DX6i - right for me? - any issues?

[Webbage]

I need a new radio set and I've been looking at 2.4Ghz ones.

I run only MTs and Crawlers, no planes, helis or the like. However I like the DX6i because it's got more channels than I can shake a stick at, and it's also a dual stick set.

See, I'd have a DX3, but I HATE trigger throttles. I have awkward shaped hands (long fingers are hell) and can never get the right grip on the trigger. I grew up using dual sticks. I like it that way.

No-one seems to do an affordable (by which I mean under 100GBP) dual stick, multi-channel set that I can see.

Are there any issues with the DX6i?

What's the deal with the charge jack? I have some 2200mAh NiMH AA cells I can use in it, can I hook it up to my Hyperion charger or do I need their wall wart? I don't think the UK versions ship with the NiMH batteries.

FWIW This is the one I was looking at:

http://robotbirds.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=85_122_198&products_id=2394

 

[CharliesTheMan]

You can use your AA cells and use the Hyperion charger and an adapter. Just keep the charge rate low, like around 1-2 amps, to prevent heat while in the radio.

I'm thinking of buying the radio, I just bought a cheap 4 channel stick radio, around $150 new, Futaba, to see if I like using a stick radio. I don't like my Spektrum DX3R though, so I may change from the DX6i that I've been looking at, back to a Futaba.

 

[Webbage]

Good Futaba 2.4GHz units are really expensive, I don't think I can justify the cost. I know they are good, I used an Attak-r when I was a kid.

 

[CharliesTheMan]

Nitro Joe, thanks for the information. The reason that he needs a radio like this is because there is a lot more to the crawlers than with a normal, say T-maxx, where you only have forward, reverse, left and right, and maybe a shift.

With these crawlers, He needs forwards and reverse, left and right, control of the dig feature which requires a 3 position switch, control of a winch and/or LED light kit. When he upgrades to a berg or super style crawler, he may be running two ESC's, and need to control them seperately and together, and mix them for front to rear drive ratio, or operate a dig function with a servo and micro switch.

I know he's not going to be using all of these features right now, but if he is like me, when you spend that much on a radio, you don't want to have to buy another one if you decide to build a super in 6 months and need more channels.

Brit, please know that I'm not trying to speak out of turn or anything like that, just offer up some information because some people don't realize how much goes into operating a crawler versus a race rig or basher.

 

[CharliesTheMan]

No when I said some people I wasn't referring to that at all. Please know that I wasn't trying to come off as insulting or anything else. Your help on this topic has been EXTREMELY helpful. It's just that before I got into crawling, I didn't know why people would want to use a stick radio for a truck. So now that I understand why, I was just shedding some light on the subject.

NitroJoe, I'm very sorry if I offended you or unslted you in any way, I REALLY didn't mean for it to come off like that at all. You've been lots of help for me with this issue and the aircraft section questions that I have. In fact, I"m patiently waiting on you to check out my thread in the radio section and look at that radio and see if you can offer any information for me.

 

[Webbage]

LOL, you know you are on a great forum where people trip over each other *apologising*, that's classic, but kinda reassuring

Anyhooooo... thanks for that information Joe, I appreciate it. I'll bear all that lot in mind. And as for having an odd sense of humour, then I'll drink to that, I'm a fairly warped specimen myself

I think the DX6i is probably overkill, I'll probably never use more than 4 channels but what having a 6 channel set gives me is the option to use some features on switches and some on sticks and to mix and match them as I like. Also the DX6i just seems to have a lot better features, like dual signal, more model memories, more customizable programming etc. Also, as I mentioned, I hate trigger/wheel sets because I'm used to sticks. I want a 2.4GHz set not a FM one so that cuts any Futaba sets out in my price bracket. The DX6i was the 'other' choice everyone seemed to be using at the Nats.