Futaba 3PM... opinions?

[olds97_lss]

Hey guys,

Just checking to see if anyone has a futaba radio, more specifically, this one 3PM
I'm in the market for a new setup and have read that FM is less prone to glitching. I don't want to spend a lot of $ (does anyone?), but I haven't ever dealt with anything Futaba yet. I had the JR xr2 AM and liked the radio, but it was pretty glitchy.

The reason I singled this one out is that it was one of 3 my LHS recommended. They have been pretty honorable as LHS's go with everything else. They have a Airtronics MX3 in stock, but he recommended this one over it since I need an additional receiver for my other truck. The receiver that will work with the Futaba is $35 cheaper than the receiver for the MX3.

I guess with either one I go with, it will be around $200 for the radio and 2 receivers, but if I get a third truck down the road, the receiver will be cheaper for the futaba.

Thanks for your opinions.

 

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

right now the 3pm is supposed to be fully computerized .. not requireing any crystals ... but the receiver is not released yet so they are selling the radio with the r133f receiver that requires a crystal ... i am sure the system will jump in price once they start to offer it with a computerized receiver ...

i have the 3pdf ... and i like it ... alot of good options on it ... better range than an am system and less interference ...

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

Novak sells a synth RX.

Did Futaba officially release their synth module now???? I thought it was the Eurpoean version.

 

[olds97_lss]

Originally posted by WsW-WYATT-EARP
right now the 3pm is supposed to be fully computerized .. not requireing any crystals ... but the receiver is not released yet so they are selling the radio with the r133f receiver that requires a crystal ... i am sure the system will jump in price once they start to offer it with a computerized receiver ...

i have the 3pdf ... and i like it ... alot of good options on it ... better range than an am system and less interference ...

Computerized yes, synthesized, no. It still requires crystals I believe. I think there was another model that they had available that was synthisized, but the took it off the market right away.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

Thats what I thought too.

Futaba hasnt been very forthcoming in their emails either. I have sent them NUMEROUS emails now and no response.

I dont get it.

 

[SkyMaxx]

They must know you and not like you...filthy American pig.

 

[rossb]

Originally posted by olds97_lss
The receiver that will work with the Futaba is $35 cheaper than the receiver for the MX3.

I am pretty sure you could use any FM receiver with either radio. Please correct me if I am wrong.

How about this one:

HFS03MM @ Hitech

HFS03MM @ Tower

Or this one with a built-in fail safe:

HIS03MK @ Hitech

HIS03MK @ Tower

Crystal:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPY05**&P=M

 

[olds97_lss]

Thanks for the info. The next obvious question is does anyone know if the HFS-03MM will definitely work with the MX3 ?

I'd hate to spend the money to found out I still need to dump $80 on the airtronics reciever. It would kind of defeat the purpose of trying to save some $ for bashing.

That would bring my total bill to about $150 instead of $200.

 

[olds97_lss]

I gave up on waiting. I know it was only three days, but if anyone had the combo, they would have posted by now.

My good LHS was willing to part with 2 mx-3 set with one servo, receiver, xmitter for $90 each. I bought 2. Now I have a backup xmitter if I ever break one. And they sell Trinity MHP 20% for $23 a gallon!...

My other sucky lhs just charged me $35 a month or so ago for the same fuel. And, they tried to charge me $140 for the orion wasp 18 that I bought off tower for $85. I don't think I'll be going back to that one anytime soon.

 

[rossb]

I haven't tried the combo yet but I do not see why the Hitech receiver would not work with an Airtronics transmitter. I do plan on trying it later this year.

 

[Lessen]

I can't wait to try out my 3pk, got it last week. Can'tuse ityet cuz my project is... well...still a project. I like the setup though, real easy to find what you want