New Spektrum DX18 - WOW!

[Sambonator]

Surprised there's no discussion about this brand new transmitter from Spektrum.

The new Spektrum DX18! This thing looks crazy awesome!
http://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/D...8000&view=test


I want it!! Relatively inexpensive at $799, compared to JR and Futaba's top-end radios.

But still double the cost of a DX8 setup I've been thinking about getting... hmmm....

Thoughts?

Sam

[BurritoSnake]

I really like the look other then that... it doesn't appear to be a huge step up from a dx8(maybe dx7?) like from the dx6i is to a dx7 or dx8... and double or even possibly triple the price of a dx8, I would still choose my dx8 again. But then again I haven't fully used my dx8 yet.

[jflowers84]

I wonder what is going to happen to JR now that Spektrum has entered the high channel market and surpassed what JR has to offer. Plus Spektrum has released 2 (maybe 3 I can not remember when the 10t came out) sense the last new JR radio,

[Inverse]

Oh very nice indeed.

[colcha]

The new DX18 has some nice features:

1. Durable Dual Diversity Antenna - According to Spektrum, "Essentially two antennas in one, it consists of vertical and horizontal arrays mounted perpendicular to each other for superior protection from signal fades. The horizontal array is housed in the durable carrying grip on the back." I wonder whether this is a quiet admission that there was a problem that needed to be fixed.
2. X-Plus - Looks like Spektrum's answer to Futaba's S-Bus system.
3. 7 point pitch / throttle / tail curves - a welcome upgrade over the DX8's 5 point curves

For me, I already have a DX8 and there does not appear to be a particularly compelling reason to upgrade. Even if I were tempted to upgrade, given Spektrum's recent track record, I would be reluctant to purchase v1.0 of a new radio...

[bronicabill]

Of COURSE they announce something like this barely more than a WEEK after I invest in a new DX8 system!!! I WILL be getting one of these ASAP, but at least I can give them time to sort out any bugs in release 1.0 before I jump on the bandwagon!

[Inverse]

Originally Posted by colcha

[*]X-Plus - Looks like Spektrum's answer to Futaba's S-Bus system.

No, sats are the"equivalent" of S-Bus I guess.
X-plus is the channel expander to take you from 9 to 18 channels.
http://www.spektrumrc.com/DSM/Technology/XPlus.aspx

[desertstalker]

Originally Posted by jflowers84

I wonder what is going to happen to JR now that Spektrum has entered the high channel market and surpassed what JR has to offer. Plus Spektrum has released 2 (maybe 3 I can not remember when the 10t came out) sense the last new JR radio,

AFAIK JR is not competing in the US any more, they are not making new DSM radios (using DMSS instead) and I dont think you can get the new radios in the US easily any more.

Can you get the XG8 in the US?

Looks like a nice radio for the plank folks, not sure what it has for helis that a DX8 wont do?

[jflowers84]

Originally Posted by desertstalker

AFAIK JR is not competing in the US any more, they are not making new DSM radios (using DMSS instead) and I dont think you can get the new radios in the US easily any more.

Can you get the XG8 in the US?

Looks like a nice radio for the plank folks, not sure what it has for helis that a DX8 wont do?

I hope this is not true, I love my 11x radio. I upgraded from a DX7 and have not looked back. I was always under the impression that the JR where a better made radio. I guess times are a changing.

[JoeW]

I like the screen, much more information than you can get on the DX8, could be very useful if you can some telemetry info up there along with the trims and timers displays.

7 point curves... cool.

I even saw one description that hinted at 4 flight modes, but the shots at spektrumrc don't show the switches so it's hard to confirm (or deny)

Those little improvements, plus the big plus of the dual diversity antenna make the features look attractive, even if you weren't going to use 10 extra channels... I'd strongly consider it if I was purchasing a radio this year.

If we see a radio only bundle (no Rx or telem) in the $600-$699 range I'd consider it.

[BaconRaygun]

Eh.... for the price, I'm goin with an 11X.

[OnTheSnap]

Drooling over this one. The software and hardware (including the screen) is based off the dx10t which is also 18 channels with xplus.

