Spektrum DXs Is Not As Good As I Thought

bigdano711 · Feb 8, 2022

Bought it April 10, 2021 and it took a crap on me today, February 7, 2022. Didn't even last 10 months.

Thankfully, I discovered it before I took off. While trying to taxi, I lost control when the rudder went full lock to the left on just slight input. Also, it felt like 2 clicks of throttle was near half. When I went to recover my plane from the side of the road, I could hear the rudder servo chattering away, like the AS3X had kicked in hard, but only on the rudder. Decided not to fly and brought it home to troubleshoot.

Tried new servo, same issue. Tried new receiver, same issue. Tried updating the DXs to the latest fimware, same issue. Tried re-binding, selecting different profile, going to older version of firmware, same issue. Finally, tried my YEARS old DXe that came with the plane, works fine.

Anyone ever hear of a transmitter getting goofy like that on only one channel?

Paracodespoder · Feb 8, 2022

Never in my experience, any thoughts on if water could have gotten in and shorted something out? Much flying in snowy or rainy weather lately?
I really have no clue if that would do it or not, maybe a faulty pot?

bigdano711 · Feb 8, 2022

I do put it on the passenger side floorboard, on it's back, but never when it's wet enough to seep into the internals. Generally, I take pretty good care of my stuff. The DXe has seen more abuse.

Paracodespoder · Feb 8, 2022

I’ve got a dxe as well, a simplified version I believe. Horizon hobby cuts down on the features in the tx in rtf planes, so it’s missing a few things and can’t be connected to the programming software for it

.
Somehow at some point the trim buttons quit working properly too, they still work you just have to hold them for about 3 seconds for a single click of trim.

Musdang · Feb 8, 2022

bigdano711 said:
Bought it April 10, 2021 and it took a crap on me today, February 7, 2022. Didn't even last 10 months.

Thankfully, I discovered it before I took off. While trying to taxi, I lost control when the rudder went full lock to the left on just slight input. Also, it felt like 2 clicks of throttle was near half. When I went to recover my plane from the side of the road, I could hear the rudder servo chattering away, like the AS3X had kicked in hard, but only on the rudder. Decided not to fly and brought it home to troubleshoot.

Tried new servo, same issue. Tried new receiver, same issue. Tried updating the DXs to the latest fimware, same issue. Tried re-binding, selecting different profile, going to older version of firmware, same issue. Finally, tried my YEARS old DXe that came with the plane, works fine.

Anyone ever hear of a transmitter getting goofy like that on only one channel?

I have both and have never had this issue (I haven’t used them much tho). Do you have a different receiver? I know you tried it with the dxe but maybe it’s just combo. It shouldn’t be but I guess you could try it. If your wanting to upgrade, I would recommend a DX6e or a used dx8 or 6. You could also get the radiomaster tx16s. Ft recommends it and I’ve heard some good things about it. I think I’m gonna myself one ina bit.

Taildragger · Feb 8, 2022

bigdano711 said:
Bought it April 10, 2021 and it took a crap on me today, February 7, 2022. Didn't even last 10 months.

Thankfully, I discovered it before I took off. While trying to taxi, I lost control when the rudder went full lock to the left on just slight input. Also, it felt like 2 clicks of throttle was near half. When I went to recover my plane from the side of the road, I could hear the rudder servo chattering away, like the AS3X had kicked in hard, but only on the rudder. Decided not to fly and brought it home to troubleshoot.

Tried new servo, same issue. Tried new receiver, same issue. Tried updating the DXs to the latest fimware, same issue. Tried re-binding, selecting different profile, going to older version of firmware, same issue. Finally, tried my YEARS old DXe that came with the plane, works fine.

Anyone ever hear of a transmitter getting goofy like that on only one channel?

Mine right out of the box had two issues:
1: throttle all the way down was 1/2 throttle
2: rudder holds full left unless given right input
these are not trim issues btw, I think it's a faulty potentiometer in the gimbal

Taildragger · Feb 8, 2022

And yes, my DXe has worked far better so far

bigdano711 · Feb 8, 2022

Paracodespoder said:
I’ve got a dxe as well, a simplified version I believe. Horizon hobby cuts down on the features in the tx in rtf planes, so it’s missing a few things and can’t be connected to the programming software for it .
Somehow at some point the trim buttons quit working properly too, they still work you just have to hold them for about 3 seconds for a single click of trim.

