Ko Propo EX-10 Helios outdated?
 

Hey fellas. I have a guy offering to sell me an EX-10 Helios with a 2.4 GHz module for $50. It's in good shape but I don't know much about it. I know it was a good radio in it's day but it's been out for a while and I don't know if it's still decent by today's standards? If anyone has any thoughts or anything they think I should know I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

To me that radio was nice a little heavy on long mains but still decent, so my .progression with radios over the years was a.m. radios of the past then the Ko and then a spektrum dx3s all the receivers worked since the Ko had the spektrum module in it, and went to dx4s just because of Rx's and them a buddy said try airtronics mt4, and I bounced off walls and corners due to lack of delay in the radio, so what is your current radio compared to this Ko radio as never liked having to read the first 80 pages of the manual before you could turn it on and like I said it was heavy, 8 aa batteries and tons of options and overwhelming at times. So 50 bucks would be a cheap price for it as 225 new with out rx and then 50 bucks for a radio bag and 125 for module, hope it helps

​​​​​​The one he offered me comes with a hard case, spektrum module and a receiver. My current radio is a dx3s and other than the scroll wheel I've been pretty happy with it. I must ad though that I am just getting started in racing so most of my prior experience is bashing around so latency isn't something that I've noticed too much. Everyone on the forum seems to be pretty high on the sanwa stuff but I just can't afford the receivers on top of the radio. Locally almost everyone uses spektrum, with a handful of futaba or rtr radios mixed in.

The Ex 10 was the best radio I ever used..I liked all the options the radio offered and they all worked.Id jump on that deal in a heart beat..

Over time, potentiometers will go out, it took roughly 3 years of racing 2 days each week between 2-3 classes before I wore out my steering potentiometer on my current radio... it was as easy as buying a new steering drop down to replace for me, I would check to see how easy it will be to get parts for the EX-10 before getting it, could potentially be more trouble than it's worth.

The asked about EX 10 is not the radio you wore out the pots with the new electronics makers are fare more inferior than those parts from the EX I raced with this radio with both FM and 2 different 2.4 modules till the 2nd module failed then I jumped in to my specktrum night- mare dx 3 r pro.( lose of signal..crazy short rang issue would lose signal in a indoor 40x40 carpet track and a few more failures) its totally to the Ex 10 to compare your mid range radio thats your quote...

I can't speak for the EX-10, but I once owned an EX-1 and while I agree that the quality of KO Propo radios are top notch, I experienced a failed potentimeter on my EX-1 as well, perhaps things may change as potentiometers are improved with contact-less designs, but until then, all traditional potentimeters will fail eventually, regardless of the brand of radio. When you are buying a used radio, one can only guess how much use it has seen, though many of the newer KO radios include an "odometer/timer" for aggregate usage.

I think I'll chance it and hope for the best with the potentiometer. Worst case I can probably most of my money back selling the module, receiver and case if the radio doesn't work out.

Just dont agree with you at all on the EX 10 Helious… I know welding robots from the 80s that have dozen of pots in them that have been running 20 hours a day with thousands of uses a hour that are still running today and haven't needed new pots..

I do have a question though. I've never had a radio that accepts modules, are the universal or are they model specific?

They are specific, I would make sure it comes with the FHSS module compatible with KR-411FH:
Radio Modules ? Kopropo America

It comes with the spektrum module.

If you are going to be driving by yourself then that is probably going to be just fine, but if you will be club racing with other radios present then I would stay away from the DSSS protocol, more info here
Which surface radio system is the best?

The newer DSMR variant is significantly better, but I still experienced range issues on a large 1/8 track when I attempted to race with DSMR once, regardless I don't think the DSSS module will support DSMR anyway, which will not be compatible with the same DSMR receivers you already own :(

Kutless you will be fine with whatever spectrum mod you get with radio. If I remember right they only made 1....other companies made mods but they are all gone now....

Here are the specs from Spektrum, they show DSM support only:
https://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/...ProdId=SPM1003

I'll never forget racing with a guy that was nicknamed Steve "TheGlitch" who used one of these DSM Modules, he would often be in the lead during a race only to get hit with glitches toward the end of a race and would lose several positions, the guy refused to replace his DSM equipment, really sad :(