I've been a happy DX6i user for some time now but am looking to upgrade as I move more and more to sailplanes. Because my experience with Spektrum has been mostly good I originally intended to look at the upcoming DX8 but misleading rubbish like this is pushing me to look elsewhere.
This video is at worst dishonest, at best incompetent. Either way I'm no longer sure I have the confidence or the desire to put my investments in the hands of Horizon/Spektrum.
The only thing this video proves is that Spektrum recovers faster, the Spektrum receiver dies at 3 volts, the servos stop working at 3 volts, and that the Futaba FASST DOESN'T brown out at 3 volts.
Don't call me a fanboy either because I own a Futaba 7CHP 2.4, Spektrum DX6i, and Hitec Aurora 9.
ive been a spektrum supporter for years and even i can see that this is fake. the low voltage: the spektrum cuts out at 3 volts, and the futaba still stays on (watch the LED's)! digital servos only function at a certain voltage. good that the spektrum recovers quickly, it needs to, as it loses its bind much more often. i run a futaba fasst in my rc cars, and a nomadio react. both use futaba technology.
do the same with analogue servos, and then see the results.
I think this may have backfired, they showed the voltage going down, yet it was the LED on the spektrum receiver that went out, not the one on the futaba!
And them cutting out at the same voltage would most likely show the servo's operational voltage
This is a very misleading video. Note that when the voltage is dropped to 3.0V at 2:20 in the video, both servos stop BUT, the Futaba bind light is still on, while the Spektrum bind light has gone out.
Why did both systems stop working -- because the digital servos stopped working! If there was an analog servo connected to the Futaba, it would still be working but the Spektrum would have stopped.
@RCModelReviews I can confirm that this test is, at best, misleading.
Don't get me wrong: Futaba has messed up with the temperature issue (which they fixed, but still!) and they're too pricey and have no telemetry - but many Futaba receivers work even below 3.0V
@Horizon: Results may vary of course - but the assertions made in your test are factually incorrect. The receiver light was still on. Retry with an analog servo. Or pull this video, because it's embarassing.
@RCModelReviews i cant agree more i have been a futaba user for 5 years and im only 16 and i have never had a lockout even when on my electric i can run the lipo to the point where the motor wont turn and the spectrum would just completly shut off. I can give a list of people whos spectrum systems have failed. its marmite you love it or hate it.
@FlyHighRC386 I've published an article about this video on the RCModelReviews website and invited people to discuss it in my forums. It's also gotten a mention in my latest weekly-news YouTube video. It will be interesting to see what the feedback is.
I dont see any bad post for futaba on their infomercals I wonder why their is a 10c radio at my local hobby town thats been their for a year but wont sell but them spek sure do fly off the shelf I am going to say it again BNF is kicking futabas ass.
Nice review! Just one question, TX is using two channels but what about RX without small satelite? E.g. AR500 full range RX without sattelite... i'm not sure about this case. Do you know if those RX without sattelite are able "reading-using" signal from both channels? Or only one channel is used ?
good afternoon, immediataly after this video, i went straight to my dx5e spektrum radio and reciever in my plane and tested the brown out recovery. it wasnt even near as fast as this video showed. the recievers in this vid could have had 3 or 4 brown outs and recoverys in the time mine took to recover alone. any help?
I would like to see a more clarity in what we are comparing. What 7 channel RX is it? We know there is only one Futaba 6 channel RX which does not have the performance of their 6 and higher channel RX's. So this would be more meaningful if he was comparing the basic 6 channel6100 Spectrum RX to this basic 6 channel Futaba RX - apples to apples.
I own both brands and both works OK. But the Model Match on my Spektrum has saved me several times already from possible crashes caused by using the wrong model memory.
This is a very good test concerning low power issues.
Since I am starting to get in to larger Heli's I would like to see a similar test showing how the two systems compare involving the electrostatic discharge the larger Heli's and even some 450 sized Heli's have. ESD is a much bigger concern for me than low power issues.
Great honest report. I really love that you do not talk bad about other products that are great as well, but rather concentrate on showing that online opinions are plain wrong. Thanks for such a great response to online rumors. Keep up the good work.
i look at it this way both are both fantastic Radio systems, but i use the spectrum DX7. but for some people low voltage is not an issue bc im running 8.4 volts on all my stuff. and who runs 3 volts on anything these days so give spectrum a brake about if its getting a valid signal at 3 volts NO one i know runs anything below 5volts
on all my helis i have JR8717 on the cyclic and the spartan Gyro which can take 8.4 volts easy, and a 5.2 volt regulator going to the JR8900G and the AR 7600
the 8717s are the best servo i have ever used, i have crashed my beater set over 100 times since i got them and i have not once stripped out a gear, when the tail boom was forced all the way up to the receiver mount the 8717s were still functioning perfectly
i love how you butthurt futaba guys are trying to be professional and explain why spektrum cheated, but in the end it's all gibberish...good try, bros :D
Good job using an old discontinued Futaba receiver.
