My son started rc racing about a year and a half ago, he has done pretty well. I was thinking about upgrading his slash 4x4 radio but I am just not sure of the advantages. Could anyone chime in to give me some help please on how this expensive purchase will help. Thanks.
The first radio I have looked at is the spektrum dx3c, again I am almost clueless on which one to get. Thanks.
Edit: He currently uses the RTR radio.

I have two sons, both with TQi radios. Same situation. If you want to upgrade on the cheap, the docking bay helps a lot, I really hate the little light button system.

If you want a quality racing radio on the cheap, but with good features:

Futaba 4PL
Airtronics MT-4

I would recommend the Futaba over Airtronics, due to the less expensive relievers. Both are great radios.

The Spektrum DX3C would be an awesome choice...lot of the fastest guys at the tracks I go to use that exact radio.

Spektrum is a good radio. If you upgrade I would go with one of the digital radios instead of the knobs. Just makes it easier to program and you don't have to worry about the knobs getting moved and messing up settings.

Basically, the reason to justify an upgrade would be much faster response time and more exacting precision, primarily. Then you've got better build quality, better range, intuitive menu systems, more features. All secondary, but good reasons too.

The Futaba 4PL can be had for just over $200 right now at AMain. The Airtronics MT4 is around the same price. Both are awesome radios. You won't be disappointed. Top end radios you'll never replace! The Futaba 3PM is a nice mid range radio for $175 or so if you don't want to quite go all the way to the top.

The Futabas or Airtronics (also called Sanwa outside of the USA) would be my first choice. I've got nothing personal against Spektrum, in fact where I race most drivers choose the Spektrums. Not me though, and here's why:

Futaba and Airtronics use a technology called Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum. This means they will look for an open channel to transmit on, and if it becomes congested or experiences interferences, it will hop to a new open channel. It will keep hopping as needed to stay interference free.

Spektrum uses a different technology called DSSS - or direct sequence spread spectrum. When you turn the radio on, it will select two channels. If the first one experiences interference it will switch to the second. If the second has interference, well you're just plain out of luck.

Radios using FHSS perform better than radios with DSSS. Spektrum is the only manufacturer still using DSSS. Everyone else has moved up to the better technology. In real world use, you'll probably not notice the difference unless you're at a big race with a lot of people, but why start with a disadvantage?

The other reason I don't recommend Spektrum is the brown-out issue. Savox servos and Castle speedos are know to brown out Spektrum receivers. They just don't supply enough power to the electronics, and the system will momentarily turn itself off. It takes a specific combination of gear for this scenario to occur, but it's real.

Finally, the cheapo chinese FlySky radios have been known to trample all over the signals of Spektrum radios. It's no fault of the Spektrum radio - it's the flysky radio behaving badly... but if you have racers using flysky in your local club you might want to stay on the safe side and avoid Spektrum.

Id get the DX3S. Great value.

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...etry-w-FREE-RX

My experience exactly. I switched from Spektrum and will never go back. This incurred an additional expense, which I was willing to accept. One "small" advantage Futaba has over Airtronics/Sanwa is that they are distributed by almost everyone. Also, you don't need the telemetry on the MT-4 for racing. 4PL FHSS recievers are cheaper. As you add more cars, you will appreciate the savings. Its almost a Ford vs Chevy. Hold both, see which one you like best.

Expounding on the how it feels comment...I have been using a Spektrum DX3R and have loved it...still love it actually. But about a month ago I ran into an old friend at a race that was using RadioPost...I had just got back into racing after about an 8 year layoff and had never heard of them. I held his radio and immediatley fell in love with the way it felt and the balance of it. I knew right then I had t have one...and as of right now I have one and one receiver and am getting 3 more receivers so I can sell my DX3R...

Comfort while driving is a big deal to me and just blindly buying a radio without holding it and simulating driving it for a bit is like buying a car without test driving it to me.

+1 for the Futaba 4PL. Great radio w/a ton of features.

Thanks all for your input. I will probably go with futaba but we will see soon.

One more vote for the Futaba 4PL. It has all the features you will need for racing anything or even just bashing. Has special features useful for dual motor crawlers too. The 40 model memory is nice. I use it with all my models from crawlers to 1/12th pan car and everything in between.

There are several receivers that will work with this radio but the one I use most is the Futaba R204GF-E 4-Channel 2.4GHz S-FHSS Micro Receivers. They are the second least expensive RX you can get for the 4PL and what I especially like is they are small and have an internal antenna.

For reference I am 43 years old and have four boys. I know the value of choosing products that will last a long time and through several kids.



Sean