Spektrum Clitched "AGAIN"!!!

[brc358]

About a month ago, I posted some problems that I was having with my Spektrum system.
To make a long story short, I had the new system, with 7 receivers.
After the system clitched 3 times in 3 days<two different cars> I was so ticked off that I gave one receiver away at the track, sold two, and was in the process of selling the whole system and was going back to crystals.
I thought that because I had spent so much money on the system, I might as well sent it back to Horrizon Hobbies and see if they could find out what was wrong with it.
I sent back the modual, and four remaining receivers for "service,or repair".
About 3 weeks later it arrived back at my house with a note from Horrion Hobbies, that they had replaced all the antennas, and reprogramed the system with the new design.
I went ahead and reinstalled them in my four cars that I race anywhere from 5 to 6 days each week.
Everything seemed to be fine on the first 3 cars, but when I was warming up the fourth car on the track, the system clitched AGAIN!
Lucky that this time I was only warming up the tires, and was not on the throttle.
I pulled the car in, checked it out, and only broke a rear shock tower.
I guess my frustration was showing, because even though I was pretty much the only one on the track that morning, I was really cussing up a storm, and the guys in the tower were wondering what the hell happened.
Again, I make sure the batteries are topped off, antenna wires are properly routed, and the binding is done correctly.
This time it clitched on a different car than it originally had a problem with.
So today, I AGAIN, removed the Spektrum system, and have gone back to the crystals.
I promised a friend of mine he could use the system for a big race in two weeks, but after that, it is gone.
This time, I was lucky, but I am not going to push my luck with it anymore.

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

I am sorry you are still having problems with the system
I have used the receiver that I bought from you quite a few times with no problems at all. I am using the DX3 transmitter, and not a module unit, so maybe that is the difference. I also just run electrics, and have that reciever installed in an Associated B4 buggy.
My other receivers are installed in a Losi XXXT, and is being transfered from an Associated TC3 into a TC4. Again, I have yet to have any problems. I don't say any of this to rub it in, or dispute your problems, but to offer you info.
Again, sorry for your troubles!
Bob

[fanke19]

I had MAJOR glitching issues with my Spektrum system the first race of the year. I missed my main because of it...and I was pretty upset. Later on, it was brought to my attention that possibly the receiver battery was NOT completely 100% charged. Ok...whatever, so this weekend I was practicing and after about 45 minutes of on and off running the buggy, it glitches again. Both times I was lucky enough to get the car off the track with no damage...but it's very frustrating. I never had these problems with my 75 mhz FM system. I mean they would lightly glitch back and forth...but I never had a full on stuck throttle or steering servo. Stupid...just stupid. I don't have the money to ditch the Spektrum system and go back to FM...but I sure wish I could figure out what the heck.

Is this a Spektrum only issue...or are the guys with Nomadio's experiencing the same?

[brc358]

Hi Bob, good to hear from you. Glad your Spektrum is working right.
I sent mine back in, and it did it again.
Funny thing is, the whole month I used crystals, I did not have one problem.
I got lucky this time and it did not do to much damage. This was a complete different car also.
I pulled it back out again, and reinstalled the crystal system.
But, whatcha gonna do??

good to hear from you,
Bill

[RCRevolution]

where are these problems coming from? I have had spektrum going on a year now and I never had one glitch

[brc358]

It is really hard to say.
It originally clitched in two different cars.
I sent the whole system back, they reprogrammed it, and returned it to me.
This time, it clitched in a third car.
I have changed battery packs,rerouted the antennas,added the voltage capacitors,had the radio checked out from Airtronics themselves, everything anyone could think that "might" cause the problems.
Pretty much anything associated with the radio/receiver in all the cars has been checked out or changed.
I use the M11 radio, and I now know of at least 3 other drivers at the track that use the M11, that have had similar problems.

[chukb]

I was about to go buy a DX-3 today. Is this a rare problem or common? Spektrums do seem cheap to me for some reason.....

btw-what's a clitch? ;)

[brc358]

A glitch for lack of other ways to expain it, is interfence in the radio/receiver system that can either shut the system down, or cause your car to run away.The Spektrum has built in fail safes that usually work fairly well. The first 3 times my system glitched, the fail safes did not work, and caused some major damages to two of my cars. One of the cars was damaged so bad the cost to repair just the one car was close to $225.00. When the Spektrum system first came out last year, they were having these problems, but corrected it. I waited to buy my system until this was corrected, but still ran into the same situation on three different occassions. When the Spektrum system is working right, it really is a great system. I sent my back for repair, and was told that they had reprogramed it with the latest updates, but it still failed. There are a lot of drivers changing over to the Spektrum, and even though mine caused some major damage, I think it is rare that the systems fail.There are probably four or five drivers where I race that have had the same problems that have sinse gone back to the original crystal system. Overall, I still think it is a good system, but just not for me. Hope this answers your question.

