http://www.futabarc.com/systems/futk3200-3pv/index.html

I am interested in buying a 3PV in 2 weeks when it's available at my LHS. I plan on using it for my Tekno SCT410.3 for racing. I am just coming back into RC racing after 12-14 years.. I bought a used Losi SCTe w/ Spectrum DX2e and electronic's 2 months ago and decided to upgrade to Tekno, and now for a radio upgrade... So I was wanting to use the Futaba 3PV with my RX8 Gen2/Pro4 4300HD....

The 3PV is available with a choice of included receivers: an R304SB telemetry receiver for keeping you apprised of receiver voltage, or a high-voltage R203GF receiver that's an ideal match for brushless ESCs and digital servos."


I think telemetry sounds nice and would be nice to have. I don't plan to buy any sensors soon, but it would be nice to have the option. Between the 2 receivers, is there a reason to go with the non telemetry version? Does it have any benefits? Or should I just go with the $20 more telemetry version? I don't use anything crazy high voltage, just running my SCT with 2s 70-100c, batts.. All of this is new to me, so any info would be helpful!! Thanks

Buy the non-telemetry version. Nobody ever really uses that in electric racing.

Thanks, I didn't think they did... just wanted to make sure before I bought the radio.

Has anyone tried this TX yet?

I'm picking it up tomorrow when it gets to my LHS.

I bought a 3pv and (4) R204GF-E receivers. The receivers are pretty sweet....small and internal antenna. The receiver it comes with is fine to but slightly bigger.

Double post but looking for help:

My son and I are regulars at DRPRC here in Pa, and we've been using the Turnigy GTX3 radios from Hobby King (which both have had the steering return spring break, which I fixed).
I bought the 3PV for him, and I'm waiting for the 4PV to be released in a week or so. I installed it in his B5M, no issues with binding, everything went smooth as silk. Last night at practice, he complained about "no brakes" over a particular feature on the track. I drove his B5M for a little and the brakes worked perfectly, so I thought. He changed to fresh tires, and tried again. He kept complaining about "no brakes, something isnt right."

I took his car and tried to do some "hot laps" with it. Here's the thing, the radio "lags" when going from full brake to neutral or even a little throttle. It also lags went going from WOT to brake. I'm not talking about much time here, probably less than a second, but you can feel it. For sure.

The feature I talk about is a small single kicker jump right before the entry to a corner, it's pointless to jump it. The fast line is to brake real hard coming into the face of the jump, and just as you crest the jump return to nuetral of even a little throttle and just roll the jump barely having your wheels leave the ground. This sets you up for the inside line of the corner. You can feel the "lag" here because it doesn't release the brakes as quickly as you'd like it to.

When changing back to the GTX3 and it just feels faster in response time without a doubt.

So my question is: it comes stock with the R203GF receiver which is S-FHSS would switching to the R304SB receiver and setting system type to TFH-HS level the playing field btwn the 3PV and the GTX3?

The R304SB let's you use the TFH-HS is the system type setting where the R203GF doesnt.

Did you re-set your ESC to the radio and do so with all trims/epas/expo at 0 or 100 where applicable? That is an ESC issue - if it was a TX/RX one, the steering would lag also and with the same general timeframe of lag. Having driven other people's cars with 3PV's controlling them, it has zero perceptible lag (as is standard for Futaba; even on the "slowest" response settings).

The ESC is a Novak Impact, I reset the "one touch programming procedure" which sets full throttle, neutral and reverse/brake.

Throttle trim is at "0", EPA is set at 100% for both Foward and Reverse, throttle expo is set to 0 (which is what the GTX3 was set to)

As for the comment about steering, the "feel" of the steering on teh 3PV is so different when compared to the GTX3 is difficult to do a direct comparison. The overall throw of the wheel on the transmitter is different between the radios.

Hmm I'll have to look into this more any more advice?

Could adjusting the channel 2 expo to the plus side increase the responsiveness around neutral?
It's like the brakes hang on just a fraction of a second too long going over that kicker that causes you to make the error of nose diving as you roll the jump (kind of like doing a stoppie on a motorcyle) whereas if you were in true neutral the car would stay flat.

And while we're not the best drivers there, we both have logged a ton of laps on the current layout. So it is easy to notice a change even if its small .

After recalibrating I'd check all the ESC settings at this point, as well as checking that the sensor cable is in securely.

Particularly, try adjusting settings such as a 'dead band' / 'minimum brake' / 'minimum drive' / 'drag brake'.

I think it's more likely the GTX3 is inherently screwy with the throttle/steering that you are used to, than something wrong with the 3PV. The GTX3 is almost identical to the Flysky GT3B.

While I haven't driven much with the GT3B, the Flysky GT3C definitely has some weird transmitter behavior -- the steering has a bunch of added expo, I had to drop -30 to -35% on the expo to get it to drive linearly.

On the throttle front, the GT3C has some kind of throttle easing when going from throttle to neutral that keeps the car flatter in the air. I tested a Sanwa MX-V, Flysky GT3C, and Futaba 3PV back to back to back in the exact same car. While the Sanwa and Futaba behave simiarly, it was clear the GT3C has some abnormal steering and throttle behavior. It's also not linear like most transmitters, I had to dial in 10-20% of throttle expo (I can't remember what we ended up with) to get it to behave correctly.

Check out my blog for more info on the differences.

http://razorrc.tumblr.com/archive

I am stumped and I mean stumped. On modern digital equipment, it works or it doesn't; there is lag only if it is inherent to the equipment or in other words, the Futaba should go dead; not lag.
Try re-binding the RX to the TX then re-setting the ESC using the button on the ESC.
I would then do this:
On a quality radio, dead band should be set as low as possible while the rest will be a tuning aide but if they're way off, will make the car very funky.

Thanks for your thoughts guys. It's given me a couple thing to consider.

Please let us know if this fixes it!

So I reached out to the folks at Futaba, and they were nice enough to reply to my inquiry. Here's what I got back, which I thought I'd share b/c I did search, and couldn't find this info readily available. (see below)

I checked the "system type setting" on my sons 3PV last night and it was set to FHSS, I reset it to "S-FHSS" and we'll get a chance to check it out tomorrow night at the track.


From Futaba:
"Hello,

Thank you for your recent e-mail.

FHSS= is a simple frequency hopping system, will not scan the band at boot and no error checking capabilities. This is less expensive to manufacture which makes it easier for first timers to get into 2.4Ghz systems.
S-FHSS: Extension of FHSS, mainly meant for high speed and high response applications.
T-FHSS: This is the S-FHSS system with the added ability of telemetry.

FASST: Hybrid FH/DSSS channel shifting system, it will scan the band at boot and has error checking and correction capabilities. FASST is what Futaba uses in commercial systems.
FASSTest: Is an extension of the FASST system that also includes options for telemetry. Also many FASSTest transmitters are also compatible with FASST, S-FHSS, and some also support T-FHSS systems.


The team at Futaba has tested both the FHSS and S-FHSSin “real world”
conditions and found that they meet or exceeded parameters needed for full range RC applications.

Sincerely,
Dexter
Support Specialist
Futaba Services
Hobby Services
3002 N. Apollo Dr. Suite 1
Champaign, IL 61822
USA

Phone: 217 398-8970
Fax: 217 398-7721"