We are using SR3000 receivers. The receiver he was using actually was mine. It was already programmed into the DX3 and the receiver I was using was previously bound to his controller as well. I re-bound my receiver to my new radio but I'm not sure if the radio he was using still remembered the receiver or not. It was really odd. I think I might call Spektrum and see what they say.

As for the other things you mentioned the antennae were all up and I was making sure to bind them separately.