Radio Response Times..What does it all mean?
 

Hi guy's

Just need some help here on understanding radio speeds Vs. Servo speeds.. I been away from the hobby for a long time and i know things have changed a lot BUT...Has anyone actually and TRULY felt a speed difference among the 2.4Ghz transmitters out there? I don't know if this was discussed here before or not but i have couple Futaba S9351 Servos in my 1/8 buggies, i think these have speed of 0.13 sec/60° @ 6V..

If lets say a radio has a response time of 6ms, but your servo is 12ms then what? Does this mean you have to upgrade to faster servos to take advantage of the transmitter speeds? I mean can you really feel the difference between 6ms to 12ms?

I am no means a pro driver and i prob. won't notice the difference between few milliseconds and this is why i won't buy a $500+ radio. But what do these numbers mean anyways, is it just a marketing gimmick or do people really run faster with these new high end radios? How fast is fast? is there a limit to how fast your servo operate? Because i know some guy's at my local tracks that use 7-8 year old KO Helios beating guy's with Futaba 4PKS or Mx12 radios. I know it comes down to experience also, but does faster radios make you a better driver?

thanks,

Equipment is only as good as the person who uses it.

No a faster radio will not make you a better driver. Practice makes you a better driver.

As far as radio response times and servo speed, My understanding is, If your radio has a response time of 6 ms that's how long it takes for the signal to reach the receiver and tell the servo what to do. It then takes your servo another 12 ms to move the 60 degrees. So from the time you start moving the wheel on the radio to the time your servo gets to where you want it would be 18 ms given the numbers you suggested.

Can a person actually tell the difference? I used to think not. I used to use a 4pl when I first got back into rc. I mostly ran offroad and it was a great radio for my needs and skill level. As I got better and started to run onroad with much higher traction I decided to buy a 4pkrs. I immediately noticed a difference when using the two radios back to back. I was turning in too early using the 4pkrs because it was responding quicker. The steering and throttle inputs also felt much smoother and more precise.

Will a $500 radio lower lap times? Not for someone just starting out. Maybe for a more experienced person.

It depends on your sensibility

I'm running a 0,06sec servo and 4ms radio...and need it. I got used to these speeds. Everytime I switched for faster equipment I became faster on the track. Notice I run no expo and max sensitivity everywhere (neutral width to the minimum as well as the lowest minimal throttle and brakes values etc..). But I know it wouldn't be the case for everybody, some drivers are faster with slower responding servos for example because they are used to slower reactions from their cars.

An other variable is the precision. Since I changed my DX3R for a M11X I can feel my buggy much better connected also.

A good radio is probably the biggest factor of improvement in rc equipment. It's not only about the features, you can get all you need from a 30$ dollar gt3b, it's about how it makes you drive and yes the difference can be massive

You will notice it more at a distance, further from the drivers stand. When you are close by its minimal,but run your car far away from you and watch what happens. Take it to the end of the block and turn the wheels back and forth with an older radio. you can see it. That being said, starting out again, a lesser priced radio will work just fine for quite some time, till the skills catch up and then you have time to pick a new radio that suits you better.

Hey guys. .12 sec is not 12 milliseconds...it's 120 milliseconds. There is no 12ms servo that I'm aware of.

I came back to the hobby a few years ago. Yes you can definitely feel the difference. As for the servos themselves and the speed you like, that will vary.
Get a new radio, I got the Airtronics MT4 and it is more than adequate and just over $200.
One of the best parts with the new radios is model memory, no more having multiple tx's and modules and crystals and readjusting and so on. Just turn it on and select the vehicle, all settings are right there.

As someone fairly new to the hobby I can honestly say that there is a difference in my lap times going from an RTR radio to a Sanwa MT4. It's not in the realm of seconds, but over the course of a race I find it much easier and thus my times are more consistent.

Ignore that flysky shit.. honestly, I can't believe how bad mine was after so many people claiming it was good. I went back to my RTR radio....

Thank's guys,

The reason i asked this question was that i bought my son a brand new Futaba 4PLS Radio to run with his RC8.2

I have a 7 year old 2.4ghz Futaba 3PKS that i still use. I also run a Associated RC8.2 with my son.

When i tried out his Radio's at the track, i honestly couldn't feel the difference between my old radio and his new radio. Both cars to me drove the same. Maybe i thought with the new radio i might see a difference but i haven't.

We both have the same set-up and run the same Futaba s9351 servos.

I always wanted to upgrade my radio, but now i wonder if it is really worth it?

I know new radio is always nice to have, i like the feel and the look of the new 4Pks in my hands but if i can't tell the difference at the track, then i think it would be a waste of money for me.

This is why i started asking these question on response times. Like my son told me. He said maybe you can't feel the difference with Off road cars but he said on-road is a different story. So i just have to believe him..:D