3 laps and turned to smoke. I thought that because I had paid so much money for it($265!!) that I would have it for years, not seconds.

I ran JR servos for about 8 months, had 2 4735's just stop and one 4721 turn left and stay there. Warranty had expired and I was out $500.

I never liked Futaba because they just didn't react fast enough for me.

I've had Airtronics 151, 157, and 257 servos. All of them were great, sold them when I got the ride with Hitec. The 257 went poof about 5 months later.

I was using the Hitec servos also during that time(why spend $250 when you can spend $85?!?!) I still have those servos(605MG and 525) and they work fine also.

I believe that all Manufacturers top end servos are equal, I just can't justify spending more money than you have to. Also with a 2 year warranty vs 90 days.......

Thats why I represent Hitec, Top quality, best price, best warranty, and bar none the best service in the world!! TTYL.


Gary F.

Preach on Brother Gary...I'm with ya 100%......

Hard to beat the price/value, even harder to beat the 2 years.....

Servos failing, hmmmm? You can always find examples, regardless of brand.

Personally I'm on the KO band wagon. I cant argue for it, it's just a feeling of getting better quality. Maybe it's like with cars and women, you cant really argue about why you choose like you do...

I'm also an budget guy, so every time I buy some electronics, I compare to the Hitec value-for-money-index (cant really go wrong with it). So in addition to my KO stuff, I also got some Hitec.

From the rational and statistic point of view: Let's assume that most manufacturers got around 2-3 % servos, that fails. Now, if Hitec due to pricing sells 5 times as much than the others, well, it's easier to find those examples....

Gary: LOL!!!Where did you dig up a $265 or $250 servo? Is that a Canada thing or something? None of the major manufacterer's servos run more than about $115 here in the U.S. And I'm sure its just a coincedence that you have had problems with ever company's servos except the one you work for:sneaky::D

Well, I can honestly say that thats the first I have EVER heard of a KO Servo failing. And at our track at least, its not because there are "5 times" as many Hitec servos for people to have problems with. I'd say theres a pretty good balance between all the major brands around here. Well, besides Multiplex, I know people who use their radio, but have never seen anyone with their servo.

Up until this KO servo, I had always used standard servos. So I'm no pro servo expert. But, to see so many people speaking of the exact same problem with a company's product, it all can't be false.

There seems to be no doubt that Hitec has the best warrentys. But personally, I would rather have a shorter warrenty that I'll never have to use, than a longer one that I put to good use.

In any case, their are pro drivers out there that trust every one of the major brands. So I guess you just have to go with the brand you have the most faith in. For me that was KO Propo.

Just my 2 cents.

My first radio was a Hitec Lynx FM, I bought it because of the great price. It worked perfect. Then I moved up to the 3D when it came out, I bought one from the first batch to get to the US. I had a problem with some of the model memories getting mixed up but Hitec promptly took care of that, they actually sent me a new radio! It has worked flawless ever since, little over 2 years now. And I use it a lot.

I also use Hitec servos in all my cars, mostly the 525MG, I haven't had a problem yet, nitro TC, electric TC mod and stock, backyard bashers. I have stripped a few gears on some 300BB's but that was from extreme use. They all center great. Most of the problems concerning centering that I have heard of are with the 600 series of servos.

I also have 3 HFX esc's and they work great too. The only thing I wish they had is replaceable wires. I have run the HFX in my Tamiya LM car in the 45 minute endure race at my local track and at the end it isn't even warm.

I am not sponsored by Hitec or any other manufacturer, just a local racer that thinks they produce the best products on the market. Not that other products are bad just with all things considered, especially price and warranty, Hitec is the best.