Well I got my KO spektrum system today and ran some pack through my car on our local carpet track with it. Very nice. I just kept wanting to pull my antenna up. I ran identical lap times with the spektrum that I did with the high resonse KO receiver. I even turned the radio off while going full tilt down the back stretch and the car went into failsafe and came to a stop.
One question on the system. Do I run the switch on my transmitter in the High or Normal mode? I switched it to normal for now.

Man I may get a spectrum just to get rid of the radio antennae!!

Has anyone tried using the system with brushless controllers (hacker or U-Force 75)?

answer::

The KO radios are always in PPM mode. "The system is compatible in all forms of frame rates for KO including HRS. You won't have to change anything!"

so basically either one works

I sent my M8 Spektrum back the first of last week, talked to Horizon today, wont get it back until end of March b/c they are out of stock... argh

Thanks I was wanting to know that also
-Dave

you may need one of these

http://www.nodomainname.co.uk/cantenna/cantenna.htm

I got my KO version here is KS today....

If we have them, everyone should by now...

Well, here is my personal report on the system for the KO radios...

car 1:
Hitec 925MG servo
Novak Cyclone (purple label)

I purchased the KO Spektrum system as well as a spare receiver for a second car. Interesting side note about the second receiver; the guy behind the counter at the LHS said that the shop had received the receiver right after the first shipment of M8 systems. (More on that soon...) Anyway, I got home and got everything plugged in. I started with the receiver that came with the KO module. I followed the directions to the letter for binding, and it bound itself almost instantly. I 'felt' no noticiable delay in the steering or response. Keep in mind that all this is just on the workbench....

Then I got out the spare receiver and plugged it in. Again, I followed the directions to the letter for binding. This time, it did not bind nearly as quickly, but after a few seconds did bind. However, my throttle was at about 25%. I had to hit the brakes to get the neutral to kick in. I tried rebinding several times, but no luck. It was no good. No matter what I did, every time I turned the system on with the second receiver, it'd go to about 25-30% throttle, and then just sit there with the driveline spinning. If still responded perfectly to commands, but the throttle trim was just off. The steering seemed to be fine.

So then I tried the exact same test in all my cars. Here is what I tried, and here is what happened:

car 2:
Airtronics 94257 servo
Novak Cyclone green (label)
Results: same as car 1

car 3:
KO 2143 servo
Novak Cyclone (purple label)
results: same as car 1

car 4:
Hitec 925MG servo
Quantum Q2
results: same as car 1, with a new twist, the servo would go crazynuts when I turned it in either direction.


car 5:
same servo/speedo as car 1
results: same as car 1

Sounds like I actually did get one of the 'older' receivers as the one that came in the KO system package works great. Assuming the the extra receiver I picked up did actually arrive soon after the first of the M8 systems.

hmmm, well Horizon said to send it in and they'll reprogram it.

I think that with that first bunch, it's hit or miss whether you get a bad one or not - neither of mine seem bad. . .

I've got mine in the car. I haven't had a chance to get it on the track yet but it seems to be fine. I did test the range on it though and I want to know where they get this 3000 foot range from. I had my wife watch the car in the garage on a stand and I went and walked down the street to see how far I could go. I got about 300 feet away and lost the signal. Granted, I'll never be 300 feet away from my car, I hope, but where's the truth in advertising?

you gotta remember the testing grounds was prolly perfect sight, no wind yada yada

Get it outside of the garage.

The 3000 feet will be ideal circumstances, obviously.

Going from outside your garage to inside is far from ideal. With wiring, etc. running through the walls, there's a lot of interference in there. Shoot - I can't even get radio signals well in my garage - they're fine outside but they're horrid inside.

And don't even get started if it's metal stud construction! just connect it to ground and you've got a farraday cage. . .

Argh! Why can't my LHS get the KO unit? For all you KO owners out there, I ordered the module and a couple of extra receivers early in February and my LHS tells me that Horizon tells them they don't have any or gives them some sort of runaround (BTW, this is in the middle of Missouri). Obviously Horizon does have some (or did have some) or the folks on this forum wouldn't have them due to Horizon being the sole distributor. For all the guys/gals on this forum that have the KO units, where did you purchase them from, where do you live, and when did your lhs put in their order for the KO spektrum units? It disturbs me greatly when hobby shops around the US get things in and mine seemingly cannot. Oh, one more thing, my LHS gets their shipments from the Champaign, IL warehouse.

And to my knowledge every last one in the country has been sold.