Range distance

I have read MANY post by people that have glitching issues but it is usually with 20 feet or so or they have there antena too close to the ESC/Motor.

I am an airplane guy that just got into car racing. With a plane you do a range test around 50' or so with the antena down.

Is there a Range test with cars?

Approx how far is the effective range with a car controller?

I was getting about 75 to 100 feet with an AM radio so I bought an FM radio and get about the same range maybe 150 feet (with the antenna up).

On a side note I purchased a MX3S and it was glitchy at 20 feet so I sent it back and they retuned it and replaced some part and now get approx 150'.

How far does you setup go??

I forgot to mention this whole issue came up because when I am at the track there is a chain link fence and every time I get close to that it begins to get glitchy and I was told it was a range issue.

[Sylvester]

My spektrum can go about 1/4mile away without glitching, but after about 250' you cant see the truck!

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by Sylvester

My spektrum can go about 1/4mile away without glitching, but after about 250' you cant see the truck!

Ditto. Have the same radio (DX3) and the truck gets too far away before range becomes an issue.

[MetalMan]

I've had problems with my brushless stuff glitching, even when the the receiver/antenna are both on the opposite side (longitudinally) of the car from the speed control/motor. Whether it's interference from the speed control, bad crystals, a cut-down antenna wire, or interference from something else I'm not sure, but it isn't fun! There was a time when I could get about 100-150ft and at that point it would start glitching, but the range has been getting shorter for me.
If you can get 200ft., then that should be good.

Metal man. I think I have the same problem as you. Did you ever find out what the problem was?

This glitching problem is starting to get me burned out. I can't figure it out. I really think it is the ESC. I have tried EVERY option/remedy that has been discussed and even tons of my own ideas.

[Sylvester]

This may be a costly decision but maybe you could try a Dx3? It should run glitch free no doubt.

[MetalMan]

Originally Posted by fishmasterdan

Metal man. I think I have the same problem as you. Did you ever find out what the problem was?

This glitching problem is starting to get me burned out. I can't figure it out. I really think it is the ESC. I have tried EVERY option/remedy that has been discussed and even tons of my own ideas.

The last time I drove my Rustler I got about 30f-40ft of range, which was quite bad. When you have a car with a Feigao 540 12s, Mtroniks Genesis Truck, and 4s Lipo, you need a lot more than 60-80ft. total distance to get moving. It's possible that my glitching problem has to do with the motor, since the front bearing might have a problem and also because of how beaten up it is. Once I get the Mamba Max my range will hopefully be better, and I wouldn't be surprised if it will be.

Tomorrow I'm going to try a nitro truck of mine (that's right, MetalMan HAS had a nitro truck this whole time) with the same radio system from my Rustler and see how it does (I just hope it doesn't get stuck WOT!).

[Sylvester]

MetalMan! Shame on you! LOL Just kidding, what truck is it? If the mamba maxx doesnt fix the problem than i dont know what will.

[Mike.L]

but i dont get it? 1/16 scale trucks and mini buggies have the reciver litteraly beside the esc and there arent any problems even people running am and fm radios, and not using the dx3.

[Sylvester]

I think it has to do with the low draw of the esc's and motors. It doesnt create a big enough interference with the receiver so it works fine, in our trucks we have BIG batteries , big motors, high amp drawing escs so it easily sets off the radio, but than again not everyone has radio problems, my spektrum receiver is almost under my motor wires and no problems! (knock on wood)

[SpEEdyBL]

Sometimes it just depends where you are running. Right outside my house, range is about 100-150 feet with a cheapy am radio, but at a wide parking lot, 300 feet doesn't seem to be a problem.

[BrianG]

Interference can be caused by many things. Certainly high current wires, especially the motor wires which carry AC, can inductively "transmit" whatever PWM frequency the ESC outputs. The higher the current, the more interference possible. AM radios are most susceptible to this since the actual receiver commands are modulated on top of the carrier (AM) frequency, even though the radio frequency is usually substantially higher than the noise frequency (there are things like harmonics that come into play). FM is a little better for this due to the modulation scheme, but not perfect. The higher the frequency of the radio, the easier it will be to reject this noise since the noise is so far away from the Tx/Rx band. However, that same high current can be enough to drown even 2.4GHz out, or at least reduce the receiver's sensitivity. Antennas near or on carbon fiber or metal chassis can have degraded performance too from signal deflection and "echoes". Other radios in the area (microwave, cell phone, CB, TX, FM radio, etc) can effect range too.