[4DMNYC]

I've yet to expirience any problems with my Spektrum system. I've had it for about three months. A buddy of mine was having some issues, but once he figured out how to properly lock the transmitter and reciever he has been good to go.

[chukb]

A glitch for lack of other ways to expain it, is.........

I knew what a glitch was, I was asking what a clitch was :)

I just got back from teh hobby shop with my DX-3.

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

Bill,
I am curious. Are the racers that you know to be having problems with the Spektrum system using the DSX radios, or using module conversions for other radios? I know you mentioned you are using Airtronics, right? I am wondering if the problem seems confined to a conversion system, or is a problem in general with Spektrum.

[brc358]

Of the four or five drivers that had problems, at least three of us are using the M11 radio. I do know of one driver that had a problem with his DSX radio.
He did send his back in, and I dont think he has had any more problems with his.
I have heard that "most" of the problems that occur have been with the M11 radio.
Where I race my cars, he owner of the track and one of his employees had problems about three weeks after they started using the Spektrum with their M11, and they still will not try it again.
It is strange that when I treid using it again, the system glitched at the same corner of the track each time. The car was not more than 75 feet away from me, so I am sure it was not anything to do with losing a signal due to distance.
How is your system working Bob?

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

Bill,
So far, so good for me. The only glitching I am experiencing is driver related..... not equipment related. The RX I got from you I use every other weekend, and so far no problems. On RX I use every weekend. So far I am the only one using a 2.4 gig radio in either of the on-road and off-road clubs here.

[brc358]

Hi Bob,
Glad to hear it is working for you.
For the most part, everyone loves the Spektrum system where I race at.
So even though my system screwed up, and cost me quite a bit in repairs, I wish I could still use it.
But I am a little nervous evertime I put this new 1/8 scale down on the track when the Spektrum system is in it.
I might just keep it after my friend uses it for his race, and retry it at a later time.

Bill

[Racer Rob]

I love mine, haven't had a single hiccup. Wouldn't go with anything else even if they paid me. Not having to chase down clips, or worrying about someone being on my channel is great. Its one less thing to worry about, there's enough as it is when your racing.

[chilledoutuk]

i wonder brc358 have you tried the dx3 transmitter with your receivers or possibly a different controller and module?

I have a hitec pro car (sticks) that i am planning to get a spektrum for at some point has anyone tried this combination?

[Killerush]

I run a DX3 with RX in four of my cars and have only had one glitch. My Savage was a runaway and luckily it flipped before anything was damaged. Turns out it was a bad solder joint on the RX antenna. I re-soldered it and have had no problems. Not sure if this is a common problem, but it's worth checking out.

[LD3Furious]

I am having no problems with my Nomadio, now, anyway ( someone asked about this in an earlier post...not trying to start anything....).When I first bought it, there was a problem with the Tx. Scott @ Nomadio hooked me up with a new unit, no charge. When I first started using that, I had some minor issues, but once I updated the firmware, re-calibrated, and re-bound the Tx/Rx it has been great. The one remaining thing though, is that, according to Nomadio, the signals coming/going from both units are so strong that if they are close to each other, they sometimes cause glitching or going into failsafe. This makes pit adjustments a little difficult, but as long as they are at least 3 feet away from each other, it works great. As for other users, I only know of one other who is using it and Im pretty sure he is just as happy as I am.

[DerekB]

I've been running Spektrum probably longer than anybody besides the Losi guys. I've had a few issue, but not any more than I would with Xtals.

The newest stuff is awesome and I'm loving using that. If you're running gas or anything really you may want to plug in a capacitor to the RX since loaded up on servos it can bring the voltage too low and reboot the system. 5-cell users should be fine.

Also you have to make sure you set the failsafe when you bind, if you don't it will be where ever the default is and on some of my cars that was full throttle when I tested it.

Also remember the system is NOT glitch proof. You still can get interence from 2.4ghz systems running in the area. To date I've had maybe 2 problems in over a year of using.

And I've used it in M8/M11, Futaba, JR and the Spektrum radio.

[thedarkness]

Last weekend I was having problems with my spektrum system with a venom RX pack, Sometimes I would just lose all responce from the car(Usually when the truck was out of the direct line of sight), It didnt caos me any damage but it did cost me a few laps of racing for sure.I used to run more expensive rx packs(gp1100s) and never had a problem, so I will be going back to the $30 rx pack instead of the $12 rx pack.

[DerekB]

Actually the majority of "major glitching" we've had came back to RX packs that we're not soldered correctly. If you dare, take apart the pack and I pet the spot welds are not together or broken.