Also, it seems to me that the servos are the ones reaching insufficient voltage. You'll notice that the Futaba receiver LED is still on and green, meaning that it's still connected to the transmitter.
Even that older discontinued Futaba receiver works as low as 2.6 volts. Can you say that about the Spektrum receiver?
I think the title Technical Spin Director would be more accurate...
You guys are funny. I'd be concerned that Spektrum is purposefully misrepresenting their system if I was a Spektrum radio user.
Both Futaba and Spektrum make quality radios and in the end, I don't care what brand of radio you use. I guess you guys don't either, not because of how capable they are, but rather because it's just easier to follow along in blissful ignorance.
Not only that, but that specific Futaba R606FS receiver was discontinued significantly before this video was posted, and that same Futaba receiver has been tested down to 2.6 volts. Look how its light stays green meaning it's still connect @2:35 even though they forced the Spektrum receiver into a brownout. It's the servos that are reaching insufficient voltage at 3 volts, not the receivers...
The replacement for the R606FS is the R617FS and it connects back up much quicker.
I just noticed, that Spektrum's video nicely shows how their RX quits at a higher voltage than the Fasst RX:
It is clear that the servos stop responding at the same level, as they are identical. But that does not mean, that the RXes stopped delivering a valid signal.
Just look exactly at 2m25s at the LEDs of both systems: At 3V, the Spektrum LED goes out, whereas the Fasst LED is still green, meaning that the RX is still fuctioning, and Spektrum is not.
glad to see you fixed it. the original spektrum most certainly did not work like that. I wish that spektrum and horizon would get back all the original receivers which restarted after a brown out. Too many dangerous systems out there,
Hi if any 1 can help me i just bought a dx3s system for my baja 5b put in with new intellect batty 6.v fully changed with fully charged receiver batts range is so bad cant even go half way on foot ball field not a power line in sight had 2 savages with fm work as far as the eye can see all hooked up and bound but fail safe is all ways kicking in at such a short distance it not even worth using please help would it be magneto in baja making range so short please help
2-Questions: 1. You mentioned switch bounce as a possibility to cause brownout. This type of intermittent is much shorter time than you show on the video (> 1 sec.). Are the results the same, (Spektrum faster) if you break and make the connection quickly??
2. Is there any difference in this test using different servos?
EXAMPLE:If these were digital servos would analogs stop at the same voltage?
A FASST reconect is always slower is the way to make a FASST non adaptiv reconect (a FASST RX know not the actual TX channel).
After a FASST RX lost the conect it's slow down the hopping sequence and wait that the TX overtake it and then maybe reconect (if the channel not occupied, in harsh HF environment that is until the cows come home). FASST reconect is significant slower as a Spektrum quick reconect (the Spektrum RX known always the last two channel).
I got an e-mail saying that your note was a reply to my questions. Thanks, but I agree that the video clearly shows that the Spektrum re-connect works faster. You made it clearer why FASST takes longer. I was hoping to get an answer to my questions.
Good stuff... I've never had a problem with Spektrum yet using the DX7 and Ar6100's / AR7000. For over a year and a half. Hek, I even ran an AR6100 with only 1 antenna on my Trex 450 for over a month also ! Lol...
That spectrum test made me laugh so much! It is hilarious!
AND completely flawed!
Who said it is not the same servo model that stalls at 3V? You can clearly see that the Futaba receiver still has the light on when the Spectrum shuts off.
If were a Spectrum customer I would be really worried about trying to be mislead by this video!
And the guy calls himself technical director. Ha, ha...
Ha ha ha yourself futaba fanboy! clearly the spektrum is superior system....you are not fooling anybody. I dont know anybody with a futaba. all spektrum here
It is simple. When the power is restored, the Spektrum servo comes back to life first.
If the Futaba receiver did not brown-out, its directly connected servo would be back instantly; since, no re-link would be necessary if it were a matter of stalled servos.
Brownout will happen anytime the receiver sees a voltage less than 3.5V. Can be caused by either a weak 4.8V receiver pack or an overloaded BEC in a speed control.
