EZ Link replaced the ProGauge in the combo packages.

EZ Link is strictly a programmer.

Proguage features:
Li-Po Battery Monitor:
-For 2S to 6S Batteries
-High Resolution to 1mV per Cell
-Total/Max/Min/Delta Cell Voltage

Servo Tester:
-Manual/Auto Mode
-760uS/1520uS Neutral Selection
-Servo Peak Current
-Supply Voltage
-Output PPM Signal Display
-Servo Speed

Input Signal PPM Monitor:
-Signal Measurement
-Frequency Measurement
-Receiver Voltage Measurement

Propeller RPM Tachometer:
-2-8 Blade Propellers
-Peak RPM Measurement
-Auto Gain Control

Viper Device Programming Card:
-Programming Display
-Adjustable Parameters

Hope that helps.

Good info there, So in short if the main thing I want is to be able to update the software, I don't need the Pro Gauge. Thats a nice touch.

As for the whole adding a cap thing goes, I have a 1/8 sized cap, can get specs but its the big novak one, any issues using that? Used to use it all the time in a variety of 1/8 scale usage when the whole Mamba Max was a popular ESC to modify for 1/8, figure I would ask if there was something special about the viper cap.

Cain - thanks for looking at the stuff, you won't be disappointed.

Some info to clear up---

The ProCaps (9 and 6), are board mounted units, we tested different configurations to get the effect we wanted. Too much didn't provide any advantage, not enough=not enough. Just putting any cap on the system, might help slightly, but this is what was found to be the best combination.

The PCLink (6VSPCLINK1) is required to actually update firmware when needed.

Bob got you guys with the ProGauge/EZ Link stuff. We starting putting EZ Links in the systems because we found in our research that most customers were not using all the features of the ProGauge. The EZ Link allowed us to shave a couple dollars off the cost of the system and still give everyone what they were using. You can still purchase a ProGauge as a separate item if you wish.

VTX8 warranty period is 6 months. VTX1/10/10R/Black Edition are 1 year. But don't let the 6 months fool you. VTX8 is designed to be your esc for a long time.

BEC - is fully adjust in voltage up to 8v. We list 7 because only a few servos are capable of really running over 7v, go by your mfg. suggestions. Most people don't need to have the voltage that high, it will not provide as big a "performance gain" as some think -- its good marketing and profit on servo sales.

More important is the BEC handling amp spikes that come through the system from motors, that is what kills most speed controls. That is not a settings, its how the circuit is designed.

?? on the caps stuff. when I got my esc there where no external caps to speak of, just the ones mounted on the esc. Do I require one??running in a SC4wd 4 pole 540 and 550 motors on a vtx8

The Pro6 and Pro9 caps we are discussing are additional tuning options you can use to help give an extra boost of acceleration. Not for every condition or everyone - but helpful if you choose to use one. They are not required for the system to operate at its peak performance.

I haven't used the Pro caps yet but I've heard good things about them. Theoretically, they should be a good advantage.

Cain, I was running a RX8 (not Gen2) in my 4x4 corr. I liked it just fine. Switched to the VTX8 simply because I wanted something that I could program without needing a laptop. The Progauge/EZ Link handheld programmer is absolutely a pleasure to use. My VTX8 was paired with a 4600 Pro4 and currently with a 4700 Hobbywing. The combo works great together. The esc is every bit as smooth as my RX8, but the VTX8 is built WAY stronger with the all aluminum case. 4x4 corr trucks push the limits of electronics and this baby is built to take abuse. I see nothing wrong with the Tekin (I do own both), but if I was to recommend one it would be the Viper hands down. I also switched the escs in my other race trucks from Castle and Novak to Viper VTX10R BE units and am completely impressed with them. Can't go wrong with a Viper Cain .

OK-Bob and Nikos. I downloaded the new firmware and disabled the motor temp cutoff. I couldn't get a 14t pinion so I tried a 15 and a 13. First the 15 pinion was at 165 deg at 3 mins and 190 deg at 6 mins. I stopped there. The 13 pinion was at 145 at 3 mins 170 at 6 mins and 199 at 10 mins. Not good. Finally a friend of mine gave me a heatsink to try. Same set up as before with the 13t pinion we ran it for about 14 mins and never got above 145 on the motor and 80 on the esc. The motor still feels weak on the bottom and doesn't have enough top but at least it will finish a race. I can probably get more out of it but then I'm playing the temp game again and it will still not be able to keep up with the 4 pole motors. Thanks for your help!

Rapid - a 2 pole competing against 4 pole - your describing things about as close as you can get. Its like racing a V6 vs. a V8. We waited as long as we could to develop a 4 pole motor because we wanted to see "rules" for the motor. Well there are none, so we started late to build one. It will be out in the September time frame (fingers crossed). Sounds like the 14 with the heat sink might help. BTW, you can take any fan made for r/c cars and solder the positive and negative directly to the positive and negative battery leads and use a extra fan on the motor as well - touring car style.

well, I made the jump at least for 1/8 and 4x4 SCT. Price right now on the VTX8 with the EZ Links on amain are too good to pass up. After there 10% discounts, it came to like $160 shipped per ESC. Best I could get a Tekin RX8 down to was about $187 an esc.

Still wish the warranty was like the rest of the escs, but I do like the fact that of the sensored 1/8 ESCs, these appear to have the longest warranty, nice touch.

These will be going in to a Tekno EB48 and SCT410. So if you have any tips, feel free to let me know.

Looking forward to seeing if the Vipers can make me give up the workhorse Speed Passion GT2.0 Pros I use in pretty much everything other than 1/8 (SAV2 there).

Cain - congrats, please let me know if you have any questions...

This might be the wrong place to ask this but.....

Other than here -- where do you guys go to find out about products? I mean good old fashion reviews. If you were trying to find out about a new product you heard about where do you look?

Just curious, as 2014 is already in the back of my mind, curious about where to spend the advertising budget. Do people still read the magazines? Is there a certain website? Maybe we could do something different with our site? Just curious to what you guys think from your side of the computer screen. Thanks.

I personally thumb threw magazines when I have a chance, but as times goes on people are used to using more electronic means so I would focus efforts on that more. I also like to use Various magazine forums when they talk about new stuff. Some of the bigger Reviewers like squid too. Word of mouth helps too, or can hurt if the product and support has issues.

And as you probably have gotten from what i have asked, I gravitate towards manufacturers who stand behind there product with a long warranty. Those that aren't afraid to say "we are here for you for the long haul", you get my dollars in general. To me at least, I find it odd when some manufacturers say they are the "best", but seem to not feel there product is the best with a short warranty lol.

I think to me, advertise that fact too.

Just my thoughts ... (my wife probably rolling eyes right now )

I usually google the product, I do read a lot of user reviews from retail sites also. The problem is that every one yells about a bad experience but a lot of good experiences go untold. Try putting a user review spot on your website and encourage people somehow to write reviews. Also I use consumer reports but they don't handle rc. Good Luck

Other than here -- where do you guys go to find out about products? I mean good old fashion reviews. If you were trying to find out about a new product you heard about where do you look?

I still look at magazines also. Not sure why, LOL. I usually know it already by looking at Liverc and Neobuggy to be honest. If I want to get feed back on a product I always go the forum on rctech and look around.

Brian