Horizon, once again fantastic service

zagifly · May 26, 2015, 01:07:37 PM

I have seen other people praising the service from Horizon but now I have experienced it. My Spectrum DX8 has given me a few concerns with small models with fpv crashing, normally small models stay close in but with video I fly a lot further out. When I did a range check (built in the Tx) i only had half the range I should have.
Not wanting to risk a large model I sent the transmitter off to horizon, after a week of no flying I was waiting for a bill from horizon so they could return my Tx. This morning a FedX van pulled up and delivered a box, hurrah I can fly again.
When I looked at the paperwork quite a lot of work had been done,
Both stick units replaced and re-calibrated,
Antenna completely replaced (I damaged that in the workshop in a quad incident)
RF board replaced, no fault found but replaced to give me peace of mind.
The invoice included had zero charge on it.
I have used Spectrum ever since they were available in the UK and currently have about 20 or so aircraft set up with their gear, this is the best reason I have had to stay with them.

David Howe

Ratty · May 26, 2015, 02:32:35 PM

Did they flash it with their new firmware? Can you still use it with DSM2 receivers?

I need to send mine off too. Always had great service from HH, but don't want all my old Rxs to be useless.

zagifly · May 26, 2015, 09:25:07 PM

how would I know if it has been re flashed, all models need rebinding and I am using the original receivers with no problems. Flew 3 aircraft this afternoon OK.

Dave H

_tj_ · May 27, 2015, 02:09:45 PM

Can't fault their repair service.

I have a nano cpx and the 3-1 board went absolutely nuts.

Flying fine, then lose bind.
Throttle up lose bind.

Emailed them, they asked me to send it back.

Had a bit of a wait has the 3-1 board was out of stock.
Replaced FOC and been fine ever since.

Sent a DX8 back after the menu decided it was going to randomly scroll through the settings and pick a random menu.
Sent back and fixed FOC.

Not many companies do that.

Ratty · May 27, 2015, 02:52:14 PM

Quote from: zagifly on May 26, 2015, 09:25:07 PM
how would I know if it has been re flashed, all models need rebinding and I am using the original receivers with no problems. Flew 3 aircraft this afternoon OK.

Dave H

If you can rebind it with DSM2 Rxs and its working fine then youre all good. Had just heard they were flashing the new EU firmware that wont work with old Rxs.

BigT · June 01, 2015, 07:46:02 PM

After reading this I am so glad I fly Futaba

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_tj_ · June 01, 2015, 08:14:26 PM

Quote from: BigT on June 01, 2015, 07:46:02 PM
After reading this I am so glad I fly Futaba

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Don't be too glad.
They may still change something to make Futaba change theirs lol.

BigT · June 01, 2015, 08:47:30 PM

I meant the other problems

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Ratty · June 01, 2015, 09:02:58 PM

Youd rather have a company that doesn't fix problems fast and for free?

Makes sense.

BigT · June 02, 2015, 06:25:13 PM

No I mean i've flown Futaba for 45 years, I have had nearly every transmitter version from the original 4 channel F series up to an 18mx, my current 14SG replaced an 8FG that had over 70 hours on the timer, I've had the the range of 24 to 2.4 rx's in F3 gliders, cars, tanks, boats, F3a, LMA scale gassers, quads, FPV, petrol, glow electric Heli, in all configurations and I have only had cause to return 2 tx's to Ripmax. One because I broke a switch and 1 because 1 of the digital trims wore out due to me flying in the wet. I have never had gimbals wear out, I never need signal boosters or satellite rx, never get signal jamming.

I constantly see pilots at shows, competitions and clubs with Spektrum kit having to put in satellite rx, getting lock outs, unexplained failsafes etc etc. Only last year I was on the flight line when a certain world famous Horizon sponsored pilot put a £20,000 Hunter in due to radio failure. LAst week I saw an Align 800 E destroyed when the rx stopped listening. I t cannot all be down to careless operation or bad maintenance. Most of the Spektrum pilots we talk to admit that it was price not features or reputation that drove them to buy the radio.

Futaba are not perfect, they make design cock ups, and programming mistakes (which they put right very quickly), and, in my opinion, they made a fundamental mistake when they went down the S Bus route and did not include a PPM/RSSI rx in the line up. Some say this was intentional as they wanted to distance themselves from the obvious main use of that system.

I suppose its a Blondes V Brunettes, Ford V Vauxhall situation.

Shikra · June 02, 2015, 08:13:24 PM

What he said... ^^

My futaba tx is 21 years old and I'm flying it several times a week with FPV...

As an fyi... I read a fantastic lab report somewhere where someone analysed the frequency spectrum plots of a number of transmittters - frsky's was impressive - and backs up the long range / reliable signal people generally seem to get with them. Can't remember how spectrum faired unfortunately.