Since my DX3s went into "CAL" mode again and broke the thumbwheel for the second time I am in need of a new radio system. Since i also have a kid on the way i cant spend a fortune on TX and RX's. anyone have any good suggestions for me? i have read about the FS gt3b and that might be the way to go, any other suggestions?

airtronics mx sport $100 at amain
futaba 3pl $115

spektrum's DX2S would use your existing RX, feel like your dx3s and is inexpensive.

I think you'll maybe not like the GT3b after using a spektrum, it's heavy, bulky,and not as high performance (response speeds, resolution of the inputs) in comparison. It is the cheapest proper radio out there though and most of us can't tell the difference anyway.

are you racing or bashing? GT3b is the ultimate basher radio, but would come up lacking in a race situation with a skilled driver. I love mine but I don't race.

I want to start racing soon, just got my RC8B. the idea of using the DX2s sounds nice but i have had too many problems with my DX3s, i doubt i will be going back to spektrum any time soon.

Because you have a kid on the way I'll share my thoughts.

I currently have 3 futaba 3pm's that I really like. I also have several cars. And I have little kids that like to drive. Usually what I do is create a model memory w/ the throttle EPA turned way down. Unfortunately this doesn't work out as well I thought it would b/c I have to fumble through the radio programming before handing over the radio. And of course I have to do this for each radio and car.

So I just picked up 2 Traxxas Link radios w/ receivers for less than $50 each. One radio will be for the kids and one for me. Whenever they want to drive they simply turn on their radio and the car they want to drive and go. Their radio will already be programmed w/ EPA's turned down.

The Traxxas Link radios show up this week, I'll let you know how it works out.

Just a thought from one dad to the next.

I've had a gt3b for almost a year and you can't beat it for the price especially with extra recievers only being $8. Its easy to use and is fully adjustable. The only problem i have found is that the trims and exp's are both backwards and there is no sub-trim.

My Traxxas Link radios showed up and I really like them. I like the ability to hand one of the kids or someone new to RC a radio and they can drive any of my cars safely b/c the radio is set up for them. Then I have my own radio w/ my settings. It's a nice feature to not have to rebind or flip through model settings etc to pass the remote or switch cars.

Obviously the programming is not as easy as the Futaba but I find that once I have my EPA's and sensitivities set the only settings I need while driving is steering EXPO and trim and you get that w/ the Link.

The price is not as cheap as the gtb3 but at under $50 it's worth it.

Spektrum sucks compared to the gtb3, I bought a specktrum for my b4 buggy, I fought with to get the esc to program with the radio. Never worked, the throttle wouldn't stop no matter what I did even with the epa's down all the way, so I ran like for a bit and it was glitchy and the range wouldn't go across a 2 lane without fail.

The gtb3 it's far better and the speed is better as well.

Thanks for your insightful review.....sounds like you knew what you were doing so I'll be selling my DX3S and DX3R and getting a more advanced Tx/Rx like the Flysky.

I was going to buy my son the 4PL, it's a great radio with a street price of around $220. What attracted me to that radio is not only it's awesome feature set but the fact that RX are reasonably priced.

I ended up switching gears and taking advantage of Futaba's 4PKS offer where you get a free 603 RX. I'm giving my 3PKS to my son instead but if I were to buy a system around $200 it would be the 4PL. A machine like the RC8 deserves a sweet TX, those FlySky radios are crap compared to Futaba or Airtronics. The MT 4 looks nice but I haven't seen one first hand.

Just to give my final follow up on this. I took the Traxxas Link to the track on Friday. I left my Futaba Rx in so I could switch back and compare the two.

It turned out that once you drive w/ a nice radio it's tough to drive w/ one that is not as nice. It's hard to explain but I just couldn't control the car nearly as well as w/ my Futaba. I thought my setup was wrong and didn't want to believe the radio could be the cause. As soon as I switched back to the futaba I could drive much better.