Don,
When you get the chance do some testing and tell us what you get for range.
ROCK ON
Grim
Ok Grim since you asked-
Today was my first running with the Futaba FASST module in my 3PJS and the 603FS RX's running in PPM mode (analog servos). I will give the facts of today's experience straight up-
1- I ran two boats, my new gas Thunderboat & my Roadrunner gas rigger, figuring that with spark ignitions it would give a higher probability for possible "hits" or glitches".
2- both boats had antennas at least 3" outside of the radio box with both having the antenna in the vertical position. The Roadrunner had 4" vertical antenna mast outside the radio box lid (RX directly beneath antenna). The Thunderboat had about 2" vertical above the top deck.
3- started out with a ground range check, kept walking until I could barely see Dick Tyndall still signaling all OK.
4- ran both boats multiple times over the span of 4 hours and they performed flawlessly in all aspects of radio function. I ran the boats at distances much longer than a normal coarse without a single stumble, hit or glitch.
So does this mean I'm completely sold on it? No, not yet but it did work quite well on it's trial outing so I will next add the 603FS RX's to my single F hydro and then 2 603FS RX's to one of my twin Roadrunners (I run dual RX's in all my twins). If all goes well there then the final conversion will be my 1/8 scales.
Now I will say that I spent about an hour on the phone a week ago with the techs at Futaba talking about the FASST conversion set & my applications. I do want to make two things absolutely crystal clear- they were
totally against the idea of leaving the antenna inside the radio box and stressed that no less than the last inch (the actual antenna section)
must be in the vertical position and the more the better. I did as recommended and so far so good. B)
The one thing that stands out to me here regarding bernowt's situation is that the complete 3PM FASST radio set is cheaper in price than just the FASST conversion set for the 3PJS/3PK radios, both Futaba high end pieces. The reason I say this is as I mentioned in an earlier post, I tried the 3305 "budget" high torque servos & they were junk in my opinion, I think they were purposely built cheap resulting in a product with an "acceptable" higher rate of failure in a trade off to keep the costs down. I can't help but wonder if the 3PM might be another budget build that may have a similar "acceptable" rate of possible sub par performance especially with using the single antenna version 603FF RX. The 603FS dual antenna RX's were created to address a reception issue were they not? This is just my thought & opinion but it does make me wonder. :blink:
Bottom line for me anyway is up to this point things look good but more "testing" remains on other applications before I'll say hands down good to go.