I have a question, how come sometimes when I connect with a fresh battery, everything is working (Servos/motor) but both receivers are blinking, i diconnect the battery and place another fresh one, it works fine, i'll move to another location, and the first battery I tried that didn't work earlier, now works fine and both receivers bind normally. Again, thanks for the video :-)
Great video and i'm glad you have made this as i have read on a few forums about futaba is meant to be better than spektrum ;-) so how do we go about finding the cause of the brown out in the first place??? 5*
I've been a happy DX6i user for some time now but am looking to upgrade as I move more and more to sailplanes. Because my experience with Spektrum has been mostly good I originally intended to look at the upcoming DX8 but misleading rubbish like this is pushing me to look elsewhere.
This video is at worst dishonest, at best incompetent. Either way I'm no longer sure I have the confidence or the desire to put my investments in the hands of Horizon/Spektrum.
Ramb0ky 1 year ago
The only thing this video proves is that Spektrum recovers faster, the Spektrum receiver dies at 3 volts, the servos stop working at 3 volts, and that the Futaba FASST DOESN'T brown out at 3 volts.
Don't call me a fanboy either because I own a Futaba 7CHP 2.4, Spektrum DX6i, and Hitec Aurora 9.
team222badbrad 1 year ago
what a load of crap!
ive been a spektrum supporter for years and even i can see that this is fake. the low voltage: the spektrum cuts out at 3 volts, and the futaba still stays on (watch the LED's)! digital servos only function at a certain voltage. good that the spektrum recovers quickly, it needs to, as it loses its bind much more often. i run a futaba fasst in my rc cars, and a nomadio react. both use futaba technology.
do the same with analogue servos, and then see the results.
fathead431 1 year ago 3
Oh and do the smaller receivers have that brown out detection?
vanepico 1 year ago
I think this may have backfired, they showed the voltage going down, yet it was the LED on the spektrum receiver that went out, not the one on the futaba!
And them cutting out at the same voltage would most likely show the servo's operational voltage
vanepico 1 year ago
This is a very misleading video. Note that when the voltage is dropped to 3.0V at 2:20 in the video, both servos stop BUT, the Futaba bind light is still on, while the Spektrum bind light has gone out.
Why did both systems stop working -- because the digital servos stopped working! If there was an analog servo connected to the Futaba, it would still be working but the Spektrum would have stopped.
Very disingenuous guys!
RCModelReviews 1 year ago 4
@RCModelReviews I can confirm that this test is, at best, misleading.
Don't get me wrong: Futaba has messed up with the temperature issue (which they fixed, but still!) and they're too pricey and have no telemetry - but many Futaba receivers work even below 3.0V
@Horizon: Results may vary of course - but the assertions made in your test are factually incorrect. The receiver light was still on. Retry with an analog servo. Or pull this video, because it's embarassing.
blackmuzzle 1 year ago
@RCModelReviews i cant agree more i have been a futaba user for 5 years and im only 16 and i have never had a lockout even when on my electric i can run the lipo to the point where the motor wont turn and the spectrum would just completly shut off. I can give a list of people whos spectrum systems have failed. its marmite you love it or hate it.
FlyHighRC386 1 year ago
@FlyHighRC386 I've published an article about this video on the RCModelReviews website and invited people to discuss it in my forums. It's also gotten a mention in my latest weekly-news YouTube video. It will be interesting to see what the feedback is.
RCModelReviews 1 year ago
i got the futaba 10c about 5 months ago and its probably the best radio ive ever used, love it! :)
yak5408 1 year ago
I dont see any bad post for futaba on their infomercals I wonder why their is a 10c radio at my local hobby town thats been their for a year but wont sell but them spek sure do fly off the shelf I am going to say it again BNF is kicking futabas ass.
jammyhires 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Nice review! Just one question, TX is using two channels but what about RX without small satelite? E.g. AR500 full range RX without sattelite... i'm not sure about this case. Do you know if those RX without sattelite are able "reading-using" signal from both channels? Or only one channel is used ?
parnican 1 year ago
good afternoon, immediataly after this video, i went straight to my dx5e spektrum radio and reciever in my plane and tested the brown out recovery. it wasnt even near as fast as this video showed. the recievers in this vid could have had 3 or 4 brown outs and recoverys in the time mine took to recover alone. any help?
beechcraft12 1 year ago
@beechcraft12 Your ar500 likely has the old version of quick connect, they recommend sending them in to spektrum to get upgraded
vanepico 1 year ago
I would like to see a more clarity in what we are comparing. What 7 channel RX is it? We know there is only one Futaba 6 channel RX which does not have the performance of their 6 and higher channel RX's. So this would be more meaningful if he was comparing the basic 6 channel6100 Spectrum RX to this basic 6 channel Futaba RX - apples to apples.
