Flysky GT3C: First Look

[losikid]

Just received a proto GT3C, and it is an extremely nice radio comapred to the gt3b.

Unfortunately still no word when they are released to the public.

These claims are true of my radio, i'm unsure what the productions will be like.

So to start off with, the general fit and feel is good, it feels like a solid radio. Part of this is because it Flysky took ergonomics somewhat seriously. Also, the gt3b looked very cheep as well as felt that way, but the new gt3c has alot better appearance to it. It has nice sleek curvers and they ditched the chrome for a nice matte silver

Here's a picture right out of the packaging (i didn't get retail packaging, just wrapped up in bubble wrap)



The first noticeable thing, compared to a gt3b, when picking up the radio is how it fits the hand. My radio had 2 rubber hand grips included, one was labeled S and one was labeled L (small and large i suppose). It may be because i have small hands, but the S size felt more comfortable. It has more curvature for the palm and has a deeper pocket for my thumb to fit in. The rubber isn't a soft silicone like the spektrums, but it is softer than hard plastic and has a nice texture to it. Defiantly a nice addition





Continuing on with the handle, the buttons are alot easier to use. I'm unsure why at te moment, but i do know that the d/r is alot easier to use now because they radio has alot more clearance in that area for the thumb to bend and pull it back

The next area of interest is the steering wheel and its support column.

Flysky upgraded the hard rubber into a nice foam grip. But the most notable feature is that the power button is in the center of the wheel



And the rumors are true, the GT3C runs off a 1300mah custom 1s LiPO, which gives the radio a nice balance and makes it extremely light. It even comes comes with a charger, however i got like a European plug. After reading the manual though, it seems that it can be charged in the radio with a usb cable.












I mentioned a usb above, well the gt3c has a built in usb, which is intriguing. The manual says its just for charging though...also as you can see a area was added to clip on a neck strap







Now for the tear down


____


Ok, so i also did a basic tear down, i haven't really inspected anything yet.

First thing i did was pop off the power button. It apperas there is two screws and center push holding the wheel on




back side of the wheel, it has a massive mounting shaft...





Now, another interesting thing is that the wheel is not connected to the radio via wires, it has some gold fingers and pogo/spring pads. Best of all its connected with some very aggressive socket heads.







After that "awe" moment, i started to try and figure out how the top came off, and it appears not only has flysky improved the body, its nice underneath as well. Flysky has only two screws and two plastic latches/clibs holding the top on. The screws are on the far back hidden by little rubber inserts, and the plastic latches are similar to the gt3b, but alot more brittle and harder to unlatch (i broke one ) After taking its top off it was surprising to see that the whole main board was attached to it.

(rubber inserts are on far left, take note of the same crappy screen, but it doesn't have the blue tint)





The first thing i noticed was that the antenna is now not a problem when you open the radio, and it appears to me that it be alot easier to fix if it did get pulled off...later i also realized that the 2.4 module is built into the main board, i need to research and see if it still runs off ppm







Now i took alook at the main IC, it is indeed labeled the same as the ones in the gt3b (i took the picture before i scratched off the paint)



USB/power area



Interesting area, possibly for programming, but why so many holes?





I then pulled the top plastic off





and the pocket for all of it



This all i got for now, feel free to ask questions.

[losikid]

saved

[losikid]

one more should do it

[chicklet]

Thanks for posting this! Improvements look great! I love that they moved the power button. My 4 year old loves to push my GT3B power buttons all the time (chrome and sticks out like a sore thumb). Lipo battery is great...I hate all the batteries the B takes now. Neck strap is a nice touch too.

[dezfan]

Any word on price difference between the B and the C?

I saw them on evilbay listed for $89.00! If the price foes up that much, I think I'll keep my 3B.

[greggreg2011]

looks interesting......any info on 3 pos 3rd ch???? if your getting it to give them input....let me know how that power on the wheel works out........that doesnt seem like a very good idea to me.....

looks good,,,,,waiting for some info after you get to use it..

[Duuuuuuuude]

I guess the big question is: does it have a 3 pos third channel?

Also, that battery looks very similar to the one in my Sony camera...

[RivBlueNoma]

It doesnt look like the main body is made to support this but Ill ask anyways. Does it look like the wheel could be swapped to the other side like I can with the DX3R?

[losikid]

Originally Posted by dezfan

Any word on price difference between the B and the C?

I saw them on evilbay listed for $89.00! If the price foes up that much, I think I'll keep my 3B.

60 to 80 for the gt3c. other than price and firmware, it improves every ting on the gt3b in almost every aspect i think. I would never choose to run a gt3b over a gt3c if functionality is equivilant. (i'm still unsure on hacks)

[dezfan]

I'll be following this thread and see what you figure out.

[losikid]

Originally Posted by greggreg2011

looks interesting......any info on 3 pos 3rd ch???? if your getting it to give them input....let me know how that power on the wheel works out........that doesnt seem like a very good idea to me.....

looks good,,,,,waiting for some info after you get to use it..

no 3 pos 3rd channel, same functionality as gt3b, the manual looks almost identical, other than updated pics

No, i'm not giving input, i've just bugged abunch of people and managed to get one

The power button is better than the gt3b, as far as getting pushed
by accident...its abit strange

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

I guess the big question is: does it have a 3 pos third channel?

Also, that battery looks very similar to the one in my Sony camera...

nope, it'll have to have a fw upgrade

Originally Posted by RivBlueNoma

It doesnt look like the main body is made to support this but Ill ask anyways. Does it look like the wheel could be swapped to the other side like I can with the DX3R?

Possibly, with alot of fab work. Its not easy

[losikid]

Originally Posted by dezfan

I'll be following this thread and see what you figure out.

I'll be pulling out the multimeter and start tracking tracks here soon and see where everything goes. I'm betting its the same as the gt3b, so if it is i'll flash a modded 0.4.1 fw to it and see how it works

lol, how many people buy a brand new radio and tear into pieces within hours of taking it out of the box

[dezfan]

It the screen back lit?

[losikid]

Originally Posted by dezfan

It the screen back lit?

yes

[dezfan]

Awesome!

[Sydwall85]

I am guessing that most people who are reading this and the HACK thread!!!

Originally Posted by losikid

I'll be pulling out the multimeter and start tracking tracks here soon and see where everything goes. I'm betting its the same as the gt3b, so if it is i'll flash a modded 0.4.1 fw to it and see how it works

lol, how many people buy a brand new radio and tear into pieces within hours of taking it out of the box

[losikid]

well that 7 hole spot is not for flashing firmware, its actually on the other side by the stm8s. I tracked swim to it. The standard hack kit will work, but the pins will poke out. So i'm going to play with other options.

So the firmware is upgradable. But i'm still unsure on compatibility with gt3b fw.

I really like this radio, so i may have other plans for it as well, although i'd hate to develop it for this if the gt4 is better.

[sloppy]

looks pretty good.. I am not really digging the power on the wheel button..

[zodiaci]

Very nice indeed. I like the silver accents. Hopefully it can be reprogrammed as easy as the GT3B.
Thanks for sharing.

[losikid]

I think that 7 pin holes is for anoth rx module if the one in it burns up i guess, possibly to program the current built in module? I traced afew of them and they seem to be the same pins as the gt3b.

Right now i'm investigating the power circuitry, as its changed alot. I think the hardware is supported but i'm unsure. I should just flash the thing and see what happens, lol

Other than power, it seems the rotary encoder is different as well, its 24 clicks per 360* vs 30 clicks on the gt3b. I think this doesn't matter though.

Its kinda a pita to track traces and not damage the radio. I want to cut the lcd off so bad, but its not a fun soldering it back on.