The dx10t is shipping now, and this probably has a few months of incubation left. So it's really a version 2 platform with a new case IMO.

I love the dual antenna and phat screen. Those are big items for me. I'll never consume more than 8 channels though.

[Sambonator]

Got word from Horizon Hobby...

They're anticipating a May 2012 release for this radio, but may change since this was a very early announcement on this new product.

The announced $799 price is for radio and receiver only, no telemetry module, again, subject to change.

Dang it do I stick with my DX6i until at least May? Hmmm well I guess it does everything for me right now (less telemetry)...

[350Z_Al]

And I just bought a 12X last weekend.....

Oh well, I'll have to check this out once my LHS gets them... It's only $800, not bad!

Originally Posted by Vicovaludemero

Eh.... for the price, I'm goin with an 11X.

The 11x is a nice, functional radio, I just couldn't get over the looks, and I liked the gimball feel of the 12X much better.. Actually, side by side I liked the 9503's gimball's better than the 11x.

[BaconRaygun]

Originally Posted by 350Z_Al

And I just bought a 12X last weekend.....

Oh well, I'll have to check this out once my LHS gets them... It's only $800, not bad!



The 11x is a nice, functional radio, I just couldn't get over the looks, and I liked the gimball feel of the 12X much better.. Actually, side by side I liked the 9503's gimball's better than the 11x.

The 12x is a bit out of my price range...

Actually... I'm still up in the air between the 11x and the 9503, and I too had a gripe with the way the 11x looked till I saw it in person... it instantly grew on me, but still, I see how some may not like the looks.

Nothing against Spektrum... I fly a DX7 and love it. I just like the feel of the JR transmitters more.... but I will reserve judgment till I actually hold one of these DX18's in my hands.

[350Z_Al]

Originally Posted by Vicovaludemero

The 12x is a bit out of my price range...

Actually... I'm still up in the air between the 11x and the 9503, and I too had a gripe with the way the 11x looked till I saw it in person... it instantly grew on me, but still, I see how some may not like the looks.

Nothing against Spektrum... I fly a DX7 and love it. I just like the feel of the JR transmitters more.... but I will reserve judgment till I actually hold one of these DX18's in my hands.

I had a DX8.. I wanted an upgrade, I played with a 9503, 11x and 12x, I loved the 9503, the 11X didn't feel as good in my hands, and I didn't like the look. I had a hard time justifying the 12X, but I figured knowing the way I am if I bought the 9503, I would just end up wanting to upgrade again in 6 months and probably would have bought the 12x then.

I figured I'd save myself the cost of the 9503 and just get the 12X to begin with. :p

[khymlawrence]

Hitec again is getting lazy...

[Seeya]

Originally Posted by 350Z_Al

I figured I'd save myself the cost of the 9503 and just get the 12X to begin with. :p

Sounds familiar... I think I know someone like that...oh, wait...

I'm very happy with my 12x and although the DX18 sounds pretty cool, personally I'm not sure that I feel the need to upgrade.

To the OP, if I didn't have a 12x, I'd certainly give the DX18 a very hard look at that price point....

[jflowers84]

Was at my club meeting last night and we had a guest speaker form Horizon. He mentioned an interesting spec on the DX18. Even thou all 18 channels are fully proportional, channels 11 to 18 are at a lower resolution, I think he said 512, as where 1 to 10 are at 2048.

So he was recommending that channels 11 - 18 not to be used for flight surfaces with the exception of flaps and possibly throttle if you did not need precise throttle control.

[OnTheSnap]

Originally Posted by jflowers84

Was at my club meeting last night and we had a guest speaker form Horizon. He mentioned an interesting spec on the DX18. Even thou all 18 channels are fully proportional, channels 11 to 18 are at a lower resolution, I think he said 512, as where 1 to 10 are at 2048.

So he was recommending that channels 11 - 18 not to be used for flight surfaces with the exception of flaps and possibly throttle if you did not need precise throttle control.

Right, this is what "xplus" means. Low res bonus channels for tow hooks, bomb doors etc.

The dx10t also has the same number of channels as the dx18. But 8 are xplus like the dx18.