KarayanDesdemona 2 years ago
Comment removed
Raptor03042 1 year ago
Comment removed
Raptor03042 1 year ago
I own both brands and both works OK. But the Model Match on my Spektrum has saved me several times already from possible crashes caused by using the wrong model memory.
2SLipo 2 years ago
This is a very good test concerning low power issues.
Since I am starting to get in to larger Heli's I would like to see a similar test showing how the two systems compare involving the electrostatic discharge the larger Heli's and even some 450 sized Heli's have. ESD is a much bigger concern for me than low power issues.
worldsails2000 2 years ago
try the 9503 and the 8fg that will be better
etocstacks 2 years ago
Great honest report. I really love that you do not talk bad about other products that are great as well, but rather concentrate on showing that online opinions are plain wrong. Thanks for such a great response to online rumors. Keep up the good work.
florianuhlemann 2 years ago
i look at it this way both are both fantastic Radio systems, but i use the spectrum DX7. but for some people low voltage is not an issue bc im running 8.4 volts on all my stuff. and who runs 3 volts on anything these days so give spectrum a brake about if its getting a valid signal at 3 volts NO one i know runs anything below 5volts
Stunts08 2 years ago
@Stunts08 how do you run that much voltage on your rc gear ?
ThePlaneboys 2 years ago
on all my helis i have JR8717 on the cyclic and the spartan Gyro which can take 8.4 volts easy, and a 5.2 volt regulator going to the JR8900G and the AR 7600
Stunts08 2 years ago
the 8717s are the best servo i have ever used, i have crashed my beater set over 100 times since i got them and i have not once stripped out a gear, when the tail boom was forced all the way up to the receiver mount the 8717s were still functioning perfectly
Stunts08 2 years ago
i love how you butthurt futaba guys are trying to be professional and explain why spektrum cheated, but in the end it's all gibberish...good try, bros :D
trxspirit 2 years ago
Simply all this video did was prove that Futaba Fasst simply sucks! :)
SpeedStick3D 2 years ago
Is Futaba history now ? I think so.
kenthetuner 2 years ago
Good job using an old discontinued Futaba receiver.
Also, it seems to me that the servos are the ones reaching insufficient voltage. You'll notice that the Futaba receiver LED is still on and green, meaning that it's still connected to the transmitter.
Even that older discontinued Futaba receiver works as low as 2.6 volts. Can you say that about the Spektrum receiver?
I think the title Technical Spin Director would be more accurate...
Raptor03042 2 years ago
You guys are funny. I'd be concerned that Spektrum is purposefully misrepresenting their system if I was a Spektrum radio user.
Both Futaba and Spektrum make quality radios and in the end, I don't care what brand of radio you use. I guess you guys don't either, not because of how capable they are, but rather because it's just easier to follow along in blissful ignorance.
Raptor03042 2 years ago
Not only that, but that specific Futaba R606FS receiver was discontinued significantly before this video was posted, and that same Futaba receiver has been tested down to 2.6 volts. Look how its light stays green meaning it's still connect @2:35 even though they forced the Spektrum receiver into a brownout. It's the servos that are reaching insufficient voltage at 3 volts, not the receivers...
The replacement for the R606FS is the R617FS and it connects back up much quicker.
Raptor03042 1 year ago
I just noticed, that Spektrum's video nicely shows how their RX quits at a higher voltage than the Fasst RX:
It is clear that the servos stop responding at the same level, as they are identical. But that does not mean, that the RXes stopped delivering a valid signal.
Just look exactly at 2m25s at the LEDs of both systems: At 3V, the Spektrum LED goes out, whereas the Fasst LED is still green, meaning that the RX is still fuctioning, and Spektrum is not.
Extremflug 2 years ago
You're correct!
This proves it doesnt matter what system you choose. They are both good enough to hang in there until the digital servos quit working.
Just choose the one you like best people and stop the brandwars!!!
kassero 2 years ago
Very cool. Thanks for doing the video.
MaxxPainII 2 years ago
Excellent - I did a similar video a year or so back - but yours is much more professionaly done.
Mine is called "Simulating Spektrum Brown Outs"here, on you tube. GCS Hawkey.
Again...nice one HH :-)
gcshawkey 2 years ago
Why not compare to other brands? Airtronics has a damn good system, that is VERY underrated.
