How to identiy a genuine Spektrum Receiver?

[jweaver]

I am upgrading a plane to FPV and noticed that it only has a 5 channel RX.. Where as I need 6 for the OSD (And perhaps 7 if I want to use some of the advanced features).

I was going to go for an AR610 or AR6210 but have read a lot about clone/fake receivers..

Is there any way to tell if a RX is genuine? Are there certain models which havn't been cloned?

I was under the impression that the DSMX RXs havnt' been copied, so that could be a good start..

Jon

[jamesb72]

I understood the fake spektrum receivers were mostly AR6100e which was superseded by the AR6110 a while back (around the same time maybe?). The Ar6100 was not a great receiver, so I wouldn't consider one now anyway.

I did buy a few clone AR6110e's (not fake as they never claimed to be real) which came as bare uncased circuit boards (and worked fine for me, I bought some white heatshrink and wrote the channel names on with pen).

I understand the fake AR6100e had cheap looking plastic wraps (not sure how you distinguish them from the cheap looking genuine wraps, I had an AR6100e from a Blade 400 which must have been legit, and looked the same to me as my other ones - so they were probably all genuine).

I think the fake receivers has been exaggerated by Spektrum, but if you buy a current model receiver with official packaging from a proper store I am sure it would be legit. Also make sure you do a proper range test, and if its not great Horizon UK will swap it over with no fuss, they do provide excellent support.

[jweaver]

I understood the fake spektrum receivers were mostly AR6100e which was superseded by the AR6110 a while back (around the same time maybe?). The Ar6100 was not a great receiver, so I wouldn't consider one now anyway.

I did buy a few clone AR6110e's (not fake as they never claimed to be real) which came as bare uncased circuit boards (and worked fine for me, I bought some white heatshrink and wrote the channel names on with pen).

I understand the fake AR6100e had cheap looking plastic wraps (not sure how you distinguish them from the cheap looking genuine wraps, I had an AR6100e from a Blade 400 which must have been legit, and looked the same to me as my other ones - so they were probably all genuine).

I think the fake receivers has been exaggerated by Spektrum, but if you buy a current model receiver with official packaging from a proper store I am sure it would be legit. Also make sure you do a proper range test, and if its not great Horizon UK will swap it over with no fuss, they do provide excellent support.

That is an interesting point. I wrote to Spektrum and they confirmed that the AR610 and AR6210 had been cloned, but they claim there is no way to tell the difference.. This seems very odd as I find it hard to believe that a copy could be THAT perfect..

I found a guy on ebay highlighting 3 comparisons of fake vs real..

1. The screws on the real were hex.. Fake cross
2. There is a you can see through the side of the real with 3 legs.. Fake only has 2
3. The 'X' on the slave antenna is a different texture on the real.. Not on the fake.

BUT.. Its possible he was comparing to revisions, and not fakes.. I just find it very hard to believe that there are perfect copies out there...

So I am just going to see what I can find, get the cheapest one and keep my fingers crossed!

[Ynot6]

i'm using orange rc from hobbyking. plenty of channels, cheap as chips.

[jweaver]

i'm using orange rc from hobbyking. plenty of channels, cheap as chips.

I don't mind admitting.. They make me nervous.. And I wish they didn't, as having cheap receivers opens up the way to have more planes!

What is their range like?

[jamesb72]

That is an interesting point. I wrote to Spektrum and they confirmed that the AR610 and AR6210 had been cloned, but they claim there is no way to tell the difference.. This seems very odd as I find it hard to believe that a copy could be THAT perfect..

I'm guessing you didn't really write to 'Spektrum', you probably mean Horizon UK who are the UK distributor and make a cut on every Spektrum receiver sold through them, so they have an incentive to scaremonger, so people only buy direct from UK model shops they supply - if you buy a spektrum receiver from ebay it may be genuine US/european/Asian stock, which is still completely genuine, but Horizon UK won't have made a penny on.

I don't believe it would be worthwhile to make fake receivers with complex plastic housings, more likely to me is they are either coming from unofficial channels, or potentially being sold out of the back door of the factory in china, possibly QC failures, but more likely they just over manufacturer and sell the extra's direct. Don't forget Horizon probably pay the factory in china about four quid for a receiver RRP £40, so if they can sell them for a tenner on ebay they are making more than double. I understand Horizon/Spektrum have tried to clamp down on this by having chips made in one factory and only providing limited numbers to the receiver factory so neither can make any on their own, but I am sure they have telephones in China, so that doesn't work for long.

I have an OrangeRx R800X in one phantom (£22) and AR8000 (£60+) in the other and range doesn't seem any different, I much prefer the layout of R800X (two flying aerials from one receiver box), I have used AR6255 on other models which is same layout but >double the price (it does have datalog though currently on a stryker q for radio link monitoring).

Unless you are flying turbines or scale stuff where you cannot take the risk at any saving, and you do proper range tests as you always should with any model/install, then I don't think there is much between them.

I've had duff spektrum receivers (easily replaced by Horizon), and they've had a few howlers (AR500, AR6200 etc) which had lots of problems, so the brand name isn't a guarantee you'll never have a problem.

[jweaver]

I have an OrangeRx R800X in one phantom (£22) and AR8000 (£60+) in the other and range doesn't seem any different, I much prefer the layout of R800X (two flying aerials from one receiver box), I have used AR6255 on other models which is same layout but >double the price (it does have datalog though currently on a stryker q for radio link monitoring).

I am sold.. For my Plane, I really want 8 channels, but I can't jusitfy the cost of an AR8000 just so I can change between display modes.. For £22 I am going to have a punt at this.. Thanks for the feedback.


Jon