I assumed the DXs would have the same features as the DXe with one more channel. Found out I was wrong the hard way yesterday. They provide preset profiles, 4 airplane (2 regular and 2 elevon) and one heli. All you can do with the programming software is update the firmware. You can NOT save model memory on a phone like you can with the DXe.

It's games like this that i cannot stand. Spektrum has definitely lost a customer and Horizon Hobby is on notice. We'll see what they do when I send it in.

Taildragger · Feb 8, 2022

bigdano711 said:
I assumed the DXs would have the same features as the DXe with one more channel. Found out I was wrong the hard way yesterday. They provide preset profiles, 4 airplane (2 regular and 2 elevon) and one heli. All you can do with the programming software is update the firmware. You can NOT save model memory on a phone like you can with the DXe.

It's games like this that i cannot stand. Spektrum has definitely lost a customer and Horizon Hobby is on notice. We'll see what they do when I send it in.

Can you detail the process, I'm due to send it in now before it hits the 1 year warranty

bigdano711 · Feb 8, 2022

You have to go to Horizon Hobby website, log in and scroll to the bottom. Look for a link called "Product Repair" under the "Support" section and jump through the hoops.

bigdano711 · Feb 8, 2022

Just ordered a Radiolink T8FB.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DPK9Q9X/?tag=lstir-20

It does everything that I thought the DXs did and has 8 channels. Tx and Rx for $50??? Wow!! I might just throw that DXs where it belongs and never look back.

I know it is not compatible with my DSMX Spektrum receivers, and that sucks, but I still have the DXe to mess with those. If this cheap entry holds tough, I'll definitely spend the $200 for the super bad version.

Tench745 · Feb 8, 2022

All radios without hall-effect gimbals will eventually need the potentiometers in the gimbals cleaned. Typically when they start getting dirty you will have either jittery servo action, and/or begin to lose the extreme throws of your controls. If you get some electronics cleaner spray you can easily and cheaply clean them yourself and see if it makes a difference.

Ligbaer · Feb 8, 2022

bigdano711 said:
Just ordered a Radiolink T8FB.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DPK9Q9X/?tag=lstir-20

It does everything that I thought the DXs did and has 8 channels. Tx and Rx for $50??? Wow!! I might just throw that DXs where it belongs and never look back.

I know it is not compatible with my DSMX Spektrum receivers, and that sucks, but I still have the DXe to mess with those. If this cheap entry holds tough, I'll definitely spend the $200 for the super bad version.

Which is the super bad version?
the tx16s?

Musdang · Feb 8, 2022

Ligbaer said:
Which is the super bad version?
the tx16s?

I think radiomaster and radiolink are two different companies. I might be wrong though.

Ligbaer · Feb 8, 2022

Musdang said:
I think radiomaster and radiolink are two different companies. I might be wrong though.

I know they are 2 different companies but same business model and stuff

bigdano711 · Feb 8, 2022

Ligbaer said:
Which is the super bad version?
the tx16s?

I did get RadioMaster and RadioLink mixed up, but when I saw $50 and receive it on Friday, I pulled the trigger fast.

Not crazy about the color of the radio, but that color display is sick!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FPF2HQR/?tag=lstir-20

I might even go for the next one down:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VC3VJGM/?tag=lstir-20

bigdano711 · Feb 9, 2022

Tench745 said:
All radios without hall-effect gimbals will eventually need the potentiometers in the gimbals cleaned. Typically when they start getting dirty you will have either jittery servo action, and/or begin to lose the extreme throws of your controls. If you get some electronics cleaner spray you can easily and cheaply clean them yourself and see if it makes a difference.

Potentiometers...aka "pots", right? I've been inside the radio, but where should I direct the spray? Are they connected to the bottom of the gimbal? Just kinda shoot it all around?

Musdang · Feb 9, 2022

bigdano711 said:
Potentiometers...aka "pots", right? I've been inside the radio, but where should I direct the spray? Are they connected to the bottom of the gimbal? Just kinda shoot it all around?

Don’t know about where to spray, but yes, pots are a shortened name for potentiometers. When I first heard about it, I was like, then where’s the pans?!? Lol

Tench745 · Feb 9, 2022

bigdano711 said:
Potentiometers...aka "pots", right? I've been inside the radio, but where should I direct the spray? Are they connected to the bottom of the gimbal? Just kinda shoot it all around?

That's correct.
This seems to be a decent video showing where the pots are located and what you're aiming to accomplish.

Spektrum DXs Is Not As Good As I Thought

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