GliderPilotRR 2 years ago
glad to see you fixed it. the original spektrum most certainly did not work like that. I wish that spektrum and horizon would get back all the original receivers which restarted after a brown out. Too many dangerous systems out there,
dragoonpvw 2 years ago
Hi if any 1 can help me i just bought a dx3s system for my baja 5b put in with new intellect batty 6.v fully changed with fully charged receiver batts range is so bad cant even go half way on foot ball field not a power line in sight had 2 savages with fm work as far as the eye can see all hooked up and bound but fail safe is all ways kicking in at such a short distance it not even worth using please help would it be magneto in baja making range so short please help
bronson4216 2 years ago
Hi, and thanks for the video.
Good to know.
2-Questions: 1. You mentioned switch bounce as a possibility to cause brownout. This type of intermittent is much shorter time than you show on the video (> 1 sec.). Are the results the same, (Spektrum faster) if you break and make the connection quickly??
2. Is there any difference in this test using different servos?
EXAMPLE:If these were digital servos would analogs stop at the same voltage?
Thanks again,
bnrusso 2 years ago
A FASST reconect is always slower is the way to make a FASST non adaptiv reconect (a FASST RX know not the actual TX channel).
After a FASST RX lost the conect it's slow down the hopping sequence and wait that the TX overtake it and then maybe reconect (if the channel not occupied, in harsh HF environment that is until the cows come home). FASST reconect is significant slower as a Spektrum quick reconect (the Spektrum RX known always the last two channel).
KKM57P 2 years ago
I got an e-mail saying that your note was a reply to my questions. Thanks, but I agree that the video clearly shows that the Spektrum re-connect works faster. You made it clearer why FASST takes longer. I was hoping to get an answer to my questions.
bnrusso 2 years ago
Good stuff... I've never had a problem with Spektrum yet using the DX7 and Ar6100's / AR7000. For over a year and a half. Hek, I even ran an AR6100 with only 1 antenna on my Trex 450 for over a month also ! Lol...
JMICHAELSMITH01 2 years ago
Great video I was asked about this and did not have a good Answer! I will link to this video for people to see your test results.
tallguysd 2 years ago
Its fustrating that its hard to view the embedded blinking recievers within the model.
Great vid
Mark1Spitfire 2 years ago
That spectrum test made me laugh so much! It is hilarious!
AND completely flawed!
Who said it is not the same servo model that stalls at 3V? You can clearly see that the Futaba receiver still has the light on when the Spectrum shuts off.
If were a Spectrum customer I would be really worried about trying to be mislead by this video!
And the guy calls himself technical director. Ha, ha...
jackfmail 2 years ago
Ha ha ha yourself futaba fanboy! clearly the spektrum is superior system....you are not fooling anybody. I dont know anybody with a futaba. all spektrum here
newbflyer101 2 years ago
Comment removed
NETWizzJbirk 2 years ago
It is simple. When the power is restored, the Spektrum servo comes back to life first.
If the Futaba receiver did not brown-out, its directly connected servo would be back instantly; since, no re-link would be necessary if it were a matter of stalled servos.
Your theory about Servo Stall voltages is busted.
NETWizzJbirk 2 years ago
Comment removed
SumoAnnoy 2 years ago
i am a spektrum/jr user and i confirm everything... no worries my friend! Stop talking without having the knowledge... that just makes you a troll.
klinb 2 years ago
@jackfmai
the spektrum light is still on as well just very dim.... look closer.
JohnBohnam223 2 years ago
@jackfmail
Your brain is completely flawed. Who cares about lights on or off?? The only thing that matters is what works, and what recovers.
"Hey I just crashed my FASST system, but my lights are still on so I'm happy......"
scv405 2 years ago
You miss the point the flashing light is a warning that power failed and you need to check out your system!
tanbeam2410 2 years ago
interesting video... maybe you could do the same tests but with some load on the servos...
northcarolinadan 2 years ago
Brownout will happen anytime the receiver sees a voltage less than 3.5V. Can be caused by either a weak 4.8V receiver pack or an overloaded BEC in a speed control.
sprint11x 2 years ago
Excellent video. Love it my Spektrum systems!
pheralcat 2 years ago
Thanks for the video, very well done.
I have a question, how come sometimes when I connect with a fresh battery, everything is working (Servos/motor) but both receivers are blinking, i diconnect the battery and place another fresh one, it works fine, i'll move to another location, and the first battery I tried that didn't work earlier, now works fine and both receivers bind normally. Again, thanks for the video :-)
Skydive4ever 2 years ago
Great video and i'm glad you have made this as i have read on a few forums about futaba is meant to be better than spektrum ;-) so how do we go about finding the cause of the brown out in the first place??? 5*
startazz 2 years ago