I've got a FASST Module in a old 3PKS and I use the OrangeRX receivers that can be had at relatively low cost from HobbyKing. But I can't say from experience whether they would work with newer Futaba Radios.

I dumped Spektrum for FASST because of glitching that was related to how I held the radio.

um what, there's only one way to hold a radio

There are many ways to hold a radio.

In my case the issue I have to deal with is that due to an accident in my youth, I have only 1.5 bones on my left index finger (instead of 3), 1 bone on my thumb, and one bone on my middle finger. Since I started driving before the common availability of left handed radios I had to improvise. So I hold the radio in my right hand, throttle with my right index finger, and reach over the radio with my left hand to steer with the remaining parts of the fingers I have. I have to hold the radio right in front of my chest to do this and thus put the antenna closer to my body than it might be for someone else. Human bodies contain water. Water absorbs radio energy. So that configuration reduced the energy transmitted by the radio.

I discovered this effect when a ham radio operator lent me a radio signal strength meter and I was testing some older 75MHz radios I was thinking of using because I didn't have glitching problems until I went to Spektrum. I found the meter reading varied as I moved my body near the radio.

To test if this really made a difference, I made what I called an "air bag". I took a 2 gallon ziploc bag and filled it with those air packs that are frequently used for packing parcels for shipping. I then tied a string to the corners so I could hang it around my neck and wear it in front of my chest, kind of like a bib. This prevented me from [reflexively] pulling the radio as close to my body as I would otherwise. It reduced the glitching, but did not eliminate it. I tried a 3PKS with FASST and I got no glitching regardless of how close I hold the radio to my body.

If you find this "air bag" humorous, you are not alone. One guy, the first time he saw me with it, started laughing so hard he lost track of his car and stepped on it. If you doubt my story, I can take a pic of that air bag. I still have it.

BTW, before buying the 3PKS/FASST system, I tried multiple different Spektrum modules and multiple different transmitter units, multiple different receivers, and multiple different servos and ESCs in the affected cars. Nothing helped except the air bag, and, eventually, FASST.

That's an eye opener, I don't doubt your story, just never heard of holding a radio near different body parts would affect the signal, I hold my m12s low down and pretty much near my balls, that's my comfortable position, never had a problem with it.

I used to think there was only 1 way to hold a radio... I once ran at a track with Spektrum (DSMR) where there was a jump that had blocked the line of sight of my radio held waist high, of course I could see the car because I was tall enough, but the car would glitch every time it was on the turn behind the jump so I was forced to hold the radio above my head to prevent glitching around that turn... yeah I had to adapt, but I quickly ditched Spektrum and never went back. Anyway... if there's anything I've learned, there is no right/wrong way to hold a radio, whatever is the most comfortable for the driver is what it is.

Response time?
 

If I did go with spectrum what is the response time?
What is the difference with receivers?
Is there any change from moving from 3pv to 4pv in response time if I used t-fhss ( the same reciever? )
any info would be great

Spektrum is slower.
Which receivers?
No, 3PV and 4PV have the same response time.

3PV to 4PV will improve ergos, and that will make you feel more connected to the car which should improve your confidence to drive tighter lines and improve consistency.

There's some good info here about Futaba latency and response time. The 4PV(and 4PLS) allow use of both high speed Fhss and T-fhss modes, but you can also use HS-Tfhss on the 3PV with the telemetry enabled receivers. Futaba is not exactly forthcoming with data on this topic. If you use one of the T-fhss receivers, the difference in response time between the 3PV and 4PV should be fairly close. In the 5ms range I believe. https://www.rctech.net/forum/radio-e...a-4px-152.html

I would definitely stick to using the Futaba. Maybe upgrade to the 4PV?

For the $100 radios, I prefer Spektrum DX5C over the Futaba 3PV or Sanwa MX-6. The Futaba feels faster, Spektrum is at 11ms frame rate. But I can't stand the ergonomics of the Futaba, the trigger and handle feel horrible to me, otherwise it's a good radio. I own them all:


Midrange, the Sanwa's (MT-S/MT-4S/MT-44) are awesome.

I would not consider Sanwa Receivers overpriced, given their quality and capabilities. I race with Futaba Radios, and my son Sanwa, and I would have to admit I get feature envy because of the Sanwa receivers. Just the build quality alone it is second to none. Futaba receivers have become a bit sparse, and their quality is not a close 2nd, but still 2nd to Sanwa.

If you have not looked/used at the current generation of Spektrum radios - its a different world. So much to choose from... and more coming.