Spektrum DX5 Rugged

[WHITE-TRASH]

Originally Posted by mewalsh100

Laughing at how a lanyard loop is such a big deal. I used a lanyard from the trade-shows I have to do for work, a grommet washer and existing screw hole on the DX4C. Problem solved in about 1 minute.

You'd think such a trivial thing would be included on all radios but noooooo...

[Voodoobrew]

Originally Posted by Chris-NL

It states “compatible with all aircraft radios”... so I’m curious if it”ll work because receiver cost is what’s making me doubt about the DX5 Rugged.

Oh I read it a Spektrum and "JR Aircraft" radios
Not "spektrum and Jr" aircraft radios.
If that makes sense, but you might be right, the Dx5c, dx5 pro, and this dx5 rugged are surface radios.

[rockhugger]

Originally Posted by WHITE-TRASH

You'd think such a trivial thing would be included on all radios but noooooo...

Honestly I'd prefer to have a holster on my hip, but whatever. I don't think we will ever get to that level of engineering for radios.




My remedy for lack of holster is that I may try using a belt clip from a free tape measure I got at Harbor Freight. If I need two hands I can just clip it to my belt and out of the way.

[svt923]

Look what showed up today!



And before any of that lame “seeing how it feels and checking the build quality” crap, I started hacking on it.



Actually, very little hacking was needed to fit this 2s LiFe pack from my Futaba 4PV. Just needed to cut the leads off the AA holder and crimp on a male servo connector. Unlike old Spektrum radios, there is some good space in there for a battery pack, about 80mm x 50mm x 20mm from my measurements.



I’ll form thoughts on the radio later but at least now it has a battery that fits the whole “ultimate adventure radio” thing.

[JatoTheRipper]

Why didn't they offer that, at least as an option, from the factory? Nice mod. Looks like a nice radio.

[roadrashracing]

I bought one today, not sure if I am going to keep it. I did not see anything to help in the water part of it. I found the rear buttons not the best to use, I still like the click wheel.

Sent from my SM-G920R6 using Tapatalk

[svt923]

If anyone was wondering, the new 5 channel receivers are seriously tiny.

[roadrashracing]

And not waterproof, you think they would have left the waterproof receiver.

[Voodoobrew]

Originally Posted by roadrashracing

And not waterproof, you think they would have left the waterproof receiver.

LOL at a setup that covers the driver from getting wet and not the car.

[JatoTheRipper]

Originally Posted by roadrashracing

And not waterproof, you think they would have left the waterproof receiver.

We have these things called receiver boxes that are waterproof. I'm fine with regular receivers. Including a waterproof receiver would have increased the price.

[brimdogg]

Originally Posted by Voodoobrew

LOL at a setup that covers the driver from getting wet and not the car.

I'd take the savings, and just conformal coat it myself.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[svt923]

Originally Posted by brimdogg

I'd take the savings, and just conformal coat it myself.

Exactly.

I would rather the manufacturer put in work making the receivers smaller and lighter than waterproof. It is easy enough to take care of the waterproof part at home, not so much on the make it smaller part.

[Voodoobrew]

Originally Posted by brimdogg

I'd take the savings, and just conformal coat it myself.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

What savings? The previous line of recievers was waterproof and the same price, they traded waterproofing for a bind button. I'm going to use that bind button once or twice ever. I want the waterproofing all the time.

[Col_Sanders]

A backlight would have been a good thing to have. Not sure why they left that out on something that's pretty much targeted at scalers. How is the weight? That's one knock I have against my DX5R. Feels like a brick compared to my 4PLS.

[brimdogg]

Originally Posted by Col_Sanders

A backlight would have been a good thing to have. Not sure why they left that out on something that's pretty much targeted at scalers. How is the weight? That's one knock I have against my DX5R. Feels like a brick compared to my 4PLS.

I checked one out at my local Hobbytown, it seems similar in weight to the DX5C, definitely seemed lighter than my DX5R.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[svt923]

Originally Posted by Col_Sanders

A backlight would have been a good thing to have. Not sure why they left that out on something that's pretty much targeted at scalers. How is the weight? That's one knock I have against my DX5R. Feels like a brick compared to my 4PLS.

My scale says the DX5 Rugged with a 2s LiFe battery is about 2oz heavier than my 4PV with no battery. In the hand, they feel about the same with the Futaba feeling more top heavy while the Spektrum feels more bottom weighted.

[soze]

Looks nice. If I had less trucks and no radio... I'd probably consider it, but as it is... I'm not ready to swap over my whole investment. Doing that for me would be like swapping from systems (lenses and all) from Canon to Nikon and vice versa for DSLR owners.

[WHITE-TRASH]

Originally Posted by Voodoobrew

What savings? The previous line of recievers was waterproof and the same price, they traded waterproofing for a bind button. I'm going to use that bind button once or twice ever. I want the waterproofing all the time.

For sure. Why have a waterproof radio when it is far more likely the receiver needs to be waterproof?

[roadrashracing]

As fast as I got it, it's gone. Traded it for an axial kit.

Sent from my SM-G920R6 using Tapatalk

[durok]

Originally Posted by WHITE-TRASH

For sure. Why have a waterproof radio when it is far more likely the receiver needs to be waterproof?

BOTH should be ideally waterproof, but either waterproofing the receiver yourself or putting it in a waterproof box is far less hassle than driving with a friggin' bag over your radio.

But....

I really don't care that much, either way.

It would be fun to occasionally drive in a downpour but realistically I head home when it rains.

And I don't take my rigs in water, mostly because I hate cleaning them up - unless it's just blasting them with air... and the water hazards around here are seriously germ-ridden.

However, I am jonesing for a TRX-4 Defender, and it may be the one rig of mine that gets muddy - and I suppose I will try to do something about protecting a radio tx (and rx if needed) from water eventually.

I'd somewhat rather another company put out a waterproof radio, though - not really sure why, but I've never been into Spektrum as a brand.

I REALLY want the similar concept applied to the new FlySky Nomadio.